So where should we move?

[Buster]

I spent my youth in Texas. I hate it.

But recommend it as a site that fits the description posted in the original post.

Wife, Salatin may complain, but he couldn't have done what he has done with his broilers just about anywhere else. VA has one of the most generous processing allowances in the country at 20,000 birds per year, the maximum allowed by the USDA.

By contrast, in Oklahoma it is 1,000.

 

[Wifezilla]

Yes...inlaws are an issue. I love parts of Florida, but hubby has this fear of hurricanes Plus there are relatives on both sides already there! LOL

 

[modern_pioneer]

I'd say move here, however people say these folks around here cling to their guns and religion. They are right winged and for the most part don't understand why they are right winged. All they know is that their parents teach them to be, and their friends are, so they must be. Kinda like robots, some of them.

We had a bad winter last year, and snow for at least 3-4 months and it rains alot here.

There are also many good folks around these parts, and its wise to get to know folks prior to making them friends. Never, ever speak bad about anyone here, you never know who knows who. Of course we will want to know all of your personal business as well. With a pop. of 224 news spreads like cheap date in the red light district.

Also, folks here will sell you out to the local newspaper, cheap too I hear. They like reading a story that they had brought forward for the community to know about. Just this morning I read an article about some one I know who got in trouble for plowing a tree over. The article clearly stated that it was not known if he was drinking, but I thought he was always a lush so he must have been..

Come on out!!! We need a good liberal to stir up the pot!!

 

[The_Realistic_Optimist]

My advice would be to keep a VERY open mind. Don't let your preconceived stereotypes prevent you from checking out a place. Visit as many places as you can before making a decision. We went through a similar search a couple of years ago and found that the perfect place for us turned out to be somewhere completely unexpected.

You might also check out www.findyourspot.com and www.citydata.com for a wealth of information about different places.

Our perfect spot turned out not to be quite as libertarian as I'd like, but the city government has a very live & let live type attitude in practice, regardless of what they may preach. (ie. the leash law and parking rules are completely unenforced because the city council has told the police not to give out "too many tickets")

For what it's worth, I didn't enjoy living in Texas any of the 3 different times/places I have lived there. We live in hurricane country, but since we are in an area protected by a maritime forest, we're pretty safe. Even Katrina didn't damage our house except for the loss of 5 shingles from the roof. Gustav, last year, was a lot like a strong Kansas thunderstorm - thunder, lightening, horizontal rain and plenty of wind. No damage, but the power was off for 17 hours. It was a bit like camping - just with a more comfortable bed. Last spring we bought a gasoline powered generator, so naturally we have had no hurricanes or power outages this season.

Good luck. I hope you find your perfect place.

 

[curly_kate]

So I have to speak up for Indiana. We bought 28 acres for about $4k an acre, so land is pretty reasonable. Nice 4-season climate, with some snow in the winter, but not a ton. It DOES get humid around here in the summer. Once thing that I have noticed is a problem out here, and sounds like it might be an issue in other smaller towns is that it really is about who you know. I am a transplant, and have had a bit of a struggle starting my nonprofit out here because I'm not a native.

That said, I do love it here. If I could live somewhere else, it would be eastern KY or the NC mountains. More beautiful country.

 

[Wifezilla]

We need a good liberal to stir up the pot!!

Well, I'm not a liberal, but a libertarian. Think politically conservative but socially liberal at the same time. Though I am an atheist, so I am sure to shake up someone somewhere no matter what!

 

[abifae]

but... where would i escape to if you left me?

:'(

 

[FarmerChick]

hey WZ--what state really interests you?
with a "I can move anywhere" option, the adventure would be mind blowing to me lol

I know the beach would be in my next move--but what state hits your fancy?

 

[Wifezilla]

Are you kidding Abi? We are going to put you in a suitcase and drag you along! LOL

Relax. It would be years before we could go anywhere. Real estate prices will keep us in one place if nothing else.

What hits my fancy? Ever been here?
http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org/gallery1.cfm

 

[Bethanial]

Now that I know what it is you do ;-), ditto the poster who said outskirts of Columbia, SC. There's Ft. Jackson (Army base) in Columbia, and Shaw AFB (Sumter, SC) about 30 minutes away. Don't know what land costs are. Area still has fire ants. Still have to worry some about hurricanes/tropical storms. Humidity is outrageous, just like in GA. Lived in that area for 5 years, and had a friend from South Dakota. She LIVED in her heavy winter parka (even though us natives were in long sleeves and maybe a light jacket) because she said even though the temps were warmer, the humidity made the cold cut much worse than what she experienced in SD.

Also, look at Central Georgia. Robins AFB in in Warner Robins, GA, which is a decent sized city, and Macon, GA is about 10-15 miles up the road one way, and Perry, GA (where the State Fair is held every year) is about 10 miles a different direction. All 3 of those are pretty decent sized cities, but within a 5 minute drive of the city limits, you can be staring at cotton/corn/soybean/etc fields. Not to mention all the smaller towns/communities in that area, too. They are all about 1-1/2 to 2 hr drive from where I am, but when we need to go to Home Depot, doctor specialists, Hobby Lobby, Sam's (you get my drift) that's where we have to go - I did mention earlier that I'm RURAL, right? Can't speak to the fire ants in central GA, like I could for my area. Yes, there is humidity. But I'll take humidity (which just makes you hot and sticky) over earthquakes and hurricanes - guess each part of the country has it's own disadvantages, and we're most comfortable with what we know.

When I build, I want to build a bale-cob house, utilizing passive solar, solar chimneys, etc, to minimize/eliminate the need for air conditioning. Hope this was helpful