MetaChat - Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA! I haven't lived there since I was 18 but go back frequently for visits. In theory I would go back, though none of my friends live there anymore and it might be weird to see my parents that much.

posted by leesh 16 April | 08:32

My birth city is Long Beach, CA, because that was the nearest hospital to Hermosa Beach, CA where my parents were. Grew up in Hermosa Beach, moved to the more hippy South Redondo Beach before moving out of California.

Ironically, I am typing this while sitting in the house I grew up in, in Hermosa. Here for the first time in several years. Stealing WiFi from a neighbor who has a "beach rental" and apparently can't be bothered to give a password to tenants so just leaves it open.

posted by danf 16 April | 08:35

I was born just north of Toronto...then moved around the Toronto area a bit before moving to Windsor, ON, THEN moved to the Vancouver area, prior to moving to my current city, at the age of 13. That's a LOUSY age to move...man. I've moved around a bit as a grown up, but...I've been here (4 hours north of Toronto, a smallish city called Sudbury) for 15 years or so now? Man, how did I get this old?

On that note, I would argue that I've still not grown up, so it would appear that I didn't "grow up" anywhere. I also still feel like no place is "home"...it's an odd feeling at times. I do, however, love this part of Ontario. The winters are long, but man alive, when the snow is gone, it's about as close to perfect as I've seen.

posted by richat 16 April | 08:39

Oh, and I like being here. .who wouldn't like being able to walk about 25 yards and be on the beach. But would not like to live here again. About half of the old houses are torn down and replaced with these monstrous tall mansions on very small lots. The "new" people and the "old" people never communicate in any way and all of the new people would like to see all of these shacks out of here and replaced by other McMansions and other nouveau riche people.

(Although apparently one of Rod Stewart's exes lives across the way. So there's that.)

posted by danf 16 April | 08:40

I was born in a hospital just down the street from where I'm sitting right now! (In Atlanta, GA.) We moved around a bit when I was a kid, to various parts of Georgia and South Carolina, but mostly I'm just an Atlanta guy, and I still love living here. Also, it's fun being a native in a city where the majority of people are transplants.

posted by BoringPostcards 16 April | 08:44

I was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. It's a college town, and that's where I went to university, as well as grad school. There are only a few universities in New Zealand, so choices are limited :) I lived in a couple of other places in NZ for brief periods.

When I was 26 I moved to Baltimore, MD and then 3 years later to New York City. I've been here for 5 years and change.

I would totally move back to Dunedin. Although the students do kind of own it. But it's great - lots going on for such a small town, a great current music scene, and it is the home of many exceptional bands like The Clean, Tall Dwarfs, The Verlaines and (my favourite) Straitjacket Fits who defined the "Dunedin Sound" of the 70s and 80s. I don't think I would have loved music the way I do if I hadn't grown up there. When I was 8 or 9, I used to lie in the bath and listen to student radio, all these great jangly, guitar-y songs :)

posted by gaspode 16 April | 09:02

gaspode, so awesome! The Clean and the Verlaines rule!!!! (We have an all-Clean/David Kilgour mix that is always in rotation at work.)

posted by leesh 16 April | 09:10

I was born in Philadelphia and grew up about 10 miles away in Marlton, NJ. I would never move back there, I don't think. When I was a kid there were lots of farms and orchards, but now it is full of new construction and shopping centers and traffic. My parents still live there though, so I visit occasionally.

posted by amro 16 April | 09:10

KC, MO → Louisville, KY → NJ → upstate NY → NYC → NJ → upstate NY → Boston, MA.

I suppose I still consider Louisville my "hometown" (and it's the last place, excepting Ithaca a bit, I ever felt at home). My family's all from the NYC metro area, so that's usually what I say when people ask where I'm "from". Esp. since I eventually plan to return (phone interview with the NY Times in 45 min, eeeee!).

posted by Eideteker 16 April | 09:12

Born and raised Birmingham, Alabama. Left at age 20, (1977), never once entertained the notion of moving back, and I doubt very seriously that I ever would. Have siblings there (parents are both deceased), though, who I dearly love, and try to get back once every 2 or 3 years for visits.

posted by flapjax at midnite 16 April | 09:20

phone interview with the NY Times in 45 min, eeeee!

