Why do you live (or stay) where you live?

This question is directed at anyone who lives somewhere. So as not to discriminate, those who do not live somewhere, but perhaps live somewhen instead, are also invited to participate, but only if they can explain how that works.

It's pretty open-ended really, but a few things to consider:

Is your community open to your atheism (or other philosophy if not atheist)?
If so, is that a factor in why you remain?
If not, does this bother you?
If it does bother you, what keeps you where you are (family, school, can't afford to move, etc.)?
What other aspects, positive or negative, affect the livability of your current location?

Even if you frequently move, or do not live most of any given year at a fixed address, I'm still looking for the same basic things: what keeps you in a state of moving around so much?

N.B. Don't feel obligated to answer those subquestions I asked. Photos, words, videos... whatever; answer however you damn well please. I'm mostly just curious about where other TA members are coming from, figuratively and literaly.

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Permalink Reply by Janelle Campbell on December 29, 2010 at 4:35pm

I live in in a relatively conservative area in Pennsylvania, there are no abortion clinics because the Pro-lifers would be out there everyday. When I mention my atheism, I generally get all sorts of misconceptions and thoughts against it. Although it's conservative there is a secular humanist group as well as a Unitarian church a few miles away. My daughter attends the only secular private school in the area, so I suppose it's not all that bad. I would move somewhere more open to reason, but alas I am broke and my husband's family is here. I've moved twice (I grew up in Detroit), and both endeavors were expensive and taught me that in all places there are things and people I'm not going to agree with. The grass isn't necessarily greener elsewhere, but it could be browner somewhere else..lol

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Permalink Reply by Janelle Campbell on December 29, 2010 at 8:10pm

This is my home in Erie, PA. I like it here generally, and I can walk to the corner visit a land lighthouse and look at Canada on a clear day. There are plenty of parks, and wooded areas and there's a lot for families here.

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Permalink Reply by Bobby Rutgers on June 9, 2011 at 5:59pm

Nice, my sister used to live in Erie PA, I used to go to that pier every time I was there visiting..

I live on the other side of the lake (Canadian Side) in Leamington, Ontario

I was born her, and I am still here because all of my family is here (besides my sister). The line of work I'm in is pretty much only in this area.

This is a fairly religious area, I went to a Catholic Grade School and High School but I never really bought into it.. My parents are not religious at all, I'm sure the only reason I got sent to that school was because it was close to my house, when I was young we would make an appearance at church on xmas while my dad waited in the car, but I haven't done that in years and I'm sure it was just to keep my grandma happy.. I'm open with it but not in your face about it so I'm sure lots of people who know me have no clue, but I'm sure when they find out it will be fine.

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Permalink Reply by sukhdeep on December 29, 2010 at 4:41pm

family and friends is what keeps us around or else i won't be freezing my ass in ohio.

the community is religious, but we still have darwin fish on our car, and i wear my atheist and peta t-shirts in the summer. We go to the Y and everybody over there knows of our non-beliefs. It doesn't bother me (maybe a little bit it does) that people are religious and have a faith based system but as long as they keep that to themselves, and don't interfere with my life with those beliefs.

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Permalink Reply by Andrea on December 29, 2010 at 11:41pm

I don't know, Manny...the way our circle is growing, Central Ohio might become an atheist hub!

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Permalink Reply by M on December 29, 2010 at 5:06pm

I like this picture, Adriana!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Ulean Breedlove on December 29, 2010 at 5:25pm

I was just in Queens not too long ago.. Love the City we visit every chance we get!

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Permalink Reply by kelltrill on December 30, 2010 at 3:18am

That's really interesting :) Thanks so much for posting. I've always been so curious about New York.

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Permalink Reply by Malcolm on January 1, 2011 at 1:53am

Is that Flushing Meadow? I can't think of any other park in Queens that has a lake.

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Permalink Reply by Angela Gorman on January 4, 2011 at 2:10pm

Live in UK but I love NY.. been there 3 times and have good friend there. Zip is 10032. My biggest problem isn't where I live, it's more that I am surounded by a huge extended catholic family, which originated from Dublin. I have a 1st cousin who is a priest and another who was a priest but died a couple of years ago. I have been threatening (nicely) at his invitation to go and speak to my cousin but haven't got round to it yet. We spoke after a memorial service for my 30yr old cousin who was lost in the Asian Tsunami. I couldn't rationalise it at all! I attended but sat most of the time shaking my head at all the crass platitudes I was hearing! His lovely girlfriend was lost as well... they were on KaoLak Beach when the wave struck. Anyway...we had a terrible paedophile priest scandal here in Cardiff in 2000, the archbishop didn't act on significant evidence. My cousin was a Canon and the arch's secretary, but resigned his post in disgust over it.. he went to plain Fr Walsh. So there are some good priests out there... misguided but good people! Sorry.. I've rambled and digressed a bit. Don't have any problems being atheist in the wider community though!

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Permalink Reply by M on December 29, 2010 at 5:12pm

I live in rural Idaho. I have been within fifty miles of my hometown all my life, more or less. I've been an atheist (or at least atheist-leaning) for years. I've never had a problem. I seem to attract like people, and those who are believers, love me enough to not give me crap about it. Plus, they know it would do no good. :o) There are a surprising number of atheists around here, actually.

I plan on moving when I get my nursing license, simply because it is difficult to find work around here. Plus, I could use an adventure. I am not seeking out atheist communities as possible places to move. I am seeking trees, mountains, good hunting, and snowy winters. I would love to live by the ocean. I can bring my atheism with me. I never feel isolated due to my atheism, even if it's just my family and I amongst the whole community. I am a representative of what atheism is to those who don't know. I've never felt it was a big deal, I guess.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Ulean Breedlove on December 29, 2010 at 5:30pm

My husband lived a huge part of his life in the west, he swears it is amazing when it comes to cultural acceptance of differences of beliefs.

We went to Canada the first year we were married, and drove through CO. and Montana, we had an issue at the border and had to spend the night over night for his work visa to clear. Long story, but we stopped in a bar there to get directions to the nearest hotel. It was an old church they had turned into a bar/saloon. I have always told him I wanted to move there, because if that had happened in AL, they would have burned the people at the stake just for having the idea of converting a church for such things.

I agree your Atheism is something you take with you.