If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Would you live in the city or country?
The beach or mountains?
Would you live in a high rise or a log cabin?
Would you like to live where it’s hot or cold?
Just throwing out some ideas! Use your imagination!
I actually have to think about it some 
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Mmm 
I’ve lived in alot of countries around the world and you know, I’d stay right here, in Bristol England. Here’s why? It’s diverse, trendy, a little whacky. It has a huge maritime history of Brunel and the SS Great Britain, railway history, and pirates. It’s full of lots of ghostly tales, old buildings. The people are friendly and laid back. Downside, it’s expensive to live here and like all cities has issues with pollution and crime. But I still choose Bristol 
. Here’s a few photos I got of Google.
Bedminster, where you have to paint your house a funky colour.
Bristol allows graffiti on a building as long as it’s good, we have Banksy.
Old architecture shopping streets
Great nightlife at the docks
Incredible builds
Maritime history.
Plenty of green spaces.
Yeah, I think I’ll stay put. 
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Oh, travel questions- my favorite! 
I would love to live in a cute little cottage surrounded by gardens and forests. A mountain or ocean view would be a huge bonus 
As for the country… tough to say! Best place to visit is Japan hands down, but living there long-term was tricky. I guess I’d vote to stay here in the US now that we’ve got my partner’s green card all settled. Immigration and visa stuff is oof and I’m quite exhausted by it at this point 
Let us know when you decide! 
So beautiful! Looks like you’ve found your happy place 
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It would probably be France, maybe Spain. Maybe somewhere in the Pyrenees. In a small Basque town in the mountains in a semi-abandoned farmhouse or home that I would work on to renovate close to the woods. It would have to already have electrical and plumbing and access to internet though (I’m not that good at DIY!). It would be near a river or a stream, because I love being near water. My dog and I could live in relaxation, but I could still work from home (if I wanted to…). And the food would be good and I would have very few neighbors (a positive for me!).
Other Positives - I could reconnect with my family in France and my culture and language (Basque). There is socialized medicine and other supports bought into by taxes that I would be happy to pay (different than the U.S.). Healthier food options and activity options. Beautiful countryside.
Downsides - I would need to work a lot to renovate a house, figure out how to buy an abandoned house in another country, work to pay for it all - could I work from home for a U.S. company in France? maybe? (but I’m a dual citizen USA/EU so…), and import a dog / travel with a large dog across the Atlantic. It would be complicated… But it’s a great dream! 
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Florida because the people are friendly and mostly happy. Also because I love it there. I love the heat, being in the ocean, on the beach, in a pool, and wearing very little to no clothing clothing.
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That’s a difficult one… I love the city, but I enjoy pieces of nature.
A green city, perhaps, would be ideal.
MOUNTAINS! 
chaos elmo emoji
[https://www.everythingnewzealand.com/mt-cook-activities/]
But it’s not a requirement.
An apartment complex with its own facilities.
I’m fulfilling one criterion of my dream, I suppose.
Cold. 100%.
What are we still doing in Sydney?
Excluding future climate projections…
Perhaps somewhere in China where it snows in winter, but not too much. Then we can say nice weather in addition to lovely people, nice food, a nicer system, a language we’re interested in learning/maintaining, a rich culture full of wonderful ancient philosophers, and there’s so much cool tech development there.
[Top Things to Do in Beijing, China]
New Zealand could also be a possibility. Probably the south island?
[https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/australia-pacific/new-zealand-south-island-travel-guide/]
Taiwan might be a consideration, but the weather and natural disaster potential is probably a deal breaker… Taipei is one of those places where you can experience cuisine and cultures from all around Asia. After having lived in Taipei for a year, enjoyed its hot springs, mountain trails, diverse food, vibrant night markets, great public transport system, friendly people, and technology towns, I was a little disappointed visiting Tokyo. It was still fun to stay in for a few weeks, but it was missing something more… soulful?
[The 13 Best Things to See and Do in Taipei in 2024]
We wouldn’t consider Macedonia… Just… too many problems. It might not even exist in a few decades with the way things are going, either.
And that’s the extent of the places we’ve both been.
I’ll have to come back to you in a few years with a clearer decision. 
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Switzerland for sure
in a village not far from the city so that I can work
no crime better way of life discipline cleanliness!
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Hmmm… I would have to think about this one… I have traveled, but not much outside of the United States. Unless you count Canada when I was very young & an 8 night Cruise in the Caribbean I’ve lived in several states though & spent time in others. I will have to think about this one because I have so many answers right now!
