drrn

I have never been big on planning ahead, but with my schooling coming to an end in a year or so I feel a plan is necessary. I will be graduating with a BA in Graphic Design and a minor in Music Technology (Production). I have grown bored of Northern Virginia and the DC area in general and I'm looking for a change in scenery.

I'll get a fixed gear bicycle, not because they are trendy but because I honestly don't understand how the whole gear system is supposed to work. It's been a while since I've ridden a bike regularly, possibly because I go to school in a congested metropolitan area and live in a fairly rural area with very little of interest to ride to.

I will relocate to somewhere north of here with a decent music scene. I enjoy urban decay, so ideally the city would have some run down area for me to live in... possibly in an old warehouse or factory. I have a mental list of places that seem interesting, some of which are far more practical than others...

Jersey City, NJ - It's in NJ. It's sketchy and close to my family. It's right across the river from NYC.
Newark, NJ - It's in NJ. It's sketchy and close to my family.
Philadelphia, PA - The parts of Philly I pass on 95 are delightfully run down and sketchy. Do want.
Pittsburgh, PA - I have friends there and in the surrounding area. It sounds nice from what they've told me.
Portland, OR - Hipster capital of the West Coast.
Chicago, IL - I have family there and they have a nice music/art scene. My aunt and uncle live there and they could probably help me with finding a place to live. I could also play with my silly azn cousin.

Vancouver, BC - I've heard good things about Vancouver. I've also long dreamed of living in the Great White North.

Birmingham, England - It reminds me of New Jersey and is one of the birthplaces of industrial music.
London, England - It's London. Enough said.
Glasgow, Scotland - I've never actually been there, but it sounds like the sketchiest place in Scotland.

Stockholm, Sweden - It's overseas. I really enjoyed what I saw of it, but I'd need to learn at least some Swedish to get by there.
Copenhagen, Denmark - Same as Stockholm, but replace Swedish with Danish.
Berlin, Germany - I enjoyed what I saw of Berlin, especially the friendly street punks who waved to me when our bus passed. Haha. Also, I already know enough German to read most of the signs.

Realistically I'll end up either staying around the DC area or moving someplace in New Jersey. I can still dream though. If you have any advice, suggestion, etc. about any of the places I mentioned feel free to share.