Fleeing SLC to somewhere greener
Spouse and I are looking to get out of SLC in the near future. We are looking for:
- Lower COL
- Rheumatologists (spouse has a mystery autoimmune disorder)
- More trees
- Fewer Mormons and Republicans.
My job is remote, but we are limited based on where my employer operates - so no New England/NY/NJ or west coast. We have also limited our list by states that have laws preserving the ACA's protections for pre-existing conditions just in case. We are in our 40s, childfree, and really introverted, so we're not looking for nightlife and fine with having a social life centered on hobbies (birdwatching, tabletop, etc.) and volunteering. We have it narrowed down to some of this sub's favorites:
The Twin Cities
Main concern is winter. I'm originally from western NY, so I'm used to winter, but spouse's joints tend to be stiff in the cold (but only painful with barometric pressure swings which seem to be unavoidable everywhere these days), so I'd love to hear how others with similar issues fare. Also, how are the cities at snow removal?
Pittsburgh
Main concerns are:
- The air. Spouse's flares seem to be triggered by bad air quality - Pittsburgh doesn't seem as bad as SLC, but it's still a concern.
- The Pennsyltucky of it all. I'd hate to see Pennsylvania go the way of Ohio after one bad election.
Richmond, VA
Main concerns are:
- Potential gentrification. We plan on renting for a year before buying and would hate to suddenly get priced out of the area.
- Less rheumatology expertise than the other options.
We would love to get opinions on our options - are there any factors we are overlooking? Are there other areas we are overlooking?