What do you like about where you live? And what Please don’t Do you like it? Coj reader Emma said: “I live in Davis, California. This is my youngest sitting in our ‘minivan’! Below, 13 readers will share the pros and cons of their hometown…
“We moved from Texas to Connecticut in 2023. We love everything about it (except February. In the five years we lived in Texas, my soul was always mad. Something wasn’t clicking for me. The moment I arrived in Connecticut, everything was clicked!” – Mika, West Hartford, Connecticut
“This is my third year living in Lisbon, Portugal, and I don’t know how I live anywhere else! Just like how many dog poop you can see on the sidewalk and how everything does some try, some things make me mad (like tracking missed delivery). But the people are so lovely, the weather is amazing, we are close to the most beautiful coastline. You can also explore other parts of Europe by car.” – NaseemRibson, Portugal
“My job brought me from Southern California to Michigan. I’m warming up to a slower pace in the Midwest and deeper-rooted family connections. The cold winter was rough, but this winter I visited Lake Michigan, and the waves looked like endless white mountains. I’m humbled at how much beauty I can find.” – Marissa, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“In our small fishing village there is an eclectic bunch of retirees with amazing life stories. It takes ages to go to the store for chit chats. If I’m in a hurry, I need to give off a desperate, withsy vibe. I like to see little kids running around in buckets and spades. I also need to avoid local gossip and avoid getting involved, but I love a sense of belonging.” – Lulu, England, Cornwall
“I moved to Orcas Island, Washington, and worked as a high school counselor. I love that there is no stoplight on the island. I love that I can walk anywhere with my dog, gas. I love that the community supports their young people in many ways. I love that there is no fast food place. I love that I pick up wild blackberries and store them in the freezer, then slowly go outside after summer is over. I love that I don’t have to make that many decisions every day. I love reading more than before. I love that I’m quickly one of the people who jump into the cold waters that freeze every day – I haven’t started yet.” – Rachel of Orcas Island, Washington
“Our town will turn into a summer family-oriented heaven. Think about it: farmers markets, arts, music festivals, summer block parties. Last year, they put 100 Hellkies (Iowa mascots) around town for a scavenger hunt and built a free outdoor pickleball court. Flaws? We don’t have a good Jewish deli. We’ll kill a good bowl of matzo ball soup.” – Mara, Iowa City, Iowa
“Maine’s rocky coast is not only beautiful, but it also has the ability to grow towards the edge of the ocean. But we are a time when spring doesn’t seem to arrive. The changing seasons in Maine always test me. and It offers endless opportunities for updates. ” – Chloe, Portland, Maine
“I live in Aviles, Spain. There is a special connection in the friendship forged in the mountains, as they suffer together to reach great places. What I don’t like to live here is how empty the small village is. People are attracted to living in cities, and the village is abandoned. We call it “laespañavaciada”, or “emptied Spain.”
“My husband, two boys, I moved to Columbus, Ohio, nearly a decade later in Brooklyn. My friend said, ‘Welcome back to the heart of everything.’ We love having a garden. I love that our mortgage is one-third of what we were paying for in rent for a two-bedroom railroad apartment. I love the best library system in the country. I love organizing it together The tempo after dark and Ohio Clean Air Union. What I don’t like is the sudden rise in home prices – we are facing an affordable housing crisis and we need a car to avoid it. ” – Sharon, Columbus, Ohio
“Because I also love that I hate living here. I hate hitting my face in an open field where the sun is stretched for miles, but I love how warm and open it is. I hate the sound of spring tornado sirens, but I love the damp rain and the adrenaline smell of the storm that I know will come.” – Maria, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
“I grew up in Los Angeles. Everyone thinks they know it. But like people, LA is complicated and reveals themselves in layers over time. It feels like a gift to experience what is hidden beneath the surface. And there’s nothing that you feel more alive than driving a long boulevard along the ocean late at night or at sunset. Don’t forget to put down the windows!” – Kelly, LA
“Now my family lives in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for my spouse’s job at the US State Department. It was fun to explore. Everywhere there are bazaars made of yurt camps, horses and fully transported ships. The only thing that makes living here is the uncertainty of being a federal government employee. My family and friends do important and meaningful jobs here. We all really want to stay.” – Dot, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
“I live in a French-speaking town in the countryside of Manitoba, Canada. Winters can be cold and dark (-40 c!), but people are warm and cozy. Our kids skate in the backyard rink for six months all year round. You have to be heartfelt to live here, and I won’t change it for the world.” – Stephanie, Loretto, Canada
What do you love about where you live? I want to know!
PS 12 readers share where they live, and people talk about moving to different countries and moving from big cities to small towns.
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
