[Blindtlk] Best places to live

Thu Oct 31 14:35:33 UTC 2013

There is no right answer to this question. I have lived in cities towns and rural areas. If you want to, and if you have the resources, one can make anything work. I make choices where I live now that I didn't need to mane in Denver, or for that matter in Portage WI, that had a cab system which functioned as the mass transit. In Denver and Portage, transportation was easy. Here, busses have a more limited schedule, and cabs are more of a wish than a reality. So, I choose to limit evening activities. I do use drivers, but I am cheap, so I use them reluctantly and sparingly.

The question shouldn't be "the best place to live" but rather "Where do you want to live, and what do you want there." With enough work, we can and do live anywhere we want to. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 9:27 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Best places to live

I think the not getting out or traveling on your own happens in larger cities too.  If a person has had the opportunity to learn good travel skills, those skills can be applied in whatever situation a person finds themselves in.  certainly some individuals find travel in an urban setting easier, but I hold that is a factor of personal preference more so than blindness specifically.

Here in my small town there are things that are a fair bit away.  The middle school is about a 30 minute brisk walk for me.  I present a program to the after school kids once a week or so up there.  It doesn't bother me to walk that distance carrying my materials.  It's probably close to 2 miles one way.  I find the walk peaceful and pleasant.

Contrast that to when I travel to a large city for meetings or whatever. 
There is a lot of traffic, it's noisy, it feels like everything is piled up on top of everything else, the people all seem in a hurry, leaving me feeling like I'm constantly running behind and disconnected.  For me, it's not a blindness thing.  I can move around in larger cities just fine.  I just don't really like it.

Julie

-----Original Message-----
From: Sherri
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 8:51 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Best places to live

I think as long as you have a way to get where you need to go, whether it be the ability to walk places or good public transportation, personsl preference should count the most. The thing that concerns me are blind people who move to rural communities (not necessarily small towns where things are within walking distance) and then they can't get anywhere without the help of a parent or friend. Lots of small towns in Florida are not easy to navigate by walking, because of lack of sidewalks and things being widely spaced from one another.

Sherri
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Best places to live

I think this topic is quite interesting.  The thing that fascinates me the
most is this concept that there is a best place to live and that somehow
blindness figures into that equation.   I think individual preferences are a
much greater predictor of happiness with your living arrangements than some
survey with scoring based on things that may or may not matter to you.

I live in a very small town, less than 8,000 people.  I am probably the
happiest I have been in my whole life.  I grew up in a large city of perhaps
400,000 people and have lived in a tiny town of about 500 people.   There
have been good points and bad to each.

What I'd suggest to anyone thinking of relocating for whatever reason is to
list what is really important to you, not what blind people are supposed to
find important.  Then look at the possibilities that meet your must have's
and would like to have lists.

I like the ability to walk most everywhere I want to go.  I like fresh air,
a slow pace, small family owned shops, very low crime and space, lots and
lots of space.  Things like buses and advanced medical facilities are not
all that important to me.  If they were, this town would be a misery.

I guess I'm just saying to put more emphasis on what is most important to
you as a person and less on what someone else has decided should be
important to you because you're blind.

Julie

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