Help me choose 4 cities to live next year

[sirio11]

My wife and I have this crazy idea and we want to live in 4 different cities next year (about 3 months each).

The idea is to know different environments, so we can choose a city to live after 2009.

Some of the criteria are:

- We want to live near a big metropolitan area (this is not in the middle of Nebraska)

- We prefer a multi-ethnic city (like Toronto)

- We want a good educational system for the kids

- We prefer a progressive city, but still family oriented (Is that possible?), we have liberal views on general, but we really value a community where family values are important.

- We prefer US cities, but maybe Canada is ok; Europe a distant possibility

- Too hot (temperature) is bad, so 100+ cities (Phoenix?) are not eligible; near water is better (lake, river or sea), near forest is also good

- Not outrageously expensive cost of living cities is better, higher than average is ok

- Plenty of parks and museums please

- Cities not hated by mother Nature

- Cities whose citizens are very respectful of the law

- Professional Sports team is a plus [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]


What do you think of this idea? Is 3 months enough?

Maybe it's gonna be just a one year long vacation but we want to give it a try.

Please help and share your experiences