How to relocate outside of NY? -

i ve lived in the same apt for almost 26yrs. i m leaving in 2010 and i don t know where exactly to go. I ll be 26 and i m currently looking for a new job outside of NY. I only want to be 2-3hrs from home since my father is ill and i don t want to be too far. Any suggestions as to a where an New Yorker, born and raised, would best fit in? and what s the best approach to relocating? thanks!

Take a vacation someplace interesting. While you re there, check out the resident living situation: housing options and pricing, browse the help wanted advertisements, sample the restaurants and grocery stores, drop by a few clubs��all with an eye to seeing if the place suits you.It might be necessary to do this several times until you re comfortable, and to make fair comparisons. More importantly, since you probably have no experience how other places work, you ll find you might have make some mental adaptations: for example, most NYC folks don t have cars. Outside NYC, most people have cars. Almost every city��except NYC��is designed around cars: that s assumed to be how one commutes, shops, and recreates. When imagining living anywhere else, imagine it with a car.As far as fitting in, that s more of challenge. The few New Yorkers I ve met never really have fit in here (Portland, Oregon). They don t get that people don t try to screw everyone, and certainly don t deserve the attitude and stereotypical rudeness. I know that s not true of all New Yorkers, but it s something to keep in mind.