Dear Engaged Couple-Everybody in Charlottesville (where I live) is talking about the results of a study just out. The results of the study have been on the CBS evening news, and published in Good Housekeeping and on the Huffington Post, but the results first appeared in a study paper entitled “Unhappy Cities” That paper was published by the US National Bureau of Economic Research . http://www.nber.org/papers/w20291. A team headed by Harvard Professor Edward Glaeser did the research.
According to the paper, my own Charlottesville Virginia is the happiest city in the US. I’m not surprised. What makes it so happy? The authors point to the fact that the cost of living is not so very high. A house here costs way less than one in say, Northern Virginia, Los Angeles, or New York City. Add to that the fact that there continues to be significant financial growth. UVA and its hospital are in perpetual building mode and vineyards and breweries are becoming “as plentiful as blackberries,” to quote Shakespeare.
This is me speaking now, but I would add that as someone who used to live in Northern Virginia, Charlottesville’s traffic ain’t nuttin’! Also, it’s a college town, so there is lots to do and learn. For example, UVA’s Miller Center sponsors monthly lecture series for C’ville residents and the pavilion at the downtown mall offers free Friday night concerts by local and not-so-local bands, both.
Wine Lovers Magazine rated us best town for food lovers and Travel and Leisure voted us the best mountain town (think hiking and biking).
Recently I was discussing our” Happiest city in the US” designation with a couple from Northern Virginia. They suggested that another reason that Charlottesville is the happiest city in the US, may be because of all the wineries and breweries. Wine and beer will definitely make you happy!
Of course, the paper is entitled “Unhappy Cities,” so that obviously begs the question, “Where do the unhappiest people in our nation reside?” Examples of cities populated by unhappy people are Erie, Pa.; Scranton Pa.; and Detroit. Not so surprising, right? These cities are in decline. And of course, Detroit has declared bankruptcy.
So, if you get to choose where you will get married–as in money is no object, and my friends and family members are totally open to a destination wedding—Charlottesville is to be preferred—It’s got the right combo to make you and your guests happy, happy, happy. Sing it now, — I’m happy.
Thanks, William Pharell! ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsyFuyGSCF4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8b1i_w2_R4S
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