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My ex is trying (from what I hear through the grapevine) to dissuade my son from Purdue because West Lafayette is a rural college town in the middle of nowhere.

Ummm... Isn't that better?

The great thing about a "college town" is that when the weekend comes around... Nobody leaves. It's a collection of tens of thousands of people between the ages of 18-23 who all have nothing to do except whatever they do with each other. (No, I don't want to contemplate what they do with each other.)

Ultimately, my ex is trying to keep him from moving 2,000 miles away because she doesn't know how to handle him being far away.

But for that kid, being in the cocoon of a college town is the best thing that could happen to him. Being at UC-Berkeley where everyone's going to SF every weekend and nobody stays on campus on the weekends is going to be WAY too much for him...

I totally get what you're saying about your ex's purported reasons vs. the likely actual reasons, but as for the highlighted, it really just depends on the kid-- not everyone wants or needs the same college experience.

I loved going to college in a large not-just-a-college-town like Austin.  I loved having a bazillion different movie theaters and bars and restaurants and parks and swimming holes and swimming pools and lakes and rivers.  The campus and adjoining area are all self-contained and walkable enough that you don't HAVE to leave, and indeed I had friends who never had cars their entire time in Austin.  But for me, I loved enjoying everything a city like Austin had to offer.

Has he already heard from Berkeley, and that's an option? And do the kids head into SF on a regular basis? I wouldn't have thought so, but maybe I'm too old to know better.

But, yeah, West Lafayette and Berkeley are very different places (even sans San Francisco). Either way, it will be a significant emotional event for his parents to come visit. It's not like Berkeley is a quick drive for you guys.

It's tough to compare, because I went to both undergrad and grad school in Austin, and did two long summer programs at Northwestern and the Air Force Academy.  So I'm probably unfairly comparing all other college towns to Chicago, Austin, and Colorado Springs, when it comes to "having cool stuff to do in your college town."

I wouldn't call any of Austin, Chicago, or Colorado Springs "college towns," although they are towns (or cities) that have colleges in them.  Seems like when people say "college town" they're referring to places that basically only exist because of the university and would collapse without it.  Like College Station, or Athens.  Places like Austin and Chicago have a lot of cool stuff to do by virtue of the fact they are bigger cities, independent of the university, and are not really the same category, so it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges.  Which, I guess was your point.  It's probably easier to compare an A&M experience to a UGA experience than to compare either to a Northwestern or UT experience. 

Texas State was a weird combo when I lived there.  The place was 75% college kids, and San Marcos qualified as a "college town" in my definition, but on weekends a ton of the kids still cleared out and did their partying in Austin.   

I wouldn't call any of Austin, Chicago, or Colorado Springs "college towns," although they are towns (or cities) that have colleges in them.  Seems like when people say "college town" they're referring to places that basically only exist because of the university and would collapse without it. Like College Station, or Athens.  Places like Austin and Chicago have a lot of cool stuff to do by virtue of the fact they are bigger cities, independent of the university, and are not really the same category, so it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges.  Which, I guess was your point.  It's probably easier to compare an A&M experience to a UGA experience than to compare either to a Northwestern or UT experience.

Texas State was a weird combo when I lived there.  The place was 75% college kids, and San Marcos qualified as a "college town" in my definition, but on weekends a ton of the kids still cleared out and did their partying in Austin. 

Right, that's exactly my point.  All of my college experiences have occurred in towns that have vastly more to offer, than the typical "college town."  And I'm contrasting my experiences, with those that might occur in a typical "college town."

I dated girls at both A&M and Tech whilst I was in college.  I know and understand the nightlife and experiences that go on in those places.  I'm quite happy that my college experience was in Austin, rather than Lubbock or College Station.

But I also understand and allow that not every person wants or needs the same college experience.

And finally, given what Austin has become compared to what it was, when I was in school, I'm not lamenting that part of my daughter's decision at all.  Sadly, large parts of the city have become a complete shithole.

I spent a good bit of time on campus at UGA and UNC, they are pretty similar, though Chapel Hill is quite a bit smaller and more boring than Athens.  I've spent some time at Ohio State and Miami (O) and they also look fairly similar, Duke U. looks different as does Princeton because they have mostly stone buildings.  I think Duke was patterned after Princeton.  I briefly drove through Stanford, parts of it, it's impressive.  I think they have some money.  

Ole Miss also looks like most southern Us.  Tennessee looked different to me, less red brick and not as mamy trees.  Students often spend more time off campus (unless they live in a dorm).  One odd thing to me, at UGA students back then wanted to live off campus, students at UNC wanted to live on campus, by and large.

That hurts my feelings.....what a shame. 

I'm happier in rural areas by and large, and I ultimately wound up happiest living outside of Austin in a smallish town, but with quick access to both Austin and San Antonio.  However, when I did live in Austin, at the time it was still in my wheelhouse.  Big enough to have everything I wanted, still small enough not to feel like I was getting swallowed up in a soulless, concrete jungle.  And always seemed to be plenty safe, and clean.  By the time I left, it had really grown in a short time, and then in the year or two that followed my departure, people were moving there in record numbers.  So I feel like as far as population/vibe/traffic/etc. goes, I got to be there at the perfect time for me. 

Many of the news stories I've seen coming from over there in the last 5-6 years makes me think they must be talking about some other Austin. 

Yeah, Austin voters are getting exactly what they continue to vote for, and I've never once regretted moving out of the city proper.  In fact it's the second best decision I've ever made.

But unfortunately this is not an appropriate conversation for the "happy" thread.

Sounds like you're happy about your move...

...just perhaps not the reason you had to make it.

Just like I'm happy about my new car...

...despite the fact that I am grumpy about the situation that forced me to buy it.

Good point.  Yes, I'm delighted with the move.  I'm about to go outside and drink beer in the garage with my neighbors who are all pretty awesome.  That makes me happy today.