[reyna_lin]

Every time I do a search on where I want to relocate, Fayetteville seems to pop up for some reason. Are they paying extra to get included on search engines? OK, this is what I am looking for and having a very hard time finding. Ideally I want a little cabin or house about 20-30 mins away from a town and public school. Hopefully I can convert the house to solar power and go off grid, gardening is a must and I would like to raise a few small animals just to supplement food. I am a homesteader. Unfortunately, I am also a single mom and still have to work for a living unless I grow some million dollar tomatoes. So I need to be close enough to a town that has a better job than a waitress position. I have a reliable car, I do not mind living in the boonies as long as I can still get to work. Weather doesn't bother me, I grew up in Nebraska, spent two years in the mountains of Montana, and now going on four years on the coast of Florida. I am used to extremes. So I know its a long shot but please feel free to offer up any info you want. (PS, a nice liberal town with homegrown morals and a whole foods store might be asking a little too much but that would be added bonus.) thank you!

[arguy1973]

Whats your ideal of "liberal?" is my first question, that def prob differs a gr8 deal in AR than in some areas.

[Sam I Am]

I think arguy is right - "liberal" and "homegrown morals" presents a conundrum in Arkansas.

Eureka would be my first thought, but much of the employment there is around tourism....I suppose you could work in Little Rock and live down toward Sheridan, or out east toward Carlisle and Lonoke (I absolutely love Carlisle, but there isn't much to love -very small)....

The cities or areas with the hippy chicks are not going to be centers of industry - and the centers of industry aren't going to be amenable to going green, supporting Al Gore, and being off the grid....well, maybe Fayetteville on the Al Gore thing....if you aren't waitressing, what's your next job?

Weather is MUCH more a factor here than Nebraska - please bear that in mind. It is sleet and freezing rain and black ice. If an ice storm hits, you will NOT be able to get to work - if you even try, you are very foolish. Although this happens every year, the state of Arkansas as a whole is never prepared and the towns just shut down. There is no such thing as dry snow here. It is wet, gloppy, mixed with ice much of the time, and dangerous. Readjust your thinking on that now so you won't be a statistic....our roads and our road crews were never meant for any weather other than summer and post summer, also known as football season.

[reyna_lin]

Ok my idea of liberal is going green, protecting the environment, somewhat antimaterialist and I'm not Christian which is considered by some very liberal. However I don't go around espousing my ideas or saying I am right and everyone else is wrong, I am still examining my spirituality. Live and let live - I do both very well. I still raise my child the old fashioned way to do it. He gets spanked when he's bad, he knows not to lie and he respects other people. And he knows how to do hard work, he will be right alongside me digging in my garden not sitting on his butt playing video games. That is my definition of homegrown morals. Being snowed in doesn't bother me. I wasn't raised in the south and I know better than to drive when it gets bad out. I'm also smart enough to can some veggies and keep food on hand and a little extra cash in case I get snowed in and can't work. I currently work for an aerospace company, have a background in accounting and administration and office management. I also write on the side and propose to supplement my income with some freelance work while I continue my novel. So...is Arkansas going to chase me off with pitchforks and torches or do you think there are more like me around anywhere? (well I know no one is quite like me, but somewhat... )

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by reyna_lin

Ok my idea of liberal is going green, protecting the environment, somewhat antimaterialist and I'm not Christian which is considered by some very liberal. However I don't go around espousing my ideas or pushing the Christians off their pedestals either. Live and let live - I do both very well. I still raise my child the old fashioned, right way to do it. He gets spanked when he's bad, he knows not to lie and he respects other people. And he knows how to do hard work, he will be right alongside me digging in my garden not sitting on his butt playing video games. That is my definition of homegrown morals. Being snowed in doesn't bother me. I wasn't raised in the south and I know better than to drive when it gets bad out. I'm also smart enough to can some veggies and keep food on hand and a little extra cash in case I get snowed in and can't work. I currently work for an aerospace company, have a background in accounting and administration and office management. I also write on the side and propose to supplement my income with some freelance work while I continue my novel. So...is Arkansas going to chase me off with pitchforks and torches or do you think there are more like me around anywhere? (well I know no one is quite like me, but somewhat... )

No pitchforks here - have you ever considered working for the nuclear plant in Russellville? Land outside of town is very inexpensive (relatively speaking) and your morals and life values would be appreciated, along with your work ethic. I don't think anyone here cares if you go green or brown or any other color you choose (red might not go over well, lol!)

