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06.02.08, 16:39 PM General Topics
125 replies
where would you move that has a funky eclectic vibe with some diversity in the US. Have chance to move anywhere and i am seriously considering packing it up and taking it on the road. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.02.08, 04:39 PM Flag
 

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I'm watching this post. Diversity is hard in the USA except in cities (and not always then!). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:40 PM Flag
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i know i am thinking i am living in a fantasy world but perhaps it could exist. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:40 PM Flag
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We looked in the Hudson River Valley. Any town with diversity had crap schools. We decided to go with good schools in another area. And thank goodness for Southern Italians or my kid would be the darkest child in school. On top of that, we are learning the hard way that good schools = nothing more than good test scores in many districts. Keep that in mind when looking. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:43 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:50 PM Flag
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I'm Italian. DH is of mixed British background. They aren't hugely dark, but at least have olive skin. Everyone else is snow white. DS has dark brown hair, he's one of 4 kids in his class that aren't blond. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:52 PM Flag
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let me guess: chappaqua? bedford? yorktown heights? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:22 PM Flag
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honestly you guys are Full of Sh&T - when did becoming "dark" Italian become an ethnicity??? I am a blind Italian in New Canaan CT FROM the Hudson Valley and I have one blonde son and one 9 month old with DARK hair - everyone here comments on how "dark" he is but I would expect that from WASP's and wanna-bees are you kidding that you just posted that about our "dark I-talian ethnicity and acceptance in the US- Most people here are pissed about the loss of a woman pres - Goood LORD - no you have me fired up [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 07:14 PM Flag
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OR: What is your damage exactly? That many Southern Italians have darker skin? It is an ethnicity. It's my ethnicity. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 09:13 AM Flag
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np: This is a bizarre response, yikes. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:15 PM Flag
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Places I've thought about: New Orleans, Austin, Tucson. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:42 PM Flag
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really? i have a weird bias against the south (not very open or diverse of me i know). but i have never been to any of those places. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:43 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:50 PM Flag
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Well, what you're saying is pretty stupid so you must be right. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:53 PM Flag
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i told you so... soon i'll start wring snarky posts to people i don't know on urban baby [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 01:04 PM Flag
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np. I love you! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 06:50 AM Flag
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i live in the south and am brilliant and articulate. your intelligence is fleeting if you lose it according to location. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:04 PM Flag
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and modest [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:36 PM Flag
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Just my opinion, but you should get a sense of humor. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:07 AM Flag
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seriously... wasn't that clearly a joke ?! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:30 AM Flag
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not everyone from the South is biased and stupid. These generalizations don't seem very open minded [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 09:38 PM Flag
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they might not sound open minded, but I live in the South and it is another world. Leave a major city or some of the college towns and you are in "Deliverance". That is a reality. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 01:06 PM Flag
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Austin?? I lived there, and it is hardly Deliverance land. You may "live" in the South, but you don't know it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:03 PM Flag
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i don't count Texas... perhaps i was not specific enough. i am refering to NC, SC, GA, MS, AL, LA... not Fl and not VA... I never really think of texas as "The South" even though geographically it clearly is... Austin is also a college town which makes it somewhat immune anyway... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 06:20 AM Flag
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and i was raised in the south, live in the south, and feel i "know" the south... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 06:30 AM Flag
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you're the worst kind of snob - acting like you are better than the people who raised you or at least around whom you were raised. get the hell out of the south if it's so terrible. have you been in the rural areas of any state outside of the south? there are rednecks everywhere. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:06 PM Flag
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OK... I guess you're right. I'll pack up and move and maybe experience something real like you have. I won't form any opinions - even after 30+ years wherever I go - and I'll pretend that everything is buttercups and happy... probably all the stats about education and school success and rebel flags and anti-semetic comments and fear of anthing "different" are my immagination... thanks for opening my eyes. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 06:24 AM Flag
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I'm still here and here's the thing. I have lived in all regions of the US. Also have lived in three countries abroad. I'm educated and have chosen to return to the south to be near family. I don't love everything about it - am far from pretending everything is buttercups. But I don't think it makes me superior to dismiss all non-urban areas of the south as "delieverance land." I truly believe that people who feel the need to do that are insecure about being raised in the south and are trying to find a way to separate themselves from the people who never left. Just my opinion. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 06:45 AM Flag
