Asklemmy

FWIW I don't think you're going to find a more progressive region to live outside of New England

Albuquerque is… Albuquerque. The food is diverse, the lgbtq+ scene is surprisingly robust, and there’s a lot to do if you’re into outdoorsy things. Nightlife is a bit limited and there’s pockets of crime all over, but you learn which areas to avoid pretty quickly. The zoo is world-class, and the museums are great. There’s history in Albuquerque and all over the state.

I can’t speak on the merits or lack thereof for Columbus, but I have known people to willingly move there.

Sounds less like a positive move and more like a run from problems.

You will find the same problems in the next region, if you live there long enough.

Speaking from someone who has been in 13 schools and moved even more than that.

Columbus is a great little city in a not so great state. The local politics are quite progressive and the food and bar scene is quite nice. There was a decently sized queer community when I lived there a decade ago, and I’d expect it to continue to flourish as long as a major university is nearby.

Winters are cold. Summers are hot. The weather is what it is 🤷🏻‍♀️

Columbus has Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace which makes it a far superior choice.

Los Angeles is great. Col is high, but wages are generally relatively high as well. Col in the high desert area is much lower.

If you can get a 15$/hr job (minimum wage in CA is 15) and rent a room somewhere nearby for 500 bucks, you can do pretty well for yourself if you budget your money.

Columbus is basically the only cool city in all of Ohio and Albuquerque is a dangerous shithole. Between these two, Columbus is the far better option.