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New Hampshire. The only state that has a slight rein on spending. Seems to be pretty lax on the religion - something I didn't feel in the south. Gun laws are great. You'll still be close to friends and family ( assuming you have some there ). Plenty of beach options, albeit a short summer.
I think you should consider the Florida Panhandle. The beaches are amazing, it's a growing area, great schools and good fishing. It's a diverse area being a military location.
Without turning this into a political debate, you would probably like it here.
So many of your wants are contradictory. If it didn't have to be East Coast, you would want to consider Seattle. Does she mind rain instead of cold? You'd have 4 seasons and she wouldn't have to suffer the stupid cold. Really, unfortunately, the east coast is kind of... bad for weather. Florida has options for people that really like that kind of weather.
I can't stand rainy days.. i would probably go nuts if i lived in Seattle. It doesn't have to be east coast, but i really despise flying too.... so i'd like to be able to drive home in < a day if i had to.
I run a 'hobby farm' already now. have about 1000 sq ft of garden space + and orchard of apples/grapes/cheeries/peach trees.... a strawberry patch. citrus trees in containers to move inside for winter... herb racks.. i'm simply out of land to do anything else and still have a 'yard' to do anything in. I want more space to grow more and more things. It's addicting. There's always time even working 45-ish hours a week + an hour commute each way.
I like NH a lot. I've visited it extensively and want to be there for those closeness reasons/etc.
An acquaintance of mine just moved to santa rosa beach area in the fl panhandle. I might spend a few days there to check it out. The hurricane factor is a turn off though... The low water table is also something that bothers me.... i've always had a house with a basement... I think not having one would be weird.
I think you both need to sit down and have an actual discussion about all of your wants when it comes to environment and weather.
Then make a decision on what you can compromise on then start looking for a place to move to.
I can't stand rainy days.. i would probably go nuts if i lived in Seattle. It doesn't have to be east coast, but i really despise flying too.... so i'd like to be able to drive home in < a day if i had to.
I run a 'hobby farm' already now. have about 1000 sq ft of garden space + and orchard of apples/grapes/cheeries/peach trees.... a strawberry patch. citrus trees in containers to move inside for winter... herb racks.. i'm simply out of land to do anything else and still have a 'yard' to do anything in. I want more space to grow more and more things. It's addicting. There's always time even working 45-ish hours a week + an hour commute each way.
I like NH a lot. I've visited it extensively and want to be there for those closeness reasons/etc.
An acquaintance of mine just moved to santa rosa beach area in the fl panhandle. I might spend a few days there to check it out. The hurricane factor is a turn off though... The low water table is also something that bothers me.... i've always had a house with a basement... I think not having one would be weird.
What are you talking about?
It rains 1-3x/week in New England, almost every week/year.
You remind me of nep321, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're from the West Hartford area, either.
Perhaps look at the Chattanooga/Knoxville areas, maybe Johnson City, or in NC look at Asheville and surrounding areas.
And despite what some of the yahoos on here will tell you the south is not overrun with religious zealots, nor do they hate yankees. What they do despise is people from other places coming in with ignorant preconceived notions and stereotypes about southerners being backwards, redneck, etc.
"What I want:
4 seasons- check, great spring and fall, slightly humid summers and fairly mild winters, elevation will make a difference less people / more mountains, lakes, back country roads, farms- check, quick transition from 'city' to 'rural' in most areas
a big plot of land for hobby farming- check, naturally the closer to town the more you'll pay
Good water (ie, not piped in form another area... and not in a drought prone area)- check, although we do get occasional droughts, not usually severe enough to cause water restrictions though.
no state income tax preferred- check for TN, offset by a high sales tax, property taxes tend to be on the low side too
less disaster prone (ie, hurricanes)- check, Maps: US Natural Disaster Risk, Population Density and Nuclear Facilities | CrisisHQ.com
as a bedroom musician, i would love it if there was a 'metal' scene in the area- don't know, but depending on location Nashville or Atlanta could be close enough for day trips on weekends
It looks like your biggest compromise is going to be coast vs mountains and lakes. If you don't mind the drive, a lot of people in the area make weekend trips to the coast every summer. Not quite the same as living there, but then again you don't have to deal with the threat of hurricanes either.
It rains 1-3x/week in New England, almost every week/year.
You remind me of nep321, and I wouldn't be surprised if you're from the West Hartford area, either.
Yeah, it rains.. but it rains and then it gets it over with. The drawn out dreariness day in and say out in the PNW is too much for me.
I'm not from west hartford. Couldn't imagine living there. one of the highest mill rates in the state, cameras everywhere, roads that have frost heaves from 1947... It's quite possibly the most over-rated POS in the state.
There's one block with some good eats, and that's about all it's good for IMO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DubbleT
Perhaps look at the Chattanooga/Knoxville areas, maybe Johnson City, or in NC look at Asheville and surrounding areas.
And despite what some of the yahoos on here will tell you the south is not overrun with religious zealots, nor do they hate yankees. What they do despise is people from other places coming in with ignorant preconceived notions and stereotypes about southerners being backwards, redneck, etc.
"What I want:
4 seasons- check, great spring and fall, slightly humid summers and fairly mild winters, elevation will make a difference less people / more mountains, lakes, back country roads, farms- check, quick transition from 'city' to 'rural' in most areas
a big plot of land for hobby farming- check, naturally the closer to town the more you'll pay
Good water (ie, not piped in form another area... and not in a drought prone area)- check, although we do get occasional droughts, not usually severe enough to cause water restrictions though.
no state income tax preferred- check for TN, offset by a high sales tax, property taxes tend to be on the low side too
less disaster prone (ie, hurricanes)- check, Maps: US Natural Disaster Risk, Population Density and Nuclear Facilities | CrisisHQ.com
as a bedroom musician, i would love it if there was a 'metal' scene in the area- don't know, but depending on location Nashville or Atlanta could be close enough for day trips on weekends
It looks like your biggest compromise is going to be coast vs mountains and lakes. If you don't mind the drive, a lot of people in the area make weekend trips to the coast every summer. Not quite the same as living there, but then again you don't have to deal with the threat of hurricanes either.
Thanks.
I've considered TN. It's actually quite high on the list due to it not having a state income tax. I'm ok with sales tax. I think that's how it should be based... on consumption.. not on earnings.
It then becomes a choice to buy an item or not and at what 'quality' level, and along with it pay the matching tax.
I've looked at Asheville in the past... it seemed to be too much of an inner city with high crime from what I gathered. That's exactly what i'm trying to get away from.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is, how would your girlfriend feel about living in a place where she is the only Asian person? I ask because it seems like a lot of the places listed as possibilities are severely lacking in "her kind." Unfortunately for what you are looking for, it seems that most Asian people live in economically liberal states. However, there are exceptions; the Dallas and Atlanta areas come to mind. (Houston too, but I think it has too great a threat of hurricanes to suit you.)
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