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What I feel is honesty you feel is superiority... I have also lived abroad, in NYC, the West Coast and am now back in the South again. I am secure enough to tell the truth as I see it... you see it another way... Try a few years far from a major city and see how you feel about it then. Would you raise a fmily there ? Eager to have you DC raised without variety and amongst people who aspire to not a whole hell of a lot ? I have no need to be PC about what I see here, but if you want to toot your own horn or "defend" the rural south as a good place for someone looking for an eclectic vibe and diversity, have at it ! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:22 AM Flag
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"redneck" is a farmer or worker who is in the sun all day. hence "redneck". it is not someone backward, FYI, as you seem to be saying [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 06:32 AM Flag
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thank you. i've very clear on the origins of "redneck." but i think you can infer from the thread that i was talking about the uneducated people in "deliverance land" (not my words.) i appreciate the enlightenment, though. I'm not the snob here. I know you can find interesting people whereever you go if you're willing to have an open mind. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 06:47 AM Flag
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that's right, you're educated... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 10:30 AM Flag
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. . . and you'd say that everywhere but major cities and some college towns is DELIVERANCE? Oh please . . . . [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 09:10 AM Flag
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np: not deliverance, but pretty segregated [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:56 PM Flag
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cross off New Orleans... not a good place right now... two days in the Quarter, good... more than that, not good... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:49 PM Flag
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Most people don't live in the Quarter. New Orleans is an amazing place to live. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 01:01 PM Flag
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I know most res. don't live in the quarter, but all of our friends who are still there or have gone back say it is a really hard place to live right now... services are not up to where they were, crime is very bad, and it's still not something they feel good about yet. I love NOLA, but I don't think it'd be my first choice right now... that's all [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 06:27 AM Flag
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austin is segregated, isn't it? latinos on one end, white on the other [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:56 PM Flag
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i fantasize about living in NOLA also. i have a relative in tucson and it's not what i expected. it's actually quite odd. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 08:54 PM Flag
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san fransisco baby. love it [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:42 PM Flag
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But San Francisco is one of the whitest places in the country. (Well, maybe not the country, since like the poster above said, diversity in the US is hard to find.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:43 PM Flag
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wrong-o tons of asians, latinos (not many aas i suppose) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:44 PM Flag
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Maine is the whitest place in the country [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:49 PM Flag
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well, after my ass. -np [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 02:16 PM Flag
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are you kidding?! it's half asian. (i'm from there and i'm asian american). you've never been there? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 04:03 AM Flag
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Also large Black population. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 02:24 PM Flag
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No way! San Francisco area has large black, hispanic and asian populations as well as a lot more people of mixed ethnic backgrounds. Also more with native american backgrounds. And more tolerance of diversity. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:23 PM Flag
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i'm asian, have lived in sf, now live in brooklyn. brooklyn is diverse. i thought i knew everything about the world when i lived in sf. truth is, even if it's ethnically diverse, it is so segregated in terms of socioeconomic groups. everyone IN san francisco proper is relatively well-off, in terms of educational background, if not monetarily. none of us 'poor artists' were actually hobnobbing with the working class black, hispanic and asians. we were hobnobbing with other minorities, yes, but we were all privileged minorities. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 08:58 AM Flag
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Asheville, NC [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:47 PM Flag
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asheville is the definition of funky eclectic! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:04 PM Flag
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and great weather ! love it... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:43 AM Flag
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hey, i live in Quincy mass and it's pretty diverse but i wouldn't say it's the hottest place o live in the us! and teh schools are not so good. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:48 PM Flag
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How about Jamaica Plain, MA--that's where we are. Tho we are moving to Melrose, MA--not quite a suburb, but has a great main street, good schools and diverse. And affordable. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:11 PM Flag
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Melrose is very suburban [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:29 PM Flag
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hijack- where in melrose? we live there too. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 04:43 PM Flag
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Do you think it is suburban? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 05:29 PM Flag
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Prospect Street--where are you? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 05:32 PM Flag
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university towns [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:49 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 04:55 PM Flag
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I think so - you'll get more racial diversity not limited to economic inequality [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:01 PM Flag
