OT-Buffalo transplants

[PromoTheRobot]

I'm an over-the-road truck driver (but, Lord willing, I plan to come off the road ASAP and either drive locally or get a job in management). So, aside from maybe a couple of states in the continental US, I've been all over.

 

I'd be curious to get your Top 5 and Bottom 5 areas you've seen.

 

PTR

[Eleven]

live just west of Asheville.Beautiful and great place to raise kids

 

I love living in Buffalo. I truly am here by choice and not for any other reason. All that said, if I had to pick another place to live, Asheville would be VERY high on my list. I like cities, but if I had to live in a town, that probably would be the one.

[FogBat]

Since you've covered so much of the country, if you were to move where would you go?

 

I'm content in living in central Alabama with my wife. We're not far away from the state capital as it is, and Birmingham is a little over an hour away from us.

[FogBat]

I'd be curious to get your Top 5 and Bottom 5 areas you've seen.

 

PTR

 

Top 5 (in no particular order):

Pennsylvania (especially around Pittsburgh. That town has a bit of a soft spot on my heart, since one of my closest friends lives there.)

 

Virginia (especially in the mountains)

 

All of NYS down to around the Catskills (but I really don't care much for NYC. Sorry, nfreeman)

 

Alabama. Very pretty state for the most part.

 

The Muskoka area in Ontario. I've only been there once, but I was highly impressed at how clean it was up there.

 

 

 

Bottom 5:

 

Chicago

 

California

 

NYC metro area

 

Balto/DC metro areas

 

Atlanta metro area

 

There's a couple of other areas I wouldn't mind adding to the bottom of the list, but I'll stick with the five for now (unless you want to know what those other two are).

 

I've got probably thousands of pictures with my Canon from western NC and eastern TN, but I didn't have it with my when I took this pic so it's from my phone. For those who haven't been to Waynesville, this is just the view from the Ingles parking lot. Awesome grocery store BTW, wish I had one half as good around here. The Tipping Point has awesome food and is a great bar to watch some sports and get a local microbrew.

 

I've gone through Waynesville on I-40 from time to time because I had to stop at Pilot to either get fuel or something.

[neverenough]

uh? i thought that i just listed why.

 

 

totally honest man...it doesn't rain at all like people seem to think it does. i hear seattle gets it much worse, but as far as portland goes it is just overcast a lot so i think people associate that with rainfall. it is like being in a mister most of the time....everyone is always outside. in buffalo when it rains, you get soaked, in portland when it "rains" you are slamming some microbrews and playing some street hockey. oh and the hairy women thing is just untrue. it is like me saying buffalo is full of hairy women because of Ani D.

girls here are the best i have seen...and i have been a lot of places.

the only other town in the world i would move to right now is sunderland in the UK...and you would have to go there to actually witness what happens to understand.

I live in Klamath Falls Oregon,moved from Fresno California. The women in both places are very sexy. Oregon has so much to offer people that want alittle bit of everything. Go Ducks!

 

I've got probably thousands of pictures with my Canon from western NC and eastern TN, but I didn't have it with my when I took this pic so it's from my phone. For those who haven't been to Waynesville, this is just the view from the Ingles parking lot. Awesome grocery store BTW, wish I had one half as good around here. The Tipping Point has awesome food and is a great bar to watch some sports and get a local microbrew.

If you like that place, look up ashland Oregon.

 

I've got probably thousands of pictures with my Canon from western NC and eastern TN, but I didn't have it with my when I took this pic so it's from my phone. For those who haven't been to Waynesville, this is just the view from the Ingles parking lot. Awesome grocery store BTW, wish I had one half as good around here. The Tipping Point has awesome food and is a great bar to watch some sports and get a local microbrew. Look up Ashland Oregon

 

[SabresFan526]

Good thread. Currently, I live in an Atlanta suburb called Alpharetta. Kevbeau is dead-on, although I will disagree on Hartsfield Jackson. I hate that airport, especially the international terminal and how stupid the design is in which you have to pick up your luggage, go through customs, then put it on another conveyor belt to pick up at the main terminal. The most idiotic design I've ever seen. I also fly out of that airport almost every week based on my line of work, so my opinion is likely tainted because of it. The traffic is absolutely horrendous in Atlanta. I've lived in a number of other cities, and I've never seen anything like this. While I live in Atlanta, it's not my favorite place, but I am older and have a family with small kids, so I don't have as much fun as I did when I was single any way, so I don't really know what's hot and happening in Atlanta for the most part aside from the drive down 400 to the airport. I also work from home and if I have to go into the office, it's a 10 minute drive from my house with only side roads. So, I've never really explored the area too much.

