First of all, my happy place:Cincinnati. It's centrally located putting it within day trip distance of many tourist locations in the mid west. It's just a great place to live.
In response to Bill's SF comment, keep in mind the bands Journey and Starship wrote songs about their love for the "city by the bay". I visited Virginia Beach back in 2000. I was surprised and amused to learn that the use of curse words in public is illegal. There is a city ordinance on it (1st amendment be damned). It's meant to keep the city a family oriented place to live and visit. Good for them.
I've moved around a lot. I wouldn't recommend a place I like any more than I would recommend marriage, which has been a real blessing to me for the past 35 years. However, I have noticed that there is one factor that gives some places the edge over others: friendliness.
Some places are generationally friendly, like Kentucky. But some places are cram-packed with transplanted folks who bring no friends with them and are eager to make some, which makes them very friendly too. The DC area is like that. California is like that. Denver was like that when I lived there in the 90s. Akron, Ohio, not so much.
The happiest place to live in the whole wide world is the exact place that I live.
My papa was a preacher, so I've lived in several places; born in Punxsutawney, PA, early school years in Meadville PA, graduated high school in Shanksville PA, live now in almost rural Niles Ohio. Each place was the happiest place for me while I was there. It didn't depend on weather, wealthy surroundings, or any of the other features that surround mythical gardens-of-Eden. It only depended on my decision to be happy and contented wherever I happen to be 'planted.'
My mouth fell on the floor reading that Sunnyvale, CA is a happy place. I grew up there and still have family living there and would not use the word happy to describe it. To be fair, my family members would. I’m familiar with all the CA locations and they are expensive places to live, mostly suburban with little nature or personality. I share your surprise.
This report by SmartAsset is mislabeled, in my opinion. They claim it’s a list of the “Happiest places to live”. In actuality, it’s a list of places they believe will make the most people happy, based on 13 criteria they have designated as the things most important for happiness.
Bill, I personally don’t think you should be surprised by entries on the list. Instead, you should be surprised and/or disagree with the criteria they used. That criteria either works or it doesn’t…and if it works, then three cheers for Sunnyvale. (That’s a real place?!?)
Here’s my problem with this list. If you want to know the happiest place where people live, ask the people. Have them rate how happy they are. If you want to list the supposed “BEST” places to live, then fine, use your arbitrary 13 criteria.
Happiness is a personal thing. Don’t tell ME why I’m happy. I bet there are places in the middle of nowhere, where the residents have lived there all their lives and they are much happier than most people in big cities, because they know everyone and leave their doors unlocked. But…who am I to say. Lol
I write from Madison. 22 degrees is warm for this time of year! Right now it’s actually a balmy 44! But no earthquakes, wildfires, water shortages, atmospheric floods, hurricanes, mudslides, volcanos! Just nice folks and lots to do.
Call me biased....my hometown of Dana Point, CA is the southern end of Orange County (The OC) vs. Huntington Beach on the northern end is THE BOMB DOT COM.
Dana Point has varied topography vs. Huntington Beach's flatness....and scant on tourists and weekend crowds because its "more southernly."
P.S. When I went out of state to college, I swore I would never return to California. After living in Tennessee and Massachusetts, I ate my words and returned to California because you just can't beat the whole package -- world class skiing in the morning in Mammoth and surfing in the early evening in Dana Point.
Cheers to sunshine and an average of 70-degrees year round. MOVE HERE ;)
First of all, my happy place:Cincinnati. It's centrally located putting it within day trip distance of many tourist locations in the mid west. It's just a great place to live.
In response to Bill's SF comment, keep in mind the bands Journey and Starship wrote songs about their love for the "city by the bay". I visited Virginia Beach back in 2000. I was surprised and amused to learn that the use of curse words in public is illegal. There is a city ordinance on it (1st amendment be damned). It's meant to keep the city a family oriented place to live and visit. Good for them.
Interesting that a vast majority of the cities have a quite high cost of living. Does that mean money makes you happy?
I've moved around a lot. I wouldn't recommend a place I like any more than I would recommend marriage, which has been a real blessing to me for the past 35 years. However, I have noticed that there is one factor that gives some places the edge over others: friendliness.
Some places are generationally friendly, like Kentucky. But some places are cram-packed with transplanted folks who bring no friends with them and are eager to make some, which makes them very friendly too. The DC area is like that. California is like that. Denver was like that when I lived there in the 90s. Akron, Ohio, not so much.
The happiest place to live in the whole wide world is the exact place that I live.
My papa was a preacher, so I've lived in several places; born in Punxsutawney, PA, early school years in Meadville PA, graduated high school in Shanksville PA, live now in almost rural Niles Ohio. Each place was the happiest place for me while I was there. It didn't depend on weather, wealthy surroundings, or any of the other features that surround mythical gardens-of-Eden. It only depended on my decision to be happy and contented wherever I happen to be 'planted.'
This list was probably submitted by the California Department of Tourism to some poor overworked intern.
Love your story of MLK Jr first big speech. Thx
Happy MLK day!
Crested Butte, it stands alone.
I’m a ski bum.
I’m going to get back to the endless reasons why this place and the people that live here are awesomely different.
If anyone saw the life that our amazing daughters get to have every day, it may shed some light on the sacrifices that are made to do so.
It is a lot of work but it’s worth it.
Carry on.
It’s not where you live but how you live that determines how happy you are
My mouth fell on the floor reading that Sunnyvale, CA is a happy place. I grew up there and still have family living there and would not use the word happy to describe it. To be fair, my family members would. I’m familiar with all the CA locations and they are expensive places to live, mostly suburban with little nature or personality. I share your surprise.
This report by SmartAsset is mislabeled, in my opinion. They claim it’s a list of the “Happiest places to live”. In actuality, it’s a list of places they believe will make the most people happy, based on 13 criteria they have designated as the things most important for happiness.
Bill, I personally don’t think you should be surprised by entries on the list. Instead, you should be surprised and/or disagree with the criteria they used. That criteria either works or it doesn’t…and if it works, then three cheers for Sunnyvale. (That’s a real place?!?)
Here’s my problem with this list. If you want to know the happiest place where people live, ask the people. Have them rate how happy they are. If you want to list the supposed “BEST” places to live, then fine, use your arbitrary 13 criteria.
Happiness is a personal thing. Don’t tell ME why I’m happy. I bet there are places in the middle of nowhere, where the residents have lived there all their lives and they are much happier than most people in big cities, because they know everyone and leave their doors unlocked. But…who am I to say. Lol
Happiness is where you make it!
Not sure why any of these places made the list. I would not move to any of them. Climate change has changed where a good place to live looks like.
I write from Madison. 22 degrees is warm for this time of year! Right now it’s actually a balmy 44! But no earthquakes, wildfires, water shortages, atmospheric floods, hurricanes, mudslides, volcanos! Just nice folks and lots to do.
Call me biased....my hometown of Dana Point, CA is the southern end of Orange County (The OC) vs. Huntington Beach on the northern end is THE BOMB DOT COM.
Dana Point has varied topography vs. Huntington Beach's flatness....and scant on tourists and weekend crowds because its "more southernly."
P.S. When I went out of state to college, I swore I would never return to California. After living in Tennessee and Massachusetts, I ate my words and returned to California because you just can't beat the whole package -- world class skiing in the morning in Mammoth and surfing in the early evening in Dana Point.
Cheers to sunshine and an average of 70-degrees year round. MOVE HERE ;)