Some advise, opinions needed.

makariotes

makariotes

Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
1,378
Hey guys,

This might not be the right place to post this question, and I apologize if I'm braking any rules but; I have noticed that a lot of people in this sub forum (which I really like) live in some really beautiful areas, like Robdude in his recent post about the Battle Grades; so I thought I would ask you guys what do you think about this.

I have lived in So Cal for 28 years, but my daughters are grown up and out of the house, I am divorced, and when I broke my back I lost my house and everything else I had; so lately I have been thinking about moving out of here. I lived in Montana when I was in High School for my senior year (and what a year that was, I will never forget it); and I loved the scenery out there; I was fortunate enough to have gone twice to Yellowstone, once in summer and once in winter for cross country skiing, I also visited Glacier National Park, it is awesome.

What I didn't like too much was the winter, it was too long for me, about 7 months when I was there (at least it felt like winter to me), I don't mind the snow, I actually like it, but I'm 56 now and my bones are brittle, beside having metal in my neck and legs form different accidents, so I don't think I can handle it for too long; they hurt with cold weather, so Alaska is out of the question, but still I don't mind cold weather, I don't like the heat; I lived in the Caribbean for a couple of years and I couldn't stand the humidity.

All that being said, If you had the opportunity to move to another state, what would be your choice? Of course considering that I would like to carry my handgun at all times, and my blades too. I want detachable magazines in my rifles, with 30 rounds as they were designed to hold, and regular 15 or more rounds for my handguns; I hate bullet buttons and 10 rounders.

I like hunting since I grew up hunting with my dad in the mountains around Mexico; etc, I love the mountains, pine trees, lakes, rivers, valleys; all that beautiful scenery that this country has. That doesn't mean I would be doing a lot of hard stuff since I am in chronic pain and I got to be careful that I don't brake something, but still, I love the outdoors.

Also, I hate the traffic that is now almost unbearable around here; the freeways crawl during peak hours and it reminds me of Mexico City:thumbdn:, plus is getting very crowded around San Diego (I'd like to hear nothing but the English language being spoken too, (for reasons that I will not get into in this post), so I would like to live in a small city, kind of like Boise or something similar.

Right now, Idaho or Utah are really calling my attention, so what do you guys think? yeah, I know the grass is always greener over there, but I really want to get out of California, if possible, and sooner than later.

Any input would be appreciated it. Thanks guys, I still think this sub forum rocks, and that is why I'm posting it here.:)
 
Have you considered NC? We have very lax gun laws. Unless you live in Charlotte the traffic is not really bad anywhere. Compared to where you are, Raleigh cannot be said to have traffic at all. We have mild winters and mild summers, at least nothing is ever in temperature extremes for long. Property in more rural areas is extremely cheap. We also have everything from mountains to beaches within a few hours drive. Very solid hunting and fishing opportunities all over the state. If you can put up with the humidity, its pretty great out here.
 
Not Oregon!

While reading your post I was thinking Idaho sounds like you thought of it too. Think you can find a good spot there but I don't think Boise is it. It has grown quite a bit lately.
 
For me, I do love Virginia, but plan on heading back to Utah at some point.

+1 on North Carolina, or Tennesse,, heck I love the South in general.

So many places really,, Idaho is great but long cold Winters as well.

I love the Midwest, great people, hunting, outdoors.


Anywhere but the big cities!! I've lived in Boston, New York, and now work in DC,,, I can't wait to get away from them! They're fun when you're young and single,, but not ideal to raise a family.

Good luck in your search!
 
You pretty much described Bitterroot Valley, from Hamilton up to Missoula, Montana. Hunting, guns, knives, no sales tax, no habla, very little traffic and milder winters than Flagstaff, AZ with plenty of water, mountains, trees & wildlife all around. Jobs are harder to find, but not impossible. Boise is a lot like where you are trying to leave, but northern Idaho is much better.

I went through your process about 6 years ago and picked Missoula County with no regrets. :)
 
If I was looking for solitude and a high paying job was not a necessity, I would look at Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, or Northern New Mexico, I live in Tennessee, it is very nice, but when I look out the window (I own 5 Acres) I can still see houses, I would pack up and Move out West tomorrow if the little lady agreed-Good luck
 
From what I understand there are milder areas in parts of Montana where those Chinook winds are prevalent during the winter...Happy Hunting
 
AValenz said:
Texas. That's where I'd like to go.
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Texas is too damned hot, and you can't carry a knife over 5 1/2 inches. Unless you're hunting or camping or in your car or something like that. But it's still too damned hot. And most of it ain't that purdy. And too many mosquitos (at least in the part where I live).
 
