World, Writing, Wealth discussion

As a world-focused group, it would be interesting to know where everyone is located and what do you like about your area?

Please take the country poll too.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States.

What can I say? It's the best! ^_^ I am biased having been born and raised in northern California.

I'm in Australia - specifically the Upper Hunter Region of NSW, but grew up in Western Australia, (the hills out of Perth) and lived for 16 years in the Pilbara.

Three seas: Red, Dead and Med, lots of historical sites, nice people, weather and food and there is also an Israeli-Palestinian conflict for a dessert, soon to be solved through a 'most-hard-to-get deal', as featured by DJ Trump. So, hurry up!

Southern UK Hampshire to be more precise. Grew up in Bedfordshire then military sent me round the world but been here for 18 years!

I spend 9 months out of 12 in Merida, Yucatan. My wife and I bought an old colonial house here seven years ago, built in 1723. It's a beautiful Spanish colonial city surrounded by old haciendas and Mayan archeological sites. The people a very friendly, most of them still speak the ancient Mayan language.

The rest of the year, we return to Quebec City where we used to live.

Tim wrote: "I've recently accepted an offer for the full asking price of this house and will be moving on. My intention is to leave the UK, but I'm not sure where I'll go yet... ..."

Congrats on the sale, Tim, and good luck with your private exit

Bernard wrote: "I spend 9 months out of 12 in Merida, Yucatan.."

Visited there some years ago. Nice place. Returned with a hammock -:)

Nik wrote: "Bernard wrote: "I spend 9 months out of 12 in Merida, Yucatan.."

Visited there some years ago. Nice place. Returned with a hammock -:)"


Hammock and beer, two of mankind's greatest inventions.

Bernard wrote: "Hammock and beer, two of mankind's greatest inventions.."

Hey, cool stuff, agree!
However, I don't remember Merida having an access to the shore or the global warming has changed the disposition and brought Gulf of Mexico nearer? -:)

To get to the beach, you go to Progreso, 25 minutes from our home.

I come from Lower Hutt, New Zealand, but I was born on the West Coast of the Sth Island, a place still mainly covered with subtropical rain forest. Hokitika gets about 120 inches of rain a year, and go inland a few miles and you get 250 inches a year. When it rains, everything gets wet.

One of my favourite places is just south of Westport: Tauranga Bay. On a calm day it is chocolate box beautiful; in a northerly storm it is beautiful, but in the exact opposite way. The sea hits giant granite boulders and throws water up over a hundred feet in the air, and if you get dumped on, well, it is bracing!

Tim wrote: "I live in the Pembrokeshire national park near Cardigan, Wales, UK. I'm here because I inherited the house from my parents - a 500 year-old plus cottage with wysteria (currently in full bloom) all ..."

You should come down here in Yucatan. Lots of English speaking expats from Canada, USA, UK.

Bernard wrote: "You should come down here in Yucatan. Lots of English speaking expats from Canada, USA, UK. .."

You can then form writing & beer group under our auspices -:)

Where we lived in the Pilbara was near Karijini National Park (http://www.tomprice.org.au/karijini-n...) one of the most beautiful places in Australia.

Now, living in the Upper Hunter, there's another kind of beauty.

Australia is such a diverse country, and we have some absolutely spectacular scenery.

Leonie wrote: "Australia is such a diverse country, and we have some absolutely spectacular scenery. ..."

Hope to be able to come visit again someday... To bad it can't drift a little closer every so many years -:)

I live in Texas. I lived here my whole life and I love it here but it's hot

Nik, New Zealand is also very diverse, and it is possible to go through quite diverse landscapes in a 50 k drive. But if you want to add it to your Australian visit, get in quick. The distance between us is increasing by 1 cm per year, so they tell me :-)

Sure, NZ is tempting and I'd love to visit! Try not to crash into Galapagos in the meantime -:)

I live in Idaho. It has mountains, forests, deserts out by the lava rocks. There's also cities and countries. I've been living in Idaho since birth and I'm NOT leaving my home state.

