Is there an Ideal City for us?

I've been thinking about this recently;

Is there an ideal city (not town, but city) out there for each of us? Is there a place in the world where we would simply be happier there than anywhere else on the planet? Do you know which would be your idea city?

I for one don't think there is an ideal city, for this clumps cities into a single entity that you simply can't really do with large cities. Each large city, I believe, has something for almost everyone, and so there are many, many cities we could be truly happy in; not just one ideal one.

I've argued this at my blog here, if you wan't to see why I hold this view,
http://burgeoninglist.wordpress.com/

But the main thing I would like is some thoughts from other people, as I might have got this totally wrong, what with not being the most travelled person, and so might be approaching this debate from the entirely wrong angle....

[ Edit: Edited on 11-Feb-2010, at 11:15 by philo ]

I'm a college student, stuck in cubical hell, and I'm constently day dreaming about being in Asia. I love my home (Alaska) but I'm full of wander-lust and can't wait to get out.

however, if you can't find happieness in the present moment, where you are NOW, how can you be sure you'll find it somewhere else?

I think there is a misconception about what it is to be happy. I suppose I think of it more as a balance and I didn't know how unbalanced I was until I returned home after a month in India.

I'm trying hard to find that balance again, and feel like it won't be until I'm back in Asia, but I still try to be happy where ever I am.

I think the majority of us living in the USA at the moment would like to be elsewhere - this country has turned into a less than desirable place to live. Even with all it's pollution and relative poverty, Asia looks very good indeed!

I fight with myself on this everyday. there is a lot to think about. I always come to the conclusion that what is ideal for me is to always have a sense of adventure coming from somewhere, whether it be from the area, the people in my life, my hobbies or work.

I think I could be happy anywhere but I could also be bored anywhere.

For me it would be Paris, I don't speak any French at all, but I like this city, the small bistrots where you can relax and have a drink on the terrace, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Versailles!!!!!

Take me for instance. I consider myself a pretty laid back person as I hate hustle and bustle. I don’t like going to night clubs; I much prefer quieter, more relaxed places, where I can just sit and ‘chill out’; this is my cup of tea.

Instead of a huge city you should be looking at a smaller place on the outskirts of a large city,if you are in London at the moment there are many outlying communities that are peacefull with no hustle or bustle..

I often think I should have been born in Florence!

It feels like home, though I was born in Surrey.

A past life maybe?

-snip-

[ Edit: Sorry, no promos please. ]

I was born just south of London in a place called Carlshulton ,when i was 12 years old my parents made the move to Montreal Canada and i've been quite happy they made that move ever since.

I live in paradise, but most of the time I thought about trading my bicycle rides in ancient towns, orange orchards, and rice fields to the filth and oppourtunities of the big cities.

We just need to be honest with ourselves... There is an ideal city for everyone.
here are some points, I could share:

1. People- I like Germans, and Swiss people, provided they speak English.
I want a city with people from all over the world, or Europe.

2. A city where art is food.