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Wow, I appreciate the complement! I love Utah, it has it all.. desert, forest, snow, sun, beautiful lakes (look up lake powel) its got moab, rocky mountains.. the ocean is all its missing. some people sense I bit of a culture shock with some of the LDS population but its short lived. The gun laws here are great, and the rocky mountains are beautiful! like someone said in my post, its an outdoorsmans paradise!! good luck!
we would love to have ya!!
Me an the fellas up in the Uinta mountains!! we buried a bottle of 18 year scotch behind some rocks on the cliff side just 5 feet behind that pic!! to bad this spot is secret:D

 
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rwknox said:
Have you considered NC? We have very lax gun laws. Unless you live in Charlotte the traffic is not really bad anywhere. Compared to where you are, Raleigh cannot be said to have traffic at all. We have mild winters and mild summers, at least nothing is ever in temperature extremes for long. Property in more rural areas is extremely cheap. We also have everything from mountains to beaches within a few hours drive. Very solid hunting and fishing opportunities all over the state. If you can put up with the humidity, its pretty great out here.
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+1 on North Carolina where we have very "reasonable" gun laws. However, I would caution that Charlotte is not the only city that has heavy traffic. The Piedmont Triad area (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point) can have aweful traffic during commute hours, holidays and vacation times; the more easterly Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the Research Triangle) are pretty beastly to drive in almost any time of day but especially during commutes and sporting events weekends, which occur often (with UNC, Duke University and NC State football and basketball). But we have hundreds of miles of beaches that range from the highly commercialized to essentially barren - no development at all (the Outer Banks National Seashore) and hundreds of mountains thtt while not rearly as rough or as cold as the Rockies or Sierra Nevadas but still the most rugged and highest east of the Mississippi contained within the Appalachian, Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain ranges. In fact 18 of the 20 tallest mountains east of the Mississippi are fully contained within the state while the other 2 straddle the border of NC and Tennessee. Most are covered to the summit with old growth hardwoods and spruce/fir/conifer species not found on the east coast south of Canada. Generally the climate can be considered mild with more than adequate parcipitation across the state, decent to excellent snowfall in the mountains with rain, sleet and snow in the rest. Plentiful whitetail deer, Europen Black Boar and Black Bear to hunt, if that's your thing, as well as trout streams in the mountains and excellent offshore and from shore fishing on the coast and a multitude of lakes good for freshwater fishing. Generally about a 3 month ski season with both natural and artifically created snow on a good number of ski resorts. Land outside cites and city surburbs is relatively cheap, except on the coast. I've been all over the world - at least to Europe, the Balkans, Greenland and Iceland, northern Africa and southeast Asia - and though these places all have areas of great natural beauty, I'm always happy to return to NC.
 
Great pics RobHog

UT is beautiful. Lived in CO for many years..dated a girl in and spent much timein MT..all beautful, mostly great weather, hunting, hiking, snwbrding, fishing and some of the best motorcycle country, ..all depends on... in or outside of what city for climate...literal and political.
 
Texas, Oklahoma great land prices, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Arizona are all great places. Some extremes of heat and cold either way but all have great places to hunt and hike and camp.
 
rwknox said:
Have you considered NC? We have very lax gun laws. Unless you live in Charlotte the traffic is not really bad anywhere. Compared to where you are, Raleigh cannot be said to have traffic at all. We have mild winters and mild summers, at least nothing is ever in temperature extremes for long. Property in more rural areas is extremely cheap. We also have everything from mountains to beaches within a few hours drive. Very solid hunting and fishing opportunities all over the state. If you can put up with the humidity, its pretty great out here.
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rcb2000 said:
For me, I do love Virginia, but plan on heading back to Utah at some point.

+1 on North Carolina, or Tennesse,, heck I love the South in general.

So many places really,, Idaho is great but long cold Winters as well.

I love the Midwest, great people, hunting, outdoors.


Anywhere but the big cities!! I've lived in Boston, New York, and now work in DC,,, I can't wait to get away from them! They're fun when you're young and single,, but not ideal to raise a family.

Good luck in your search!
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I would second NC. Although one thing to be aware of there, unless they changed the law: the very time you are most likely to need to carry concealed (natural or man-made disaster with a state of emergency declared), you are restricted from carrying even when you have a CCW permit. Don't know a lot of specifics on SC. VA would be another option for me personally, although I think NoVA is going to sink that state within a few more voting cycles. Don't know enough about GA, but I know the laws there are better than here in MD. DON'T MOVE TO MD! The climate is good, but the politics, firearms laws, and taxes are stupid bad. Texas sounds good, and is one of the places I'd like to go getting out of here.

