this will be considered blasphemous by all the west coasters on here but, with your guidelines how about the Adirondacks? Lots of climbs, without lines of yuppies with shiny new gear standing in line, cheap rent or cheap homes to buy- a single bedroom apartment is as cheap as $400 a month, and pretty much most people, inc landlords, like dogs. that's my two cents

You look plenty cute and I talked it over with my Fiance'. We have a space in between us on our futon with your name written all over it. It's gonna be allota dogs tho........gotta' be Pug friendly!

Bayr, unless you don't have to work, you might want to factor in job opportunities. I suspect that many of the small towns that meet your criteria don't offer much in the way of employment.

Wyoming? better like the cold
Prescott? better like the heat

White Salmon? Hey, that's where I live! A typical winter day is skiing in the morning on Hood, then mtn biking along the columbia river. A typical summer day is windsurfing in the morning, then pitches at pete's or A51 or ....

And there are over 250 sport routes within an hour drive, nearly 50 of them are local to White Salmon. Of course Smith is 2 hrs away.

Oh, and the rain generally stops a month earlier than portland, and comes back a month later. But for me, I prefer riding/running in 45 degree drizzle vs 95 degree heat anyways..

Keep us posted where you pick, and good luck!

As previously mentioned... Spearfish, SD -- A small, scenic college town, situated well in the Black Hills. Check out last year's Rock and Ice feature about limestone climbing in Spearfish Canyon.

So... Why not split the year between Spearfish and Prescott?

Wow... thank you so much! I am definitely looking into all the places mentioned and will let you know when I pin something down.

Oh, I am an artist and excellent painter. I've owned my own business here doing just that for years.

Be well and keep 'em coming if you'd like.

If you are an artist and like to climb you should check out Taos, NM. There is a great climbing community as well as the overall town is very nice. Plus if you like winter they have great skiing. If you like rafting there is that as well. Just a great place.

GM:

I've got to strongly disagee with you over the whole "Sonora as a nice place to live" thing... Some of the most-sketchy inhabitants I've ever come across. Not to mention one the highest counties for meth-labs busts in CA. And there is NO sense of community in that town.

I can only conclude that you're being sarcastic?

Europe is pretty cool! You can come stay with me I live by all the coarses.

I would second Tucson if you like a bigger town with the option of feeling like you're in a small town. You could pick Mammoth, Oracle or San Man for small town outside of Tucson. If the desert isn't your thing I would put in a Prescott vote. The nice thing about Tucson is if you want to escape the desert Mt Lemmon is an hour drive to the top depending on where you live and it'll feel like you've entered a different world. I couldn't live here without that mountain.

If you decide on this area let me know I have some rentals on acres and I'd be willing to help you out.

From the sounds of it maybe you should take another look at Colorado? Life here is very good and as an artist and painter I think you could easily get by.
Boulder, Golden, Frisco would all be good picks even Denver or one of the suburbs could work. Life goes on love comes and goes. I've been all over the world and states and have never found a better place then Colorado!

Hey -
a few of my favorite places that would be great to spend a year.
there has to be a good amount of activities for all seasons - skiing/snowboarding, mtn bike, climbing, good beer...

- Golden, Co - current residence
- Bend/Redmond, Or
- Hood River, Or
- Leavenworth, Wa
- Bozeman, Mt
- Crested Butte, Co

cheers,
mk

Boulder. Duh.