I got to keep movin'....movin' on....

While traveling to Florida, I spent a lot of time searching through the atlas and made a list of possible towns to move to in the future. I had a small number of slightly breakable rules:

1. Population roughly that of Ames (50,000)
2. College town preferred
3. Near national parks, forests, mountains, ocean, etc.
4. Nothing in the south

Having those rules in mind, I perused the atlas state by state and made up the following list:

1. Anchorage, Alaska--This one breaks the population rule at roughly 275,000 people, but those people are spread out over an area larger than Rhode Island, so population density-wise, it is a fine city. Potential drawbacks include 20 hours of sunlight in summer/darkness in winter, high rates of physical violence against women, 100+ inches of snow, and isolated location. Positives include impressive scenery, many national parks, and many recreational opportunities.

2. Flagstaff, Arizona--Lana and I drove through Flagstaff once on our way home from my sister's place in Phoenix. Though in Arizona, Flagstaff is located at about 5,000 in elevation, so it is cooler than the side of the pillow that your head hasn't been resting upon. We played disc golf there and the course was incredible. In 2005 Men's Journal called it the #2 place to live in America. They have great observatories, the highest point in Arizona at 12,000+ feet, many disc golf courses, and a vibrant town culture. Drawbacks include large number of meth-heads and a rate of theft that laughs at the national average, probably because of meth-heads.

3. Santa Cruz, California--Never been here, but it is on the Pacific Ocean and not part of a greater metropolitan area. There would be a higher potential here for ultimate frisbee.

4. Santa Barbara, California--A larger population than I would like at 85,000+, and maybe the people would just be too laid back, but it is here on the list. Hopefully, property values aren't too high, even if most of the population is.

5. Eureka, California--Home of Humboldt State. I did some research on Wikipedia that was disturbing. Violent crime rates aren't high, but methamphetamines are popular here (surprise!) and the police have itchy trigger fingers. In a town of 40,000, there were 6 police-caused fatalities in 2006. I can't remember the last time a cop in Ames, Iowa shot a suspect. The good news, though, is that I don't do drugs and shouldn't have to worry. The town is nestled against the Pacific Ocean and is right in Redwood territory. Redwoods National Park was without a doubt my favorite national park, so to live in that area, and upon the ocean would be great. I guess the town is clouded in fog much of the year, though.

6. Truckee, California--No college in this town, but it is situated next to Lake Tahoe. This is where the infamous Donner Party was supposed stranded. Like many of the other sites on this list, there are ample skiing opportunities in winter and hiking/biking opportunities in the summer. Given the location, this place could be too expensive for Lana and I to live in.

7. Golden, Colorado--Never been here, but Jake said it was picturesque. When I looked it up, I didn't like how close it was to Denver, like it was just the last suburb. If it is up in the mountains, at least it would be separated from the metro area, but even then, looking down upon Denver from the mountains wouldn't be the ideal vista. Then again, A-Rod is rumored to potentially play for the Rockies, and there would be free Coors on Fridays.

8. Durango, Colorado--When Lana and I did our 2005 national park trip, we went through Durango. We didn't stop or anything, but just driving through the town I felt like it was the place I was meant to see and live in. Situated in the southwest corner of Colorado it is a hub for many mountain bikers, and a outdoor sports lovers dreamtown. The population is very small at 15,501, but it does include ex-Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Steve Carleton. This one is high on the list.

9. Dover, Delaware--East Coast! Not many of these on the list. It has a small population and Delaware is near the Atlantic Ocean and New Jersey, double-bonus! It has a college, Delaware State, and has a small population at 34,000+, and it is near the ocean and many state parks, so it is on the list.

10. Hilo, Hawaii--A small city on the big island. Living in Hawaii would be incredible. You can bike around the island in an ambitious day, climb the mountains, go to the beach, and hike. I certainly wouldn't be a slave to television anymore, unless it rains. Does it rain on Pacific Islands?