Ooh, I'm impressed! Good luck! As a reporter? I thought you did sleep studies, no?

posted by amro 16 April | 09:26

I was born near San Francisco, but we moved to New Jersey when I was a year old, then to North Carolina when I was 5, and then to Virginia when I was 9, and that's where I finished growing up and went to college. Now I live in Maine. My parents were both from the Florida panhandle, which is where my mother and brother and sister live now. Still got one sister in Virginia.

In theory I would consider living in Virginia again or northwest Florida, but getting a job would be problematic -- Virginia because I'm not qualified for anything that pays enough to live on, and Florida because there just aren't any jobs I'm qualified for at all. I suppose I'll go to Florida and live with my sister when I retire in 2026.

posted by JanetLand 16 April | 09:32

I was born in the Boston "Women's Lying-In Center", now the Women's in Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Still living about 20 minutes from Cambridge, where I was raised...couldn't possibly live there now, as it was the city that invented the word "gentrification". Would find it very hard to live in any other area...the culture here is a part of me. On the other hand, it's fucking freezing in the winter.

posted by Melismata 16 April | 09:40

Born in Junction city, Kansas, near the Ft. Riley Army base. My dad had just gotten out of the Army, and we moved to Charlotte, NC, when I was 5 months old, so I have no familial connections with Kansas, have never been back to my "home town," and have no plans to.

Grew up in Charlotte, in a decidedly middle-class neighborhood until I was 12, then to a great big impressive house in the woods after my dad's architectural practice got going. We had a creek and a pond and no neighbors to speak of, and it was a great place for a kid like me to grow up. My mom and my brother's family still live in the )now-expanded) homeplace, so I get to visit whenever I want. But Charlotte is in a weird not-small-town, not-big-city place, and I don't feel much connection to it anymore.

I moved away in college, ending up in Atlanta and environs for the better part of my 20s. That was OK, but I was a poor grad student most of the time, so I didn't do a lot of fun stuff. Still, it was a good area to become an adult, lots of culture and shopping and such.

About 14 years ago, I came to the DC area, first in the inner suburbs, but right on Capitol Hill for the last 10 years or so. Love it. The culture and diversity here are just fantastic, and I have an interesting job. No desire to move back to anywhere else I've lived, definitely. And my daughter is reaping the benefits of living in a rich cultural environment.

We are getting a bit uncomfortable with our small house and yard (about 1000 square feet each), though. We fell in love with the Big Island when we visited a few years ago, and one of the couples I married have land there that they've planted an orchard on for when they retire, and that sounds like exactly the sort of thing we'd like to do (and be good at doing). We've also found a neat little hippy community in Strasburg, VA, of all places, and that may turn out to be a more practical place to relocate. We have 7 years before my daughter is through school and out of college, so any big plans will have to wait until then. But we're dreaming!

posted by mrmoonpie 16 April | 09:48

Born in NSW, Australia, came to the UK when I was very small and grew up in Derby, in the east Midlands. Although it's not a small town (probably 250,000-300,000 people), it has a small-town mentality. Anyone with any get-up-and-go has long since got up and gone.

I left at 17 and came to London. Since then I've lived in east London or Essex. I've lived in my present home since 1996.

I'd like to go back to Australia for a visit, just to see where I was born, but doubt I could live there, due to my very fair skin and tendency to sunburn. I would never, ever go back to live in Derby.

posted by essexjan 16 April | 10:09

(We have an all-Clean/David Kilgour mix that is always in rotation at work.)

Nice. :)

posted by gaspode 16 April | 10:12

I was born in NL, grew up in NL, went to university in NL and worked in NL.
Fascinating, isn't it?

Of course that was all in different cities in NL but that wouldn't mean anything to you anglophones. :-)

posted by jouke 16 April | 10:14

Of course that was all in different cities in NL but that wouldn't mean anything to you anglophones.