 

After leaving Buffalo, we lived in Connecticut for a few years and then moved to Dallas, TX where I pretty much grew up. Dallas is nice and has its perks. It's a great place to raise a family. However, it's a bit too commercial for me with limited uniqueness and mostly big box store and big chain restaurants.

 

Went to college in Austin, TX. Hands down, the best years of my life. Fantastic city. Got rivers, hills, fantastic live music scene and a great bar scene in downtown and excellent food. The most fun I've ever had was living in Austin, TX. There are no professional sports teams aside from the Spurs in San Antonio, but with DirecTV, that matters less, I guess.

 

I lived in Potomac, MD for a little while as well. I enjoyed living in the DC area. It's a very young town and a great place to live if you are single. Very good music scene as well. But, it is outrageously expensive to live there or any of the suburbs. The cost of living is outrageous.

 

Just my thoughts. In my job, I've traveled to a bunch of cities, and I definitely like Chicago. I like California, but it's way too expensive to live there and raise a family. I was also very impressed with Portland when I've traveled there. Lots of good cities in this country.

[JJFIVEOH]

Good thread. Currently, I live in an Atlanta suburb called Alpharetta. Kevbeau is dead-on, although I will disagree on Hartsfield Jackson. I hate that airport, especially the international terminal and how stupid the design is in which you have to pick up your luggage, go through customs, then put it on another conveyor belt to pick up at the main terminal. The most idiotic design I've ever seen. I also fly out of that airport almost every week based on my line of work, so my opinion is likely tainted because of it. The traffic is absolutely horrendous in Atlanta. I've lived in a number of other cities, and I've never seen anything like this. While I live in Atlanta, it's not my favorite place, but I am older and have a family with small kids, so I don't have as much fun as I did when I was single any way, so I don't really know what's hot and happening in Atlanta for the most part aside from the drive down 400 to the airport. I also work from home and if I have to go into the office, it's a 10 minute drive from my house with only side roads. So, I've never really explored the area too much.

 

After leaving Buffalo, we lived in Connecticut for a few years and then moved to Dallas, TX where I pretty much grew up. Dallas is nice and has its perks. It's a great place to raise a family. However, it's a bit too commercial for me with limited uniqueness and mostly big box store and big chain restaurants.

 

Went to college in Austin, TX. Hands down, the best years of my life. Fantastic city. Got rivers, hills, fantastic live music scene and a great bar scene in downtown and excellent food. The most fun I've ever had was living in Austin, TX. There are no professional sports teams aside from the Spurs in San Antonio, but with DirecTV, that matters less, I guess.

 

I lived in Potomac, MD for a little while as well. I enjoyed living in the DC area. It's a very young town and a great place to live if you are single. Very good music scene as well. But, it is outrageously expensive to live there or any of the suburbs. The cost of living is outrageous.

 

Just my thoughts. In my job, I've traveled to a bunch of cities, and I definitely like Chicago. I like California, but it's way too expensive to live there and raise a family. I was also very impressed with Portland when I've traveled there. Lots of good cities in this country.

 

I've heard some pretty good things about Austin. Seems they have a good job market and from what I've heard it actually has a little personality.

[nobody]

I've heard some pretty good things about Austin. Seems they have a good job market and from what I've heard it actually has a little personality.

 

As long as you stay within the city limits. :)

[McJeff215]

Atlanta, GA

 

Pros:

Weather - July and August are actually the worst months. The shoulder seasons are perfection.

Proximity - I can't do Koomkie's everything in a day tour, but mountains/Atlantic/gulf/Savannah/HH all an easy drive. Lots sof Lakes.

Costs - Might be the cheapest big city in America.

Jobs - They're still here.. as long as your not a total idjut.