Nik, I'll issue a warning notice :-)

I'm in the state of Georgia in the southern US. I like the landscape here, many trees and a lot of green. Some rolling hills. Many plantations surround my town, preserving the unique pine forests and hunting areas which would otherwise have been developed.

I have to say that I'm happy to be a part of a group of people that hail from such diverse places and discuss everything with respect for others.

I'm in Somerset county in SW England. From where I'm now typing I look out across fields to some very low hills and the next village about one mile away. I lived for many years in London and for twenty of them right on the river Thames. It was very pleasant but I hated the traffic which got, and increases to get, worse. And people... I started to get into arguments with idiot cyclists who used the towpath as a racing track at weekends without any thought to dogs and people. Then neighbours got noisy. Have you noticed how people get worse as one gets older? But here it is super peaceful. We don't get any twisters or hurricanes or snow or droughts or extremely hot weather with all its insects that bite bits off you.
Ian, our village is called Westport. Do you think yours was named after it? I find it amazing and fascinating that so many places in our old empire (including USA) are named after tiny UK places.
But I do envy that beach at Progreso - and the sun to go with it.

P.K. wrote: "I'm in Somerset county in SW England. From where I'm now typing I look out across fields to some very low hills and the next village about one mile away. I lived for many years in London and for tw..."

Yes, here in NSW, the next town to mine is called 'Aberdeen' which is then followed by 'Scone.' In the Hunter Valley you'll also find Newcastle and Aberglasslyn. (After hearing some of those names you might not be surprised to hear that we also have a large Highland Games festival in July.)

Well, Leonie, all your original families were from these islands so I'm not surprised. I've had friends from Aus and Canada come over to see where their great and great grandparents came from. It's kinda nice to know our blood has spread so far.

P.K., I have no idea why our Westport was so named, other than it is probably the westernmost port in the country. It was basically there to ship out coal. I know Christchurch (in Canterbury) was named by English settlers who then built a stone cathedral that got flattened in the earthquake, and there are a lot of recidivists who want it rebuilt in its old drafty condition (and most probably never attended services). In the south the Scots settled and named Dunedin and Invercargill. I suppose the original settlers had a lot of naming to do, and flt they needed something familiar.

I'm in Nashville in the US of A. Lots going on here, apparently the "it" city. And no, I don't like country music. Lots of other music here, hence the title Music City. Y'all come now, ya hear?

Diverse and interesting locations, distant places, sometimes with similar names-:)
Don't forget to press the button or write in your country, so we'll have it all graphic

Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mountains/islands/rainforest). It's slowly growing out of it's small town mentality and into it's own identity rather than just being the little sister of Sydney and Melbourne.
Famous for it's balance of wild summer storms and stunning sunshine, there's always plenty to do outdoors all year round and plenty of excellent places to eat and drink in this part of the world.

Leonie wrote: "P.K. wrote: "I'm in Somerset county in SW England. From where I'm now typing I look out across fields to some very low hills and the next village about one mile away. I lived for many years in Lond..."
Ooh I've done some reading about certain events that took place in Aberdeen, NSW. The Hunter is a beautiful part of the world (and of course... wine).

I've heard of Brisbane.

I couldn't add my countries, Gibraltar (which isn't a sovereign country) and Spain.

Like Nik, I have the Med, plus the Straits of Gibraltar, the Bahia de Algeciras, and the Atlantic meets the Med at the Straits, so they say.

Old colonial history and architecture in Gib mixed with swanky new marinas. Natural park up the Rock, the only wild macaques in Europe, plus we have the Barabary partridge and the Barbary something else as well as the monkeys.

In Spain I like the big open spaces (redolent of Aus where I've also lived), and in my pueblo, a good sense of community, and healthy disrespect for rules and regulations.

Baz wrote: "Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mountains/islands/rainforest). It's slo..."

Unfortunately, didn't have a chance to explore it - had just a short connection there when flying from Cairns to Melbourne..

Roughseasinthemed wrote: "I couldn't add my countries, Gibraltar (which isn't a sovereign country) and Spain. ..."