I hate to admit it but frankly the term "NL" meant nothing to this anglophone... I had to google it!

posted by amro 16 April | 10:16

jouke, you just skate from city to city when you need to get around, right? *he he he*

posted by rainbaby 16 April | 10:18

I used to date a Dutchman! I would know! (me! me! me!) He was from Utrecht.

posted by gaspode 16 April | 10:19

jouke, I am even more fascinating. I was born in Milwaukee, grew up in Milwaukee, went to grad school in Milwaukee, and (after spending a few years in other states) moved back to Milwaukee. SAME CITY! (and I love living here btw)

posted by desjardins 16 April | 10:39

Michigan, Michigan, no, never :-)

posted by pinky.p 16 April | 10:53

Ooh, I'm impressed! Good luck! As a reporter? I thought you did sleep studies, no?

Nope, as a technical writer. Yes, I did sleep research in college.

They need someone to come in and (help) revamp their online help system. (Is that enough information for my potential employers to google this thread? *waves hi*)

posted by Eideteker 16 April | 11:07

Born in San Diego, left when I was 5ish, raised in central NJ (New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Port Reading, etc) would not go back if you paid me.

posted by The Whelk 16 April | 11:18

Born and raised in Wilmington, DE until age 10. We then moved to Madison, WI, where I've lived ever since. I am completely spoiled living here and it is My Kind Of Town.

I haven't really been able to experience Delaware and the East Coast as an adult. My impression, mainly from the accent (which nobody in my family ever had), is that I would hate it. I remember realizing even as a 10-year-old that Madison was twice as big as Wilmington and felt infinitely more relaxed and interesting. Plus Delaware had no middle class; there were basically people with giant houses and the last name of duPont (don't even get me started on their first names) and... other people.

My mom and her family are solidly midwestern, and I certainly feel that way. But I also feel like my obstinacy and desire to do things RIGHT NOW are sort of east coast traits. (Certainly not due to my ADD.)

posted by Madamina 16 April | 11:22

Been a Marylander (Merlinder) my whole life. Born in Olney and grew up in Ashton. (They're about 15 minutes apart, with Sandy Spring in the middle of them.)

Moved 30 minutes southeast (but in the same county still) to Burtonsville about a year ago. There's really nothing outwardly offensive about any of these places, but they're all quite suburban and therefore--not much going on. Ashton is marked by the interesection of two roads and has a post office, 7-11, a gas station, and 2 crappy restaurants. Burtonsville has 1 bar that never seems to be open and a post office that is impossible to find since there's no sign for it out on the street.

I've often thought of where I could move (mostly to get away from my batshit family) but nowhere has really sparked the urge to settle down. (I've been to SF, Toronto, various places in Europe, etc.) Of course, any future moving plans have to wait until I finish my degree and figure out what to do with my condo. (Which I think may have been part of my father's plan to get me to stay in the area but at the time I was too busy trying to not die that it didn't really pop up in my head.)

posted by sperose 16 April | 11:26

We moved about every 2 years or less my whole life. I went to 8 different schools before I was done. I believe the timeline went something like this: born NYC, lived on the upper East Side I think (near the Whitney Museum) as a baby, then Fairfield, CT, then back to NYC, then Dorset, VT, then back to NYC, then New Canaan, CT, then Darien, CT, then another house in Darien, then a muddly bit which included the delightfully named Terrible Mountain, Vermont and Heidelburg, Germany for a few months and IIRC Block Island and then Lincoln, MA for almost two whole years. We spent a lot of summers in Cashiers, North Carolina, near where I live now - my aunt and uncle had a summer house there, so these mountains were one steady place. Anyway, at this point I was 14 and in boarding school when we moved to Charleston, SC where my father's family had been since before the Revolutionary war. I stayed in Charleston until I was out of college (except for the year and a half in my late teens when I lived on the island of Mallorca in Spain.) I moved to Baltimore when I was about 23, moved constantly around the city and out to Baltimore county to live on an arts commune for a bit and then to New York (east village in the 80s represent!) and then back to a couple of different Baltimore houses and then way out to a decaying farmhouse full of bats in norther Baltimore county and then, eventually, to Asheville ten whole years ago.

Phew. I tell people I'm from Charleston because it's simpler and for most of my life it was the one place where I had stayed any actual length of time. Now I've lived in one town for a decade, which is a record and I really don't think I want to move again. I'd never go back to Charleston at this point - it's just grown way too big and sprawly for me and I can't take the heat anymore anyway.

posted by mygothlaundry 16 April | 11:44

Born in Costa Mesa, CA but grew up mostly in Santa Ana, CA and Orange, CA. My Orange County doesn't in any way resemble the O.C. If there's a "wrong side of the tracks" in Orange County, I grew up on it. The only reason to go back is to go to Disneyland.

