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I'm from upstate NY and I've never liked it here. I really dislike the dreary wet weather. The summers are humid, rainy, and buggy and the winters are dreary, wet, and slushy. There's an excessive amount of rules and regulations the taxes are high. I feel the scenery looks identical even if I drive for hours. I don't understand what people like about this area.
I would like to move in roughly 5 years hopefully. I'm looking for a place in the mountains, with some trees, and without crowds of people. I think this narrows me down to the forest around Santa Fe, the forest around Flagstaff, southern Colorado? and maybe Montana. I would like to avoid -30f winters which I know Montana has but I've heard a few spots are a bit milder.
I visited Colorado about 12 years ago and loved it. The mountains, the giant public lands, the big open vistas all amazing. I spent all of my time camping in national forests and rarely saw another person.
I went back last summer and I had a hard time hiking or camping without being in a crowd of people. This was mostly national forest along I70 so I guess to be expected but it was much different than 12 years ago. Is southern Colorado just as crowded?
I want to start taking some trips out and visiting different spots over the next few years to get an idea. A small town with a grocery store and hardware store is all I really require having a city within 3 hours drive would be nice too.
Sure, parts of Montana are more mild but you're still going to have -30F nights. And the milder places are certainly not up in the mountains. Oh, and 2/3 of Montana is plains.
Your best bet for relatively mild climate (for Montana standards) with access to wooded/mountainous areas is Helena but you'll still have days of -30F. And don't you worry, they don't actually close down due to weather. Life goes on including outdoor work. Trust me and my toes.
Do you have an ideal budget for housing? It is hard to recommend somewhere without knowing what you can afford. Will you be retired? What do you define as a city for being within 3 hrs of? Do you mean like a Denver-sized city or something 50,000+?
I'm in my late 20s now I own a small business and a few rentals my gf is about to be a physical therapist. My plan is to retire early maybe I'll have to wait a little more than 5 years. Neither of us spends any money I don't want a fancy life. I want to buy a decent size piece of land at least 10 acres and build a little house and a bigger workshop.
I'm in my late 20s now I own a small business and a few rentals my gf is about to be a physical therapist. My plan is to retire early maybe I'll have to wait a little more than 5 years. Neither of us spends any money I don't want a fancy life. I want to buy a decent size piece of land at least 10 acres and build a little house and a bigger workshop.
I dont have an exact budget. Im guessing maybe 400-500k as an upper limit for land.
I meant a major city within 3-4 hours to be able to see music or shows otherwise I have no need for cities. Its not an absolute it would just be nice.
I lived in Williston ND for a year so im familiar with -30 and life going on as normal.
That rules out all of Montana. Unless you consider Spokane, WA a major city. I don't know many who would. Kalispell to Calgary is just over five hours but Kalispell is a lot more overcast.
The East Mountains, across Tijeras Pass from Albuquerque, might work for you. You might look at Cedar Crest, Tijeras, or the town of Edgewood. They are on the "back side" of the Sandia and Manzano mountains close to the national forest. Almost anywhere in Albuquerque would be around a 45 minute drive. (I-40 goes through Tijeras Canyon into Albuquerque).
I would think Spokane is big enough that musicians stop there on tour.
I'm still wondering is southern Colorado crowded as well? What about the national forests in AZ and NM is it easy to hike up mountains and not see tons of people?
I would think Spokane is big enough that musicians stop there on tour.
I'm still wondering is southern Colorado crowded as well? What about the national forests in AZ and NM is it easy to hike up mountains and not see tons of people?
So Durango, Pagosa Springs, and Cuchara might work for what I'm looking for.
They might be a tad colder than you are looking for, but it likely would work.
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