Thinking of Moving...

[punk-a-doodle]

Cool! My husband and I are trying to figure out where to buy land too. If it wasn't so dang cold, Sweden or Finland would be our top choice. Beautiful environment...and killer metal bands. XD

Grew up in a military family, so I can comment on my personal impressions:
*California- Considering moving to the rural parts, which is surprising to me, because I usually can't stand the people I meet from CA. Sorry anyone from there, generalizing of course. But, some parts are just so gorgeous, and if I didn't have any neighbors nearby...might be able to swing it.
*Colorado- Nice land, some pretty varied events are always going on there. Haven't been there enough to form an impression.
*Florida- Way too hot and humid for me personally. Have more lax exotic pet laws, but the most exotic animal I was able to find for sale there was a squirrel and a baby alligator. If you like the sun though...
*Illinois- Don't think I've ever done anything but drive through, so no opinion.
*Maine- LOVE Maine. Maine and Vermont. I've met the nicest people there and have great childhood memories of making wild blueberry pies, catching fish, watching the bats swoop over the water, and enjoying thick maple syrup. A lot of Buddhist/hippie types which suites me just fine. Way too cold for my husband though. I can't do heat, he can't do the cold...argh! XD
*Minnesota- Met a lot of nice people from there who struck me as being pretty humble. Never visited though.
*New Jersey- Did not enjoy it.
*New York- Did not enjoy the self-centered atmosphere in the city. Same with DC, and I'm not sure which I liked the least. Love all the neat things to do, but not for me personally. Upstate New York is really pretty, but you still get a lot of crime and dumped dead bodies that way.
*Oklahoma- Haven't been.
*Pennsylvania- Loved it! My husband loves the Pennsylvania area and Tennessee. Tennessee more so. Both places were full of folks waving to us and smiling, just very friendly and polite people with a lot of close knit families. Same with Ohio, but they have the added bonus of lax exotic pet and pet laws. Tennessee has the awesome Dollyworld...only thing keeping me from there is the ticks. So. Many. Ticks.
*Texas- Parts would make my soul bleed and head hurt too much. Parts seem doable, and definitely considering it because of the land and the ability to raise so many different kinds of animals.
*Washington- Rains. A LOT. Have family that way. If you don't mind the rain though, lush plants and delicious critters to eat, like oysters and shrimp. Didn't enjoy living there as a kid. Probably was mainly due to my parent's chosen social circles, but a lot of planned community, self-absorbed, and status obsessed types who I just can't personally be around.

 

[cassie]

Quote:
Amen sister. I am currently moving from California to Missouri. Should be there in a couple weeks or so. After my husband died I knew I didn't want to stay in California for any number of reasons. I couldn't afford to stay here anyway. I wanted to move to an area that was economical, pretty, had four seasons, and fireflies. I did an internet search and Missouri seemed to fill the bill. To give you an example, the place I am on now is 15 acres with a crappy house and the mortgage payments were $1450 a month. I found a lovely place near Hartville, MO on 15 acres with a nice house, a pond and a beautiful yard and my payments there are $500. Car licenses in MO are about half what they are in CA. Jobs here are scarce, the unemployment rate is very high and the state is in big financial trouble. There are a lot of foreclosures in my immediate area and the educational system here stinks. I do live in the central valley and it is a depressed area anyway so that may make a difference.

I will miss a few things. Like easy access to the ocean and Yosemite. And avocados.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Oklahoma is an awesome place...friendly people and there's always something to do. Pennsylvania is such a pretty place too! We haven't been here long but there are no taxes for groceries or clothing! Liquor is sold separately from beer and you can only buy two 6 packs of beer or a single 12 pack in a given visit. It must be bought at a distributor...no convenience store sells it.


Mind blown yet?

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Amen sister. I am currently moving from California to Missouri. Should be there in a couple weeks or so. After my husband died I knew I didn't want to stay in California for any number of reasons. I couldn't afford to stay here anyway. I wanted to move to an area that was economical, pretty, had four seasons, and fireflies. I did an internet search and Missouri seemed to fill the bill. To give you an example, the place I am on now is 15 acres with a crappy house and the mortgage payments were $1450 a month. I found a lovely place near Hartville, MO on 15 acres with a nice house, a pond and a beautiful yard and my payments there are $500. Car licenses in MO are about half what they are in CA. Jobs here are scarce, the unemployment rate is very high and the state is in big financial trouble. There are a lot of foreclosures in my immediate area and the educational system here stinks. I do live in the central valley and it is a depressed area anyway so that may make a difference.

I will miss a few things. Like easy access to the ocean and Yosemite. And avocados.

I know enough people here to keep in avocados. Just buy them green and ship em. By the time they get there I am ready for guacamole and bacon, avocado and may sandwiches.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
**Redhen scribbles PA off her list...**

 

[ChicksterJo]

What you will notice is that the grass is always greener on the other side.

I have lived in Illinois...the one thing I will tell you, is if you don't like California politics, don't go to the Illinois for the same reason. I'd venture to say most states are pretty similar on the political aspects. As for jobs, anywhere you choose to move just make sure that you have a plan for income already. Have your husband or yourself go to your prospective states and then find a job there first and then make the move.

My boyfriend's dad in northern Illinois has a house valued around $100,000 or so. His property taxes? Around $3000 a year.
My parents' house here in Southern California, even when it was valued at $400,000 (5 years ago before housing market "crashed"), property taxes around $2,500/year.

With every state, there is going to be some give and take. So choose the one you are "most" happy in! Good luck!

 

[NoseyChickens]

If you have kids, take California OFF your list. The education system is a JOKE! DH just retired from the military out here. He could get a job anywhere. He was already offered a job in Maryland (my least favorite place we have ever lived) and turned it down. We are staying put for the next 2 years for the sole purpose of letting our son graduate. I know for a fact that if we move he will have to repeat a year (possibly more) because the standards out here to graduate are so stinkin low. But you bet as soon as that boy graduates we are getting the heck out of here. I loved Texas, wouldn't mind going home to AZ, the idea of WA state appeals to me purely because my sister and her family are there, but i dont think I could handle the weather and all the gloomy rain.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
There are many thing we both hate about this state. I can tell you this: Once Brandon got to college, he really felt the lack of education here and wound up with a 2.0 GPA the first semester. He has since figured it out and is now doing much better, but the public school system here does NOT prepare a child for college at all.

 

[maclady]

The poster who said the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence is correct. I was born and raised in Michigan, husband born in NJ and raised in WV but have lived all over the country. NJ, MO, AL, GA, TX, VA, NC, CA My family is trying to figure out where we are finally going to end up (retire to). We liked Texas but it does get HOT in the summers. Good luck deciding where to move to. I am reading this thread for ideas. Just do a lot of tax research cause come states sound great until you start seeing all the taxes you pay out. We have crossed off several states due to this.

 

[chickened]

Californias schools are overwhelmed with illegals and in Oregon we have a town near me that has the same problem and they lower the standard so the kids can get a diploma.
Quote:
There are many thing we both hate about this state. I can tell you this: Once Brandon got to college, he really felt the lack of education here and wound up with a 2.0 GPA the first semester. He has since figured it out and is now doing much better, but the public school system here does NOT prepare a child for college at all.