Raleigh NC. Was there for a contract job, software development at Fujitsu.

Furnished apartment in high rise near a college. Demographics were a mix of loud, drunken students and loud 'hood types.

Job was shit, contracting company (my employer) was shit, never paid on time.

Got offer to join Digital Equipment (DEC) on a Thursday, departed Raleigh on Friday.

Austin, TX - Lived there 2 years in college
Love to visit, but could never live there again.
Absolutely the worst traffic of anywhere else I've spent an extended amount of time. Makes Houston & LA rush hour seem like the Daytona 500 in comparison.

Iceland

so, tell me. What's the difference between Iceland and Maine?

They both have coast lines, both are cold in the Winter, and both have a sparse population!

Would you rather be in Florida???

Monroe, LA. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Two years remaining to serve, but Jackson, MS.

I've had the good fortune to live in two of the outlying areas that are nicer (aka have running water, some pavement and a few less shootings) but you can't escape being somewhere in the metro area from time to time, or in my case every day for work. Not having caught a stray in broad daylight counts as a win.

Some really nice people here, quite a few I knew before coming 9 years ago, many more I've met or worked with. I'll miss them, but Lord this city is an imploding shithole of epic proportions. And the state capitol, to boot! Most of the rest of the state is worse, more destitute and facing endless and seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Yeah, I went to school there and the down fall of Jackson has been astounding. Used to be a decent place and moderately safe. No More.

RMD

Houston.

quote:

Originally posted by odin:
Iceland

so, tell me. What's the difference between Iceland and Maine?

They both have coast lines, both are cold in the Winter, and both have a sparse population!

Would you rather be in Florida???

1. Within spitting distance of the Arctic Circle. 1300+ miles further North than Maine.

2. Unaccompanied tour.

3. Wind 24/7/365. The day I got there, I watched a full dumpster blowing down the street.

4. Rains sideways all "Summer", light 23 hours a day.

5. Snows sideways all "Winter", dark 23 hours a day.

6. Weather so consistently shitty that on the 2 or 3 days a year it is both sunny and above freezing, my command declared "Sunshine Liberty" and anybody not critical to the mission was given the day off. 60 or 65° was a freakin' miracle.

To be fair, there WERE a couple of good things about it:

Geothermal activity meant unlimited heat and hot water. Barracks was toasty.

There was a small chow hall near our remote site (not onboard NAS Keflavik) staffed by Icelanders. Friday fish fries were absolutely epic! Main chow hall next to the barracks was one of the better facilities in my career.

The job (Assistant Electronics/Facilities Officer, briefly Acting Facilities Officer) is what finally earned me a promotion to E8.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Austin, TX - Lived there 2 years in college
Love to visit, but could never live there again.

+1. I went to UT in Austin during the early 60s. Loved Austin, but no longer. Just too congested. I have family there I never see.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Albany, NY. Nothing more needs said.

My wife is from Amsterdam and her mother still lives there. I understand!

quote:

Originally posted by liner:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Albany, NY. Nothing more needs said.

My wife is from Amsterdam and her mother still lives there. I understand!

You know, it's funny.

There are parts of NY that I love. Mostly anything north Saratoga and west of Amsterdam, but that city just makes my skin crawl. I spent 3+ years there and hated every minute of it.

quote:

Originally posted by mrprovy:

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Albany, NY. Nothing more needs said.

Suffolk county here, born, raised, and quite tired of the constant increases without return on investment...7 more years till my wife retires, then we're out! Can't wait to go south a bit to a cheaper, warmer state to enjoy our freedom

I had the misfortune of being born in Albany and grew up on the east end.

I hated living in Maryland.

quote:

Originally posted by Ranger41:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Austin, TX - Lived there 2 years in college
Love to visit, but could never live there again.

+1. I went to UT in Austin during the early 60s. Loved Austin, but no longer. Just too congested. I have family there I never see.

I have an aunt & grandmother in NW Austin, we get up there every month or two.
Construction & congestion all over, so we try to get in earlier in the morning on a Saturday, stay til midday & head back.
Lucky it's under 3 hrs each way.

Scranton, PA! Hated living there which luckily was a little over a year. Despite the fact my Irish ancestors came over in the 1840s and worked the coal mines until the early 1900s, I cannot say one good thing about living there and think the office captured the Scranton vibe really well.

I will get the hell out of H-town eventually. And maybe to another red state.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:

I didn’t realize until a few years later how much I hate the damn politics here. But I’ll have to wait until retirement to escape this bullshit.

Amen, Homie!

Being your neighbor, I totally understand! Unfortunately, Im actually in the City- UUUGGGG!
I can’t wait to get the hell outta Dodge.

Then again, some people would call me an “idiot”.
I’m currently eligible to retire. I can leave any day I want. I’m sticking around for a few more years, I have one in college, and one in High School.
Not that we didn’t financially plan for this, but the Department is tossing money at me like I’m a stripper on a pole.

Yeah, I know the current situation here- Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The trifecta of political bullshit, graft, stupidity, and corruption. But for me, right now, the Juice is worth the Squeeze. If something happens in future, it’s a great feeling that I can just walk away.

Mountain Home, Idaho. Originally named Rattlesnake Station, but renamed by the founding fathers, hopeful of a railroad junction. Say no more.

Four years in South Bend. Snowed most every day and when not snowing in was overcast. Once Studebaker shut down the city went down hill fast. Located in the lake effect snow belt. Decided blue collar town with racial issues. I will admit,however that it was above Gary, Indiana.
With the exception of a few years in rural Wisconsin I have lived in the Deep South ever since.

quote:

Some really nice people here, quite a few I knew before coming 9 years ago, many more I've met or worked with. I'll miss them, but Lord this city is an imploding shithole of epic proportions. And the state capitol, to boot! Most of the rest of the state is worse, more destitute and facing endless and seemingly insurmountable challenges.

^^^^^^^^^^^Ever visited the MS.Gulf Coast with 28 miles of white sand beach,no racial issues to speak of and lots of Vegas type casinos. Salt water fishing on the GOM. Great seafood and plenty of golf courses.

Havelock, NC (MCAS Cherry Point). While the base was ok, the town was a dump with nothing going for it (towns nearby were good ...New Bern, Beaufort, etc). We didn't call it "Havenot" for nothing.

OK, PHPaul, you got me!!! LOL

Now I understand better....