Moved to Thousand Oaks, CA when I was 20-ish. I liked it there.

Moved to Houston, TX at 27 and lived there for four years then moved to San Antonio (two years). Texas is a nice place to visit, but I don't want to live there again.

Moved to Seattle, WA (Shoreline and Edmonds, technically) at almost 34 and was there for a year. I wouldn't mind at all moving back to the Seattle area.

I've lived in British Columbia (Surrey, Langley, Rosedale/Chilliwack, back to Surrey and now Abbotsford) for almost 10 years and love it.

However, I think I'd like to live in Dunedin. It looks lovely, plus - the ocean!

Oh, and I've never lived more than five years in one place. I think my family may be reincarnated Gypsies.

posted by deborah 16 April | 11:51

Actually, last winter we were able to skate again on the canals. Wonderful experience of young and old hanging out on the ice; on skates, walking, on sleds, on bikes. Just like can be seen on 17th century paintings.
Yes, actually I live in Utrecht. I'm very impressed, gaspode, that you know even one city in this stamp-sized country. Have you ever been in Utrecht?
Desjardins, Milwaukee, isn't that where a lot of German settlers ended up? Where you have a lot of beer? That's the end of my associations with Milwaukee to be honest.
amro, I understand. I guess I shouldn't be too lazy to type out 'The Netherlands'.

posted by jouke 16 April | 11:58

jouke -- actually, when I saw "NL," my brain went "Newfoundland." Then it went, "no, wait."

You'd think I'd have gotten it right away given how much I listen to Radio Netherlands.

posted by JanetLand 16 April | 12:17

My dad was an officer in the navy, so I was born in California. I was raised, however, in Oregon - in Portland and in Salem. My family roots go back to pioneer times in Oregon - I have news articles that mention ancestors in the early 1800s here.

I've lived quite a few other places, but since I left Oregon, I've wanted to be back here and spent ten years working towards it. Every time I'd get close to moving, something would happen to prevent it (younger sister got pregnant, mom was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, partner's mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer). As soon as we had the chance, as soon as it was reasonable to say that we stayed and helped his dad get settled (about two years), we were off.

We've been in Portland now for over three years, and neither of us can imagine living anywhere else. I'm so glad that Oregon feels like home to my partner, I don't know what I'd've done if he didn't like it (actually, I do know. I know that I needed to live here again even if it was temporary. I used to tell people that Oregon was were my heart lives).

I could see moving to San Francisco at some point for a period of time, but if we did that, I'd be back in Oregon after that. I would have liked to have lived in Chicago before we moved out here - all of my mom's family is there and I grew up going to Chicago several times per year. Other than that, I'm home.

posted by Sil 16 April | 12:24

.....this ocassionally pops up in my thoughts. My Mom's reasons for leaving California where very sudden and spur of the moment. I wonder about Alternate Universe Whelk who grew up in San Diego and how he would've turned out.

posted by The Whelk 16 April | 12:29

I was born in Sloppy Joe's Hospital, in the Land of the Crabapples.

No, really.

Sloppy Joe's is what we used to call St. Joseph Hospital (aka Catholic Health Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus). It is located in Cheektowaga, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. Cheektowaga translates from Iroquois language as "Land of the Crabappbles."

I moved away from there when I went to college and never moved back (except for the first two summers).

posted by Doohickie 16 April | 13:01

I was born in Pittsburgh.

The first place I remember is Maine.

I have a little Texas accent, especially when I'm excited or angry.

Not a very clear answer, is it? "Hometown" is a fuzzy idea for me.

posted by Elsa 16 April | 13:15

I was born a small child in Urbana, IL. Quickly realizing that error, I had moved to Lisle, IL, by the time I attended about first grade. Third grade marked another move- to Casey, IL, my mother's home town. By the 5th grade, We found ourselves in Robinson, IL.

I was dizzy by this time. Eventually, after 6th grade, I was moved yet again, to Indianapolis, IN. After High school, I left, joined the Service, and saw most of the world. Bangkok, Berlin, Tokyo, Alaska, Hawaii, the PI, and everyone's favorite tour destination of the 1970's, Vietnam.

