What's it like to live where you live

[BBW]

To tell you the truth, I think I'd like to plan a visit to everyone's corner of the world. Who knows...maybe someday we'll do a rotating photography trip.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

This morning walking the dog:

Updated image with the HDR I created from the 3 images that were bracketed.

 

[BillN]

Really interesting post

We moved, (retired), to SW France permanently last summer from a small Hampshire village, near Winchester, UK, were we had lived for 25 years - we have had our house in France since 1988, so we know the area quite well.

We live "in the vines" at the end of a "no through" road

The following is the lane, (small road), up to our house

in the first image you can see the phone line on the right - it's been like that as long as I can remember and the PTT just do not do anything about it - slow internet connection

 

[chromatin64]

I currently live on the outskirts of the historic town of York. Where I've lived has been determined by work since I left university. I'm originally a Welshman, from Swansea. My path has been -

Swansea - Cleethorpes - Swansea - Bradford - Reading - Swansea - Bradford - Stafford - Leicester - Norwich - Bingley - Grimsby - York

York is lovely as a city with some fabulous surrounding countryside. The Romans made York their provincial capital and later on, York was a Viking stronghold - there's a lot of history here. I miss Swansea and its beaches (and people!) but with Mrs Chromatin64 settled in a good job here, I think this will be permanent and I'll have to try and find a permanent job in the region when I can. If only this country had decent, predictable weather, it would be nirvana. But it doesn't so it isn't.

 

[christilou]

I'm really enjoying this thread, it's bringing all these places to life. What a good idea Bill! I have to think carefully about what I can say about where I live, I hadn't really thought about it from an outsider's perspective! I will get to it soon though

 

[BBW]

I agree, this is a great thread! So many of us from such different places and walks of life.

I'm afraid that I painted my town rather grimly. It's quite pretty and many love it here due to its proximity to NYC...but it's just too crowded, hectic and expensive for me. Oops, there I go again!

The photos are a nice touch, too.

 

[kathyh]

I live in Ottawa the Capital of Canada. It's a city of about 1 million who's main activities are government (of course) high tech and tourism. There are two rivers, one canal and lots of recreational paths and trails. By and large the winters are cold and the summers are pleasantly hot with occasional really hot spells.

I live in the downtown area and can walk to almost everything.My main complaint (apart from winter of course) is that it's so far from any ocean - I love ocean.

 

[BBW]

I love the ocean, too, Kathy.

 

[pdh]

You know, BB, it is OK not to like where you reside ... and much as you like the views I have, I am basically living in a geriatric ward on top of a 660 foot hill ... so that's what it's like to live where I live!

 

[BBW]

No, say it isn't so Paul!!!!! Don't ruin my fantasy of The Vale!!!!!!

 

[pdh]

I tell you, Thursday mornings and the High Street is a sea of beige, Zimmer frames and mobility scooters ...

 

[BBW]

I had to look up what Zimmer frames were - I thought they were a designer set of glasses frames.

Well, I'm not sure why there are so many old folks where you live, Paul, but I hope we all live to ripe old ages in good health both mentally and physically. If I'm still going strong, I'll be OK with a Zimmer, etc.

P.S. Though beige will never be seen upon me, as it is just not one of my colors!

 

[kyteflyer]

I live in Newcastle, Australia. Like its namesake in the UK, its an industrial city, and the Hunter Valley in which its located is one of the main sources of coal. Many of us bemoan this constantly, theres an island in the middle of the Hunter River, called Kooragang, and 20 years ago I used to fly my kites over there... now the entire area is covered in mountains and mountains of coal and on the river side, coal loaders by the dozen.

In the city itself, though, there are many restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, art galleries, and live music venues, and theres an ambience here that I haven't found anywhere else I have lived, in Australia. I wish I lived in the more vibrant part of the city, but sadly, I have succumbed to suburbia and the 3 bedroom brick and tile house with a dozen more exactly the same surrounding it. The good news: I am 20 minutes from the city and beaches, 20 minutes from the Lake, an hour from the Hunter Valley Vineyards, 40 minutes from Port Stephens and whale and dolphin watching and if I want to go to Sydney, its just down the road, or a couple of hours by train.

I'll post photographs when I can sort some out.

 

[PeterB666]

I live in Sydney on the east coast of Australia. I was born in Perth on the west coast but like it here in Sydney (most of the time). A fairly large city although there are larger. Cosmopolitan and one of the most magnificant harbours in the world. Some very nice beaches too.

At the moment, it is winter and the weather is crap but there is still beauty there.

A storm rolling in up Sydney Harbour around 6am this morning...

Storm Clouds over Sydney Harbour 2 by peterb666, on Flickr

Facing the opposite direction a little later...

