I'm very happy with Fredericksburg. I sometimes feel bad about moving away from San Diego, leaving my parents and brother there, because it's expensive to fly back to visit so we have gone less and less frequently. Our last visit was in March 2013! Also I'm a third-generation native of San Diego -- my mom's grandparents moved there a few years before my grandmother was born in 1923 -- so I feel kind of bad for breaking the chain.
Other than that, however, I'm very happy here. I could make a scrapbook page two page spread listing the reasons.
1. Changing seasons really are fun.
2. History is one of my favorite things and we're immersed in it here.
3. Housing is cheaper so we were able to get a big house and I can be with my kids full time, which in turn made homeschooling easier, and it has been a wonderful lifestyle.
4. Fredericksburg has nature and walking trails criss-crossing the city, as well as a river with beaches and other fun water opportunities. (Not as awesome as ocean, but still good!)
5. We have a Wegman's, a fabulous grocery store, and THREE Panera Bread restaurants, my favorite.
6. My family hasn't made use of it and may never, (except for their annual multicultural fair and for an occasional pleasant walking location) but I think it's great to have a major university in town, University of Mary Washington.
7. The political atmosphere seems more progressive than not, especially in the actual city.
8. The homeschooling community here is quite large and active, and the entire state of Virginia has one of
the best homeschooling support organizations in the country.
9. We're not quite as congested as northern Virginia but not really rural anymore either, located almost exactly half way between D.C. and Richmond. We have or aren't too far from the amenities of big cities while still having lots of green space, though I'm watching that gradually disappear in the 16 years we've lived here. Fortunately, I have learned I actually am more of a city person and I dream of moving into town or even another, larger city.
I hope I remember to turn this into a scrapbook page. These daily questions are often very inspiring!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE where we live. We are ~JUST~ out of city limits so while it feels 'country' we are 10 mins max to I-90. We have wonderful summer, winter, & fall weather. I grew up in southwest WA & travel back over the mountains to visit my family frequently- but DON'T miss the traffic or the gray/rainy days at all! 
Most of the racial divide is economic as well. Our Hispanic population has grown tremendously in the past 10 years. Most are El Salvadorians and are quickly becoming home owners and business owners and involved in the schools. We now also have an tiny Islamic Center but that population is not very visible, except for the occasional woman in a supermarket with a headscarf.
