As a grad student doing entirely computational work, it's quite nice living in Tennessee (I'm in Knoxville). Eventually I want to live in SF for a few years just to experience it, but the relaxed pace here is enjoyable. Any kind of outdoor activity is nearby (Smoky Mountains), and I like the fact that we actually have trees here compared to the west coast.

I'd like to live in a variety of places throughout my life, but when I finally pick a more permanent place of residence, it will probably be something like Chattanooga. The low cost of living is one advantage over the bigger cities. While Oak Ridge is very cutting-edge in terms of science, the south isn't near the forefront of technology like California is, so it would be nice to see at least one city around here make a push in that direction, and it seems like Chattanooga is certainly working towards it. I suppose Atlanta is working on it as well, but both have a ways to go.