Oops, just read the post about 5.5 inch blade limit. F-that! Texas is out.

I personally will stick with NC, of the ones I mention, unless it goes stupid before I can retire from MD. Already have property down there in the foothills. Not a bad drive to either the beach or the mountains.
 
all great suggestions! if you like water sports, lake Powell in southern Utah is unlike any place on earth.. my family and I go there 1-2 time a year....

 
rockspyder said:
I would second NC. Although one thing to be aware of there, unless they changed the law: the very time you are most likely to need to carry concealed (natural or man-made disaster with a state of emergency declared), you are restricted from carrying even when you have a CCW permit. Don't know a lot of specifics on SC. VA would be another option for me personally, although I think NoVA is going to sink that state within a few more voting cycles. Don't know enough about GA, but I know the laws there are better than here in MD. DON'T MOVE TO MD! The climate is good, but the politics, firearms laws, and taxes are stupid bad. Texas sounds good, and is one of the places I'd like to go getting out of here.

Oops, just read the post about 5.5 inch blade limit. F-that! Texas is out.

I personally will stick with NC, of the ones I mention, unless it goes stupid before I can retire from MD. Already have property down there in the foothills. Not a bad drive to either the beach or the mountains.
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I agree with this. Maryland is not a good state and I am definitely looking at moving in the next few years. NC has been really nice the few times I've been there and I love Utah, it's gorgeous and generally full of very nice people.
 
Sethrotull said:
Not Oregon!

While reading your post I was thinking Idaho sounds like you thought of it too. Think you can find a good spot there but I don't think Boise is it. It has grown quite a bit lately.
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I live in Oregon and would like to say NOT OREGON as well....

Too many non-English speaking people here for you.
 
Guys, thank you so much for all your input and opinions, I definitely appreciate them all. It took me all day to get to the computer, but I'm back.

I see some variations in your choices but I think most of you lean towards the middle of the country or kind of west; which is what I was thinking on, I never considered the east coast or the south just because the high humidity, but I need to do some more research for sure, I have been to Atlanta and loved the city, but it is a big city and I don't want that. I agree, the south is just awesome, but the humidity just kills me.

Thanks Robdude for the awesome pictures, it makes me want to pack and leave right now!! I will go look for that secret spot with the 18 year old scotch for sure! :) When I see those mountains it reminds me of the sierras in Mexico, but I don't want to go to Mexico, ever, at least not to live there; I went back to Mexico City to visit my mom last Christmas and man, I hated it. I never considered the north sections of Arizona or New Mexico, or Texas, but they sound attractive too; I think the farther away from the border the better for me.

Yeah I forgot Missoula!! I loved that city when I was there, the streets looked like tunnels because of the trees covering them, of course that was when I was 18 years old, but it is beautiful up there. Someone mentioned the Chinook winds, I remember those, one day everything was covered in snow and then next day it was all mud; it was fun to see. We get those winds from the desert here, they call them Santa Ana's, hot dry air, which I don't like too much even though it is better than hot humid air.

San Diego has one of the best weather conditions I have ever experienced, no doubt; today was about 75 degrees, pure sunshine, no clouds, blue sky, just beautiful; but is is so freaking expensive! Everytime I go to the store I come out with three bags of food and it was 60 bucks!! Gas? almost 4 bucks per gallon, not to mention real estate, it is insane.

My brother lives in Kansas City MO, and he says a house with 4 bedrooms and a big lot is about 100K, here the price for a house like that would be about close to half a million, I'm not kidding. I have a friend who just moved back to help his father at the ranch in South Dakota, and he just bought a medium size house for 12 grand!! I couldn't believe it. Of course it is a small town, but still, the prices here are ridiculous.

Someone mentioned raising a family in a crowded city, and I agree, not a good place for kids; I have two grand kids, 12 and 9, girl and boy; my oldest daughter just got divorced and she is planning to move in with me, which I think is a good idea, that way I'll see the kids more; this is also another factor I need to consider, because they will probably will want to move with me, if it happens,and I think it will happen.

I knew this was the right place to ask for input about places to move; you guys rock, I always felt welcomed here, and I really appreciate each and every one of you guys, I really mean that. Once again, thank you for your kind consideration to the goofy questions I ask all the time.

If anyone else has any other idea, it is very welcome and I am very interested in what you all have to say.:):thumbup:
 
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