11. Pocatello, Idaho--Did you know it is against the law to look sad in this city? Seems kind of ridiculous, maybe I could get a job as a smile-cop. Idaho State is located in this city, as are endless forests and mountains and rivers, and over 50 Mormon churches! The population is 53, 372 and they have 50 Mormon churches!

12. Lewiston, Idaho--Lewis and Clark college is the one for this city. I don't know much about Idaho, and I've only travelled through the vertical panhandle once on the way home from Seattle, but I was impressed with both Idaho and Montana, so they have some representation on this list.

13. Couer d'Alene, Idaho--Had this one on the list, then took it off, then put it back on. A town of about 40,000, no college, but a glacier lake up in the mountains, like a baby Lake Tahoe.

14. Bangor, Maine--No college here, I've never been to Maine, but for some reason I put it on the list. It is close to Acadia National Park on the Atlantic Ocean and Stephen King does live here, but I have no idea what else is big about Maine. Ross and Lorien, could you clue me in?

15. Missoula, Montana--Another town with a college and many outdoor recreational opportunities. Maybe I would be taken hostage by some sort of townie militia, but it could be really great while it lasts. Is there a coed ultimate team here, or one located near here? I don't know, as an open player, I don't recognize the legitimacy of coed ultimate, especially those teams that don't finish in the top 8 in the country.

16. Bozeman, Montana--More centrally located in Montana, but maybe that isn't such a great thing. They do host an ultimate tournament each summer, if they indeed still host it.

17. Ithaca, New York--A little more east coast. Cornell University is here in upstate New York, what else, I don't know, I've never been there, but I do know two graduates.

18. Asheville, North Carolina--Not sure how this one made it on the list, but it did. Too close to "the south". To close to "North Carolina ultimate". Umm, it looked good at the time, now I'm not so sure. Okay, okay, I don't really have a thing against North Carolina ultimate.

19. Ashland, Oregon--What would I have to look forward to here? The Oregon Shakespeare Festival held at the U of Southern Oregon each year. "Two houses, both alike in dignity in fair Verona where we lay our scene" or something like that. Alas, poor Ashland, I don't yet know thee, but maybe one day.

20. Corvallis, Oregon--Another small Oregon town off of the interstate. A girl from Corvallis dated my roomate and her parent's were good friends with the Wigginses, yes, those Wigginses. That's got to count for something.

21. Moab, Utah--As the list gets longer the write-ups are getting shorter. Did you notice that? A small town of only 4, 807 people, but it is on the doorstep of Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Many mountain biking and rafting outfitters operate out of Moab, so I could get a job in the sports entertainment industry.

22. Logan, Utah--A smaller town, the site of Utah State University, away from the Salt Lake City metro area. Utah is an incredible state, though. Once when I was down and out I thought I would just leave Ames and all my stuff behind and just go bike around Utah until I gained my wits about me again. Sometimes I wish I would have gone. Oh well, I could still go live there.

23. Burlington, Vermont--The birthplace of Ben&Jerry's Ice Cream, Van Bruegger's Bagels, and Page McConnell of Phish. That trifecta should pay off bigtime. They would be a lot of snow in the wintertime, but it would be nice to have some winters in the woods.

24. Olympia, Washington--Located down at the crotch of the Seattle Sound of Bay or whatever, I don't think they have a large college, but this town has a small population and is near Mt. Rainer. They have good cherries there.

25. Eau Claire, Wisconsin--This is the one that turns everybody's heads. Eau Claire??? So, have I been there to justify putting it on the list? No. I just think Wisconsin is a decent state, plus there is Lake Superior to the north, a places like the Apostle Islands, Isle Royale National Park, and others. So maybe it is a weak choice, but I needed 25 for a more square list!

So, that's the list, it certainly has a west-coast bias, but what doesn't these days? Lana seems to be okay with moving to any of these places, or anywhere in the world, or anywhere that is outside of Ames, Iowa.