Hartsfield Airport - I can fly direct...anywhere.

Culture - Great Restaraunt/Hang-Out scene. Can't speak to nightclubs. Can't speak to singles scene, although FWIW my wife's single friends have told me that even total douchebags can get the girl in Atlanta.

 

Cons:

Sprawl - I admit, I'm part of the problem. I live pretty far out on the SW side, but we have horses so "farm livin is the life for me." As the Buffalo saying goes "everything is a 20 minute drive," everything in Atlanta is an hour away. There's pockets of great neighborhoods with a solid identity and then barren wastelands of mini-plazas/big box stores.

Traffic - I know everyone claims they have it the worst, but I'd put Atlanta's craptastic drivers, and remedial DOT projects against anyone elses.

Wannabes - McMansions and entry level luxury cars abound...even if people can't afford them. (Disclosure: I drive an Acura :P )

 

Same. Though, I'll add:

 

Cons:

*Weather - With the exception of April and October, the rest of the year is either too damn hot to breathe, or too cold to do anything (minus the snow).

*Politics - What a hotbed. Most people I know are either talk-radio conservative or very, very liberal. No one seems to fit the middle ground here. My county is the one famous for the "Evolution is a theory" stickers on the text books. Keep your opinions inside please, I just prefer not to deal with this stuff as often as it seems that I do. =)

*Crime - I feel entirely unsafe in just about every section of the Atlanta proper. Suburbs are fine, though this is part of the reason the sprawl is so bad.

*Vanilla -Atlanta doesn't have much personality. Strip malls, chain restaurants, sub-divisions with names like "Buttercup Court" or "Lilly River Enclave." Meh. My house was built in 1992 and it is considered "old" by a few of my friends.

*Hartsfield Airport - This place sucks. It is huge, expensive, over crowded, difficult to get through. I'd rather clear security at a small airport and deal with a layover rather than this monster we have here.

 

 

Pros:

*Food - These southern types know how to effing BBQ!

*Big Enough - We get concerts, perks, health care, etc...

 

Considering the SF Bay Area pretty seriously now though. It's not that I dislike Atlanta, rather, it's that I've more than a few job opportunities out west. As far as moving back goes, I would if it was a real possibility. With the lack of high-tech jobs in Buffalo (paying close to what I get here), it just doesn't make any sense at all. I've looked at Toronto as a "close enough" alternative, though.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Fairfax County, VA right outside Beltway. Came here in 1985 to do an internship on Capitol Hill and have been in the DC area ever since. Mild winters (especially this one), historical sites, museums, and schools are great. Nationals baseball a lot of fun in the spring, Sabres of course play the Caps twice/year so I get to see them live then. Summers are hot and humid, and traffic is horrid. Taxes not NYS-like, which is good. Pros and cons everywhere, but this area isn't bad.

[Claude_Verret]

Raleigh, more accurately Holly Springs.

 

 

Pros:

 

Weather, except for July and August when heat and humidity are brutal

 

Beaches two hours east, mountains two hours west.

 

World class healthcare access (Duke / UNC)

 

College sports with Duke, UNC, NC State if you're into them. I'm only a casual fan.

 

Pro hockey so I can easily see the Sabres live a few times a year.

 

Plenty of WNY transplants and associated restaurants so you never feel too removed from home.

 

BBQ. Eastern NC BBQ can't be beat.

 

A burgeoning craft beer scene. 10 years ago when I moved here you couldn't purchase beer >6%abv by law, today the cap is 15% and many great micros and brewpubs have started up in the region.

 

Cons:

 

Schools not all that great. We send our son to private school.

 

Canes fans

 

Growth a bit out of control in some areas.

 

Traffic. The states first toll road just opened this year in RTP.

 

In the height of summer it's often unbearable to be outside for too long.

 

[87168]

Considering the SF Bay Area pretty seriously now though. It's not that I dislike Atlanta, rather, it's that I've more than a few job opportunities out west. As far as moving back goes, I would if it was a real possibility. With the lack of high-tech jobs in Buffalo (paying close to what I get here), it just doesn't make any sense at all. I've looked at Toronto as a "close enough" alternative, though.

