Chirky

Portland. Chuh!

Hmmm, try Tennessee ( either Nashville or Knoxville ) Colorado or Atlanta. But I guess if you want cheap, there's lots to buy in Louisiana.

~Jef

A little place called Washington, DC or any of the suburban areas...

Not Louisiana. We want to move north somewhere.

ALSO: I did not say cheap. I said affordable. Which, in my book, is not a double-wide. For $300k.

Seriously.

Sorry, hon, if you want four seasons San Diego is out. Lovely city, but only one temp year-round.

I'm in Sacramento and, while I wouldn't say it's the highest place on MY list, it does seem to satisfy your criteria. Two hours to the ocean/SF, two hours to the mountains. Affordable-ish, but you'll still probably cry at the home prices.

I second the Portland option, but keep poking around Northern Calif, too. There are places to live that are SF-like without SF-like prices.

Also -- Kansas City. Really. Great place, real seasons, big enough city to have artsy stuff, affordable, but not terribly far away from your fam.

MOVE?

END OF THE YEAR?

NOOOOOOOOOO, I mean I fully support you moving but so soon, I was thinking of things in a two to five year plan, with steps and time, and . . . . .

Ok, I do support you and I want you to live somewhere you love and that I can visit. So I'm thinking more west coast than east coast cause you don't strike me as being east coast, so maybe Seattle or Portland or Northern California but then there's always Colorado. But all of these places have a much higher cost of living than Dallas.

Oh and by the way, I miss you already

May I suggest Maryland....or Toronto. Yes, I do mean Toronto as in Ontario, Canada.
I have been considering a move...I like Mass but need my daddy to go with me.
Trev and I were invited to move to Maryland and Trevor said we cant go cause Papa is here....no mention of anyone else...just Papa.

Ooh, ooh, I've got it! Ready?

MONTANA

No, seriously. Seasons, mountains, big lakes, low cost of living. (Expensive plane tickets. You've been warned.)

I'm thinking, Missoula -- college town, artsy, etc.

No, don't move to New Orleans, it doesn't meet your requirements. If you want 4 seasons you are limited to nothing truly southern, but have to stay north of the gulf states. Portland is good, but everyone is moving to the NW and housing prices are soaring. I think the only places left are the Carolinas, Maryland and Virginia, but people say prices are rising there too. Colorado is good, but too far from a beach or lake. I would suggest Amarillo. Close ( 6 hours ) to mountains ( Colorado ), very reasonable prices and great weather or or that matter Lubbock, 3 hours from mountains and a lake within a few hours and reasonable prices. I have friends in Utah and they seem to really like it as well. Park City is a big spot and do you count the Great Salt Lake as a lake?

~Jef

Portland, Maine

You will have 4 seasons.

You will be on or very near the water.

You will have access to mountains only a short drive away. Drive a little more than an hour and you're in the White Mountains of tax free New Hampshire too.

You will find it artsy.

You will find it mostly affordable although taxes are higher than most places.

I consider it a smaller Boston without a lot of the crap.

Good luck on the hunt.

Kansas City, Denver, and Boulder are all good options, but none have the water. The suggestion of Portland, ME is a good one too. I will suggest Minneapolis or St. Paul (pretty close to Lake Superior AND 10,000+ other lakes). It is more expensive than Dallas, but still pretty affordable. Four definite seasons. And lots of artsy activities and hanging-out places. MSP is also kind of an outdoorsy place, with tons of hiking and biking trails and other outdoor stuff. I might even let you hang out with me if you asked really nicely.

I've actually been to Missoula, too small town. I recommend Colorado.

I would stump for New York, but it will not pass the affordability test. But still, I can't help myself: Come to NY!

I recently had a severe yearning to move to Portland, Ore. It looks like an awesome place to be. Mountains, water, very outdoorsy, not too expensive. The problem for me is it's SUUUUPER far from all my family. But I think you should go for it. I'll live vicariously.

Asheville, NC, is also up-and-coming, very artsy and in a beautiful area. Like WAY beautiful.

Boulder is very cool, but fairly pricey as I understand it.

129% HA HA HA HA!!!

Where did you get your statistics from!?

I'd say housing prices in California are at LEAST double those in Texas. And if you want to live someplace cool - like SF or SD - try TRIPLE!

I'd say you have to go to Seattle. Or Colorado!! Seasons, check. Ocean or Lake, check. Affordable, ehh, the cost of living is going up everywhere... what can you do?

I have my own moving drama going on over here, trying to get to Florida:)

I second Sacramento as it is up and coming and still semi-affordable. It is also a great place to train for a triathalon, hike, bike, etc. Portland looks like a great city, and I still have Seattle under consideration myself.

You may want to consider doing a little tour of NorCal/Pacific Northwest SOON. I don't think I could consider another move without visiting several places (unlike when I moved from SoCal to Sac...for a BOY). Anyway.

It certainly sounds you are wanting to move into my neighborhood and be next door neighbors (crossing my fingers).

1) Four seasons : We have them all without having to have a ton of snow or the heat of Texas.
2) Near the water: The Atlantic Ocean is just 20 minutes from my house. The Mountains are just a few hours.
3) Affordable: Not too bad. Prices are coming down too. And interest rates are good, about 6%. My neighborhood, you can get a 4 bedroom for around $300k. I could set you up with the most awesome realtor ever.
4) Artsy community: a new performing arts center is being built in my city. The city "next door" where I work has a ton of arts/theatre options. I have season tickets to the Stage Company, we also have an Opera Company/House, several other small/artsy theatres, and Broadway on Chrysler shows. I can send you links if you want. Several museusm, annual boardwalk art show, etc.

