cadre

You may or may not know that I currently live in a small town in Northern Az where I'm finishing up my schooling. I'll finish this spring and I need to move so that I can open my photography studio and get to work making a living. I do commercial and product photography, not weddings or families so I need to be near a big city with plenty of large companies to hire me. Where ever I move, I'll probably stay there for a number of years and buy a home and all of that fun stuff. Basically, I'm torn on where I should move. I've been thinking about this for quite some time and asked friends and family for help but they're biased so I'm looking for your opinions.

My requirements:
-Big city with many large businesses
-Nearby tracks for road racing (read: motorcycles)
-Night life and other ways for me to enjoy myself when not working

Current Options:
-Phoenix (I graduated from high school there, most of my friends are still around and I already have a client base there....but it's nothing new)
-Denver (I have lots of family there, love the city and the environment but also nothing new)
-New York (expensive, but I miss the east coast)
-Miami
-Las Vegas (very similar to Phoenix but different also)
-Germany (just for a change of pace)

I know this is a decision I ultimately have to make for myself, but any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh and I'm open to other cities that are not on the list.

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skizziks

I would suggest San Antonio - tons of live music and other things to do at night, big city, low cost of living. Not sure about the tracks though.

laudanum

As much as New York needs more women like you, I would suggest Berlin, Germany.

I have a couple of friends who are photographers and they are actively looking to move to Berlin.
They tell me that the creative communities there are really bustling.

Willravel

Berlin would be by far my choice of your list.

cadre

What if you take into account the fact that I don't speak German?

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Willravel

A lot of Germans speak English, and German, as a language, is quite similar to German. It might take away a few points, but not enough for me to take it out of the #1 place.

What I would suggest, before moving anywhere, is to visit, speak with locals, and get a general idea of what life might be like there. If you're serious about Berlin, you really should test drive before you buy.

Vegas, on the other hand, really isn't anything spectacular for locals as I understand it. My step brother lived there for about a year, and he only went to the strip a few times. Most of them avoid the tourists like a plague, unless they're in the industry.

snowy

Most Germans speak English. Additionally, there is a significant American expat community in Berlin. I recently read a piece in the NYTimes by an expat over there who says there's about 13,000 Americans in Berlin. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/ma...prod=permalink

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Jozrael

Not sure if hall of fame worthy but surely worthy of a chuckle when uttered by one as esteemed as yourself. <3

Willravel

They're practically indistinguishable!

levite

Personally, I recommend California, since I love love love it here. Los Angeles is the only place I've ever loved living. I've spent some time in San Francisco, and I have some family there, and I can vouch that it's an awesome place to be. San Diego is nice, although it's a little suburby for my tastes.

Elsewhere in the US, I have always liked Chicago: pretty, nice people, good pizza. Also, Washington, DC is pretty nice. The public transportation there is freaking great! Excellent museums, too.

I have a good friend who lives in Seattle, and he swears by the city. Says it's the best place he's ever lived, by lightyears. I haven't been there yet, so I can't verify, but he makes it sound good.

If you're interested in living outside the US, I recommend London above all other places. It's expensive as fuck-all, but it is my favorite city on the planet. Great food, great music, great theater, great museums, great public transportation, nice people. The biggest downside, aside from the price tag, is the difficulty in getting soda that's cold enough. Damn Brits never chill their drinks enough. Still, that's a pretty small trade for free health insurance....

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Dull sublunary lovers love,
Whose soul is sense, cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
That thing which elemented it.

(From "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne)

mixedsubstance

Seattle. You have the city with big businesses, huge nightlife, vast array fo culture & neighborhoods, so many job opportunities, close to the mountains (and suburbs for dirt biking- seen plenty of dirt bikes around here), and also close to the ocean.

Nuff said. I love it here.

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*Without energy, there would be nothing.*

Bear Cub

Houston.

It's passed New York in terms of earnings, was ranked the #1 city for college grads, is WAY cheaper to live in than New York or Vegas, and its close enough for a visit home every now and then.

