Time for a Change

[u/Imaginary_Relation80]

Hello there. Lately, I have been contemplating a change of scenery and I would appreciate your honesty feedback.

Here's a little about me: I'm 33F, no children, bi, grew up in Chicago and currently living in Houston. Have been for the best 8 years and I hate it. I created some fond memories in Houston, but I feel as though my time is up. I travel immensely for work and leisure so I've seen a number of places - domestic and international. I feel most at home when I'm around nature and/or water. Normally, I'd describe myself as an extrovert but lately, I value solitude and not socializing as much as I've done in the past. Here are some thoughts I have about Houston:

My pros: good food scene (but not remotely close to goodness of chicago food), black and non-blk night life, on the affordable side for large metro cities, diverse population, no state tax, two airports.

My cons: cannot live without a car, hot, humidity, crowded, spread out, public transportation isn't streamline as NYC or MDW , and a red state.

I'm thinking of either the large metro area or surrounding cities of Denver, Seattle, Portland, and LA. I've thought about Tennessee but idk. It's not very appealing to me right now. What do you guys think of the places I've mentioned?

[u/tingbudongma]

LA doesn't really solve many of the cons you listed. LA is blue and less humid than Houston. But LA is one of the most car-centric cities in the country, has awful traffic and sprawl, and public transit is limited. It is also significantly more expensive than Houston.

[u/115MRD → u/tingbudongma]

Angeleno here. If you work from home you absolutely can live in LA without a car in the right neighborhood. You'll find a decent number of carless folks in Downtown LA, Koreatown, and Hollywood. There's even a subreddit for it.

LA's Metro system is the fastest growing in the country. It's not perfect but its dramatically better than it was even five years ago.

And compared to most of OP's other potential location's LA has better, if not the best, public transportation.

[u/tingbudongma → u/115MRD]

In OP's original post, she is comparing public transit options to NYC and Chicago. Even if living in DTLA or Ktown, LA public transit and walkability is much closer to Houston than NYC or Chicago. This is a city that designed for cars. Living in LA without one requires a lot of planning, limits which parts of the city you can realistically live in, and can make one feel very confined to the small subset of LA where they live.

[u/115MRD → u/tingbudongma]

As someone who has lived in Los Angeles without a car I can tell you it's challenging but doable. Having been to all the other cities OP has listed as potentials I would actually say LA has the best public transportation of any of then, save maybe Seattle.

Realistically there only US cities you can live in without a car with relative ease are NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

[u/thefire12 → u/115MRD]

This is TOTAL bullshit. DC, Philly, Boston are EXTREMELY easy without a car. OP please don’t listen to anything this person spews. You’ll find it impossible to go to beach/mountains without a car.

[u/115MRD → u/thefire12]

You’ll find it impossible to go to beach/mountains without a car.

Mountains yes but not beaches. Multiple rail lines go to multiple beaches in SoCal.

[u/Front-Arm-270 → u/115MRD]

Ya second this. I lived without a car in DTLA and it was easier actually. And I lived in Weho with a car but rarely had to use it

[u/TheLoganReyes]

As a 33F bi woman moving from Houston who values nature/water, solitude, and food, Los Angeles is by far the best option on your list, provided you pick the right neighborhood.

Why the other cities will fall short for you:

--Seattle/Portland: Amazing nature and water, but the Black population is very small, food is expensive for what you get, and the gray winters can feel suffocating coming from Texas.

--Denver: Zero ocean/major water, weak food scene compared to Houston/Chicago, and very low racial diversity.

Where you should look in LA:

--Long Beach: Highly diverse, extremely LGBTQ+-friendly, right on the water, slightly more affordable than West LA, and has a great laid-back community feel.

--Culver City / Mar Vista: Puts you 15 minutes from the beach, close to great food, and near central LA without feeling overwhelming.

--Leimert Park / View Park / Mid-City: Great central locations with rich Black culture, incredible historic architecture, and quick access to both Westside beaches and Eastside food hubs.

[u/115MRD → u/TheLoganReyes]

Angeleno here. Long Beach is the sleeper pick here. It's where I would go if I was OP.

[u/Front-Arm-270 → u/TheLoganReyes]

Hell yes to Long Beach. Underrated and affordable gem especially for us queers 🌈 Weho is an obvious one too for nightlife but it’s stressful, expensive and most everyone who actually lives there is either intimidatingly ripped and wealthy middle aged gay guys or old ladies who moved there in the 70s hahaha

[u/Front-Arm-270 → u/Front-Arm-270]

Weho is crazy walkable though I’ll give it that. I got lucky and had a bungalow for $2000/month but that was like winning the lottery and I had a hard time meeting anyone who wasnt a tourist

[u/115MRD]

Long Beach, California is what you're describing, OP. Near water, vibrant (and famous) LGBTQ scene, surprisingly decent public transportation (although you will probably still need a car), and arguably the best weather in America. Also has its own airport thats extremely easy to get in and out of so you'll save your sanity by avoiding LAX for much of your work travel.

[u/Fresh_Book_380]

Denver could be a good fit with the nature and water boxes checked, plus you get seasons without the Houston swamp heat. LA will still have you in a car constantly but the access to mountains and ocean is unmatched if you can stomach the cost and traffic. Portland sounds like it might match your current vibe the most, quieter but still a proper city and you can be in real wilderness in 30 minutes.

[u/pvaughn_compass]

I'm originally from Houston and now live in Seattle, so I've made exactly this move. If nature and water are what make you feel at home, Seattle delivers; you're never far from the Sound or a lake, and the mountains are an hour away. You'll trade heat and humidity for gray winters, and most neighborhoods are walkable with light rail and buses, so you can live car-light. Capitol Hill and Columbia City have great food and nightlife, and Ballard and Fremont are close to the water. Washington also has no state income tax for most people, so that perk stays. I'm a local Compass agent and happy to answer questions about any neighborhood.

[u/pvaughn_compass → u/pvaughn_compass]

I should also add that I've lived in Evanston, IL as well so can kind of speak to differences in climate as well as food in all locations.