Recommendations for great place of the country to move to...

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I would have to agree with the NC crowd. We are in Eastern NC so the seasons don't change dramaticly. What I like best about it is the LONG spring and fall seasons. You can garden right up until Christmas then turn around and replant in Feb. We are about 40 minutes outside a midsized town and I can't see my neighbors from our house.

The bad thing about eastern NC is the storms that have names. Hurricianes.

Steve in NC

 

[card5640]

Maine, come to Maine, I've lived out west, but always come home to Maine.

 

[NRacine]

Madison WI! I live abut 20 miles from downtown and have 1 acre surrounded by dairy farms and only a handful of neighbors. I can get into the city every day for work, and be out in the open country the rest of the time. There are plenty of small towns (anywhere from 1-5000 people)surrounding Madison without the urban sprawl, there seem to be very distinct boarders between city and country.

Everyone here is very nice, in fact, my friend came to visit from Milwaukee and couldn't understand why everyone smiled and said hi to him! There's low crime, high education level, lots of jobs due to the state capitol and university. There's a pretty big hippie population, so there are a lot of co-ops, organic food in regular grocery stores and restaurants. There are a lot of people from other countries due to the university, so you can find tons of ethnic restaurants and grocery stores.

Lots of agriculture, farmers markets, sweet corn stands, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, hiking trails, biking trails, dog parks, AND! If you live in the city of Madison you can have chickens!!!!!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Stay out of the NC Sandhills. Born and raised here, as soon as I can afford it, I'm jumping the border into VA. LOL I love the moutains and rural feel of the land. I'm sick of the sand and all these wretched pine trees!

Our grandparents own a mountain house in Ararat, VA; I go up there to stay as often as I can. I love the mountains and the crops. Every year the whole family goes to a Christmas tree farm in the snow and saw down a tree. We go straight to the farmers to buy their pumpkins, apples, and peaches. I imagine all that and being in the NC Sandhills makes me want to cry!

So it's straight to the mountains for me(after school). After seeing Beekissed's layout on SS, might just be their new neighbor! LOL

 

[newhope]

Wow, thanks to everyone for their eyeopening descriptions! It sounds like there are alot of great options out there to explore. Much appreciated.

 

[Tonopah Pati]

Arizona, I vote for. We have 4 seasons and if it is snow you want, we have that. Lots of places in the country side. It is buyers dream. You can ski, hunt big game, fish, you can do the same in the valley. There are Deer in the desert. I grew up in Mi. and raised my kids there. Right on the edge of Lake Mi. Property taxes are out of site. I live in the desert out in the Boonies. 35 miles from the city. Easy to get around. Lots of different life styles. lots of lakes around. Check it out.

3 hour drive to be in 8,000-9,000 foot elevation.

 

[Camelot Farms]

SWVA is also worth a look. Russell, Smyth and Wise counties in particular.

 

[newhope]

Thanks, I guess I never thought much about living in the desert. Watched too many Westerns when I was younger.

People were always staggering around in the dust dying of thirst.

 

[lauralou]

Virginia is really nice. Beautiful countryside, and the economy is reasonably good here. Depending on what you do, I suppose...

I live in a small town, and it is growing. Lots of farms here. People are very nice. Not much crime to speak of. Property taxes are low. All in all, a good place to live.

 

[Whispering Winds]

I live in Central Illinois, but my daughter lives down in Southern Il, and I like it so much. Beautiful fall season, winters can be bad just like the rest of the state, but the economy seems to be holding its own there, and a lot of opportunities.