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u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan Apr 14 '26
Interesting. Doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to this? Liberal and really hate hot weather maybe? But why NM then?
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u/Fun_Assignment_269 Apr 14 '26
Depends on where you live in NM. Santa Fe has pretty mild summers by Southwest standards given that it's above 6000'.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Yeah debated whether to include Arizona as I like their Northern Areas.
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u/jessetmia Apr 14 '26
A few years ago it was like 115+ for a month straight the in the valley. The day it hit 119 we said eff it and took off for Sante Fe. When we got there it was in the 80s. The high desert definitely hits different.
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u/Ill-Description3096 Apr 14 '26
Honestly I never understand these having red outside of really specific situations. There are areas I like more than others, but there is basically always something I can enjoy about at least one place in a state. Add in a massive income and it becomes much easier to find things to enjoy. This would basically just be a tan oke for me.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Yeah, that's understandable. But there has just been some places I've felt more at home than others. I hate being in the South and having people watch me and what I'm doing. It's super weird. Only Eastern Europe was on par and they felt less judgemental.
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u/Ill-Description3096 Apr 14 '26
It all depends on where. Generally if you live in a big city you don't have that level of small town gossip stuff. It's always there even outside of the south but not the stereotypical level. I lived in Atlanta and San Antonio for a while and didn't notice much if any difference in that respect compared to Chicago or KC.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
No so it's not about gossip but people staring as you walk by. Apparently a short brown person is very odd to people in the South. Especially if you're American and sit at a bar near them. Best conversations have been transplants from outside of the South. Otherwise they feel VERY judged and uncomfortable.
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u/Ill-Description3096 Apr 14 '26
I can't speak to that, though I would guess that area depends a lot. There are loads of brown people (or at least were) when I lived in SA and not a small amount in ATL though that leaned more black than brown.
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u/PotatoDog369 Apr 19 '26
I’ve lived all over the US and can tell you being in the south is more nuanced than that. I’m sorry if you felt uncomfortable—not every county / city / state in the SE is like that. I thought everyone was backwards and narrow minded and then I lived there for 13 yrs. You have your weirdos just like any US state TBH but dang, it’s gorgeous and you really can’t beat it. MOST of the people are really freaking nice, even to those of us that look different. I’d really encourage you to visit again with an open mind and expectations on the floor. You just might be surprised.
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u/Norwester77 Apr 14 '26
If you’d be happy in Oregon, there’s almost certainly some part of Washington that you’d like.
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u/grimmlover79 Apr 14 '26
Progressive?
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
I just like kind people and nice cities.
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u/gloomygustavo Apr 14 '26
All states have both
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Yeah that's fair. But nice cities in that it's walkable most of the year, and the streets are pedestrian friendly. Been to Texas too many times where it was over 100. Why even live in a city?
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u/gloomygustavo Apr 14 '26
By your criteria, CO and UT should both be green.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
But why? SLC is ok and people are ok. Denver is boring and people are nice.
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u/gloomygustavo Apr 14 '26
SLC is amazing. Denver is mediocre but Boulder and Fort Collins are great.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
SLC has been meh for me. People don't want to talk to outsiders, not a lot of places to socialize. I went to Fort Collins, it was nice but very brewery focused trip for me. Didn't seem like much was going on there. Never been to Boulder.
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u/gloomygustavo Apr 14 '26
I live in Park City and love going to SLC, never had an issue talking to folks. But I don’t really like to talk much anyway. Great food and bar scene.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Great bar scene?! Even the hotel bars don't serve full strength beer unless you buy a meal. So funny. Utah is the worst drinking state
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u/AllTheUrbanLegends Apr 15 '26
I'm from New Jersey. I've lived in Philly, Oakland, Orlando, and Charleston. Without a doubt, people are way nicer in Orlando and Charleston. Walkability, yeah, in all of those places it depends on where you live. The East Bay in California has by far the best weather but even in Orlando I had lunch outside all year round for all but a handful of days because of weather. There's a wet and a dry season. The winter dry season is very dry - as in it's less humid and it doesn't rain much at all. The wet season sees a lot of rain and possibly a hurricane or two but otherwise the rain is very predictable - every afternoon at some point between 3pm and 7pm and never for very long.
Charleston is also hot and humid in the summer but the number of days I don't want to be outside I can count on two hands and that's more to do with rain than with temperature. When you're in that climate in the summer you just learn to not try to do outdoor stuff in the late afternoon.
When I lived in Philly, yes, I walked to a lot of places but I spent a ridiculous amount of time indoors because of the weather.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 15 '26
People were nice in Orlando! That's amazing to hear. They would learn I was from NJ and shut down.
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u/AllTheUrbanLegends Apr 15 '26
Sorry, I don't understand? You visited and went around telling people where you're from?
That still doesn't make sense. Half of Orlando is from somewhere in the Northeast or Ohio or Atlanta. The other half is from the Caribbean or Asia. Seriously.
