Considering a Move to Another State

[Krogen]

MODERATOR EDIT:
I edited some of the replies. Political discussion and commentary is still a banned topic. LEAVE IT OUT do the discussion. I’m sure the OP can read between the lines.
Sincerely,
s&wchad
——————————————-
I’m looking for advice from you good folks about relocating to another area. There isn’t a better, kinder group of like-minded people to ask for ideas. Each day we become increasingly serious about leaving this state. I’d rather not poke at the reasons for leaving or engage in state-bashing. Just let me say this is no longer the state of years past. It’s time to make a break for a place more compatible with our values. We have no desire to move somewhere and bring in outside values. Instead we’re looking for a place with the goodness that vanished from Western Washington.

Some of the characteristics on our punch list are:
- Conservative attitudes and government policies, friendly people
- Climate: No scorching hot or humid summers, cold and snowy winters are fine
- Recreation: Outdoor interests, public land access (not leased only), a good gun club nearby
- Density: Towns with 2000 – 20,000 people, no big cities, looking for single family housing with an acre or two of land
- Medical services: Not a huge concern now, with age the needs will be more likely
- Don’t cares: Spectator sports, fancy restaurants, shopping centers

Possible areas are Idaho, Western Montana, Wyoming, Utah. We’re definitely willing to consider other areas that come to our attention.

Any ideas you’re willing to share will be very welcome.

-- Krogen

 

[AJ]

All the states you have noted sound good. But whatever you do, do not try to change them into the old home state. We hear that a lot here in Florida ...."Well that is not the way we do it back home!" . My Mom was a great one to tell them the roads run both ways and to go on back!

 

[dsf]

I bought a retirement home in OR for use in about 2 years - don't know if I'll for certain make it there though as things are changing. I'm also looking at OK, TN, MO and KY along with the Carolinas for reasons similar to yours. Originally from southern NH and northeast MA so snow doesn't bother me but "muggy" sure does.

SW Idaho is pretty high on my list because it's much like southern OR. Winters aren't bad, gets a bit warm in summer but low humidity. An about 1800 to 2200 sq ft home is affordable even with an acre or two of land. But, prices are popping a bit. Stay away from Boise and I think one would be content.

For prices, poking about on Zillow gives a good feel for how far your money goes getting a home.

It seems to me any state with a metropolitan area with enough people (votes) to overwhelm the rest of the state is taking a bit of a risk. Question is, how much time do you have left on Earth and how long would it take that population center to become a PITA and where do those lines intersect?

I've driven cross country about 30 times from Cape Cod to California. There are lots of great places out there no one knows about. No reason to stay where one is unhappy.

At the risk of being too philosophical, the message of "Years Go By" by Harry Chapin is that waiting isn't always best -

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znsyWUDnDlY[/ame]

 

[sabashimon]

The States you’ve mentioned certainly offer many possibilities. I love southern Utah (think Kanab), but I’ve done s lot of winter camping in NW Montana and think you might do well to take a look at Troy, MT.
It ticks most if not all of your boxes.
Just a thought.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Tennessee is a pretty good state. No state income tax. Pretty good concealed carry laws, if that's a concern. I think they're either headed towards becoming or have already become a Constitutional Carry state. I believe the TN carry permit is recognized by every surrounding state. Lots of outdoorsy places to visit. Stay away from Memphis (high crime) and Nashville. However, find someplace close to Nashville and you can take advantage of its entertainment and events without having to live there. Plenty of red county options, though I'm not too familiar with them. Nashville area can get hot and humid in the summer, but other areas may be better off. I'm not too familiar with the weather in other parts of the state.

KY could also be a good option. Louisville is a blue city, and I think Frankfort and maybe Lexington are blue, but I'm not sure. Pretty much the rest of the state is red. There's the Bourbon Trail if you like bourbon. Lots of outdoors options. Pretty liberal gun laws (in a good way... ). No waiting periods or registrations. If you get a CCDW you can skip NICS checks. Constitutional Carry, with or without a CCDW you can carry pretty much anything for self defense (the law specifically allows for the carry of "weapons of mass destruction"... ). As with TN, I don't know much about the weather in the rest of the state, but Louisville gets pretty hot and muggy in the summer.