 

I live in the Bay fro 3 yrs when I was attending SF State. SF is a great city. The people are very chill...but once you leave SF/Oak?Berkeley area and head to other parts of the Bay such as Antioch, Vallejo, Emeryville etc then it's a completely different culture. Once I graduated I left and me and my dad drove back to Buffalo. Some may say I'm bias but the people of WNY are a different breed, and to me the citizens of where I live have a huge impact on the city.

 

So, SF/OAK cool....anywhere else in the Bay....Eh not so much.

[Douglas]

I don't know, I've lived in Northern Virginia for about 10 years, and the DC area, there's a whole lot to love. Yeah the traffic sucks. Really bad. But if you can put up with it, and you're willing to do some research, hop in the car and go somewhere, you can find something new every weekend, i feel. Also, there's tons of 716 expats living here, driving around the area with a Bills/Sabres bumper sticker, every week you'll get a honk and a thumbs up from another person on the road. There's a Buffalo Bar in Herndon, VA, that is a real gem, good wings, beef on weck, cold labatt/molson, Sabres on tv every game, no matter how many caps fans flood the place, and you can't get a table on Sunday, it gets so packed for the Bills. NoVa has great public schools, and the top community college system in the nation, and I can't keep writing without talking about how wildly multicultural it is...It is expensive, and at times very suburban and boring, but like i said, if you're willing to have some fun, the fun's available. There's also multiple Wegman's locations around DC now.

 

I'm from the city of Buffalo, I plan on moving back at some point, nothing beats Buffalo. I live in the city of Philadelphia now, and honestly, between Philadelphia and the DC area, I'm about 50/50. Philadelphia is cool too, but living in the city proper, a lot of times I feel very cramped, there's really not a lot of space to stretch out. Great things to do here, lots of fun though, maybe its just me on a college student budget and schedule i can't take as much advantage of it here...

[ORSabre]

I've lived in Portland, OR for the last seven years. Also lived in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, and I must say that I would take the PNW over anyplace in FLA.

 

Pros:

• Cascades to the east: all the best summer outdoor activities, winter sports and the views are insane.
  
• Pacific ocean to the west: All the high points of New England living, and a coastal mountain range.
  
• Progressive and forward thinking with respect to green infrastructure development, which translates to lots of GIS opportunities.
  
• A great beer culture, great restaurants, and if you need your wing fix, there is Fire on the Mountain that makes wings as good as home.
  
• Great neighborhoods (you can walk to most things and rarely need to drive), top rated public transportation and bike friendly.
  
• 4 seasons with very long springs and falls.
  
• Great new and exciting MLS team, if you need it.
  

 

Cons:

• Short summers and crappy rainy winters. It's like 5 months of a Buffalo November.
  
• Housing prices in the city are expensive. It is one city where prices remained steady throughout the recession.
  
• Hipsters by the boatloads
  
• NBA
  

 

Overall the pros outweigh the cons. There's talk of Seattle getting an NHL team, which makes it more compelling in my opinion. Heading up to the Vancouver game next weekend, but that's an expensive ticket. We think about moving back to Buffalo from time to time and may one day do so, but Portland is much less frustrating politically. You get the sense out here that government is actually concerned with the quality of the city. Here you won't have to endure mind-numbing ridiculous discussions about chain box stores or casinos reinvigorating your downtown. In 1970 both Buffalo and Portland were aging industrial centers in the midst of an identity crisis. One city invested in infrastructure and went one way, the other did nothing.

[Hard Rain]

I left Buffalo when I joined the Air Force in 1976. After 26 years and 14 moves I retired in Colorado Springs, CO. I absolutely love it here...beautiful scenery, mild winters (snow melts within two days) and plenty to do here and in Denver, about an hour away. The only thing I miss about Buffalo is the Sabres (I get to see them play the Avs every three years) and the ethnic food (a craving I satisfy every summer when I visit the in-laws). For me, whenever I visit WNY, I leave thinking "Man I'm glad I don't live here."

[JJFIVEOH]

I've lived in Portland, OR for the last seven years. Also lived in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, and I must say that I would take the PNW over anyplace in FLA.

