Albeit a little hesitant, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of moving. After three years of living in Bangkok, I'm starting to think that life here has been a tad bit predictable and sadly, I am slowly embracing the concept of complacency - which is funny because complacency was the number one factor that drove me out of my sheltered life in Manila. Well, what do ya'know? It's catching up on me once again.
So... moving. Let's explore the options, shall we?
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Pros:
Wiki says...
Austin was selected as the No. 2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006, and No. 3 in 2009, also the "Greenest City in America" by MSN. According to CNN Headline News and Travel & Leisure magazine, Austin ranks No. 2 on the list of cities with the best people, referring to the personalities and attributes of the citizens. Austin was also voted America's #1 College Town by the Travel Channel. Austin was ranked the fifth-safest city in part because there are fewer than 3 murders per 100,000 people annually.
In recent years, many Austinites have also adopted the unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird"; this refers partly to the eclectic and progressive lifestyle of many Austin residents but is also the slogan for a campaign to preserve smaller local businesses and resist excessive commercialization.
Best place to live, greenest city in America, city with the best people, Keep Austin Weird?! Ha! What more can you ask for? Oh and according to D, Austin has excellent Mexican food!
Cons:
After much research on living in Austin, I didn't really find any bad reviews. In fact in one site, it said "If you haven't lived in Austin, you haven't lived." I guess the only down-side to it (if you can even call it a down-side) is the fact that Austin is really just a small town in Texas (compared to Houston or Bangkok for that matter) and may not offer the same excitement as a big city like New York.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Pros:
Known for its steep rolling hills, cable cars, the Castro, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and an equally eclectic mix of residents that are composed of writers, artists and other highly-educated individuals. There is no question as to why Tony Bennett left his heart in this city, and no question as to why San Francisco attracts the third-highest number of foreign tourists of any city in the US. Surely, it is hard not to fall in love with this city.
Cons:
One site came with a warning: think twice before moving to San Francisco as it is a city characterized by a high standard of living. As if that didn't scare me enough, another site even had a Cost of Living Calculator to show you the difference between the cost of living in the current city you're in and that of San Francisco. Another thing that caused me to raise my eyebrows is the frequent occurrence of earthquakes. But as one site explained, "Don't panic! They happen but are not as scary when you're prepared by keeping 72 hours disaster checklist, checking the 24-hour quake forecast, and consulting the Did You Feel That? map." So... whew! Thank God for that.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Pros:
Just like Frankie, I too want to wake up in a city that never sleeps; I too want to make a brand new start of it; I too believe if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. The allure of living in a dynamic city such as New York has always fascinated me. I think I may have written about my dream of living there more than once. I remember writing about how...
I can vividly imagine myself walking the streets of New York in a cozy wool belted, nipped-in waist military coat that goes perfectly with my skinny jeans tucked inside my suede flat boots. I have my trusty messenger bag hanging from my shoulders so that my left hand can hold a tall cup of Passion Tea while I use my right hand to hail a taxi.
I want to stand in the middle of Time Square and get awestruck as towering skyscrapers with larger than life ads hanging from them make me feel like I'm just a mere speck in the earth's surface.
I want to visit the Museum of Modern Art and be enthralled to see the living proofs of great minds and creative geniuses.
I want to squirm my way in the Grand Central Terminal and be lost in the sea of strangers that walk pass by me.
I want to stroll around Central Park on a nice sunny day, hopefully with the hand of a particular someone in mine.
And how it feels like it's right there and all I have to do is stretch out my hand to reach it. So maybe this is me stretching out my hand to reach it - reach New York and live the dream.
Cons:
Have you ever watched CSI: NY? How about NYPD Blue? Law and Order: Trial By Jury? Without a Trace? My point is New York is not safe. Ok so maybe so is any other city in the world when you think about it. But all I'm saying is that the crime rate is high. Not everyone can go around the city in their Manolo Blahniks without running the risk of getting mugged (Sex and the City Episode 47, if you don't know what I'm talking about). But on a serious note, I've heard of alarming stories from friends that made me think twice of moving - a friend's mom was mugged in the subway platform and almost left for dead, a highschool friend's apartment was broken into and robbed of all her belongings, and another highschool classmate got bullied by a bunch of catty girls on the train. Catch my drift?
So with all things considered, Austin sounds good to me. But the bustling streets of New York and San Francisco's fishbowl paradise in a world of intolerance still draws me in. Decisions, decisions. I'm glad we don't have to make any of those anytime soon. But who knows... if all else fails, Chile anyone?
