Best Place to Live

Tough question, but despite where you live there will most likely be some natural threat...floods, wild-fires, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, erotion, tornados, hurricanes, hail, snow storms/ice storms, drought; I won't even address the political landscape and how that may be more dangerous the the worst threat Mother Nature could throw at you:D Being in the military, I've been around (WA, TX, CO, CA, AK, GA, VA, KS, MO, NC) plus my wife is from Florida with family all over the Southeast and my family is all over the Northwest.

Also depends on your cold and heat tolerance. I use to think the only "clear" streams were in Canada or Alaska, but there's are several clear springs in Florida. If you can find a nice little track of land at least an hour from any major urban area and if you can (find) dig a healthy well for water, you'll be light-years ahead of most others.

Less harsh in the winter, most areas south of the Mason-Dixon line would be better year-round with less preparation, but don't think it doesn't freeze in GA, AL or FL!

Can't tell you the "best", but I've found great areas in every one of the states I've lived in or visited. Biggest question is are you trying to tie the area to a job search? Now that's a challenge!

ROCK6
 
Lots of good fishing in Idaho, Dale. The Boise River right in the middle of Boise is quite productive.

I fish private waters most of the time. ;)
 
I lived in Los Angeles (Orange to be exact) for a while. I got tired of people all around me crying, pizzin and pooping their pants constantly so I packed my kit and left. I was about six months old and I've never been back. I moved to Pensacola once with my exwife and daughter. The beach is still there but my daughter and I live in Southwest Tennessee now. Rolling hills. Trees and pastures. I like it though there is not a huge amount of economic opportunity.

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This is the view out of my back yard. My pasture and my trees. My creek is at the bottom of the hill.

Codger
 
If Nevada would annex Pinon Hills, then this would be a great place to live, unfortunately they won't. So as soon as house prices go back up I am packing up and moving back north ie. Nevada probably out around Elko. Great Country!
 
runningboar said:
South Ga.
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Roger that. I live about 20 minutes below the Georgia line and about an hour above the Gulf Coast. That is a comfortable distance when a storm is brewing. A lot of people who have no experience dealing with hurricanes worry too much about them. Usually they are just a rain event with enough wind to knock the dead branches out of our oak trees. The way I look at where to locate is to consider how much energy or work it takes to keep from freezing to death in the winter, and then examine the sources of fresh water and wild foods. Enough land to grow a good garden is another real plus, as is a woodlot for firewood. Most of the Gulf Coast is a paradise compared to so many other parts of the world. I don't know about the rest of you, but I sure do love seafood, too!
 
i would vote for somewhere around the great lakes...the only real thing i can think of being an issue is lake effect snow during the winter. but my great city of Pittsburgh isnt bad...atleast the outskirts in the boondocks where i live
 
ROCK6 said:
Can't tell you the "best", but I've found great areas in every one of the states I've lived in or visited. Biggest question is are you trying to tie the area to a job search? Now that's a challenge!

ROCK6
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It is nearly impossible to tie the job to the ideal location, unless your working a gas station. I have moved around a lot in my years and have seen some really nice areas. I recently resigned from a great job to move back to be close to family, and be in a decent area; but work is impossible to find...

I am ever searching for cheap undeveloped acreage in Ohio/PA/WV to get a little escape. Job, money, and family aside, I think I would head for the western Carolinas, either one. However, my dreams are open, which is why I am seeing what areas y'all like.
 
Codger's farm is about half way between Memphis and Nashville. I worked Nashville this fall and the drive was a killer (to me). 1 1/2 hours on the interstate each way. But I am about two miles from the Tennessee River for recreation and hunting and fishing opportunities are all around me. Weather is moderate. Snow is rare and short-lived when we do get it. Heat can be a beyotch though, particularly if you work outside like me. Yeah, but it is a wet heat.
 
The thing is, I think every state, at least the ones I've been to and can speak about, have wonderful rural areas. The key is can you make your living if you need to. My wife and I escaped California (Sacramento) in 1994 and moved to Idaho. We were welcomed because we were not only conservatives but had/have no interest in bringing a little of California here. But I've been all over the Golden state and there are countless regions of great natural beauty and reasonable land prices even still. The problem is making a living and state politics ruining everything.

I could live almost any state I've been to based on the criteria of the OP but appreciate the politics and population density here in Idaho. We have three acres but it's high desert and the only trees are the ones on our property. I'm surrounded by ranchland and BLM with no likely chance of a neighbor any closer than a half mile (they're the closest). In five-ten minutes I can be in the hills and not see another soul, even on a summer weekend. We can shoot guns out back, see the stars like you wouldn't believe, and are left alone by "the man".
 
I was born in Michigan and could see living there in a heartbeat but wifey hates the idea. There is something to be said for Idaho weather, especially winter and summer compared to the UP and Northern Michigan though. My great granddad lived in Petoskey and had a farm up there. We were there this fall and it's great country. 180 degrees different from Idaho.
 
I like the Appalachian region from the Carolinas through WV and VA to PA. I really like western VA in the Shenandoah Valley. Beautiful country.
 
South Florida, if hurricanes don't freak you, boasts the 10,000 islands and millions of acres of swamp that you can lose yourself into real fast. Lots to eat in the way of wild plant life, fish and fowl and even the occasional hog. More coastline than anywhere else in the country so when oil replaces gold you can still travel quite a way by paddle or sail. You need to develop some swamp craft but freezing to death won't be a worry.
Still you need to be ready to deal with wherever you are cause getting anywhere else when the SHTF will probably be a near suicidal endeavor for most.
 
Left Detroit for the UP when I went to college and never looked back. I live on 160 acres in Alger county near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Great hiking and x-c skiiing. The long winters keep the weenies out of the woods.

-Yooperman
 
soccergod04 said:
I like the Appalachian region from the Carolinas through WV and VA to PA. I really like western VA in the Shenandoah Valley. Beautiful country.
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I second your idea,not too hot nor to cold-especially NC- mountains to the coast,take your pick---:thumbup:
 
brians said:
if you can get by the politics, upstate NY, and the Adirondack park, is a beautiful place. I travel down from Ontario for the fly fishing. 6 million acres of state land to play - largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi (or so I've heard).

Yep the Adirondacks are some really pretty country. I've been roaming that park for close to 40 years now.
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In some states like Iowa, Illinois, Ohio most of the
soil is good. The soil will support a high density of
people.

In the western USA, most of the soil is really poor
with low precipitation. Choose carefully here.
Irrigation would be needed in most places.
Find a place with house on the side of a hill,
safe from flooding, yet close to a valley bottom,
with its better soil and irrigation.

A "permaculture" could be a good option.

Lots of guys may be out hunting after SHTF,
so they will be killing game or threatening 2 legged competition.
More guys hunting/camping would mean more forest fires.
Are you ready for that?
 
Northern Minnesota aint bad, -20 nights like tonight keep the damn riffraff out. I was out all day and it was fine, wearing boat shoes with no socks, just a pair of carharts and a fleecie, and a good hat. The shop was maybe 20 above? the only heater i use out there is a small milkhouse heater with a metal shelf on the top, that keeps the tools warm so my hands don't freeze. I use a wood stove too sometimes to clean up the sawdust and cutoffs. It may get cold enough tonight so that when I spit off the balcony in the morning, it will bounce when it lands.
 
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