Where Would You Live?

by Jennifer Cooper, posted on November 27th, 2012 in Creativity

Yesterday, I was doing a little research and picked up Richard Florida’s Rise of the Creative Class. I had read sections of it before but this time, this quote really hit me:

“Great thinkers, artists and entrepreneurs rarely come out of nowhere. They cluster and thrive in places that attract other creative people and provide an environment that fosters and supports creative effort.”

And this one:

“Creators must be exposed to role models and mentors during adolescents and young adulthood”

While we hope that the schools offer creative role models and mentors, perhaps it’s wise to live somewhere creativity (and art) is celebrated outside of the classroom as well.

Florida also goes on to mention that most creative people want to live in a place where they can have rich and multidimensional experiences.

So I wanted to ask, in this ‘creative’ theme, if you could live anywhere, where would you live? Dave and I love where we live now. But I’ll admit, we’ve talked off and on about moving to NYC one day. It’s nice to dream sometimes, yeah?

What about you? What city, town, or heck, even country do you think would fulfill the rich and multidimensional experiences for you? And if you love where you live now, share that as well!

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Comments

18 Responses to “Where Would You Live?”

Caroline Says:
November 27th, 2012 at 11:52 am

Hmmmmm. Excellent question. And you know what? I don’t think I have an answer. Gil and I have talked about living in South America, but the truth is, we very much enjoy this area although since we’re both “transplants” ;) neither of us are totally married to it.

I really do believe that there are little micro-communities wherever a person choses to live that are always full of creative energy. And sometimes even living in an area less traditionally considered one that has a strong creative vibe can, sort of, induce even a MORE unique brand of creativity in a person. And at the end of the day, the most important environment (in my opinion) for creativity to thrive and flourish happens to be right at home.

All that being said, if someone knocked on my door and said “Caroline, here are the keys to your new apartment in NY–and Oh! By the way, it happens to be in “the village” and it’s totally paid for so you have no rent” I might just do a happy dance in my living room!! ;)

[Reply]
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I think you’re absolutely right—there are little micro-communities. The key is to finding them wherever you are.

And I’d totally do a happy dance too if someone did that for me! Ah sigh…

[Reply]
Melanie Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 9:04 am
Yeah, even when I lived in a small town in northern Louisiana I had a group of talented and creative friends who shared similar interests and value. I knew I’d leave someday, but I was glad to have that in the meantime.

[Reply]
Giulia Says:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:14 pm

Anywhere by the water – I wish I had the sound of the ocean and the salt in the air. I’ve lived in so many countries and places, but what I truly want is the ocean.

[Reply]
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I’m with you. I figure it’s because I’ve been an east coaster all my life, but there’s just something psychologically freeing about being near the water. At least for me. Maybe it’s the endless horizon.

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Giulia Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
My grandmother says it’s because I lived in Miami as an infant and toddler – supposedly there is a saying – when a baby’s toes grow up on Florida sand they always want to come back. Living in Switzerland that didn’t really come true – although I did go back to Miami for one high school year. Hubby is from out East, but in New Brunswick it’s a bit chilly :) Endless horizon and the peace of hearing water splash back and forth, sigh ;)

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Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Ahh! Maybe that’s it! I was born in Florida too.
Jen Says:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:45 pm

Where we live now is my third ‘home’ and we’re lucky enough to have taken a punt and land in a town full of creatives. I need to be part of a community that appreciates and nurtures the arts. Mix that with the sea and I’m happy. All we need now is to improve the weather a little, move my family here and make flying super cheap! Ta daaaaaa

[Reply]
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
That sounds perfect. Can I move there too? I can totally make picnics in December work.

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Sandra Says:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:50 pm

I love big edgy, gritty cities with that creative class that Richard Florida speaks of – did you know he lives in Toronto? I miss that city dearly but for family reasons we had to return to Vancouver (aging MIL). Now that the girl is established in her school, we are loathe to move in the short term.

Instead and in the meantime we are doing our darnedest to build a community of creatives locally. I’m starting a monthly salon and we are trying to get out to events and also meet people one-on-one. It’s a challenge in a city that’s really a big old Aspen (nothing wrong with an outdoorsy city, just not a lot of culture here).

And luckily we get to travel a lot too.

But someday…we’ll be back in the Big Smoke (Toronto).

[Reply]
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
That’s the other thing, sometimes, it’s just not possible to live where the ‘creatives’ are. There are family obligations and such and such.

I’m not much of an outdoorsy gal. I mean I like to visit places but the idea of going for a big hike or mountain bike ride? It doesn’t do it for me really.

Being able to travel is such an awesome thing!

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Jillian in Italy Says:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:39 pm

I really think you can have “rich and multidimensional experiences” and establish a creative community wherever you live. There are always like-minded and artistic people around which results in creative activities being available as well. It’s not always easy to find these communities but I think they’re always there.

In the end it doesn’t really matter where I am geographically as long as I have my family close by. And a sunny and bright room where I can putter away doing my projects.

For me we have the best of both worlds…we live in a small rural town but are less than an hour to Milan which offers so much in the way of art and culture.

[Reply]
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
I think your location is really incredible too. You can drive to a different country easily. And over there, there’s culture out the wazoo (that’s right, I said it) so I imagine it’s inspiring no matter where you are.

I do love the idea of having the best of both worlds: rural and major metropolitan.

[Reply]
Johanna Selles Says:
November 28th, 2012 at 4:13 pm

Seems to me the author spends a lot of time in Toronto.
Check out our new Center for Social Innovation in Regent Park!

[Reply]
Melanie Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 9:09 am

I LOVE Seattle. I lived in Los Angeles a couple of different times, and while I miss the access to so much awesome contemporary art, I’m much more comfortable here. There are lots of things to do and lots of talented, interesting people, but the city still feels small and manageable to me. Plus it’s much more mellow than L.A.

We don’t have plans to move at this point, but Drew and I hope to spend at least a year living in some fun European city sometime. I could also see myself living in Portland or San Francisco. I love NYC and would love to spend time there every year, but I couldn’t deal with the pace to make it a full-time home.

[Reply]
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
See, I need to get out to the west coast one of these days. I’m probably missing a whole swath of areas to dream about living.

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sheri silver Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 2:56 pm

This couldn’t have been more perfectly timed for me – we are furiously discussing a move out of NY – a first for both of us life-long New Yorkers. It’s on my life list and everything. The questions you ask are the questions we ask too. It’s totally scary and overwhelming but we are excited too! NY gets a grip on you and you think you can never leave – and be happy anywhere else. To be continued…thanks for sharing this! xo

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Jennifer Cooper Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Well, I know it’s not nearly as sexy as NY, but we’d love you in Baltimore!

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