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I would love to have a secluded cabin in the wooded mountains in Tennessee. I loved living in Tennessee but came back to Minnesota to be close to my daughters and grandkids. But I would love the greenery of the forest and mountains and the peace and quit again.
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I would instinctively say mountains, because when we moved from southern California up to the PNW years ago, we stopped at a town in the middle of the mountains and it just felt like… home. Crisp and clear and breathtakingly beautiful. I loved it immediately. I actually cried when we had to hit the road again.
I’ve lived in the desert, the grasslands, and now I live somewhere I affectionately call “like Endor, but with a beach”… Ultimately, my favorite type of place is where I can experience all 4 seasons annually. There’s just something about it.
We’re moving to Florida next month, so we’ll see what that’s like!
@tracyS Whoa, that looks awesome. 
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I’d like to live in a moderate climate. Not too cold. Not too hot, but experience the 4 seasons. I would love a log cabin in the woods with a little stream. But close enough to a city that has shops and some diverse culture.
I’ve thought about New Zealand. Beautiful landscape. It’s safe. It’s laid back and quiet.
Down side is extreme hot and cold and high standard of living.
I’ve also thought about Napa Valley, CA. Moderate weather. Out of the city.
Sounds like a great place to live with some fun activities!
I love it!
It could be a fun project! I’ve thought about an old Victorian house with a dumb waiter and secret passages! Another thought is an old farmhouse!
Lovely! I love the little clothes part!
A very nice place! A green city is an awesome idea!
Wonderful!
I love the woods and mountains! And peace and quiet!
That sounds absolutely wonderful!
This is fun! I think I’m going to post a weekly topic. Something relatively general. Probably some about witchcraft. It will just be a general conversation starter. Nothing controversial. Just a casual conversation starter!
If there’s any topics you’d like to discuss please message me so it can be a surprise!
I hope you’re enjoying this topic and I’m looking forward to seeing more! 
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@Sivonnah Ive got some awesome two-piece thong swimsuits. I usually order from Skinzwear in clearwater, Florida.
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I would live in Kyoto Japan
I love Japanese culture and I feel connected to it
The countryside
I would love to see every cultural event for that year
My favorite is the Japanese lantern festival
all hidden shrines spirits to
And many many other reasons I would live there
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Great question!!!
I haven’t travelled much so I am only going off of pictures and some general knowledge (hopefully fairly accurate)
I would love to live in a house on a wooded lot with a stream running through it (the lot, not the house 
). I would love to live in Scotland. I don’t know much about the health care etc so I am going off of a bit of ‘romantic notion’. One side of the family is from Scotland. I love rainy days and I love sweater weather. From the looks of the weather in Scotland I could get away with sweater weather most of the year! I would like it to be country but with a city within under an hour’s drive.
And it seems like it would be fairly easy to visit a lot of Europe from there as well.
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Sounds beautiful!
I never made it to New Zealand- I was so close to doing their working holiday program, but I went to Europe instead. Now I think I’m too old for the program (there’s an age limit) 
Always love seeing the scenery, though! It’s one of my favorite parts of watching the Lord of the Rings. Gorgeous mountains there in NZ! 
Gif Abyss
It’s a lot of fun! Thanks, Sivonnah- I’m looking forward to the weekly chat topic!
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So many things I enjoy experiencing! I am a traveler at heart… but just to visit a while.
Last time someone asked me this question was 6 years ago. I was just moving back to Albuquerque from an attempt to help my mother in Indiana. He was a trucker who enjoyed traveling and felt sorry for me when I gave him my answer. He had his own ideas of this city and wouldn’t hear my reasoning… which is probably why I’m taking so long to answer the question.
My favorite place is Albuquerque. The Sandia Mountains protect the city from tornadoes and hurricanes and even wildfires. There are volcanoes and a branch of the San Andreas Fault, but I have felt no shaking in 16 1/2 years. I don’t drive, so I need a good bus system nearby and groceries within walking distance- that has disappeared recently, so this complex lost some of its appeal, but I still care deeply for this city.
Before Covid, the city had free concerts every weekend in a centralized area accessible by buses that ran late enough I could get home safely afterward. In Old Town, there were cultural events from all around the world every week during the summer. The city had free summer movies downtown on a blow- up movie screen- made of the same stuff as bounce houses.
“And the skies are not cloudy all day.”
There is less pollution in Albuquerque than in Ft Wayne, IN. Pretty impressive for a city of half a million, compared to one half its size! The crime rate was lower, too, until the homeless were allowed to take over. People in Albuquerque were shocked when traffic accidents raised to 200, when Ft Wayne had over 1000 the same year- 2007. Oh, and honking in Albuquerque meant someone recognized someone else and was saying hi. No road rage! It was a thrill to see people hugging on the sidewalks or at bus stops.
