How many places have you lived?

[Jennifer5]

Alright, I agree this is a very random question... just wondering... do you like moving? Do you like the idea of moving every few years or so... or do you like staying in one place?

[Daniel]

I've been a city boy for a long while now- since 1988. Before that, I lived in NJ, MO, PA (close to where Steve lives) and Spain (Valencia & Bilbao) and a kid. That was really cool by the way.

Right now I like the idea of staying in one place- and traveling all over- seeing the world every now and then. One place I have not been yet: Paris. Dying to go to Paris. And Venice- before the ice caps melt and it really does become the new Atlantis. :lol:

[Lydia]

I think I've lived at about 9 different places.

I prefer moving every 2-3 years, although I include intra-city moves in that # (i.e. moving from one part of town to another).

Staying in one place for longer than a few years can get stale, and moving more often can become stressful when you realize how many people and organizations (i.e. the government, your place of employment, your bank, the local library, etc) will want your updated address.

[Zerbie]

I don't know if my answer should be 3-9, or 10+. Do we count moves within about a 3-5 mile radius or not?

Grew up in 2 houses in NJ (we moved when I was 11). Then I lived in 5 different places in grad school - a lot of that was curtesy of a homophobic landlord - it's a saga. (Amazed I got through the degree as well as I did with everything that was going on, though that bastard landlord did cause me to get a lower GPA - got a couple Bs the semester when I was living out of my car, because I was cutting classes to try to find a place to live, showing up distracted and in tears, etc.) Then when I came here I lived in my husband's old apartment for a while, then we got our house together.

I need to stay put - it's been 2 years since we moved in, and we still haven't had time to put everything away and set up the house. I still wait for the day when we'll get this house set up (takes two, he's got so much stuff in boxes that either I can't lift, or I can't identify, so he has to put it away, and he's got too much on his plate to get around to it.)

[Jennifer5]

Mine was 3-9... 6 places is where I land, for now, unless you count my grandparents home... but that was only our families house for about 6 months probably. I was born in San Francisco and went home to my first home in Forest Rance CA, then was Colville WA... but those first two I don't even remember, the pictures are all I have. Then I must of been 3 or so when we moved to Otis OR, a great place just ourside of Lincoln City OR, right on the beach... so definately liked that while it lasted. But then don't really know what happened my dad got some crazy idea that he thought he should be a minister so we ended up in Berkeley CA... now this place I loved! I miss it so much... I was able to quickly get over Otis, and adore my new home... but I'm not sure that I realized it would only be 2.5 years before we would move again because my dad had finished seminary. We then ended up in Manteca CA, maybe not the best place to live... where in the summer it would be 100 degrees in the shade, but hey, I loved swimming, and we had a pool, so I was happy, it worked for me. Then finally here... about 45 min. from Seattle WA... it's probably one of the best places to live... it can just be hard to remember that because I wanted to leave a couple years ago, and I have no choice but to stay here with the rest of the family till I grauate in 2010 and we sell the house.

Alright, now you have my life story...:rolleyes: I suppose you probably didn't need that much information.

[andrewlittle]

...or 19, if you only count different cities.

0-5 years old:
Isle of Sheppey, U.K.
Jubilee Hill, U.K.
6-15 years old:
Preston, Victoria, Australia
Northcote, Vic, Aust
Thornbury, Vic, Aust
Bundaberg, Queensland, Aust
Dandenong, Vic, Aust
16-48 years old:
Columbus, OH
Newark, OH
Westerville, OH
Columbus, OH (again)
Newark, OH (again)
Circleville, OH
Newark, OH (again)
Worthington, OH
Delaware, OH
Powell, OH
Delaware, OH (again)
49+ years old:
Cambridge, U.K.
Hitchin, U.K.
Stratford, IA
Milford, IA
Fayette, IA

A month short of my 50th birthday, I visited the house in which I lived as a child, at Jubilee Hill England, and by doing that completed my circumnavigation of the world. I can't wait to see what the second 50 years brings.

[tdogg]

For me, 7 if I'm counting cities - many more if actual houses. I've only lived in 1 state my entire life (CA). Unless 3.5 weeks living with friends in Scotland counts? It felt like I lived there my whole life!

[tdogg]

Did I mention to you before, Jen, that Puget Sound is a great birding area!!!

[Jennifer5]

Did I mention to you before, Jen, that Puget Sound is a great birding area!!!

I don't know... but the animals in this area in general are amazing...

[Vanessa White]

I also wasn't sure if I should include homes within a close area of one another, so if I counted in that detail, I would be much higher. Regardless, I was born in Florida, spent 8 years in Massachusetts, moved to New Hampshire, went to college in PA, moved away briefly from there twice to Long Island, New York, and Boston, MA. Now, in PA permanently for about fifteen years or so. I think this is where I am meant to stay, for a few more years anyway, until my daughter grows up and leaves me. I do like moving, not so much as a kid, but I would not mind at this point in my life maybe living in NYC or another urban area. I also wouldn't mind living closer to my sister and parents, who are both south, sister in VA and parents in FLA. I have always felt like moving is a new opportunity, a new, exciting experience. BUt it can have many challenges as well.....:love:

[Daniel]

...or 19, if you only count different cities.

0-5 years old:
Isle of Sheppey, U.K.
Jubilee Hill, U.K.
6-15 years old:
Preston, Victoria, Australia
Northcote, Vic, Aust
Thornbury, Vic, Aust
Bundaberg, Queensland, Aust
Dandenong, Vic, Aust

Really interesting Andrew! If you don't mind me asking, is there something of a British or Australian accent still present in your English? I'm pretty 'mid-atlantic' sounding myself, the result of vocal study, which rounded out the sound of my vowels.

[andrewlittle]

Really interesting Andrew! If you don't mind me asking, is there something of a British or Australian accent still present in your English? I'm pretty 'mid-atlantic' sounding myself, the result of vocal study, which rounded out the sound of my vowels.

When I arrived in the states in 1970, I had a fairly thick Australian accent with hints of Brit left over. Aussies tend to talk fast, as I did, which was complicated by a speech impediment. So, once here, I underwent speech therapy - with a therapist from Brooklyn, NY.

After another 30+ years, the result is a fairly nondescript mid-American accent with just hints of other places. I do, however, say things like wada (for water), caar (for car), garr-age (for garage), etc.

That being said, when I project my voice for public speaking, some of the old accents find their way through the mediocrity. People always end up trying to guess where I'm from. The most common guesses are either New England or South Africa - go figure.