Really appreciate this thorough piece. Very helpful. I've been to all these places and nowhere is traffic as bad as Silicon Valley. We have bumper to bumper on freeway when the sun is up 7 days a week. Quality of life is top priority for me and that depends on cost of living, traffic, weather, nature, health, culture, people, culture, crime and government. Is the state government doing their job or sucking citizens dry without giving providing proper services. Weather is perfect in Silicon valley except the apocalyptic fires every other year which really ruins quality of air. Government sucks us dry and gives nothing back with the worst roads and services. People don't know how to drive here either so I guess Silicon Valley is not great in terms of quality of life for me. Cost is bad.It's great you have choices, and your list has places that have appeal, for different reasons. Respectfully suggest you give some thought to what is really important.
I lived half my life in the Inter-mountain west, traveled extensively, and spent the last 25 years in FL, both down the peninsula as well as the panhandle. Not sure there are places more different in climate and culture than the ones you have mentioned.
There is water everywhere in Tampa, humidity is high, it is flat as a pancake and the nearest "hills" are 100 miles north, inland, and consequently even more uncomfortable in the summer. It's also a lightning capital with spectacular thunderstorms in the summer. It was the first place in FL I had my sunglasses fog up upon exiting a hotel in the summer. Yeah, it's "moist"
Austin is in the middle of the continent with weather dependent upon what blows across from the Pacific or comes up from the Gulf. Nashville mostly gets whatever is cooked up inland.
Based on my experience in those places, here's how I see your list to give you a few ideas as you evaluate. Your priorities will be different:
-Bay area - Would if I could. Traffic, congestion, CA tax and governance all manageable with enough $$. If I'd stayed in SoCal 25 years ago, would probably still be there. Yeah, SoCal is different, but once you're in, you're in. And if you leave, you can't afford to go back.
-UT - only if outdoor rec was the top priority
-Nashville - too cold for me. Immersion in the music scene would only last a few years for me. Good people, helps to be a college football fan.
-Austin - Could make it work. Weather OK, plenty to do locally and good proximity to other things in TX that I like,
-Tampa - Like it, would have been a good choice when I was working and had kids. Plenty to do, good govt in that area, climate is good for me. Plenty of water for boating, kayaking, paddleboards. At 60+ and kids gone, don't see any reason to move there now and deal with the traffic and crowds everywhere. Although the refrigerated bar countertops at Ford's Garage have a lot of appeal
Good luck, hope this helps. It's wonderful to have choices!
So narrowing down to UT, Cedar Park-Austin, Tampa and Nashville. Don't see a big difference in quality of life overall between these based on the feedback so far. The thing I don't know yet is how are the people in these places. Friendly, respectful and cultured people with independent thinking are important to me. I spent alot of time in Austin and Tampa and have to say that Tampa was the most friendly and Austin is not bad. Utah pretty friendly and Nashville seems nice and smart but not spent enough time in UT or Nashville to really say.