Don't know about medical access in the smaller, more rural cities/counties, but in either state you could probably select a county neighboring one of the major cities and have access to medical care.

FWIW, I have thought about moving to Utah. Lots of appeal, IMO.

 

[hittman77]

Southern Missouri, maybe the Springfield or Joplin area.

 

[FlyTyinFool]

All 4 are great choices.

The wife and I left your neck of the woods 4+ years ago.
We both grew up there, and saw the down-turn in our lifetime.
We've never regretted leaving, couldn't get out fast enough, and we've never looked (or gone) back to WA.

You stated something very critical to us in our new state...
We did not bring the WA political or social views with us!
That is the #1 concern we share with our new like-minded fellow citizens.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Whatever you do stay away from Arkansas, too many people here already.
And plus we have hot, humid summers, or hot, dry summers. Did I
mention floods? We have those also.

 

[wyo-man]

I venture we have room in Wyoming for you.

wyo-man

 

[Big Cholla]

I second the Joplin, MO area especially Jasper County.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Krogen,

I used to like to visit the smaller locales in your neck of the woods. It's been about seven years since I've been there.

I grew up 50 miles from where I live now. The Air Force gave me the opportunity to experience Texas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada (Vegas), Korea, Germany, Arizona (Phoenix), and southern New Mexico. I've visited every state except Florida, North Dakota, the New England collection, and I've been from Norway to Turkey in Europe. After 28 years of that I got back to Wyoming as fast as I could.

Winter here is what I call "the equalizer." If you can hack it, you'll love Wyoming. Many visit and move here in the summer. Many are gone by their first New Years.

Forget Jackson Hole (it's not Wyoming any more), Cheyenne, Rock Springs, and Gillette. Laramie is on the fringe of being on that list. Casper, too, and maybe Cody, although I have quite a few friends in and around Cody who love the place (too many tourists for my liking).

You have the right idea by not wanting to "change" your new location. We Wyomingites have had our fill.

We probably still number fewer than 600,000 residents, and most of us are pretty easy to get along with. Area-wise we're 10th largest -- lots of room to stretch your legs. Around 70% of us voted red in the last election. Some guessers say we're the most heavily armed state in the nation (I have no idea how they figure it).

The other states on your list are okay. I've spent considerable time in each, but they're not Wyoming. Is my prejudice showing?

Life moves a bit slower here. Some folks don't like that. If you're too impatient to get stuck in a bovine traffic jam, Wyoming might not be for you.

 

[pantannojack]

I don't tell anyone where I am. And after 18 years, the locals are just now starting to trust me. I approve of their attitude and value why they are so protective. It may be too late now.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I saw an interesting cap today at my VFW post. "MAKE COLORADO COLORADO AGAIN". I'm hoping that will be a movement that takes root around here.

Tough to make a change after so many years. Comfortable home, no debt, circle of friends and acquaintances, familiar surroundings everywhere I go. If we moved somewhere else the only people who know me would be the telemarketers calling every hour or so.

Then there would be the problem of boxes. If I move somewhere else I want to take all my stuff with me, so I'll need plenty of boxes. Probably need a bigger truck, maybe even a trailer to carry it all.

I'm getting tired just thinking about the possibilities.

 

[Golddollar]

I’m looking for advice from you good folks about relocating to another area. There isn’t a better, kinder group of like-minded people to ask for ideas. Each day we become increasingly serious about leaving this state. I’d rather not poke at the reasons for leaving or engage in state-bashing. Just let me say this is no longer the state of years past. It’s time to make a break for a place more compatible with our values. We have no desire to move somewhere and bring in outside values. Instead we’re looking for a place with the goodness that vanished from Western Washington.