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cadre

Okay so as far as Germany goes, here's my main concern: It's not cheap to go from the US to Europe. I also don't speak the local language which, while it doesn't seem like a big deal, can be a problem when trying to get clients and build a website. The money it would cost me just to go there and visit is a significant amount of money that could go to better uses right now (ie a house). As much as I want to live in Europe, it seems like it would be very difficult given that I don't have unlimited amounts of money right now.

I didn't really like London that much. I mean, it was nice but it wasn't that great. The countryside in the UK is beautiful but ultimately unimportant. I loved Vienna though.

I don't know of much in the way of road racing in Seattle either..the weather doesn't seem like it would be all that cooperative.

What do you like about LA levite?

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far, I'm looking into all of them. I think I might need to get some more traveling in before I make a decision. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that I probably won't end up in Texas, no offense but it doesn't seem like my type of place.

Edit: One more option: Boston

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Bear Cub

Don't group Houston, particularly downtown, with the common perception of shit-kickin' cowboy boots that is Central and West Texas. Very few people around here even have an accent. Downtown is very trendy, upscale, and metropolitan. I was very surprised, even coming from Southwestern CT where I was less than an hour out of NYC.

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snowy

I personally wouldn't recommend Seattle; it's gotten too overcrowded up there, and they've planned so poorly for the expanding population that the roads are a constant mess, plus they can't seem to agree on any kind of comprehensive mass transit to allow people to get around beyond buses and a commuter train, though they are working on it (it's just taking for-fucking-ever), and just opened up SLUT (okay, okay, it's the South Lake Union Streetcar, but I still prefer the original name of South Lake Union Tram and its accompanying acronym). They also keep allowing Seattle to grow outwards, though hopefully a great deal of that growth will be tempered by the economic slowdown.

The climate doesn't suck as much as you think it does here in the PacNW. Seattle and NW Washington do have sort of a drizzly thing going on in the winter that my family affectionately calls "the dismals." I don't think we're alone. But there are still beautiful days even in the rainy season that catch you completely off guard, and make life worth living.

If I were going to try to sell anyone on the PacNW, I'd tell them to move to Portland. I love Portland. It's just a fun, funky city. There is a bumper sticker that many people have on their cars (and bicycles) around Oregon that says "Keep Portland Weird". It always makes me smile when I see one. Unlike Seattle, they have a good handle on things and plan accordingly on a regional level to handle mass transportation needs, urban growth, and public services. And Portland has a track for motorcycle racing: Portland International Raceway.

The weather in Oregon is not as drizzly as Washington's. Generally, when it rains here, it rains, and then 15 minutes later it's something completely different (may be bright, bright sunshine), and then 15 minutes after that it's something else. Sometimes in the middle of winter we get spells of sunny days that knock my socks off. Honestly, I try not to let people know this; the PacNW in general has a reputation of being a place where it rains all the time, but quite frankly, that's not the whole truth. We've just all been telling the rest of the country that so that they won't move here. We have enough Californicators.

And here is a joke for everyone to enjoy:

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Willravel

You'd need to move savings and investments to Euros (which is slightly expensive). You'd probably want to sell most of your furniture and transportation, too. Berlin isn't cheap, but the average income in Berlin is quite reasonable.

PayScale Germany - Berlin State Salary, Average Salaries
Rent Apartment Berlin - Berlin rentals- Flat rent Berlin

What industry are you in?

Grancey

I would say no to Miami, unless you already have connections there. Boston, however, is an excellent choice.

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genuinegirly

Vegas is not a big city. Though, it feels like one as long as you stay close to the strip. Compared to the rest of your options, this would be my first pick.

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levite

To be fair, LA can be a bit of an acquired taste, for some people. If you are one of those people who really, really hate driving, this is not the city for you: lots of freeways and sucky public transportation. And although it's been improving steadily, there is a bit of a smog problem here.

That said, LA has amazing food: there are just stunning restaurants here, and my fiancee and I go to the farmer's market every Sunday morning (that's an actual farmer's market, in Santa Monica, not the tourist attraction/mall called The Farmer's Market, near Hollywood, if you know LA) for phenomenal fresh produce.

