Agreed. There are all kinds of factors to help you decide where to put down roots.

For example, I rule out any place that is in a flood plain or needs tsunami or hurricane escape routes. Good-bye Gulf Coast, Florida beaches, riverside communities, Portland, etc.

I can understand how public transportation can mean a lot, so that rules out many rural areas, where a car is a mandate or you will be isolated from work and the larger community.

But there are plenty of cities to consider and it is amazing that a person can even have the option to choose.

We explored other places when we first were together, by subscribing to local newspapers and flights to visit them. Then we came back to my home state and settled in. Prices for the kind of land and space we wanted were affordable and it was near enough to extended family. We bought a house that needed some serious love and settled in.

It also matters how much you are willing to make a home/house/apartment a priority over other desires. For instance, we have saved money in other ways such as travel to allow funds for making our home what we want so we can enjoy it on a daily basis.

Stay open to possibilities.