Imagine this...

[chambers]

Are you an online poker player?
I'd go somewhere with better weather all year round.

[sofutomygaha]

To be honest, one of the destinations I had in mind was Vegas. I like the idea of the weather and nightlife. But I've never been there before in my life, so this is all based on conjecture. I wouldn't want to live there permanently but it sure seems like fun for two or three years.

Living in Las Vegas sounds depressing as *#&$ to me, but to each his own.

[chambers]

To be honest, one of the destinations I had in mind was Vegas. I like the idea of the weather and nightlife. But I've never been there before in my life, so this is all based on conjecture. I wouldn't want to live there permanently but it sure seems like fun for two or three years.

It's a dump.
I go there for 6 weeks during the world series of poker every year and even staying in nice hotels it gets old really quickly. A lot of degenerates and crime. If you move there you'll need to love golf or outdoor activities of some kind. Go somewhere English speaking with good weather.
I'd probably pick Australia or Spain.

[KungPoweChicken]

29, just finished school, $100k + geographically flexible career with 2-3 initial horizon... computing... dossier complete.

You just finished your doctorate at MIT, pulled out of research, and are going to work for McKinsey.

I'm a mid level provider, right below an MD. Not sure how this would translate outside the states. However, in most parts of Western Europe there's probably a lot of crossover.

[fairweatherfan]

To be honest, one of the destinations I had in mind was Vegas. I like the idea of the weather and nightlife. But I've never been there before in my life, so this is all based on conjecture. I wouldn't want to live there permanently but it sure seems like fun for two or three years.

Yeah Las Vegas isn't kind to most people that live there.  Very easy to develop nasty habits and/or a mood disorder there.  At a minimum you'll be surrounded by people with those problems.  Vegas trips should max out at like 1 week.

I'm an outdoorsy kind of guy so within the US I'd probably pick somewhere in the Rocky Mountain vicinity like Colorado.  Utah is gorgeous too but a lot of people don't care for the culture there.  Can't speak much for Europe, but it's worth looking into while you still can.

[jpotter33]

Midwestern people are friendlier.

This is actually one of the worst things about the Midwest, IMO. Not friendliness in a vacuum but in the 'my god I'm just trying to buy gas/groceries/whatever I don't want to be chatted up for 20 minutes' sort of way

I remember when I first moved out here and was on the elevator in my building & people were getting on and keep saying "Good morning" and thinking what the heck is wrong with these people?  Used to total silence & not talking to each other.

Also made me realize that I was (and prob still am) one of those walking northeast scumbag stereotypes that people have of us.  Oh well...

Yeah, I'm kind of the opposite right now - Midwestern born and raised and now living (sort of - Pittsburgh) in the Northeast. Most Northeasterners that I meet are... not very friendly.

[kozlodoev]

Yeah, I'm kind of the opposite right now - Midwestern born and raised and now living (sort of - Pittsburgh) in the Northeast. Most Northeasterners that I meet are... not very friendly.

And you ended up a Celtics fan... wait, what?! 

[jpotter33]

I was just in a sort-of similar situation a couple of years ago - 23, just finished my Master's, starting my Ph.D., just married, and moved across the country to Pittsburgh.

It was actually a lot of fun, until my wife got pregnant and we had our son. Now virtually every post-doc fellowship I'm currently applying to is closer to home. For the sake of my kids, I really don't like having them this far away from their grandparents and other family. Thus, don't have kids until you're ready to head back home! lol

[jpotter33]

Yeah, I'm kind of the opposite right now - Midwestern born and raised and now living (sort of - Pittsburgh) in the Northeast. Most Northeasterners that I meet are... not very friendly.

And you ended up a Celtics fan... wait, what?! 

Dad was a huge Larry Bird fan. One thing led to another, and here I am today! 

[D.o.s.]

Midwestern people are friendlier.

This is actually one of the worst things about the Midwest, IMO. Not friendliness in a vacuum but in the 'my god I'm just trying to buy gas/groceries/whatever I don't want to be chatted up for 20 minutes' sort of way

I remember when I first moved out here and was on the elevator in my building & people were getting on and keep saying "Good morning" and thinking what the heck is wrong with these people?  Used to total silence & not talking to each other.

Also made me realize that I was (and prob still am) one of those walking northeast scumbag stereotypes that people have of us.  Oh well...

Yeah, I'm kind of the opposite right now - Midwestern born and raised and now living (sort of - Pittsburgh) in the Northeast. Most Northeasterners that I meet are... not very friendly.

See, I find the lack of gladhanding refreshing, especially after I've been away and come back to New England.

Not that niceness isn't, well, nice, but it feels weird, particularly when you exist outside of those environs most of the time. Plus I just assume that everyone out there is waiting for an excuse to shoot everyone else so my paranoia is on edge anyway. 

[PhoSita]

Come live in California, it's great.

[Celtics4ever]

Come live in California, it's great.

Too many Lakers fans?

[jpotter33]

Midwestern people are friendlier.

This is actually one of the worst things about the Midwest, IMO. Not friendliness in a vacuum but in the 'my god I'm just trying to buy gas/groceries/whatever I don't want to be chatted up for 20 minutes' sort of way

I remember when I first moved out here and was on the elevator in my building & people were getting on and keep saying "Good morning" and thinking what the heck is wrong with these people?  Used to total silence & not talking to each other.

Also made me realize that I was (and prob still am) one of those walking northeast scumbag stereotypes that people have of us.  Oh well...

Yeah, I'm kind of the opposite right now - Midwestern born and raised and now living (sort of - Pittsburgh) in the Northeast. Most Northeasterners that I meet are... not very friendly.

See, I find the lack of gladhanding refreshing, especially after I've been away and come back to New England.

Not that niceness isn't, well, nice, but it feels weird, particularly when you exist outside of those environs most of the time. Plus I just assume that everyone out there is waiting for an excuse to shoot everyone else so my paranoia is on edge anyway. 

Yeah, I'm sure it's annoying if you're not used to it. There are times that it can get a little overbearing for me, especially at restaurants with waiters and waitresses. You just want to scream, "Will you leave me alone so I can eat my food?!" There's only so many times one can ask if everything is tasting alright. 

[PhoSita]

Come live in California, it's great.

Too many Lakers fans?

Come and live near the Warriors fans.

[D.o.s.]

Come live in California, it's great.

Too many Lakers fans?

Come and live near the Warriors fans.

Pretty sure you can't do that on $100k a year anymore.