After that, I lived in Miami for a few years, then Chicago. Finally came back to Indianapolis, and have stuck things out here.

posted by pjern 16 April | 13:16

Milwaukee, isn't that where a lot of German settlers ended up? Where you have a lot of beer?

Yes, there is a heavy German influence here, as well as Irish, so the beer consumption is high! We have a cafe in my neighborhood that serves all kinds of Dutch beer - do you have any recommendations?

posted by desjardins 16 April | 13:21

I was born and raised in Tulsa. When I was 18 I headed to the great sexy destination of Waco for college. Then lived in Dallas for about eight years. Now I'm back in Tulsa. It's okay, better than I remember, and there are certainly worse places to live, but I doubt I'll be here forever. Probably depends on where I (knock on wood) wind up going to Vet School. Stillwater's the obvious choice for financial reasons, but I'll apply to a few others as well (probably Mizzou, Colorado St., Tennessee, maybe LSU). After that, who knows?

posted by ufez 16 April | 13:21

I was born and lived my whole childhood in the same town in North Jersey, Morristown. My mom's family has deep roots in NYC dating back to the 1600s so I sort of consider New York to be my homeland but I'd never live there.

As a young adult, I moved to Pittsburgh following my girlfriend who was going to gradschool (and having my kid) and I instantly fell in love with this creaky little rust-belt town and never left. It's been twenty one years now, almost half my life, and I'll probably never leave now. The jobs are good here and the cost of living is so cheap that I'd feel like I was giving up too much if I moved somewhere else.

I've "gone native" so much by now that I feel like a hick when I go back to the NJ/NYC area to visit. Everyone talks too fast and drives too fast and you need reservations for restaurants.

posted by octothorpe 16 April | 13:30

Born in Nuneaton, West Midlands, UK - nearest city was Coventry. My Mum used to joke that getting bombed in WWII was the best thing that had ever happened to Coventry, because they totally rebuilt it. Including the most inspiring cathedral you will ever experience. In extenuation, she came from Birmingham, which has a healthy rivalry with Coventry. Attended Sunday School at a church built from the ruins of a 10th century abbey and run by Canon Sinker, known locally as Canon Stinker because of his withering attitude to anyone who wanted to enjoy themselves, e.g. throw confetti on church property. My family opened a small hotel in Nuneaton, in the house that George Eliot (nee Mary Ann Evans) grew up in.
I attended University in Canterbury, Kent (beautiful and fun), then moved to London for 12 years, via a brief stint in Colchester Essex. London is great fun in your 20s and 30s, not so much after that. I doubt I could afford to ever live there again.
Moved back to Coventry to study for a PhD (beautiful but *boring*) before seeing an email advertising a faculty job in the USA. Luckily, my SO has a sense of adventure. We used to joke that our dog was better-traveled than most of our friends. Spent a year in Binghamton NY, then a year in Dallas TX, before coming to rest in Philadelphia, which I love. What I like is being able to drive places and park, the diversity and friendliness of most Philly neighborhoods (our neighbors did not talk to us in Dallas), and the cultural life of the city. I have tried to lose my British accent but I don't seem to be able to - probably because, like most Brits, I am an antisocial introvert, who prefers to communicate by email ... :-)
I've been back to Nuneaton a few times as my folks are still there. The sidewalks are dirty and covered in chewing gum. Your chances of getting knifed in the town center on a Saturday night are pretty high. So no - I don't think I'll be returning ...

posted by Susurration 16 April | 13:41

Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Grew up there and went to college in Boston. I lived in NYC for 10 years, spent a great deal of time in Los Angeles, and moved to Chicago about 12 years ago. I lived right on Lakeshore Drive in downtown Chicago for 4 years and now live in the northern suburbs. I'm actually going to be moving back to Cleveland for a year or two this fall and then will most likely move back to the northern Chicago suburbs. I'm a midwestern girl. I say that now, on a beautiful spring day, about 62, sunny and breezy. The winters are getting longer and drearier though. So I won't be here forever.