I love Angelenos: they can be bitchy, and the ones who are up to their eyebrows in the business end of The Business (that would be the film industry, or "show business." There's no business like it. Well, no business I know...) can be a pain in the ass. But Angelenos can be friendly, they are funny, they are the weirdest, most interesting bunch to watch....

I love the movie culture in LA: this is a town that values good movie theaters, with plenty of movies-- both new and classic-- being shown. Once you've been to a show at Grauman's Chinese or The Cinerama Dome, you'll be hooked. Seeing Chaplin at the Silent Movie Theater is a killer first date, and there are a bunch of art houses around town showing amazing selections of foreign films and classics. I love that when you go to the movies here, people watch with a critical eye, and they stay for the credits, to look for people they know.

There is some good theater in this town-- it's not a par on New York for theater, I admit, but it's not bad. I love going to the Groundlings (like Second City-- SNL and MadTV draw heavily on the Groundlings for cast member recruitment. Phil Hartman, among others, got his start there), or shows at Disney Hall.

I really love the diversity of LA. This is an incredibly cosmopolitan city. I cook, and I love that I can easily find markets that specialize in Persian and Middle Eastern foods, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asian, South and Central American, and Ethiopian foods. You can find all cultures, all religions, all languages here. I love going to Little India, in Artesia, and shopping for pretty Indian tchotchkes or gorgeous Indian clothes, listening to Indian music, looking at the Jain temple, getting vindalu or sambar or tandoori fish at a little cafe, or gulab jamun at one of the little bakery/sweet shops, and watching the beautiful Indian people.

I love living near the beach: my fiancee and I go walking along the Venice Boardwalk all the time, we go down to the beaches in Orange County to meet our friends and swim and surf. There's nothing to compare to a fabulous Southern California day, with blue skies and warm sun, cruising down the highway with your honey, some surf music playing loud; you hit the beach, play in the waves, stroke some curl, lay out; and when it starts getting late, you pack into the car, mosey over to some sweet little Mexican place, and feast on enchiladas and tamales, with tangy frozen margaritas. You go home feeling relaxed and content and happy the way only sunshine and surf and authentic Mexican food can make you feel.

What else can I tell you? This is just a great place to be. I wouldn't trade it for anywhere.

__________________
Dull sublunary lovers love,
Whose soul is sense, cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
That thing which elemented it.

(From "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne)

botabota

Vancouver, BC, Canada



(Dont listen to me, just want to put something different :P)

Poppinjay

Austin. SXSW!

Hitler!

English is actually germanic, not romantic in terms of linguistics. It should be easy to pick up key phrases. Except for me. I can read any romantic language, but not german.

Romantic is a linguistic term, not smoov moves talk.

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Xerxys

I would go for Germany If you want culture and diversity, history and plenty of nightlife to boot. When I'm older I plan on retiring to Paris, France!! As a personal preference I will stay in the USA, Miami and Seattle have a certain appeal for me, mainly because they are polar opposites, I don't know........

Damn you will, do you know how much trouble I went through trying to read your signature!!!

surferlove007

I second Houston, really fun city with lots of offer!

dlish

if i was moving to the USA it would definately be cali. levite just won me over.

maybe miami a close second..but definately cali. westside!

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Willravel

Don't you have an external monitor? You just need to flip the screen!

cadre

See, I like Vegas because it feels a lot like Phoenix but with more casinos and less cacti. It's warm all year round which is good for my motorcycles and it's growing quite fast. Housing is also really cheap there since their market was hit hard.

I'm not so worried about making a living once I'm set up in Germany (except for that I don't speak german) but it's the initial move that bothers me. I'm a photographer, and I work in advertising essentially.

I think for now I'd like to stay in the southwest but I will have to visit other places and see what happens.

Levite - Maybe I need to spend more time visiting LA, last time I was there I didn't get a very good impression of the city. 500 mile drive, yes!

