Comment by Mo Trauen on July 4, 2011 at 2:38pm

I don't know anything about getting a nursing degree, but it would be hard to find a place with both lax weed laws and great diving etc., that would be better than California.

Comment by TheDon on July 4, 2011 at 3:00pm

Why not come to the west coast of Canada? Couldn't think of a better place that qualifies!

Comment by Sarcastic Maniac on July 4, 2011 at 3:10pm

You could try the part of Illinois I currently live in. I go to NIU (located in DeKalb) and understand our nursing program is known for its quality. You also have an awesome on-campus atheist group! =) It's far enough away from Chicago that cost of living is reasonable, but close enough that the city is accessible (about an hour's drive).

For outdoors, you have several options. I don't know for sure, but I imagine you can go diving in Lake Michigan. As for hiking and rock climbing, there are various state parks, such as Starved Rock. There are also quite a few parks and nature trails in DeKalb itself. In the winter there is lots of snow so snowboarding is possible. Depending on the kind of snowboarding you like, the lack of mountains could be a deal-breaker on that.

 

As for weed, Illinois has not decriminalized it. However, I have a lot of friends who partake, and one who was actually caught by the cops got a slap on the wrist fine and had to take a class.

 

Anything else you wanna know, just ask.

 

Comment by Abigail J Sinclair on July 4, 2011 at 3:22pm

Seattle or Oregon...

Comment by James on July 4, 2011 at 3:27pm

I'm in Maryland. I'm not certain of some of the answers, but I'll give it a shot...

 

1) No waiting list for a nursing degree. I need a school that can take me when I'm ready. Not the other way around.(Getting all my credits transferred to an Americanparamedic certification at the moment, though. You've got a bit of time.)

 

I'm not sure if there's a wait, but we have Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. It seems to rate very highly in the medical field from my understanding.

 

2) Cheaper cost of living, though I'm in the Bay Area now, so I imaging anything is an improvement.

 

Some parts of the state will be more (Baltimore, Annapolis, DC metro area), but I'd say that anyplace in MD is cheaper than where you are. The good thing is that it isn't a huge state, so pretty much any part isn't far removed from civilization.

 

3) Great outdoors. I need em. There better be kick ass diving, hiking, snowboarding, mountain biking and rock climbing somewhere near by.

 

You need 'em, we have 'em. Where I am there are at least 3 good sized state parks, several smaller parks, the Appalachian Trail, three ski resorts that are within a short drive, etc. I'm not certain on the rock climbing, as I've never sought it out. But I'm sure that's some somewhere, and I have heard of places closer to the cities with indoor rock climbing.

 

4) Lax weed laws. Seriously. I'm an adult with a vaporizer. Leave my personal decisions to me, please.

 

This one will be a problem for you I think. I've not delved deeply into these laws since I do not partake. But I have heard of people getting busted for possession and smoking. 

 

Hope this helps you refine your search and that you end up someplace great for you. Cheers!

Comment by Thomas Aldrin on July 4, 2011 at 3:27pm

Western europe.

Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on July 4, 2011 at 4:06pm

Thanks for all the replies. 

My husband is still in the process of getting his American citizenship, so we can't leave the country for another three years unless it's to go back to Britain. 

 

There is a huge wait time on most schools in California. It was actually budget cuts that bumped be back on a waiting list that made me want to leave. This place is starting to annoy me, though it might just be the bay area. 

 

I'm looking at Oregon and Washington currently. 

The east coast might be an option, too. 

 

Affordability is a pretty major factor since I'm not actually going to be working as a nurse. I fully plan to stay in rescue work. This is just for my own enrichment. 

 

Also, I'm a little old to be living in a dorm. I've served my time in campus life and plan to commute in. I'm an adult with a family and throw my own toga parties in my own private bar now. (That's the extent of my 'growing up.') so even an apartment isn't really an option. 

 

 

Oh. And I make a good neighbor. We grow our own weed, brew our own beer and BBQ a lot. 

:) 

Comment by Mo Trauen on July 4, 2011 at 4:44pm

"Oh. And I make a good neighbor. We grow our own weed, brew our own beer and BBQ a lot.

:)"

 

Well, why didn't you say so?  There are plenty of great places here in my neighborhood!

Comment by Misty: Baytheist Living! on July 4, 2011 at 5:29pm

Where you at, Mo? I'm in Hayward. Right on the marshes.

Comment by Michael R on July 4, 2011 at 5:37pm

I would say that Idaho meets your requirements...except for lax weed laws. The law-makers in this state are so anal their favorite color should be brown.

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