Best Zip Code for Perfect Life

Hey, threadman. Why not try Taos, New Mexico? Or for some more bucks Sante Fe? As a NYC boy longing to live elsewhere(At least part of the year) This has been one my favorite getaways. Awesome food, great weather, people who march to very different drummer, and pre-war architecture? You've got prewar, pre-colonial, and pre-cambrian. Just make sure you're on the grid.

Eldragon ~ you'd be hard pressed to find a greater city in America than Portland, Oregon. Hey but don't tell anyone, it's the best kept secret on the West coast. You may say why? Well for starter's Portlandian's have a great respect and pride for their city. There has been a massive effort to make one of the finest downtown's in America. Great public transportation, great schools, BEST Microbrew in America, Coffee is not far behind because of the close proximity to Seattle. Many drive through espresso stands. One of the best school systems in the country. A very fine higher education system, U of O (that's where all the hippies are if you like that kind of groove and only 2 hrs or less from Portland) And Reed college, anyone heard of that? This is actually where the CD we love/hate so much was actually invented, or at least the theory in how it operates. The mountains, the rivers, the forest, the ocean, ecologically minded people, layed back, many many great places to hear live music especially Blues and good ol'rock and roll. I could keep going and going and going. Portland is the best. A strong economy right now, with realestate rising rapidly. Many jobs especially in high tech, architecture, city planning, education, business etc. God I wish I were there now. My only caveat emptor: rain, mist, overcast, and the occasional dolldrums. But one thing is for sure, those things sure seem to keep the assholes away. Yeah, they are all here in the Bay Area and don't seem to have any plans to leave anytime soon. Goodluck to you Eldragon. I don't think you could go too wrong with Portland, just don't forget your Gortex. Who know's I might try to make it back there myself. My plan is to stay here for another 10yrs with my house and then sell and move to Oregon and live like a god damm KING!!! And one more thing. Jerry really didn't pass away, he just moved to Eugene. Many of my freinds have seen him frequently at the WOW Hall, aka Woodman of the World. Cheers!

Shhhhh Axomoxa !

Nobody is supposed to know!

It does rain like a faucet out here. The traffic is reaching epic proportion too of late. Also, I got a really bad cup of coffee downtown yesterday (at Powells!). Portland is BAD BAD BAD! Ha ha.

Nice one John! How is the old bookseller? That is one of the many of Portland's asset's I forgot to mention. So here it is; Portland also boast's probably one of the best bookstores on the West coast, possibly one of the best in the world! I just bet that was a really bad bad cup of coffee, ha ha ha! Cheers to my fellow Portlandian!

Try Decatur Illinois. We have every thing that you mentioned, i'm not kidding. Brick streets too. I just bought a pre-civil war home that is 4,500 sqft, all brick, BIG rooms and of course high ceilings for just over $100,000.00. try it you'll be surprised.