I would definitely give Chicago and the Twin Cities a second look. Yes, winters can be hard, but it's an adjustment that can be made, like anything else. The Great Lakes are gorgeous like few places on Earth. Or if you're really anti-winter, Sacramento.
sorry to hear that you might leave Austin. I always appreciated yall having a Texas correspondent, but leaving is of course understandable. I left when I was 18 and have been back and forth a bit in my adult life but probably returning permanently soon for the completely predictable reason you already mentioned of having family around to help raise kids. I was talking to my brother just last night about how Austin ISD is falling apart though, so maybe we'll all have to flee together someday.
Anyway agree New Mexico is deserted and I'm a city person but the food is good and I feel like they are quietly one of the more progressive state governments. I think basically anyone can get free tuition at state universities? That's way better than all the bullshit that Cuomo or Hochul has offered in New York https://www.krqe.com/news-resources/understanding-new-mexicos-free-college-offer/
I think being in the Austin area (I believe that's where you're at) you're already in a fairly expensive spot in the US. Unless you go to the bay or NYC you should be as ok as one can be anymore. I am looking to get out of this hell state as well. I want my daughters to be treated as full humans not broodmares.
Vermont! Downsides: yes it's very white and very old, and accordingly stays stuck in ruts of protestant/"Yankee"/Boomer moralism. Also, tough to find housing and work, unless you're up for retail/service industry or can work remotely. Upsides: it's frickin gorgeous (winter is cold but not brutal/demoralizing -- probably attributable to climate change...?), it's way more liberal than most of America, and it's really close to Canada...
We moved to VT a year ago when my home state of NC became unbearable for more reasons than I have the energy to type, and it took me half my life to get to that point (meaning, I'm 52...Also, I lived in TX, TN, NC, & MD, so mostly states w/ terrible politics). Don't let yourself take as long as I did!! Get the F out. To the northeast, CA, or maybe the Pacific NW?
I would suggest reconsidering Chicago or Minneapolis. The Great Lakes are going to be just about the most valuable source of water in coming years, climate change is making Chicago feel more like New Orleans anyway. Plus, people are generally nice, level headed and leave other people alone.
This sounds a lot like the conversation I have with my therapist once every month or so. My particulars are different (I'm trans and live in the mountain west), but the thought process is similar. It often feels to me like leaving is what they want me to do, and my people are here, so I stay.
Colorado. Reliably protected abortion rights, mostly excellent weather (yes it gets cold in the winter, but even so it's generally nice except for snowstorms, which melt away in like a day). Denver is expensive, and there are plenty of annoying classist liberals, but as a state it's got lots to like.
I don’t know where this concept that it’s somehow giving up to move your family somewhere that is safer came from. Immigrants have done it for centuries, just because you’re leaving a part of the US or the US all together to start a life that is potentially better for you and your kids doesn’t make that choice any less valid. I married a Dutch guy and we used to talk about moving back to the US, but now that we have kids it’s never going to happen. Not that The Netherlands is all that much better than the US, it’s very much slip-sliding into a nationalist nightmare, but at least my kids never have to do a lockdown drill, we have affordable healthcare and we can bike everywhere. Hope you find a new place to live that is safer for you and your husband.
Ann Arbor, Detroit, or Grand Rapids, MI. Yes, cold, but not running out of water (perfect location for climate crisis), diverse-for-the-midwest, good beers. Put on a coat in the winter.
This really resonates. I live in Idaho and it’s a state I love and want to help fight for. It feels wrong somehow to leave when so many others don’t have the same luxury, but if I were to get pregnant complications are likely and that terrifies me. It’s all just so shitty. I hope you find your place!
San Diego Pros: there's beaches a short drive or walk away, depending on location. it's the eighth-largest metro area in the country. very healthy job market and there's opportunities in communications. you can huck tomatoes at the OAN building. food is top-notch, especially burritos. the hospitals tend to do pretty quality work. and the biggest one - the weather is perfect nine months a year.
San Diego Cons: food and shelter do not come cheap. the best thing that can be said about traffic is "it's not as bad as LA." east county is basically a western version of rural texas. and the biggest one - people tend to not stay here, so it's really easy to make friends only to watch them move away like nothing.
Philly!
albuquerque has nearly 600,000 people—i think new mexico ticks a lot of your boxes!
