Considering repatriating -- but where to???

Hi, all --
Well I keep hitting brick walls here in the UK and am thinking more and more about applying to get into Canada or going back to the US. It's not 100% sure, but after three huge setbacks here in the UK and with Obama's call to service, it's increasingly tempting.

Problem is, friends and family are scattered all over, and no place feels like home. My grandparents and folks have all passed away, so there's no obvious choice.

I've loved the compactness of the UK, and thought of moving to a sprawling area where one always has to drive miles and miles to get anywhere isn't very appealing.
I've also really enjoyed the strong sense of community here in the UK, and the everyday kindness of people.
I love mountains and forests --  cities over a million are too much.
California was beautiful, but it's very expensive, and though it wasn't hard making friends, many friendships proved in the end superficial.

The Pacific Northwest (Seattle or Portland)? Minneapolis? Really open to suggestions...

I grew up in Southern California, but found that the Pacific Northwest was the real home of my heart, so I'd love to put in a good word for it!

My sister loves it in Seattle.  I thought it was beautiful when we visited.  I think it's pretty expensive to buy a house there though.

If I hadn't moved to England, I'd have gone to Portland, OR.

DS (having lived in both UK and US) would like to go to either Portland, OR or Vancouver/Victoria area.  My cousin has lived in Olympia, WA for years.

Florida or surrounding areas and the houses are very reasonably priced you get good weather and well ok some bad but there seems to be loads to do, then you have Boston a beautiful city with a mix of the country and nice towns not to big not to small and the house prices are dropping.

When its hot its really hot and when its cold its really cold, but I love it there and so does my wife and children and we hope to have a holiday back over there in the summer, we would love to move back but as it is at the moment we can't really.

Indy and Sonya

I love Portland, OR, too, but for a bit smaller city (but still substantial), I hear Eugene, OR is very nice. If Seattle is too big for you, then try Olympia. Denver seemed like such a nice city when I was there. You might need to travel a bit there if you can, to see which place you enjoy most. It would be hard to choose a place you hadn't been to before, based on hearsay. Good luck!

Northern California is not that expensive, actually fairly cheap. North of Sacramento. The weather is always wonderful, lakes, creeks, streams, mountains, and the valley. The location is superb. The summers are even better with tons of outdoor activities.

I hate rain and cold weather so I personally would never move to Seattle which is like the UK I think yucky weather all the time. Look into Redding, Chico, Yuba City, areas like that to see what you find. I bet you will like it. I sure did.

Seattle or Portland sound great. Along the same line, Vancouver and Victoria.

Northern California is not that expensive, actually fairly cheap. North of Sacramento. The weather is always wonderful, lakes, creeks, streams, mountains, and the valley. The location is superb. The summers are even better with tons of outdoor activities.

I hate rain and cold weather so I personally would never move to Seattle which is like the UK I think yucky weather all the time. Look into Redding, Chico, Yuba City, areas like that to see what you find. I bet you will like it. I sure did.

I grew up in the Redding area...and yeah the wonders of nature are wonderful there. HOWEVER, unless you love extremely hot summers (110 degrees Fahrenheit & above) it might not be your cuppa. Especially if you like the PacNW or the UK clime.

Northern California is not that expensive, actually fairly cheap. North of Sacramento. The weather is always wonderful, lakes, creeks, streams, mountains, and the valley. The location is superb. The summers are even better with tons of outdoor activities.

Another shout out for Northern California. Gorgeous scenery, great weather, friendly people, not too far from Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, or the Bay Area. One of the places I'm seriously considering moving to when my youngest kiddo goes off to college in a few years is the lovely Gold Country town of Nevada City. It's a wonderful town (and surrounding area), and though it gets hot in summer, it's not as bad as the valley or the Redding area :

http://www.nevadacitychamber.com/