1. Austin Texas. We loved it there. Great area, nice people, lots to do. But hot, more hippies than Cowboys in Austin (either way is good with me, just know that Austin isn't cowboy hats and boots as much as Dallas) Oh, and no state income tax.

2. Ventura to Santa Barbara. Awesome area if you can afford it and don't mind traffic. We go here every year. I would never live in CA, but we do love this area.

3. Knoxville TN. Super beautiful, nice people, and easy going with plenty of outdoorsy things to do. Plus the world fair ball (can't remember exactly what they call it....sun ball or something). Surprisingly not really any good bbq though.

4. Tupelo MS. I've really fallen in love with a few places in MS. This area from New Albany to Tupelo is great. People are super duper nice and just really great to be around. Surprisingly varied terrain.

Of course, I'm a SL boy and live here again. Lots of reasons but one is for sure that there is more to do here than anywhere else we've lived and so easy to get culture or cow odor; both are accessible and close which I love. If you live in SL get towards the outskirts near mountains. Makes for an easy get away and less trouble with winter inversions.