Please steer me to some possibilities (real estate, good schools, universities)
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My family wants to relocate in 5-9 years. We currently live in Louisiana. We hate just about everything about it. My husband has never lived anywhere else. I went to college in western Virginia and spent a summer in D.C. Unfortunately, we have limited time and resources to scout out where we want to eventually end up. Also unfortunately, I'm not sure anywhere will meet all our qualifications. So I hope you guys can help. We are visiting Colorado Springs in October, so it's currently on the list. We'd rather head west. I would consider New York state, but I'm not sure my husband would, unless someone can say it fits the bill. I've done a little research on Boise and Missoula. Here is what we are looking for.
1. Some snow, but not an insane amount where it makes life too hard. Definitely want to be near mountains. (Boise seems to fail here...not much precip).
2. Tolerable summer weather. I never spend time outdoors now because it's so damn hot, and that needs to change.
3. Good schools (my son will be 7-11 when we move).
4. My husband is very conservative, likes guns and people who work for a living.
5. I am more libertarian. I don't like lazy people. The kicker is despite being more conservative in our values, my line of work will probably be in the alternative medicine field. So looking for open minded people, especially regarding health, but not so hippy that they don't take baths.
6. We don't have a ton of money, so can't afford somewhere like Boulder. We need to be able to find jobs or have our own businesses (my husband has experience as a real estate agent).
Can't speak for all these towns, but Asheville is famously liberal, and I don't think it would meet the OPs criteria -- although some of the small towns around it might. Outside of the city limits the area is mostly classic, small town, Red State territory.
But also consider Charleston WV or Greenville SC. The latter I know has a conservative tilt to it as well as a very strong local economy. The former is an increasingly conservative state, both socially and politically. Schools in each, I'd imagine, run the gamut from great to horrible, but would likely depend on where you live in the district. Housing costs in both cities are reasonable. Each city has four seasons.
Both cities have several colleges/universities in the vicinity, so there could well be a market amenable to alternative health practices, though the conservatism in both areas MIGHT mitigate against that, I just don;t know and you'd have to do a bit of research on that to find out.
I loved Colorado when I visited. I loved the warmer weather in the southeastern part of the state, by the National Park Mesa Verde. Look into the banana belt region, where it is reportedly more mild compared to more mountainous regions.
I loved Colorado when I visited. I loved the warmer weather in the southeastern part of the state, by the National Park Mesa Verde. Look into the banana belt region, where it is reportedly more mild compared to more mountainous regions.
The whole world could change in that kind of lead time. Not to mention your situation, finances, etc.
We can only afford one trip a year, at most. So I am asking for opinions to avoid wasting my time and money. I've hated Louisiana for the past 20+ years, so I don't think my opinions are going to change that much.
The whole world could change in that kind of lead time. Not to mention your situation, finances, etc.
I agree. Pittsburgh has done a 180 in 4 years. I wouldn't start looking at relocating until a year out from the move.
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