posted by Kangaroo 16 April | 13:50

I was born in Chennai in south India which was then called Madras (I still tend to call it that in my head). Lived there my whole life until I was 21 except for a year and a half in Los Angeles while my dad went to school at USC and my mom was on a fellowship at the University of Minnesota. College was just fifteen minutes away from our comfortable home near the beach so stayed there till I got accepted to grad school at Cornell. Been living in Ithaca, NY ever since (3 years now!) except for a couple summers in NYC. It's quite a change, especially climate-wise, but Ithaca is beginning to feel more and more like home.

posted by peacheater 16 April | 14:20

Would I go back? Tough to answer. There's lots I miss especially my family and an extensive and established social circle. Still, there are so many things I take for granted here and I would be in a much better position scientifically here.

posted by peacheater 16 April | 14:24

Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

I lived there for three years! Woot woot!

posted by amro 16 April | 15:05

Born in Brooklyn. When I moved to Manhattan's Lower East Side at age 20, my grandfather was upset. He came to this country and had to live on the LES and finally got enough money to move to Brooklyn. I was going in the wrong direction. Except for 2 years in Ohio (Kenyon college--had culture shock and had to transfer to Brooklyn College) I've pretty much always lived in either Brooklyn or Manhattan. I'm back on the LES now.

posted by Obscure Reference 16 April | 15:09

I was born in Mountain View, CA, in a hospital just a few minutes from my parent's house in San Jose. Until I was 10, we live in a cramped little house in the Rose Garden district, which I thought was sooo charming. We moved back to my dad's hometown in Redding, CA, which was hickville compared to the Silicon Valley. It's the place I consider "home", when I stop to think of it, but you probably couldn't pay me to move back there.

I went to college in the Wild East a.k.a. eastern Los Angeles County. My heart belongs to every square inch of the West Coast.

Now I live in San Antonio, TX, and I will swear up and down that we're moving back to the Left Coast any day now. I will not deny that SA has it's own unique charms, but it doesn't have a real ocean and it doesn't have mountains.

posted by muddgirl 16 April | 16:36

Born in Red Bank, New Jersey. Lived in the same town until I was 22; then moved to Highlands, then Keansburg. I moved to Jackson, same town as Six Flags Great Adventure, almost 7 years ago, a whole different county. I have yet to move out of state! Someday, though. When Jersey gets just too expensive to live in (like next week or so, Lol)

posted by redvixen 16 April | 19:40

Born & raised in Raleigh NC. Went to college at UNC Chapel Hill, lived in a small town an hour east of Raleigh for almost 5 years, came back to Raleigh in 1989, & live less than 3 miles from the hospital where I was born.

I was back & forth to the Bay area & Boston in the mid 90's on business trips. Really loved CA, Boston - not so much. I also really liked Amsterdam & would go back in a second.

I was just thinking today that Raleigh used to be such a non-descript smallish southern town, but it's grown a lot & had influx of a lot of different people from all over the place. Many times I've wished that Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill could be scrunched together into a single city - that would rock out loud.

I'd love to live somewhere with less humidity in the summer, but it's a familiar place I've developed this steely tap root to for some reason I have yet to figure out.

posted by chewatadistance 16 April | 19:56

I'm sort of muddgirl, but in reverse :-) Born in San Antonio, lived there until I went to college. Then Boston; Santa Cruz/Berkeley/Mountain View/ Sunnyvale, CA; Toronto; back to Mountain View and Sunnyvale; finally, in Longmont, Colorado for the last 11 years. I thought San Antonio was really lame when I was growing up, but now I appreciate its charms. I don't think I could live there, though. Maybe Austin, but it's probably too late. Toronto is probably my favorite of the places we've lived.

posted by lukemeister 16 April | 20:00

I was born in NL, grew up in NL, went to university in NL ~~and worked in NL.~~ came to AB for grad school, got a job and stayed in AB.

(Unlike jouke's NL, my NL is bereft of canals.)

posted by hangashore 16 April | 20:43

I'm from Ocean Township, NJ ('til I was 19) and I was just last night thinking of all the places I miss eating. I couldn't believe some of them are even on yelp now! Vesuvios! Vic's!

I was even reminiscing about redvixen's hometown while looking up the Inbetween.

But no, I wouldn't move back.

I've also lived in Sierra Vista, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale, AZ.