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Plus interesting people and businesses. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:02 PM Flag
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Right, b/c brown people are great to have around whereas poor people suck. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:03 PM Flag
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you miss the point - what I meant that in many cities "racially diverse," means rich whites/poor blacks and/or hispanics in segregated neighborhoods [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:08 PM Flag
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First OR: I don't think she meant it quite like that. My parents live in a town where there are a lot of Latinos. They are separated at school a lot for ESL, and my fear living there is that DC would just think Latinos cut lawns and clean houses. Much different than their experience in Brooklyn. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:08 PM Flag
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thanks, yes, this is what I meant [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:10 PM Flag
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i live in a university town. it's very culturally diverse, but it's not economically diverse. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:03 PM Flag
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I grew up in one, and this was true. But it was a great place. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:00 PM Flag
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Miami Beach; very cultural and diverse economically and ethnically. Old, young, black, white, latin, international. everything . . . [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 05:08 PM Flag
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I found Salt Lake City to be extremely diverse. And it's *only* 40% LDS. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:02 PM Flag
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I've heard really good things about SLC post Olympics. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:05 PM Flag
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It was really nice. A city vibe but nice big houses w/in city limits. Great parks. Close to skiing. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:07 PM Flag
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houston can be funky if you live in Montrose or the Heights. But once you leave those neighborhoods its much less so. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:08 PM Flag
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When I visited Houston recently, I was struck at how diverse and integrated it has become. I grew up there in the 70s, and where I lived was completely white. Minorities were, as was said above, servants, if we saw them at all. I saw all different ethnicities in my old neighborhood on my last visit. Restaurants were fully integrated. It seemed like paradise for black people! All the black people I saw looked prosperous and confident. There may be a different reality at the ground level, but Houston is not the lily-white southern town you picture or that I grew up in. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:09 PM Flag
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portland, me but not racially diverse. funky though [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:09 PM Flag
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asheville rocks! if i could make money there i'd move in a second [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:09 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:53 PM Flag
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I was just in Austin and it was okay, but man, I didn't love it. I expected it to have more of a main shopping downtown area, and there just wasn't. Barton Springs was fab though. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 06:56 PM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 09:40 PM Flag
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SO expensive and not $ diverse. Its upper middle/lower upper well educated types and a huge homeless population, not much in the middle. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 04:27 AM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 06:27 PM Flag
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I moved to Austin 2 months ago and so far I like it a lot. Cute downtown, gorgeous weather, interesting people. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:02 PM Flag
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Austin is so white. Totally segregated! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:58 PM Flag
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Berkeley [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 09:39 PM Flag
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Santa Fe. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.02.08, 09:48 PM Flag
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diverse in what sense? SF is pretty segregated - white and anglo/native americans/hispanics - few blacks. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 06:15 AM Flag
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We just moved to seattle and it is VERY diverse and interesting. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 12:19 AM Flag
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not to rainy and depressing? That was one of my top choices but i am freaked out by the weather [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 04:34 AM Flag
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PORTLAND OREGON!!! all that and more! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 05:41 AM Flag
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We are moving to Portland next year - but I've heard there's a large white supremacist population there. Is that true? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 02:22 PM Flag
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np: i'm from oregon, and it's a pretty white state historically, but it's not true that there's a large white supremacist population in pdx. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:17 PM Flag
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home of the self-righteous [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 10:58 AM Flag
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The weather is mostly great in Seattle, seriously. No storms, no hard rain, no cold winters or humid summers. It's mild (I lived there about 4.5 years, and finally missed having more discernable seasons), and you most often get some clouds / very light rain *and* sun in the same day -- it changes a lot. It's beautiful. You may get several cloudy weeks in a row in the winter with no sumnny days, but that's the only "depressing" time. Summer weather is often California-beautiful (80 and sunny). If worries about the weather are the only thing keeping you from Seattle, definitely get on the next plane! It is really white, though. Diversity and intellectual discussion were the other things I missed about NY (that was before I had a child). No place is perfect-- Good luck :-) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 06:57 PM Flag
