Richmond, VA (197,456)
Wilmington, NC (90,644)
Charlotte, NC (580,597)
Providence, RI (175,901)
I haven't really lived in a big city. The population for Charlotte is misleading. Of the four cities above, Wilmington is the goal. Not a big traffic problem (yet), beaches, intracoastal waterway, and a growing University.
I love being in big cities, but I also love knowing that I can leave.