What State Fits My Family Best?

[justbugged]

Does the State of Alaska still pay property owners? I seem to remember that the State did this for years. Basically it was about profit sharing, because of the oil pipeline.

 

[frostbite]

I wasn't going to give away ALL our secrets!!!!!

Alaskans don't have to own property to get an annual dividend check, they just have to have an address. It's also helpful not to be behind on child support payments, or the state will not giveth, but rather will garnish.
We do pay federal taxes on our dividend checks.

And yes, we do sort of have winter, which includes a certain amount of subarctic cold snaps and deep winter darkness, and having to plug in our cars to keep them warm while we're at work, little things like that.

When it's really cold, the rubber tires on our cars get really hard, so that as they go 'round and round, the ride is a little bumpy at first because they freeze up square on the bottom where they were parked. We can kind of tell how cold it is by how long it takes driving to town before they soften enough to be round again, and the ride gets smoother.

At 50 below, you can empty your cup of hot coffee into the air and it all turns to ice fog crystals before any of it can hit the ground.
Unfortunately, it doesn't get that cold very often, or for very long, so we don't get to do this trick every winter, or for every winter visitor. I remember one Christmas season it warmed up to 30 above, and we put the top down on our convertible, pulled our parka hoods with the coyote ruffs (I don't imagine chicken fanciers will mind coyotes sacrificing a little fur, but that's another thread) and went driving around town enjoying the balmy weather!

Just my cup of tea!

 

[phasianidae]

Quote:
Really, no blizzards? We get them all winter here it seems.

 

[chickensioux]

Quote:
X2!!!!!!!! http://www.findyourspot.com/ This website is how we found our state.

 

[frostbite]

Regarding "Really, no blizzards? We get them all winter here it seems."

Minnesota is beautiful in the summer!

But ya, although we like to brag about how tough we are, there are lots of places in the lower 48 (aka "outside") that are less comfortable. Like Minnesota in the winter, or Chicago almost any season, or anywhere in the country where you can't sweat to cool off because the humidity and heat are both 100!

Here, we just don't get wind that often, and when we do, it's not usually snowing. We don't get that much snow, considering. average is about 2-3 feet a winter; 3 feet is a heavy snow year. And very low humidity.

 

[awesomefowl]

you do realize that everyone is going to say their state is the best?

I love upstate NY. it is gorgeous, but I wouldn't reccommend moving here. The taxes are way too high and everything is overregulated.

 

[zzGypsy]

Missouri
4 seasons, and depending on where you are, minimal snow (although it does freeze).
variety of terrain available - flat to rolling to hilly to ozark mountains.
land is *very* inexpensive.
lots of small towns to choose from.
lakes, rivers, water everywhere, great fishing, excellent hunting, outstanding pasture land.
really exeptional extension office that will help with your agricultural and animal management issues.
people are POLITE.
beautiful countryside everywhere.
has some excellent schools, shop around.
great 4H and FFA programs and other ranch-related activities.
people have very self-sufficent ideas in general, and neighbors are generous with their help and time when you need a hand.
some very cool caves.
has some major entertainment centers (Branson, St. Louis) and amazing barBQ (Kansas City).

down side -
it can and does occasionally snow, and you may get ice storms.
humid in summer and early fall.
some areas have tornados (well, everywhere has SOME sort of local disaster. just have to choose which you hate least)
jobs are not plentiful in some areas.
chiggers.

moved here from CA, have decided this place is as close to heaven as you can get without being dead.
come on down, we've got room.

 

[Orchid]

The state of perpetual disarray seems to fit my family best...

 

[frostbite]

Quote:

Moi aussi!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Thank you all! I can't get over the amount of responses I have received from this thread! I appriciate it all. I have decided that staying up in New England may be a good idea. We really like the weather here and have been to most of the states that make up New England.

Massachusetts- It is a nice state but certainly not very farmy. It is very hard to find land. I would like to move out of MA completely. If you go to western MA you can find some land, but it isn't what me and my family are looking for.

Maine- We have always wanted to live here. We have been here multiple times. Love it. The only problem is jobs. Maine seems to be struggling a lot with the economy and I don't want to move there and not be able to support the family.

NY (Upstate)- I personally, have never been there. I don't know much about it. I have seen many pictures and it looks beautiful. I would love your input on this state.

I don't know much about Vermont or Pennsylvania. I would love any input on these states. Is Vermont country? As in are there many farms? What are good country towns you would reccomend in Vermont and/or Pennsylvania?

Once again, Thank You All!