Some of the characteristics on our punch list are:
- Conservative attitudes and government policies, friendly people
- Climate: No scorching hot or humid summers, cold and snowy winters are fine
- Recreation: Outdoor interests, public land access (not leased only), a good gun club nearby
- Density: Towns with 2000 – 20,000 people, no big cities, looking for single family housing with an acre or two of land
- Medical services: Not a huge concern now, with age the needs will be more likely
- Don’t cares: Spectator sports, fancy restaurants, shopping centers

Possible areas are Idaho, Western Montana, Wyoming, Utah. We’re definitely willing to consider other areas that come to our attention.

Any ideas you’re willing to share will be very welcome.

-- Krogen

Heck, you just described where I live. Come to Adams County, PA.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I'm used to the heat and humidity. I was born here. A few bugs an skeeters don't bother me. You get used to it. That's what they make A/C and swimming pools for. Things are a lot cheaper here and that's good being that I am now retired. I know a couple of retired LAPD cops that moved here and sold their little house for enough to buy lakefront mansions here. I live two and a half hours from Florida beaches, a little over an hour from NOLA, and about two hours from real Cajun Country, which I love, food and all. We have good hospitals and medical facilities nearby. We have college and pro sports within a reasonable distance. (drive to and from without having to stay overnight) I'm in South Mississippi and I ain't going anywhere. Maybe I ought to be quiet about this place. I don't want it to get too crowded, especially if you bring unwanted politics with you.

 

[Gunhacker]

Krogen.... I've been in the same position for years, looking to leave CA and move where I don't feel like I'm an endangered species, as the first two items on your list are the same as mine.

Four years ago, when I retired, the Wife and I drove to and looked at Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Texas. Idaho was at the top of our consideration list.

Then our plans had to be put on hold when my wife needed to undergo knee replacement, followed by a right shoulder replacement, and now her left shoulder has been replaced.

Now, we'd like to finalize our decision where to move, but I'm concerned about the location of our choice subsequently being overrun by Californian's fleeing the high cost of living here, and being ruined by them by "importing" their politics, after we've moved there to get away from them in the first place.

Idaho has been one of the popular states that Californian's have been relocating to, and I've heard that Idaho is now being changed for the worse, I hope that isn't actually the case, and I don't know if I want to take the chance that it becomes another annexation of California. I'd like to hear from our Idaho members whether or not that concern is valid.

We're now looking at Utah, item #1 on your list describes Utah, and they just enacted Constitutional Carry for concealed weapons... what does that tell you about attitudes?

Anyway... I wish you luck and success in your flight to freedom.

 

[BRL40]

There is still areas out here in rural WA. where it seems like a whole different world.

Sure there are still lots of citidiots in the cities , but you'll find that in every state these days I imagine.

 

[Beemerguy53]

It's terrible -- really awful -- to reach the age where you just want to live your life peaceably and instead you have to consider moving.

I was born and raised in Baltimore, spent 30 years in the Baltimore City Fire Department, and have lived in Maryland all my life...and I no longer even recognize this state. Our idiotic gun laws...our sky-high taxes...the far-left agenda of our elected officials...the wild, out-of-control crime in and around the urban areas of the state...it's too much.

I really want to leave, but I'll be 68 next month, and the thought of packing up my home and garage, and starting over, is really depressing. I tell people that I'm only staying here for the crabcakes and Scrapple...

 

[Farmer17]

I don't know what it is about Oklahoma but people are moving here at an alarming rate. Maybe because we're considered the "most red" state but home prices are going higher every day and most are sold the first day they're listed. Everybody is into guns and most carry, and about any weapon is fine, full auto, silencers, sword canes, no problem and people are very friendly here and I have women and children hold doors open for me a lot of the time and I'm a healthy male. There's an awesome gun club about 17 minutes away that has every kind of range imagineable from Trap and Skeet to Cowboy Action to Sillouette Shooting and it only costs $180/year to shoot all you want. It gets hot here in July and August but its very festive then and a good time to hang out at the lake, or the pool. After the minus 14 degrees we had last week I'm ready to bake in the sun and can't imagine anyone wanting to live where its a lot colder! From what I hear about other places, I think I'll just stay here forever but hopefully do a lot of traveling.

 

[rwsmith]

The higher countries in Southeast.....

...have cooler weather than the rest of us. East TN, Western NC, upstate SC are all possibilities.'