During the first year I lived in Atlanta I was waiting on a MARTA train and the man next to me recognized a friend of his on the platform.  They shouted a conversation to each other, and I still remember their parting words, "Atlanta sucks you in.  Hard to leave once you're here."

I admit, I never thought I'd be here this long. Sure, it has its issues and quirkiness, but recently I really had the chance to step back and appreciate some of the perks of living here.

• Mild, often sunny winters
  
• Maybe two scenic snow falls and no shoveling of anything
  
• A beautiful spring season (especially if you don't have allergies)
  
• Giant trees
• Lots of young people and trendy/edgy/fun places to hang out
  
• Diversity that isn't overwhelming (one perk of sprawl)
• Relatively affordable housing as compared to other large cities
• Diverse employers and work opportunities
  
• Good and plentiful restaurants that aren't chains
  
• Lots of patio dining
• Airport with competitive prices and direct flights to just about anywhere in the world
• At least there is a train
• Many options for driveable weekend trips to the mountains or to the Atlantic or Gulf coast
  
• Piedmont Park - who else is lucky enough to have someone like Paul McCartney perform in their backyard?