If I could live anywhere, ever....

For years I have known that after graduation, David would be applying to graduate school. But, it has seemed so far in the distant future, intangible, and very hypothetical. Now, after four years of school in Athens, the place that we have come to know as home and where our children were born, he is starting his applications.

We have been working through his list together, looking for a program that he would love, as well as a place that would be a good fit for our family, and community where the kids and I could thrive as well. It's exciting, overwhelming, adventurous, and scary to think about up-rooting from the only place that I have known as a parent with a two year old and four year old. Especially since most of our options are very far from home.

This process is causing a lot of introspection on my part, like, what is important in a place to live? What do I like and dislike? And where would just be really freaking fun...

If I could choose every little detail of where I could live it would like something like this:

-Small to medium size town or city
-No mosquitoes or fire ants (and no poisonous snakes would be an added bonus.)
-Temperate weather much of the year
-Either mountains, hills, or a beach- or at least a nice lake
-Friendly, down-to-earth people, with a lot of families/people with young children
-A community that values people over things
-Somewhere that I can find people as crunchy and alternative as me (after all, I am a home-birthing, local-eating, co-sleeping, extended breast-feeding, positive disciplining, anti-punishment and rewards, intactivist - I just learned this word last night!, peace-seeker, knitter, and future Waldorf/ slightly unschoolish homeschooler.)
-A nice farmer's market
-Activities for young children, i.e. children's museums, nice parks and playgrounds, etc.
-Outdoor activities - hiking, kayaking, etc.
-A town with a few good local restaurants, independent shops, artists, and coffee shops
-Pro-biking?!

And all of that in an inexpensive, low-crime, kept-up area with affordable housing ideally with a YARD and more than 700 square feet, in a town that has a top university. And then all of our family could re-locate there.

Ha, ha, ha.

Anyone know where my dream land exists?

And all of that to say, we might just be staying in Athens. And you know, that wouldn't be too bad. I love our house, we have some friends, I only get lost about once every 3-4 months (which is very impressive for me I might add), and I still have a long DIY list...