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I disagree, the weather definitely made me move away from Seattle. I love the city and the region, but I just can't live on 50F year round (even in the summer at night, ugh). I need warmer weather and more sun than I can get in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest coast (Portland, OR included). Have you seen the stats for overcast days in a year? Seattle, Portland and a bunch of cities in that area all have more than 200 days/year. Ugh. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:00 PM Flag
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I lived in Seattle for three years and I must disagree with your assessment. Seattle is not the wettest place in the USA, that is true. The thing, though, is that most of the year it is very gloomy. You can always expect that when it is sunny and nice it will turn around any time. When it rains or it's gloomy don't expect it to get better anytime soon. Seattle is trapped between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascades. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:04 PM Flag
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Where are you finding this diversity? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:55 PM Flag
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San Francisco. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 02:09 PM Flag
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Philly, Northampton MA [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:21 PM Flag
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Not OP but curious, anyone like Philly? I'm a real New Yorker, but DH wants out. Know the schools suck, but we could afford private since real estate is less. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 06:18 AM Flag
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native ny-er and loving philly. we technically live outside of the city on the main line, but so close to philly. lots to do, great restaurants, good diversity, lacking ny's "edge" [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 09:37 AM Flag
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op: i have spent a lot of time in northamton and do love it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:38 PM Flag
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Philly is a good idea. It's a real city with a much more manageable cost of living than NYC and you can live in a suburb with great schools (like Lower Merion) and a real town center and still be only 20 minutes from downtown. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 09:24 AM Flag
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Portland [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 06:58 AM Flag
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brooklyn [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 07:43 AM Flag
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ho! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 02:39 PM Flag
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THIS IS IT!!!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:59 PM Flag
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Berkeley [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 10:03 AM Flag
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Harlem or Spanish Harlem [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 12:54 PM Flag
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New Orleans!!!!!!! So much fun to live there. The people are fantastic. If you want funky, eclectic and diverse this is your place. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 01:03 PM Flag
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bROOKLYN BABY! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:59 PM Flag
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OP: I am so proud this made the most popular! I feel like perhaps i should make a speech or get an award. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 05:29 PM Flag
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go for it! but start a new thread for your speech b/c the board is s.l.o.w. tonight. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 05:31 PM Flag
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Providence would be great for you. Funky, eclectic, and there is some diversity. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 07:16 PM Flag
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I love Providence! and it' [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 08:59 PM Flag
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^^it's super diverse: Laotians, Dominicans, Cape Verdeans, Portuguese, Italian, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 09:00 PM Flag
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np: and it has Alfornos! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.16.08, 07:10 PM Flag
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Portland, Oregon! Great town, very eclectic. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.04.08, 08:52 PM Flag
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Why, Ithaca New York of course! Very good public schools, huge amount of great music, theatre and movies thanks to Cornell and Ithaca College, very international community, farmer's market, supermarket with international ingredients, beautiful nature (winter is tough though). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:02 AM Flag
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do you live there? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:49 AM Flag
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yes I do (sorry I stepped away, don't know if you are still here) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 09:04 AM Flag
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oh no! another Ithacan on the site! I have always been the only one when I've said I lived here...we'd better not reveal too much information...or maybe I already know you :-) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 10:36 AM Flag
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How funny! I think this might be my first post. Chances are we probably know each other--I suppose we should mention in the disadvantages of Ithaca that the town is very small! (And you can find out way too much about any man you may be interested in by asking all the people you know who have already had truck with him.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 12:07 PM Flag
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truck, huh? :-) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.06.08, 12:08 AM Flag
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New York City, baby!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.05.08, 08:17 PM Flag
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brooklyn! queens!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 08:54 AM Flag
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I'm in Cambridge, MA. My block is half white, and half black. The half that's white includes Russian, French and Australian families (as well as American-born WASPs like me.) The public schools are getting better, plus there are privates. Lots to do; not sure if it's "funky." Economic diversity, also, if that is of interest. Weather sucks, but my kids like the snow. I moved here under duress but I have grown to love it! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 04:17 PM Flag
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San Diego [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.09.08, 08:04 PM Flag
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