My wife and I have been discussing this for quite some time.

I grew up in Western North Carolina, living in Haywood County for most of my pre-teen years and moving to Asheville when I was 12 years old...

I moved here to Florida when I was 19.

6 years or so later, I brought my new wife to Western North Carolina and I was angry at all the changes. The real estate was insane, the downtown area was extremely trendy and not at all like the hometown I had loved, and I was completely bent out of shape about it.

In may of last year, I flew up solo, to visit my high school friend's band who had just got signed and were having a record release party. I realized that my angst about the changing town was "much ado about nothing", it was still "home" to me.

My wife and I have looked at New Hampshire, Colorado, Arizona, and even for a brief time (when I had a job opportunity), Northeastern UK for places to settle and live. I don't particularly care for Florida, and frankly, have been looking for these past 14 years the most graceful way to exit this state...

And it was just last night, when watching a special about North Carolina that my wife had DVR'ed for me, that I realized I can't really live anywhere else. The same out-of-place feelings I harbor here in Florida, I would probably harbor anywhere else. I don't like the idea of not seeing mountains out of my window, and not hearing southern accents around the town... on top of that, Asheville is Southern through-and-through, but is still unique and edgy... which I hope is a way others would describe me when my back is turned.

So absolutely, Asheville would be my home if I were to move. High taxes and tourists be damned. I'll deal with it, as long as I can look out my window and not feel the persistent longing I've felt ever since I was dumb enough to leave.

If I were to obtain some sort of independent wealth, I'd also probably keep a home in Scotland, just to have a place to frequently go.