I am looking to make a move and here are the stats on me:
I am a 39 yr old white female. Divorced, no children
I am politically somewhat left leaning but mostly an independent as both sides drive me crazy most of the time.
I absolutely hate humid weather. I also hate dreary, dank, wet, weather.
I am originally from Boston, MA. Then I lived in NYC/NJ and now I live in Santa Fe, NM. I loved each of these areas (though NJ was bloody humid) but all three have such high cost of living I couldn't take it anymore. I am ready to make a change and live more simply in a less expensive area.
I love both the mountains and the ocean. But being close enough to drive 1-2 hours to the mountains or the ocean would be fine.
I really want a low cost of living, affordable housing, low taxes. I thought I was doing a great thing by moving to Santa Fe, NM, but I'm finding it's too expensive. Albuquerque is much less expensive but I kind of hate that city. It's ugly.
I'm thinking about Atlanta (I know, no mountains, no ocean, and really hot!) but the low cost of living there sounds great. The only problem is that I'm beginning to think the low cost housing is only in the ghettos. Whenever I find a nice house/condo in a nice/safe neighborhood it's about 3x the price of what is being pushed by forbes/fortune magazine stats. Is Atlanta really that cheap or is it just certain (awful) neighborhoods?
I do not need to be in a major city, but I would like to be within 1-2 hours of one. I am fine with a mid-sized city or even a small town that's close to a mid-sized city.
I do need to be around like minded people and some cultural stuff. Concerts, shows, plays and the like nearby would be good.
My work: I have an online business, a retail boutique, which I can do from anyplace as long as I'm close to a post office as there's lost of shipping involved.
Is there anywhere in FL that isn't all retirees? I'm not a young single but I don't want everyone else to be having supper at 4pm
I'm not interested in Las Vegas (yuck) or AZ.
Colorado comes to mind but is there anywhere that's truly affordable?
Also, western NC comes to mind (Asheville) but hasn't the cost of living there tripled the past decade?
Someone mentioned Spokane, WA, but I know nothing about that area.
I absolutely love coastal Maine, my aunt has an old farmhouse way up on the coast in Blue Hill that is so gorgeous it makes me want to cry. But I don't think it's affordable there and the winters are brutal, may as well be Canada.
I can't imagine anywhere in CA would fit the bill, too expensive, plus the earthquake potential.
I also want to avoid the tornado areas, and the flood zone areas along the Mississippi. Oddly, I love New Orleans, even with the humidity, but would anyone tell me that is a good idea? I hear so much about the corruption of the state government and the problems there. Plus the flooding and hurricane issues might happen again.
oh, and for what's its worth, I am a sucker for old historic architecture. I grew up in Boston so it's part of my blood. When I was in Savannah, GA, last year I was drooooooling. I just love me some beautiful, charming older homes (and hate those "planned communities" like in AZ or Las Vegas or many parts of FL). But, of course, given that I'm asking for places that are CHEAP I understand I might not be able to have everything I want!
I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thank you!! So Much!!