Sydney Moring Rain by peterb666, on Flickr

 

[Landshark]

I live in a small city within the city of Los Angeles. LA is probably one of the most loved and disliked cities in the world. A lot of people can tell you how much they dislike So Cal, but I have to tell you that I love it, and the more I travel the more I love it. What I love is the diversity and the access to so much, there is no where else I have been to, that I can go to, al grant you a very long day, the beach, Contemporary Art Museum, mountain snow, opera, desert, tar pits and a concert under the stars. On the other hand it is also one of the few major cities in the world that you can completely turn off if you want.
The vast human diversity of LA adds so much to life in this city. The city is host to very large populations of immigrants from all over the world, making the availability of ethnic food, products, music, theater not only extensive but also absolutely authentic and amazing.
You also have the added bonus, if the local natural wonders are not enough, there is the rest of California in close proximity with its own amazing deserts, incredible mountains and beautiful coastline, or with just a few days vacation the whole Northwest or Southwest is just a couple days away, by car.

 

[Andrewteee]

Berkeley, California, though I grew up in Ft Worth, TX. Berkeley has a reputation for being progressive but really it's not. All those young progressives have grown up and now it's pretty conservative. But is is EXPENSIVE! But the weather is great! And it is busy enough for us, but close to San Francisco where the real action is, though we rarely get over there and most times it is to see family. We have GREAT food in Berkeley, something we really appreciate! Lots of fantastic local artisan food producers and farmers and ranchers and some very talented chefs. It is VERY diverse with people from all over the world.

My favorite local place is a large park called Tilden Park. It is where i take many of my pictures. Just a few minutes away from our house and so much to do and see!

The coast is very close by and my favorite spot in the world, Pt Reyes, is about an hour away. I love West Marin county. Premium skiing and hiking is about 3.5 hours away. Oregon and Washington and Canada just short flights away.

Nice people, engaged parents - lots of kids activities, lots of jobs in a wide range of industries. We do have periodic earthquakes and are expecting a big one any day. We have a ton of emergency supplies stashed away. Crime in Berkeley is pretty low, but close by there are real gang problems. Nice weather!

 

[chromatin64]

One of my regrets is not spending some time overseas during my younger years. Both the US (specifically Berkeley) and Aus were on the cards at one point in my early career. But I bottled out because of love/trepidation/money/being a wimp.

Incidentally, there's a British author - David Lodge - who has written a series of novels set in or relating to the University of California at Berkeley (which he called "University of Esseff" [geddit??]) during the "Progressive Period" that Andrew mentions. They're an entertaining read.

 

[stillshunter]

I'm a city boy - Sydney, Australia - by birth. But work brought me to Canberra and the lifestyle choices and my fortune in finding the perfect partner sees me now living on acreage (110 acres) outside of the ACT. It's a long commute and hard work, but...

this is what I wake up to in the morning and start to see as my eyes adjust and my body soaks in the caffeine as I look out the window.

Islands of the Cloud by stillshunter, on Flickr

...and the exit of the driveway. My morning view each day as I set off to work.

Dawn on the driveway by stillshunter, on Flickr

What I come home to - esp. in Winter. The dark and the chores - this is from the back paddock where the horses are rugged of an evening.

Sunset Tides by stillshunter, on Flickr

...and a random shot of some of our morning visitors.

Wobblies by stillshunter, on Flickr

Sorry BB, this is a bit repetitious....

 

[christilou]

Camberley UK

I live in Camberley in the county of Surrey in the UK. I think of it as suburbia but really it's not so bad! We live within easy reach of a couple of airports, a great hospital and only 40 miles from London by car. We have good rail connections too so not much to complain about. We live on the borders of Berkshire (Ascot) and Hampshire (Farnborough) and because Surrey and Berkshire are considered "affluent" counties, we are pretty well served in all things that matter! We are twenty minutes from Ascot Racecourse, 30 mins from Windsor Castle and I love to go to Windsor and mingle with all the other camera clutchers I live on a large housing estate along with many families surrounded on two sides by army land and I can hear the regular pop, pop of gunfire in the still of the night as they go on manoeuvres in the woods. It's possible to drive for about twenty minutes and find yourself deep in the English countryside, with winding lanes and fields and this is what I really appreciate about living here! We once went to visit friends in deepest Wiltshire, who took us out for dinner one night. We drove for about 10 minutes along a single track road surrounded by high level hedges and not a streetlight in sight. I remember a vague feeling of panic at being so far away from everything and so I know that real country living is not for me (well not yet anyway!) I like the hustle and bustle of suburban living but not the big city life and so being here suits me very well. Around Ascot there are some jaw-droppingly fantastic houses, usually gated, but not always and the latest Mercedes, Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martins abound. Plenty of well-known people live around these parts, from golfers to media people so I guess it's a pretty popular place to be

 

[chromatin64]

Thanks for reminding me that I lived in Reading for a year too. I even worked in Camberley for a few days.