Why, didn't 'write in' option work?
On maps the strait looks so narrow, wonder whether you have Africa view from the windows -:)

Obviously Africa is visible. Didn't Sarah Palin claim to be able to see Russia, and not even from the coast? :-)

Nik wrote: "Baz wrote: "Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mountains/islands/rainfores..."

Well I hope you enjoyed our lovely tarmac haha

Baz wrote: "Nik wrote: "Baz wrote: "Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mountains/islan..."

My partner lived in Brissy for a while. Think he stayed at the Sally Army hostel. He liked it, but shortage of work so he came down to Sydney where we met in Kings Cross (where else?!).

Nik wrote: "Roughseasinthemed wrote: "I couldn't add my countries, Gibraltar (which isn't a sovereign country) and Spain. ..."

Why, didn't 'write in' option work?
On maps the strait looks so narrow, wonder wh..."

Probably because I tried to write more than one word?

If you have a south facing view then yes. On a clear day, obviously. You can see Ceuta (spanish enclave) and the Rif Mountains, and the ferries crossing from Algeciras to Tanger. We face north, with a view up the Rock to the east and down the street to the west. A sea view was beyond our pocket. But hey, I can live with being ten minutes walk away.

Baz wrote: "Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mountains/islands/rainforest). It's slo..."

Brissy is very nice! We have friends there, and were last up there Easter 2016 for the National Spec Fic Convention.

Oh yes, the Aberdeen thing. There are still traumatised police here. I believe someone is planning to make it into a movie!

Leonie wrote: "Baz wrote: "Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mountains/islands/rainfores..."

I think it's incredibly understated but that works well for me at this point in my life. Keeps housing nice and affordable haha :)

A movie, really?! Wow, I wonder how that'd go down around town >.>


Roughseasinthemed wrote: "Baz wrote: "Nik wrote: "Baz wrote: "Most of you likely wouldn't have heard of Brisbane. It's a high rise, subtropical city of about 2.5million with plenty of landscape at its door step (beaches/mou..."
haha ahh the Cross. I haven't been there in a few years!
Brisbane has grown up crazy quickly in the last 5 years or so. It's like a clean, less expensive version of Sydney met a sunny version of Melbourne, moved to Queensland and had a baby haha.

I think there are a few mixed feelings...

I'm a born and bred New Englander. Western Massachusetts, to be more specific. I love it because we have all four seasons, and this area has a lot of amazing cultural sites and history in the area.

Oh yeah, and we have Tom Brady.....LOL

If my memory serves me well, you have a view of the monkeys on that side, Roughseas. And I don't mean your Spanish neighbours. My wife had her bag snatched by one ( not the neighbours, although that used to happen too, by pillion riders on mopeds) and it and I had quite an argument before it let go.

Anita wrote: "I'm a born and bred New Englander. Western Massachusetts, to be more specific. I love it because we have all four seasons, and this area has a lot of amazing cultural sites and history in the area...."

New England is probably my favourite region to read fiction in (this may or may not be Stephen King's fault).
Something about the winters that they get there coupled with the cabins and log fireplaces that sets the horror-loving imagination off :)

Baz wrote: "Anita wrote: "I'm a born and bred New Englander. Western Massachusetts, to be more specific. I love it because we have all four seasons, and this area has a lot of amazing cultural sites and histor..."

Whenever we have dull, grey days with a lot of fog I always refer to it as Stephen King weather.....LOL

Ian wrote: "Obviously Africa is visible. Didn't Sarah Palin claim to be able to see Russia, and not even from the coast? :-)"

The quote "I can see Russia from my house," came from SNL, not Palin, though she did say something close enough to sound stupid nonetheless. I think her point was to draw attention to how close Alaska is to Russia, but she could have said it in a way that didn't draw the jeers.

On topic, I'm in Raleigh, NC. For a midsized city, it is far more accessible and easier to navigate than a number of cities in New England. Born and raised in Rhode Island, and though Providence is much smaller, it was far more annoying to drive around in...and Boston is an absolute nightmare of 1-way streets. I think I like the nice weather more than anything though.

If you reside in a tax haven, we won't gonna tell anyone. You can still take the poll -:)

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...