 

Pros:

• Cascades to the east: all the best summer outdoor activities, winter sports and the views are insane.
  
• Pacific ocean to the west: All the high points of New England living, and a coastal mountain range.
  
• Progressive and forward thinking with respect to green infrastructure development, which translates to lots of GIS opportunities.
  
• A great beer culture, great restaurants, and if you need your wing fix, there is Fire on the Mountain that makes wings as good as home.
  
• Great neighborhoods (you can walk to most things and rarely need to drive), top rated public transportation and bike friendly.
  
• 4 seasons with very long springs and falls.
  
• Great new and exciting MLS team, if you need it.
  

Cons:

• Short summers and crappy rainy winters. It's like 5 months of a Buffalo November.
  
• Housing prices in the city are expensive. It is one city where prices remained steady throughout the recession.
  
• Hipsters by the boatloads
  
• NBA
  

Overall the pros outweigh the cons. There's talk of Seattle getting an NHL team, which makes it more compelling in my opinion. Heading up to the Vancouver game next weekend, but that's an expensive ticket. We think about moving back to Buffalo from time to time and may one day do so, but Portland is much less frustrating politically. You get the sense out here that government is actually concerned with the quality of the city. Here you won't have to endure mind-numbing ridiculous discussions about chain box stores or casinos reinvigorating your downtown. In 1970 both Buffalo and Portland were aging industrial centers in the midst of an identity crisis. One city invested in infrastructure and went one way, the other did nothing.

 

 

I do like a lot of their buildings and condos downtown, primarily in the Pearl District where they took some of the old buildings and revitalized them into new buisnesses. I forget exactly where they were, but I remember they took one old building downtown and turned it into a huge 2 or 3 story gym and the next block over they had condos that used to be warehouses and the turned the loading docks into back porches.

[FogBat]

I left Buffalo when I joined the Air Force in 1976. After 26 years and 14 moves I retired in Colorado Springs, CO. I absolutely love it here...beautiful scenery, mild winters (snow melts within two days) and plenty to do here and in Denver, about an hour away. The only thing I miss about Buffalo is the Sabres (I get to see them play the Avs every three years) and the ethnic food (a craving I satisfy every summer when I visit the in-laws). For me, whenever I visit WNY, I leave thinking "Man I'm glad I don't live here."

I was at Fort Carson from 89 to 90 until I got PCS'd to Germany. I kinda miss it out there (for the most part. New Life Church was one of the low points of my stay there). However, there's no way the wife would live out there. She has cold-induced asthma.

 

EDIT: I found out that one gal who graduated a year behind me in high school lives out your way. Not sure if she was digging for gold and married a military officer or what, but I do know that she's hitched now. Fine for her, because let's just say that we never really got along.

[Tyrannustyrannus]

I lived in NYC for 5 years and moved back to Kenmore this Summer. I never thought it would happen.

[elj4176]

Left wny in 96 for the middle of Ohio (columbus for degree and then to Mansfield).

 

Pros:

only a short drive back to WNY

winters aren't quite as bad

Small town but with Cleveland and Columbus an hours drive either way.

some decent golf courses

 

Cons:

Buckeye fans

Decent wings are tough to find (bw3's doesn't count as good)

pay to watch sabres games

 

Not very convincing. Maybe I'll move too...

[FolignosJock]

Left in 08 when I joined the air force, after about a year in texas ended up getting stationed in Hampton, VA and live in the Hampton Roads area

 

Pros

Beaches are close and pretty good, I would literally compare most to lake erie and the micky rats are where i grew up so not that great.

Richmond is less than an hour from my house and my gf lives there, richmond has an awesome bar scene and an even better food experience, if there is something you like you can find it in richmond easily my second favorite city

Richmond also has a great D1 Basketball scene now and VCU is looking good again ( Go Rams)

 

 

Cons

Caps and hurricanes games arent that far of a drive but the lack of a professional team within an hour sucks

Schools in the area suck for the most part unless you stay in williamsburg

housing prices are rediculous as well as rent I pay about 1400$ a month for a two bedroom

its historically a rough neck of the woods but for the most part i havent seen any of the violence typically associated with the area (ex. Mike Vick dogfighting gangs etc.)