I haven’t spent time in all states, but in my experience I’d say Minnesota is your best bet. Historically blue (mostly near the urban centers), weather is cold but near the Twin Cities is not too bad in the winter (relatively speaking, of course), and it’s reasonably priced (at least to someone who’s used to CA prices).
That, or Washington still has some bits that are both close to affordable and not shit holes.
Yeah, spring is, by all accounts, the worst season for weather in MN. I married into an MN family or I would never have given it a second thought, but having spent some time there, it definitely can be a lot of fun (and Minneapolis has one of the most surprisingly good music scenes in the country, if you’re into live music). It’s a true big city, so whether you’re into sports, table-top games, gardening, comics, video games, food, beer, whatever, you can find truly top notch communities for everything, and the people are generally really nice.
Again, I have only lived there for a few months at a time and only around the Twin Cities and in bumfuck nowhere (Brainerd, where my partner’s family has their cabin), so my experience is limited. But it has been positive enough that when we get fed up with our jobs, we frequently start looking at property values and dream about selling our CA house and buying something outright with equity in MN.
I’ve heard great things about Duluth, especially if you’re into folk music, but it’s really cold as fuck. Rochester is just sort of a weird microcosm that’s kinda it’s own thing due to the Mayo Clinic, but I’ve spent some time there since my partner’s brother lives there. Personally, Rochester is my least favorite part of MN to spend time, but at least they vote blue.
Rochester was exactly where I was because I was at Mayo and wow did I hate it there. Almost nothing to do. You’d think they would at least have some stuff for the Mayo staff to entertain themselves with when they’re not working.
Haha, yeah, my BiL and his partner both work at Mayo, and they spend almost zero time in Rochester. They either drive to Minneapolis to do stuff and see his family or they drive to Madison, where his partner’s family lives, and do stuff there.
Frankly, I think they’re pretty over Rochester, too.
I haven’t spent time in all states, but in my experience I’d say Minnesota is your best bet. Historically blue (mostly near the urban centers), weather is cold but near the Twin Cities is not too bad in the winter (relatively speaking, of course), and it’s reasonably priced (at least to someone who’s used to CA prices).
That, or Washington still has some bits that are both close to affordable and not shit holes.
I was in Minnesota in March. It was not pleasant weatherwise. It was also not in Minneapolis, so there was fuck all to do.
Yeah, spring is, by all accounts, the worst season for weather in MN. I married into an MN family or I would never have given it a second thought, but having spent some time there, it definitely can be a lot of fun (and Minneapolis has one of the most surprisingly good music scenes in the country, if you’re into live music). It’s a true big city, so whether you’re into sports, table-top games, gardening, comics, video games, food, beer, whatever, you can find truly top notch communities for everything, and the people are generally really nice.
Again, I have only lived there for a few months at a time and only around the Twin Cities and in bumfuck nowhere (Brainerd, where my partner’s family has their cabin), so my experience is limited. But it has been positive enough that when we get fed up with our jobs, we frequently start looking at property values and dream about selling our CA house and buying something outright with equity in MN.
I’ve heard great things about Duluth, especially if you’re into folk music, but it’s really cold as fuck. Rochester is just sort of a weird microcosm that’s kinda it’s own thing due to the Mayo Clinic, but I’ve spent some time there since my partner’s brother lives there. Personally, Rochester is my least favorite part of MN to spend time, but at least they vote blue.
Rochester was exactly where I was because I was at Mayo and wow did I hate it there. Almost nothing to do. You’d think they would at least have some stuff for the Mayo staff to entertain themselves with when they’re not working.
Haha, yeah, my BiL and his partner both work at Mayo, and they spend almost zero time in Rochester. They either drive to Minneapolis to do stuff and see his family or they drive to Madison, where his partner’s family lives, and do stuff there.
Frankly, I think they’re pretty over Rochester, too.