Of course, Lawyerish is right about Asheville, NC too. I used to live there and loved it (except they aren't too friendly to people who haven't lived there forever).

When are you moving? I heart Kansas, of course, but it's not really near big water or mountains, so that's probably out. Colorado is nice, and my best friend is from Nashville, and she loves loves loves it there.

New York City?!

Get a rope.

I might be the only one to get that joke.

I vote California. You can always winter in Denver if you really need to have a little cold in your life.

Your MOMMA is LOQUACIOUSSSSSS!!!!

I'm saying Asheville North Carolina. Lots of art, lots of Bloggers, close to the mountains, BEAUTIFUL, ARTSY, Braun is close by, etc.

But I thought your lease wasn't up until April?

Come to Toronto!!!! Pleeeeease

Atlanta, not that Im bias or anything. We have seasons, its actually very nice out right now, the leaves are changing. The mountains are only a couple of hours away, the beach is only 3-4 hours, and its totally affordable- which is obvious since I live here. And we have Little Five Points and the Fox Theatre and museums and the worlds biggest aquarium, and AirTran flies very cheaply from Atl to Dallas. Im just sayin, if you have any other requirments, Im sure we have those too.

Dude, can I come with you? I hate Dallas.

My brother just moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and he loves it.

I'll suggest Savannah, Georgia, too. It's awesome! It's such a cute city. It's really close to the water, I'm pretty sure it'd have seasons, it has its own art thing going -- in addition to a haunted pub tour and tons of little park/square things all over the city. It seems like it'd be affordable, too.

I second those who said Savannah and Portland, Maine. Maine doesn't get too warm in the summers (normal and average highs are in the high 70s for the summer) and gets quite cold in the winter. Savannah is much more temperate but doesn't get very cold in the winters, so if you want that, you wont' get it. But both are lovely, lovely cites, and everyone I've talked to who lived in either place just loved it. And Portland has a very extensive zoning ordinace (more than 700 pages long), so it will probably stay lovely.

HEY San Diego has four seasons... they are just very subtle. Affortable it is not.

I recommend Portland Oregon. Near water (a river) four distinct seasons. Affordable. Livable. Lots of artsy stuff... including my cool cousin Katie (http://flickr.com/photos/63853887@N00/)
thinking about moving there myself!

Move to NH and join the Free State.

www.freestateproject.org

My first thought is Omaha, of course (since this is where I'm from, and I love it), but hmm, no oceans or mountains within driving distance. I live in D.C. now, which is pretty close to everything, but the humidity is so bad here that none of the four seasons can really be completely enjoyable. The problem is cost of living. Any place that meets all of your criteria is bound to be outrageously priced. I did like someone's suggestion of Kansas City. Again, not near the ocean or mountains, but it's an artsy city, good size, and affordable.

Oklahoma is nice this time of year... =0)
They have a definite spring and autumn, the summers of Texas with twice the humidity, and one winter we got more snow than chicago did. When there's a tornado, most people there go outside to watch, and some chase them down. Low cost of living, but low wages too. Oklahoma has plains, forests, mountains, and over 600 miles of shoreline. Oklahoma City is over 600sq. mi., third largest city in the country (by area), and you'll have the priviledge of feeling smarter than everybody around you!

NC is a good suggestion. Believe it or not, Louisville, KY is a GREAT town. I moved here to finish school and ended up buying a house this summer, after 6 years!

There are some unlikely sounding, but terrific places. We lived in Bucks County, PA, just north of Philadelphia. Loved it. Beautiful. But probably too pricey now.

Hated Boston. Well, hated the fast pace, cost of living and non-inclusiveness of Boston. Loved everything else about New England.

Love Milwaukee. Yes, Milwaukee. Great cost of living. Smaller city with plenty of arts -- a number of theatre companies, light opera, symphony, terrific art museum, lots of local art and entertainment in a very accessible and affordable city. The East side and Bay View are the hot areas for where everything is happening. Chicago is just 90 minutes south. And we have Lake Michigan.

Recently fell in love with Kansas City. Terrific city. Lots to offer. Sophisticated. Modern. Appears to have a very good cost of living. No lake or ocean, though.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

tish
http://girlfriendsgetaway.wordpress.com

Portland, OR has all those things on your list and much more! A little over an hour to the ocean, mountains nearby, artsy, not outrageously expensive. And, traffic has not reached epic proportions here yet. Take it from one who left OR and came running back within a year!

came here from blogher.

We live on the North Shore of MA. fits everything but the affordability - we were recently voted most expensive place in the country by Forbes. But there are pockets of affordability - Gloucester is gorgeous and can be affordable.

We're looking to move back to Austin. I will never live in Dallas again, but I will happily move back to Austin.

I've heard great things about Rhode Island on all your requirements.

Heaven, as far as I'm concerned, resides in Western Maryland or Eastern West Virginia. There's Deep Creek Lake in Maryland (Oakland is a delightful little city) and craggy peaks in West Virginia (Elkins is a perfect college town). The ocean (Assateague Island in MD/VA is a half day's drive.

Winters can be a big snow-heavy, but most days are bright and clear. The air isn't poisonous and your houseplants don't look like someone splashed bleach all over them. The water in most townships actually tastes good. Summer can be a bit crowded with tourists in the Deep Creek Lake vicinity, but they thin out with a glorious fall that is still warm enough for trekking through red and gold maple-treed forests.

Employment is my only issue, or I'd be there now.