Comment: I understand your aesthetics, but consider the culture

I've learned from my many different moves that climate is something that you get used to. Also, each part of the country has it's own beauty to be appreciated, it's own style of architecture, it's own history. I've found them all interesting. Never regretted a single place, including Cleveland and St Louis.

However, there is a huge difference in culture from one place to the next. I'm talking about what people value, how they live, and how they relate to each other. While there are good people everywhere, some cultures are more closed than open, more standoffish than friendly.

I've found the friendliest people, the most open and accepting, in Appleton, WI. It is a 'small town' of only 72,000 people, but it is very eclectic. Homes from the late 1800's, as well as modern. An alive downtown. While mostly of white European descent, there is also visable Mexican, Hmong, and Black populations. Racially mixed couples are common. Also, a complete acceptance of gays. Crime is nearly non-existent. While there are poor people there, there are no slums. No neighborhoods too dangerous to walk through.

I have not lived anywhere else where people were so completely uninhibited around strangers. The kids here don't seem to have learned about 'stranger danger' as my son learned in St Louis. We've had surprisingly open conversations with complete strangers, kids, teens, and adults. We call it our "Appleton experience."

There is an arts college in downtown, as well as a first rate performing arts center with regular touring companies from Broadway. The Mexican restaurants are authentic. There are also Japanese and Chinese restaurants run by ethnic Japanese and Chinese owners. Shopping includes everything you can find at big city malls, if that is a concern at all.

The people here have a deeply engrained gun culture. They grew up with them, know how to shoot, and are not intimidated by them. It's not something that is top-of-mind, just a quiet unstated reality.

Climate: the Spring, Summer, and Fall's are glorious. Winter is cold and crispy...and beautiful. Skiing is less than two hours away. Lake Michigan is one hour away. If you've never seen the Great Lakes...they are oceans in the middle of the country.

Houses, by the way, are cheap...we're going to buy the house we're renting. 2200 square feet, it will cost us around $150,000. Unemployment is low.

Some people have described this as 'Mayberry,' because it is much like the world as it was in the 50's and 60's...with some new-millenia tolerance thrown in.

Good luck in your search. Hope you find what you're looking for.