Basing a city to live in on that fact that a roomate is required is not really living. That is a really low QOL situation. Kind of like living in a prison.

Never having lived in a crash pad yet - But a cpad sounds rather close quarters as well - yet people do it.

I guess if a guy had too - maybe you could full time a $250 crash pad for a year?

Has anyone tried that?

I've lived in the city, grew up near the airport, and I've lived in nearly every area in the suburbs in the last few years as well. It's a fine place. It has it's areas that you don't drive through during the day or night, but what large metropolitan area doesn't?

COL is low, but there are more than enough things in this town to keep me busy and happy.

When I moved out to LA to flight instruct that was the only way for me to get to know people since I never went to school here to already have a good base of friends. Now I'm having a great time and have a good group of friends. My other buddy lived solo out here and made no friends - sounds really fun.

I will live with "housemates" (roommates is kind of deceiving since you have your own room) until I can buy a house or get married because it's just boring hanging out with me, myself, and I.

As for QOL, it is a lot better living with other people since I didn't have to bring any furniture, TVs, etc.