Need Input: Best Places to Live Raw

[Raene]

And still be able to afford life :) I'm an air sign, continuously seeking new places to live. I'm looking for a warm climate that support a rf diet, maybe Florida, Cali, Hawaii...but towns that are affordable, not high in crime, kid-friendly, and very liberal. Any recommendations? Greatly appreciated! :)

[kaylene]

...I live in Saint Petersburg, Florida. There aren't restaurants in the city, but there is one in Tampa and one in Sarasota--lots of farmer's markets, etc. I have heard great things about the Miami/ft. Lauderdale area. I think anywhere that lots of fruits and veggies can grow locally is a good place to be! Jenna Norwood did a "rawcumentory" and she lives in Sarasota.

[Carlsbad]

I live in Austin, Texas, and I love it. It's warm, beautiful, small enough to feel friendly but big enough that there's lots to do, and it's very affordable (no state income tax-woohoo!). It's also got a great hippie/young vibe, and is very liberal (despite being in Texas!). The produce here is awesome, especially the grapefruits, and there's lots of options for rawbies. The flagship Whole Foods is here, and has an amazing raw bar/counter, and there are juice and salad places all over town. We get good farmer's markets here too.

I've lived all over the country, and while my dream, food and weather wise, would be to live in Northern California, I just can't afford it out there. I love Austin, and would be happy to show you around if/when you come visit!

[Raene]

I live in Austin, Texas, and I love it. It's warm, beautiful, small enough to feel friendly but big enough that there's lots to do, and it's very affordable (no state income tax-woohoo!). It's also got a great hippie/young vibe, and is very liberal (despite being in Texas!). The produce here is awesome, especially the grapefruits, and there's lots of options for rawbies. The flagship Whole Foods is here, and has an amazing raw bar/counter, and there are juice and salad places all over town. We get good farmer's markets here too.

I've lived all over the country, and while my dream, food and weather wise, would be to live in Northern California, I just can't afford it out there. I love Austin, and would be happy to show you around if/when you come visit!

Funny you say that, I'm from Austin! Just left two years ago. I love what it was but don't like what it's become...though I do love the new WF. :)
I appreciate the thought of a tour though! I'm a South Austinite (or was) and honestly, occasionally I miss it, but the weather is just toooo hot for me. Somewhere in between TX and NY weather would be great.

[greenday]

Two thumbs up for the San Francisco Bay Area for supporting a raw lifestyle...however, it is very expensive to live here. :( California in general is great for sunshine, warmth, and great local/organic produce. Depending on your situation you could do it affordably if ya got creative about it. Hope you find your perfect spot! :)

[cara4art]

Another big thumbs-up for the SF Bay Area - we are blessed with an abundance of good fresh foods! If one get past the insane housing prices around here, one can do just fine.(My husband and I manage a small apt. building, so that's how we handle that!). Another excellent place is the Big Island of Hawaii, in the Puna district(on the southeastern, jungly side of the island). The Hilo and Makau farmers' markets are awesome, and there's a smaller daily one just south of Hilo too. My husband and I were on the Big Island for 3 weeks a couple of years ago, and we LOVED it - were even thinking of relocating there from New Mexico(where we were actually living at the time). However, the opportunity came up for us to be able to return to SF where we had lived before we were out in New Mexico for 12 years. We're doing just fine here, and we can easily get out to the Big Island for visits, a better choice for us! It's no accident that raw foodists often gravitate towards more temperate all the way to tropical climates for all the great fresh foods. This makes it much easier and less expensive to eat raw. While we were in New Mexico, produce was 3x more expensive, and not as good due to having sat on a truck for 1500 miles to get there. I would imagine Florida, and (coastal)South Texas as well would be good. Lots of raw foodists go to Costa Rica as well, on retreats, and I believe there are likely some living there as well.

[FloridaPatty]

Seems a lot is going out there.

Sarasota Florida seems to have a lot going for it. Miami is nice if you like big cities and like living in a foreign country. I lived in Miami for 5 years. Enjoyed it a lot. It also changed a lot after Hurrican Andrew.

[Stina]

I live in a temperate climate on the coast of Oregon but definitely wouldn't call it warm. It's so beautiful and wonderful. Lots of organic farms in the area. And lots of potential for wildcrafting! I love it here:)

[kaleidoscopeeyes]

Santa Monica, California. Three raw places within about 15-20 minutes of eachother, plus tons of great raw stuff at the local WF and Co-Op!

[chilove]

Hello there,

Please see the post that I just posted about recently moving to Hawaii! You would LOVE it!

Blessings,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[spicyfull]

I Love to watch a show "House Hunters" on HGTV. Buying a Home is Expensive Everywhere. You have to think of the Children and prices are going up daily. It is also a Buyers Market because there is SO many forclousures.

It is said that Atlanta is the new south and a wonderful place to live.

Take Peace in your Heart and ask for Guidance , sit a while and enjoy the View from wherever you are..

I wish you ALL the Best........

[FloridaPatty]

I Love to watch a show "House Hunters" on HGTV. Buying a Home is Expensive Everywhere. You have to think of the Children and prices are going up daily. It is also a Buyers Market because there is SO many forclousures.

It is said that Atlanta is the new south and a wonderful place to live.

Take Peace in your Heart and ask for Guidance , sit a while and enjoy the View from wherever you are..

I wish you ALL the Best........

I lived there for about 6 months. I just prefer a place with no winter. The people are friendly. Climate is not bad. Traffic is terrible,but can't have everything. Great city to live in and near. Lots going on. Close to a lot of neat things - ocean, mountains, Florida. In the spring, there are so many flowers in Georgia the cars turn yellow with the pollen. My favorite place for spring.

[futureboy]

SF has a few raw options and is relatively warm, but if I had to rank the three places I'd love to be raw right now (in the US) they would be in this order:

1) somewhere in Hawaii
2) San Diego
3) Austin TX (though you're from there so no worries)

Internationally, I'd prefer to be:

1) Australia (Brisbane or Melbourne)
2) Spain (on the coast, perhaps Valencia)
3) Costa Rica/Jamaica/some place in the Caribbean

[Riiiya]

I just got back from Florida last week................. and i just feel like i left half of my heart there! i didn't get to go to any raw restaurants.. i was in the Miami area......... ahh the weather..the sun..the palms! mmm i feel like i could live there :)

[DavidZaneMason]

Yes. I live in Central Florida - and have a little 3-acre spread I use for retreats...and gardens and so on. Florida (especially here in Sebring) is really inexpensive....and VERY conducive to a healthy lifestyle. There is a good raw food support system and network in most of the cities. Here in my area, you can buy an acre of land for $10,000 or so.....or just a small lot for $5000.00. Then you can just buy one of those Fleetwood homes for about $50,000. When all is said and done, you're only getting a loan for about $60,000.....and you've got a one-acre homesite for relatively cheap. You'd only be paying about $500-600 a month in house payment...and living a warm and more rural lifestyle. It's all good.

-David Z. Mason

[commoncents]

Another vote for Northern California and the Bay Area. It is simply lovely here and being RAW in this part of the country is so much fun. There is incredible support in this area for RAW foods and alternative lifestyles period, but the prices are insane. After living all over the country, I think that I've finally found my home.