Ground truth here: I don't know if you're ready for it, but despite being the capital of the confederacy, Richmond is close enough to the east coast megalopolis that it is more northern than not. Yes, we still have those problems here, but we are moving in the right direction. One residents opinion.
I second this opinion from my comfy vantage point in North Chesterfield. Just don't move near Hull and Broad Rock or you'll be moving again within a year (nightclub opened across the alley, heroin and sex work all over, and my neighbor murdered someone... LOL)
Yeah I like Richmond. Good weather; good food; good beer; outdoor activities; proximity to beaches, mountains, and vineyards... Like you said, political ideology is moving in the right direction.
This was taken from the top of a hill. I would sometimes run by this place on my jog because I liked the view. If you want I can find it on google maps street view.
Edit: Found it, it’s a bit over grown in this image: street view