The reason I moved to Albuquerque is there was no support for writers in Indiana. Besides, I was constantly in fear of the weather in the Midwest.
The landscape of Albuquerque creates what is called a “box” where ground level air currents go one direction, and the upper level currents go the opposite, so balloonists can travel east at take off, west higher up, and land almost in the same place they took off! This keeps tornadoes from forming.
Moving into Albuquerque was tricky, I admit. The Spirit of New Mexico, it is said, tests people to see if they are strong enough to survive here. During that testing period, no one will take your mony, no matter how much you have, no matter what you want to buy, unless it be basic survival supplies. It is hard to get a foot in the door. This is the biggest drawback.
If I could improve my area, I would wish for caring people to be friends with. The Covid quarantine took all of that away. It’s a whole new world out there.
Tourist draws include the Native Pow Wow in April, the State Fair in September, and the hot air balloon festival in October. Historical sites date to the triple digits- current era as well as counted age. Albuquerque itself dates to before the founding of the United States, but was a going concern before Columbus, too. We have lots of museums of all kinds, from prehistoric studies to atomic; and the art galleries host city wide art walks every month in summer. Since Albuquerque is a college town, we get off broadway productions weekly through the school year, added to local productions around the city.
Weather talk turns to hail, around here. Locals call pea sized chunks “hail,” whereas Hoosiers would call it “sleet.”
The worst winter in 50 years happened the year I moved here: two snow storms of a foot of snow each within a week of each other. Most snowstorms total an inch or two and are melted by noon the next day, sometimes leaving slick spots in shady areas for another day or two at most. Caution to drivers: New Mexicans don’t know how to drive in rain, let alone snow.
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@Satans_Helper Nice! 
I’ve never been comfortable in a 2 piece bathing suit! Props to you for having that confidence!
Very nice! 
I have always loved the beautiful lanterns!
I certainly hope not! 
I’ve thought about Scotland too! The culture and the landscape has always fascinated me I have to admit, I do like to hear a man with a Scottish accent Have you ever read or watched the show Outlander? It takes place in Scotland, although a lot of it is filmed in New Zealand. I love the books and the show, but there’s A LOT of violence and other triggers. I read all the books but stopped watching the show. There was too much traumatic events and it got a bit depressing 
Yes!
That sounds like a great place to live! It sounds so beautiful and a lot of culture! It’s a shame so much has changed since COVID. I often forget how close I am to historic sites, like Gettysburg and Philadelphia. There’s Jim Thorpe which is beautiful! They also have a haunted prison and beautiful mansion to tour. It’s only 45 minutes from my house and I’ve never been there! I live 5 minutes from Eckleys Miner Village. Most of the original houses and buildings are still there. The movie The Molly Maguires was filmed there.
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I have read the first book of Outlander. But when I realized it was far more of a romantic series, I stopped reading it. My romantic bone is probably the size of my baby toe. 
. Have you read Lady of Hay? It is similar to Outlander although written before it. That was a great book too.
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You know, I’ve been thinking about this question ever since you posted it @Sivonnah
So far, I have lived in several different states: California, Oklahoma, Nevada, Oregon, Florida, and now Maine. I’ve lived in both the city and the country (Florida & Oklahoma). I have lived by the beach and the mountains (Florida & Oregon). I refuse to live in a high-rise because that’s terrifying 
and the closest I’ve been to a log-cabin is our old A-Frame house in Oregon. I’ve lived in both hot and cold… wow, I’ve lived in a lot of different places
Out of all the places I have lived, Oregon was my favorite. I can’t say anything about Maine yet because I’ve been here for less than two months (though it’s looking to be just like Oregon). I much prefer the mountains to the beach, though I still love the sea. I much prefer the cold over the heat. I much prefer small towns to big cities.
If money wasn’t an obstacle and I could live anywhere, I would have to choose nowhere. If money wasn’t an obstacle, I think I would just travel and make my home wherever I went. I’ve never been out of the country and there are so many places we would love to visit as a family. I can’t choose just one place 
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Most people that are worth a crap won’t judge anyone for their body and if they do forget them. It’s about your own enjoyment and comfort and what feels good to you. I think it’s important to enjoy things we like without fear of judgement. I feel free with no clothing. From the time I was born my mom could not keep clothes on me I’d be naked Indian style trying to talk to my parents friends coming in my mom would make me put underwear on when. Others came in. I was just too comfortable .
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