Then the bay area, now Portland, OR. Wouldn't move again within the US. Would only move somewhere with real healthcare and where I could have a nice garden and the beach not too far away. Provence sounds about right. Otherwise, Portland is suiting me well.

(OK, I'd live on Maui.)

posted by birdie 16 April | 20:47

Forgot to say: yes, I'd go back to the Rock. Family's still there, and I need an ocean. But lots of good friends and memories from my time here.

posted by hangashore 16 April | 20:48

Born in New York; grew up mostly in Montreal with a couple of interludes in England. Later moved to Toronto, Chicago, Bloomington IN, and now the SF peninsula. I liked all those places but I also like novelty.

I'd move if something interesting came up, but I'd miss the Meyer lemons.

posted by tangerine 17 April | 00:09

Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Born in Lakewood, myself, but had some wealthier relatives in Shaker Heights. Moved to L.A. when my father got promoted/transferred (drove west using Route 66), after two years renting in West L.A., we bought a house in Encino (not in the hills with the Jacksons, but north of Ventura Blvd. in the flatlands of the San Fernando Valley; we called it the "Slums of Encino"). Worked for a year at a radio station midway between Visalia and Tulare, south of Fresno. After escaping back to L.A., lived in Palms/West L.A., El Segundo near LAX, North Torrance, Bellflower near Long Beach, then back to "The Valley", Panorama City, the north ends of Van Nuys and North Hollywood, Studio City, back to Van Nuys (and working in Carson, El Segundo, Sun Valley near Burbank, West L.A. near Pico & Sepulveda and the east side of Pasadena - whenever possible, my work commute was opposite to the main rush hour flow). Escaped FROM L.A. four-and-a-half years ago to here, just off Highway 101 between San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach (mail address is SLO but outside the city limits) and 2.8 scenic miles from the ocean.

posted by oneswellfoop 17 April | 00:38

Born in LA, in what is now Scientology headquarters. Grew up in the Valley Village part of North Hollywood. First 2 1/2 years of college in Bradford, MA, came back to LA, took extension at UCLA, transferred to University of Bridgeport (now run by Moonies) in CT, loathed it, spent summer in London at Richmond College, transferred to Emerson in Boston (my favorite American city!) , graduated and stayed on for another 9 months, went to grad school in Iowa City, moved to Denver for 16 months after I graduated, had landlord issues, came back to LA for a few years, moved to NYC in November 2000, bought condo in April 2003.

I'VE been to A'dam, Rotterdam, the Hague,Leiden...need to check my travel journal for the rest of that trip.

posted by brujita 17 April | 01:35

Ok, ok, ok. I did not mean to impugn your geographic knowledge.
This is the reason for my humility.

posted by jouke 17 April | 02:41

Born in Rome, lived there until I was three-ish. Moved to the States where my mother's parents lived while she arranged for a hasty divorce from my father. Father and stepmother moved me to La Jolla (it wasn't fancy then) where my stepmom taught at USCD. Spent a lot of time back in Europe as a kid/teenager (months at a time) because of family. As a result, I identify very strongly with my Italian roots, in a manner far different from my other Italian-American brethren.
Chose to go to US-Madison for both my undergrad and grad. Then upon graduation I moved immediately to Brazil, which is another place I was spending months at a time, researching my master's degree. Lived there for ten years before moving to Chapel Hill. We bought a house in Chapel Hill nearly a year ago, so expect this to be our long term American home town, but that doesn't rule out spending as much time as we can in South America. We plan on retiring to Brazil someday.

posted by msali 17 April | 03:21

I was born in Mountain View, CA

Yay! Me too muddgirl!!! El Camino Real Hospital?

posted by JanetLand 17 April | 06:29

I was born in St. Louis, MO, and live there until 18. And when I say born and lived, I mean what most people "from St. Louis" mean, which is I lived in the suburbs. I hated, hated the suburbs. I lived two miles from the closest business, which was in a strip mall, and I was never allowed to leave the neighborhood (subdivision) until I was about 14. I've spent years undoing the habits I picked up sitting inside all day playing video games because there was nothing else I could do without having my parents drive me somewhere.