Now, the religious aspect - well, it's a very "church-y" town, but we don't attend anywhere and no one has run us off yet!

There are a number of smaller communities and it's easy to slide off into the woods or hills here if you enjoy your privacy. It's worth a thought, anyway - I wouldn't live anywhere else! We're right on I-40, there's a little town just east of Russellville called Pottsville that is very small and has EXCELLENT schools. Problem I see is probably employment, as it is a blue collar area...the nuclear plant, Tyson's and ConAgra are the big employers here and in Dardanelle...no aero-nothing here, not even an aeroport (well, a little tiny landing strip!). There's also St. Mary's Hospital, but your degree and experience may be more than what they are looking for.

I'll go with Conway, living in Greenbrier....or, of course, NW Arkansas - and yeah, the Fayetteville area probably IS paying more to pop up on search engines - it is very, very popular and the three county area surrounding it is predicted to have the largest population in the state within the next 10 years. If you're going to buy rural property, do it now - it may be a subdivision in 10 years....

[nmnita]

I will just throw a few comments in here: you say you are not a Christian, does that mean you are part of some other religion or you are not a believer? That would make a big difference in where you want to live or where you will be happy.

Of course someplace like Eureka Springs would work the best, but employment isn't going to be that easy.

Freelance writing? Do you have contacts so you can submit articles no matter where you live or are you planning on trying to line up some jobs after you arrive? I ask this because my husband happens to be a written with many years in both Public Relations and newspaper reporting. I know making even a meager living freelancing is very hard.

There may be several areas of Arkansas that would work for you and your son, I suggest you investigate everything before making a more. Sometimes things look better than they turn out to be.

Whole food stores might be a little hard to find unless you choose to locate near one of the major cities like Little Rock (you can always move out of town and have your garden, do your canning etc.) I too do a lot of canning and growing produce.

Just one more thing, I don't think your use of the word liberal will be the same as the way people in AR use the word.

Good luck.

Nita

[magrack]

Originally Posted by arguy1973

Whats your ideal of "liberal?" is my first question, that def prob differs a gr8 deal in AR than in some areas.

Got that right.

I've said it before; this is a pretty conservative state, and a Southern Democrat may have views similar to a Republican in in another state.

FI, my sister cracks me up...she won't even allow a Republican on her property, but her views are often right of mine.

I'm an Independent, although, in most elections, I often vote on the "R" side of the slate because I favor fiscal conservatism as opposed to nanny state or big government ideals.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by magrack

Got that right.

I've said it before; this is a pretty conservative state, and a Southern Democrat may have views similar to a Republican in in another state.

FI, my sister cracks me up...she won't even allow a Republican on her property, but her views are often right of mine.

I'm an Independent, although, in most elections, I often vote on the "R" side of the slate because I favor fiscal conservatism as opposed to nanny state or big government ideals.

Magrack, you and me. I am a fiscal conservative, in fact I am pretty much conservative period but not overly right. It is funny what you say about your sister. I have a granddaughter that is just the opposite. She is a republican in name only and yet she doesn't even know it. I am not going to tell her either. The grandaughter at the University of AR is to the right of most of us. That has a lot to do with her good ole boy, Arkansas boyfriend, probably hubby in a year or so. WE approve.

[magrack]

'nita, funny thing is, it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between D's and R's...there is no distinct difference between the two any more...too much big "gubment".

[jinxjunk]

We live in Sharp County, AR close to Missouri border. Areas within 100 miles of us have everything you would want. We have lots of folks like you, farmers markets, health food stores, excellant doctors, cheap housing etc.....Couple have mentioned Eureka Springs. It is very touristy and is the gay capital of Arkansas. Keep these things in mind....Lots of AR is dry meaning no liquor sales.......Our hills and ice are unbelievable. I'm from the north but never saw roads like these.