I would definitely give Chicago and the Twin Cities a second look. Yes, winters can be hard, but it's an adjustment that can be made, like anything else. The Great Lakes are gorgeous like few places on Earth. Or if you're really anti-winter, Sacramento.
sorry to hear that you might leave Austin. I always appreciated yall having a Texas correspondent, but leaving is of course understandable. I left when I was 18 and have been back and forth a bit in my adult life but probably returning permanently soon for the completely predictable reason you already mentioned of having family around to help raise kids. I was talking to my brother just last night about how Austin ISD is falling apart though, so maybe we'll all have to flee together someday.
Anyway agree New Mexico is deserted and I'm a city person but the food is good and I feel like they are quietly one of the more progressive state governments. I think basically anyone can get free tuition at state universities? That's way better than all the bullshit that Cuomo or Hochul has offered in New York https://www.krqe.com/news-resources/understanding-new-mexicos-free-college-offer/
I think being in the Austin area (I believe that's where you're at) you're already in a fairly expensive spot in the US. Unless you go to the bay or NYC you should be as ok as one can be anymore. I am looking to get out of this hell state as well. I want my daughters to be treated as full humans not broodmares.
sounds like we might enter the era of Portland Sam!
Vermont! Downsides: yes it's very white and very old, and accordingly stays stuck in ruts of protestant/"Yankee"/Boomer moralism. Also, tough to find housing and work, unless you're up for retail/service industry or can work remotely. Upsides: it's frickin gorgeous (winter is cold but not brutal/demoralizing -- probably attributable to climate change...?), it's way more liberal than most of America, and it's really close to Canada...
We moved to VT a year ago when my home state of NC became unbearable for more reasons than I have the energy to type, and it took me half my life to get to that point (meaning, I'm 52...Also, I lived in TX, TN, NC, & MD, so mostly states w/ terrible politics). Don't let yourself take as long as I did!! Get the F out. To the northeast, CA, or maybe the Pacific NW?
I would suggest reconsidering Chicago or Minneapolis. The Great Lakes are going to be just about the most valuable source of water in coming years, climate change is making Chicago feel more like New Orleans anyway. Plus, people are generally nice, level headed and leave other people alone.
This sounds a lot like the conversation I have with my therapist once every month or so. My particulars are different (I'm trans and live in the mountain west), but the thought process is similar. It often feels to me like leaving is what they want me to do, and my people are here, so I stay.
My backup plan is Boulder, CO.
Colorado. Reliably protected abortion rights, mostly excellent weather (yes it gets cold in the winter, but even so it's generally nice except for snowstorms, which melt away in like a day). Denver is expensive, and there are plenty of annoying classist liberals, but as a state it's got lots to like.
I don’t know where this concept that it’s somehow giving up to move your family somewhere that is safer came from. Immigrants have done it for centuries, just because you’re leaving a part of the US or the US all together to start a life that is potentially better for you and your kids doesn’t make that choice any less valid. I married a Dutch guy and we used to talk about moving back to the US, but now that we have kids it’s never going to happen. Not that The Netherlands is all that much better than the US, it’s very much slip-sliding into a nationalist nightmare, but at least my kids never have to do a lockdown drill, we have affordable healthcare and we can bike everywhere. Hope you find a new place to live that is safer for you and your husband.
I'd consider a nation in S. America where sociallism over cspitolism is making a comeback with voters. Brazil, Columbia, maybe Argintina or Chile.
Ann Arbor, Detroit, or Grand Rapids, MI. Yes, cold, but not running out of water (perfect location for climate crisis), diverse-for-the-midwest, good beers. Put on a coat in the winter.
The Tacoma, WA general area might be a good spot.
This really resonates. I live in Idaho and it’s a state I love and want to help fight for. It feels wrong somehow to leave when so many others don’t have the same luxury, but if I were to get pregnant complications are likely and that terrifies me. It’s all just so shitty. I hope you find your place!
San Diego Pros: there's beaches a short drive or walk away, depending on location. it's the eighth-largest metro area in the country. very healthy job market and there's opportunities in communications. you can huck tomatoes at the OAN building. food is top-notch, especially burritos. the hospitals tend to do pretty quality work. and the biggest one - the weather is perfect nine months a year.
San Diego Cons: food and shelter do not come cheap. the best thing that can be said about traffic is "it's not as bad as LA." east county is basically a western version of rural texas. and the biggest one - people tend to not stay here, so it's really easy to make friends only to watch them move away like nothing.