I went to college in Beloit, WI, and moved around for a bit afterwards between St, Louis, Beloit, and Seattle. After 7 months of post-college unemployment (not by choice), I accepted a job teaching English in Shenzhen, China. This is 2007. I arrive in February, and I'm out by June. It was both the single most frustrating experience and the most life-changing. From there, back to Seattle to live with the boy.

And now I'm in Iwate-ken, Japan, just outside Morioka, giving the whole teaching English thing a second try. The boy is here, which is tremendously helpful at combating loneliness.

Before I came here, I did a tour back home. I was hit with this sort of weird culture shock. Living in Seattle, I got used to being able to walk or bus anywhere. Doing what I wanted to do in St. Louis required at least 20 - 30 minutes of driving. That was it, but it made all the difference for me. I did hit up Imos and Ted Drewes and Forest Park, so that was awesome.

This has been "My Life Story," by Grant, Age 26.

posted by gc 17 April | 06:30

I arrived in Wilmington NC just after my folks had moved to the little coastal town due to my Dad's work. Stayed till high school graduation. Heck, back then it took two hours to get away to anywhere of significance, so I took the first opportunity to go away to university.

First was to Greensboro NC, then to Raleigh NC where I met my hubby and stayed for about 20 years outside of Holly Springs NC.
We moved back East when the place we were renting was sold and nothing in the Raleigh area was affordable.

Mucho complicating factors ensued. Ended up homeless and living with my Mom back in ILM.
Full circle indeed.

posted by mightshould 17 April | 19:01

I was born in the KU Med Center in Kansas City, where my parents went to school, and where my father died this last October. I grew up a few places in Kansas and Texas, but mostly in the KC suburbs, and I consider myself a Kansan. There was an ill-starred year in Portland, OR at age 19, too.

I've lived in the SF Bay Area or thereabouts since 2001. I think about moving back to Kansas now and then, because I miss the seasons and get sick of people.

posted by fleacircus 18 April | 03:40

I was born in Gainesville, Florida where my parents grew up (although they were not born in Florida) and where my dad was in school. I actually lived on the UF campus until I was 2 :) Then we moved to St. Louis (although when I read this, gc, I had to laugh because it's true for me too!)

I was born in St. Louis, MO, and live there until 18. And when I say born and lived, I mean what most people "from St. Louis" mean, which is I lived in the suburbs.

My dad was doing post-doctoral work at WashU so when he finished up we moved to Memphis, TN. After 8 years there, we transplanted to the opposite corner of the state- Johnson City, TN. I ran off to college in Sarasota, FL and then grad school at UF. It was weird to live in the city that before I had only visited to see my grandparents. I miss it a bit, but mostly for the many delicious, cheap restuarants.

Now I'm back in Tennessee, enjoying the mountains and lovely weather. I have to say it's the most beautiful place I've ever lived. And at this point I've lived in the south so long that it's kind of hard to picture myself living up north (although those formative years in St. Louis have prevented me from developing a true southern accent, so I suppose I could fit in eventually.)

posted by Mouse Army 18 April | 08:06

Born and raised in El Paso, Tx. Went away for college and only made it back for visits.

My folks moved to Florida in the 90's, and I'd go visit them, and when I got laid off at one job, I transferred to a unit in the same company and lived with my folks for a year. Came back as it didn't work out.

Due to family rifts I've not spoken to anyone still in El Paso. The last time I went was in 2007 when my grandmother died. I arranged a private viewing and then left.

I like the desert mountains, I hate the desert plains I'm living in now. Whenever I move, it's going to be to the mountains, dammit.

posted by lysdexic 18 April | 12:17

Born in Auckland, New Zealand (on the mainland, unlike Dunedin ;-). Grew up in Auckland, with a brief period living in Wellington, then moved to the Gold Coast, Australia when I was 16 and have lived there ever since.

If I couldn't live on the Gold Coast, I would go back to live in Auckland in a second. Well, apart from the cold.

posted by dg 28 April | 07:23

(on the mainland, unlike Dunedin ;-).

haha like you can get a rise out of me that easily.

posted by gaspode 28 April | 08:48

jafa

posted by gaspode 28 April | 09:36

It's easy to antagonise South Islanders - they have thin skins on account of the cold and lack of sunshine ;-)

posted by dg 28 April | 20:15

16 April 2010