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

genuinegirly

Yes! You might want to check out Henderson as well. It's right next to Las Vegas but has some more upscale areas. I agree about it being warm all year round - a definite plus for your biking hobby. I hear it's great if you're into motocross. Their housing market was hit super hard - when we visited last month, we passed entire housing tracts that were left to rot, unfinished and unprotected against the elements. You're going to find a great house for cheap.

I disagree about there being less cactus. You'll see plenty of cactus when you get out into the wild. They're just smaller and less stereotypical,
like this little guy!
Astrophylum myriostigma

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"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

World's King

I'm putting in a vote for Denver.


Only cause I live here. What other reason do you want.



Oh and I have a lot of friends in the motorcycle world... many that race.

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

levite

Yeeeeaah, Westside in the house, yo! Seriously, I am in the West side right now, and am actually in my house: I quite enjoy it.

Thanks, dude!

Well, not everyone likes the city, like I said. You might not develop a taste for it. But I do recommend taking another gander around. You have to really learn the town, know where to go and how to get there. Then it rocks. But if you don't know the neighborhoods, and you don't know the streets well, fun does not actually come out and find you, it's true.

__________________
Dull sublunary lovers love,
Whose soul is sense, cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
That thing which elemented it.

(From "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne)

ColonelSpecial

I vote for Denver. It is a decent size. It has an alright night life with lots of options beyond just 'go out to the club'. I know nothing about motorcycling but I do know that if you are tired of city life, you can go east to the prairie or west to the mountains. The weather is stable except for snow. As for business, you have other cities close by to draw business from.

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abaya

Another vote for Seattle, though personally... there's too many people there already, so don't bother. I spent the first 22 years of my life there, and am about to move back there again with my husband after many years away. I can't wait, honestly. It is the best city in the US, in my opinion (though the lack of public transport IS a drag, Snowy is right about that).

How about Iceland? It's a GREAT place for artists, let me tell you... absolutely gorgeous here, too (in the summer). Of course, I don't really expect anyone to take me seriously on the idea of moving here, but I can tell you that you can DEFINITELY get by on just English, without having to learn the local language. Everyone here speaks it, and much advertisting is done in English (as well as Icelandic), so that would be easy for you. Oh, but the motorcycle thing, hmm.. eh, not so much.

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for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
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anti fishstick

I would say Germany just because it would be fun to live in another country.

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cadre

Haha, that's true, I suppose there are plenty of cacti in Vegas. Just not the ones I'm used to. I was in Henderson a few weekends ago and I agree that it's a pretty nice area. It would definitely be an option.

I do watch motocross and stuff but that's not the type of racing I do. Think motogp style.
Ah, but I wouldn't be able to ride year round there..

I don't think I could survive somewhere that doesn't have a motorcycle/street bike sub culture. I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

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Halx

New York is a place where you can get anything you want out of life except peace and quiet. Everything else is right there for you to grab. If its not IN the city, its in the surrounding areas (NJ for the racing). Plus, I'm here.

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cadre

Well, I'm sure at some point I'll end up in either NYC or LA since those are two photo hot spots. It's a definite possibility since I still have friends back there.

This will not be an easy decision.

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

World's King

Why not? I do. Yeah... You may have to take a few days off cause of snow on the roads. As long as you dress for the cold, it's really no big deal.


UTMC

Check these guys out. It's the group I've been riding with for almost 10 years now.

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cadre

That's true, it's a possibility I suppose but most of my gear is from when I lived in Phoenix so it's not warm at all. And gear's not cheap! Neither is crashing on ice.

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

dlish

levite you need to change that avatar so that you have your middle and ring fingers crossed giving the 'westside' sign.

westside till i die!

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I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
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lotsofmagnets

so europe is only berlin? i think i´d be the only person that would say to not go there. there is a strongly bohemina vibe and while it´s easy to live there to work there is extremely hard. if you don´t speak a language other than english i really would have a hrad time recommending europe or many places outside of the states.
-----Added 9/11/2008 at 06 : 43 : 54-----
blue mountains?

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physics of a bicycle, isn't it remarkable?

cadre

I can understand and agree with that. I'm thinking it would make more sense to move to Europe after learning the languages and also after I'm well established in my field.

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My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.