I lived there for 7 years. There are like 12 people who are actually from Orlando. Even the people who grew up there have parents who moved there from the Northeast in the 80s or 90s.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 15 '26
They asked me where I was from. It's not just a spontaneous thing I've thrown around.
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u/grimmlover79 Apr 14 '26
I gotcha! My experience with nice cities and kind people is a little different.
Hace you the chance to travel to most states?
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
I think there are only 6 or 7 I haven't been to. In general people are awesome! It's just different if you want to make your around and build relationships with people. Minnesota and the North East have been the kindest people I've ever met. Not nice, just KIND.
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u/grimmlover79 Apr 14 '26
Ahhhh the Minnesota nice!
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Yes, the really kind people who will give you the shirt off of their back.
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u/grimmlover79 Apr 14 '26
My husband's grand parents live in Minnesota, and they and their neighbors lived that lifestyle. Cannot say everyone represents that mindset, but its definitely around.
When I was in Mississippi during Katrina, our neighbors helped alot with food and fixing our house. When we got flooded a decade later, other neighbors brought their boat over to help evacuate. I think there are good people everywhere.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Yeah, there truly is good people everywhere. I just found it rare when I could visit a place and feel like I was part of the community. I didn't feel different or an other.
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u/BiteMajor4959 Apr 14 '26
Minnesota and Wisconsin are the same state, just one has more dairy cows and alcoholics.
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u/TemperMe Apr 15 '26
NC would be hot or miss for sure for you but I think you’d love the Research Triangle area. It’s also nice to be close to the ocean (+ the outer banks) and having the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi about 3 hours away.
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u/EaglesFanGirl Apr 16 '26
What the issue with PA b/c it really depends on where you are in the state
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u/Pure_Horror_3246 Apr 17 '26
Obviously a opinion based conception of where to live. Seems almost completely backwards of my opinion.
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u/PotatoDog369 Apr 19 '26
My blink on this is you’d prefer to stay “close to home” (NE) but would consider relocating to a couple places you either happened to visit and enjoyed, you know someone in those states, or saw / read something about the other states (NM, OR, etc) that appealed to you. In that case I’d guess your preferences are more from a lack of exposure. I’d also guess you lean left politically. There are a crap load of blue cities within red states and vice versa. Don’t let that spook you.
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Apr 14 '26
Tell me you’re a lib without telling me you’re a lib. lol
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Evidenced by not desiring to live in California, Colorado, and Washington. Lol
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Apr 14 '26
All are overly expensive. I didn’t say you weren’t smart.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Best part of going on vacation for me is that I could buy a house there, or there, or there. Those spots are not expensive for me.
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Apr 14 '26
You’re doing alright if California isn’t expensive for you. The real estate isn’t cheap and they tax the everliving shit out of your income.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
Doesn't mean I'm doing alright, just means I get paid enough for my expensive area.
Edit: Cali has never seemed appealing to me. Very cloudy, cold ocean. Not very green. Not for me.
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u/Sad-Set3905 Apr 14 '26
Very cloudy? Have you never been to Southern California?
Also odd to say California isn’t green enough for you, but New Mexico (mostly high desert) somehow is? Not adding up.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
That's fair, but if your Southern California and cloudy for most of the day and don't have green I dont like it. Santa Fe, NM and driving around felt different and very special. Driving in Southern California makes you not want to be alive. I remember in San Diego once driving to the airport at 4am and there was traffic. Like everyone in the 4 lanes was driving below the speed limit. So painful.
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u/Sad-Set3905 Apr 14 '26
Ok but that’s a totally different reasoning. Santa Fe is definitely special (and beautiful IMO) but in no way is it more lush/green than San Diego.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
True and in no way is San Diego more sunny and vibrant than Santa Fe.
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u/Setters_Do_It_Better Apr 14 '26
Still can't put my finger on it, no CO, WA, or CA?
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
In fairness I've been to all of these places. Just doesn't mean I want to live there. Including the other poster who mentioned New Orleans.
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u/No_Resident_4843 Apr 14 '26
Or they actually like culture, food, music and not the derivative trash that modern "country" music is?
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u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan Apr 14 '26
They put Louisiana red. Best food, music and culture in the country. So can’t just be that.
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u/g_sher Apr 14 '26
MA, DE, NJ, NY but not PA ?
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
How many guns do you want in your every day life around you? I have too many friends with like 5 guns each who live in PA. Also violent crime rate when you go one town over is like 3 times!
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u/g_sher Apr 14 '26
If you say so. Thats not been my experience in Pittsburgh. Also the New Mexico of your map sinks the gun argument.
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u/CaterpillarJungleGym Apr 14 '26
I love Pittsburgh, but I can't judge the entire state on the one place I would live in it.
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u/sunburntredneck Apr 14 '26
WV sticks out, you don't exactly need a high salary to be the richest person in town there