So I'm getting a little frustrated with the Bay Area real estate market, and for the first time in years I'm casting about the rest of the nation to see if there's anywhere else where I could possibly live. Here are the requirements:
- Lots of sun. At least 60% of the year.
- Mild winters. No more than a couple of weeks below freezing
- Lots of culture. Great non-chain restaurants, theater, local arts community, etc.
- Near hub airport. I travel a lot. The more direct flights I can take to places around the country, the better my life.
- Near hilly/mountainous terrain.
- Away from hurricane paths.
- Easy access to outdoor activities -- hiking, mountain and road biking, canoing, etc.
Some additional bonus considerations:
- Bearable summers. I hate 100 degree weather. Even the "dry heat" kind.
- Good public transportation.
- Ethnically and raciall diverse.
Of course, Berkeley meets all those considerations. Every single last one of them. It's why I live here and not, as many people seem to think, because of the politics.
But if there's a place like that somewhere else, in which a middle class person can actually afford to buy a home, I'd like to know about it.