I lived in a nice part of Connecticut recently. Unfortunately there was no Indian or Thai food within 45 minutes, which was a hardship. My Spot wants me to live in Danbury, CT, to which I say, no thanks. But the other top choices were good (#2, Northampton).

After I graduated from college I lived with my grandfather in DC for a couple of months and temped, spent 10 weeks in Sicily on an archaeological field project, traveled Europe with my mother for 2 weeks, then back to DC and temping while my grandfather drove around the country on a widower's odyssey, then did some for-pay archaeological work in the mid-atlantic region. Then to graduate school, which was a mistake even though I took a year off before going to make sure I wanted to. Oh well.

My spot wants me to live in Sheboygan, WI.

The only jobs available look like they are for AutoCAD drafters.

I am not an autoCAD drafter.

I grew up in the Danbury Area of CT. In Brookfield and Bethel. Not bad places. (that is where matt is now). 1 thai restaurant, 1 really good chinesse ( lets not talk about bad) , a couple of japaneese and sushi. We knew an Indian restaurant over the border in nowhere, NY. Best things about the area : Live music was easy to find,the Danbury fair Mall, October,24 hour diners. The worst thing- limited options. Everybody gets in to a routine- but it was so hard to break out of it - because there wasn't much else to do.

Seattle is attractive to me too.

The thing is: I'm pretty confident that eventually I want to live in Chicago. But there's like ten years between now and that eventually that I want to fill with *interesting* stuff.

Honolulu was my top spot.

followed by portland ,O, Little rock, Santa barbara, Santa Cruz, and Baltimore.

No Boston - which is where I would chose to go if I went back east. ( DC area second - but only if I got to work at the Smithsonian)

And while I think Santa Barbara is pretty, In a number of ways it reminds me of where I grew up. - a little isolated and insular...

My sister went to UCSB for a year and was miserable, so I find it hard to think of Santa Barbara in a positive way. I imagine the beaches aren't covered in oil and tar anymore...

no tar and oil on the beaches -

I just had soft boiled eggs on toast a la Teppy . yum

Gronk, gronk, gronkity, gronk

MG, I couldn't agree more.

Glad you made it home safe and sound, SA!

Patiently awaiting pics of vw after her salon day. Also patiently waiting for 12:30 so I can leave work and relax on a nice little lunch date before my re-finance closing at 2pm.

I think this: [link] is my absolute favorite of the responses to the Linda Hirshman article on SAHMs and feminism, for the take on the Nora Ephron butter quote alone.

On the Philly Phront:

It looks like transferring with my current salary and bonus is a go. Now to see if Joe can transfer.

Still not sure what ~~ma to ask for.