[rntim]

Man, we live in Sitka, Alaska. There is 14 miles of road. I think there are 11 bars here and 2 gas stations--not a bar guy but I think thats about right. We have 2 stop lights. One fast food joint. Our "downtown" is 3 blocks. Everyone visits while at the grocery store. Our police report is about dumba$$'s stealing bikes and drunks on the docks. Its a very boring town and I love every bit of it! My idea of going out to eat is eating on the porch. Oh, we also have 3 pot stores and they all seem to be doing well--they are still open. We get tons of cruise ships in here during the summer--first one today but we are a stopover for them...they leave after 6, 8 hours. Population is like 8000. Oh yeah, its on an island. Two ways off--the ferry that runs once a week or fly. Biggest commercial fishing port in AK.; there are always good stories when the salmon, ling cod and halibut fisheries happen--lots of drunk guy stories! Don't get me wrong, we have several cool mom n' pop stores and some mediocre restaurants. There is NO night life. Speed limit is 45 tops for like 5 miles either way out of "downtown." Lots of brown bears too!

[MikeBear]

Originally Posted by rntim

Man, we live in Sitka, Alaska. There is 14 miles of road. I think there are 11 bars here and 2 gas stations--not a bar guy but I think thats about right. We have 2 stop lights. One fast food joint. Our "downtown" is 3 blocks. Everyone visits while at the grocery store. Our police report is about dumba$$'s stealing bikes and drunks on the docks. Its a very boring town and I love every bit of it! My idea of going out to eat is eating on the porch. Oh, we also have 3 pot stores and they all seem to be doing well--they are still open. We get tons of cruise ships in here during the summer--first one today but we are a stopover for them...they leave after 6, 8 hours. Population is like 8000. Oh yeah, its on an island. Two ways off--the ferry that runs once a week or fly. Biggest commercial fishing port in AK.; there are always good stories when the salmon, ling cod and halibut fisheries happen--lots of drunk guy stories! Don't get me wrong, we have several cool mom n' pop stores and some mediocre restaurants. There is NO night life. Speed limit is 45 tops for like 5 miles either way out of "downtown." Lots of brown bears too!

Well in that case, you are gonna LOVE Manistique! LOL

[beachmouse]

One thing to remember about da UP is that it can start to get pretty isolated once you cross the bridge. It's a shorter drive to get to Washington DC from Detroit than it is to get to Houghton. One area to look that's an easier day trip to metro Detroit might be the Gun Lake-Yankee Springs area kind of midway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Both of those cities have a strong artsy/coffee house/craft brewery scene and you're getting a bit more east of Lake Michigan so you don't get quite so much wintertime snow and gloom like you would along the Lakeshore.

[monica1982]

Just saw this on Mlive... well within your price range, very old, and made of stone! Maybe a bit too alternative compared to the rustic charm you're looking for, though ;P 　　　　　　　
23-room stone mansion with roots in Flint's history hits market for $222,750 | MLive.com

[MikeBear]

Originally Posted by monica1982

Just saw this on Mlive... well within your price range, very old, and made of stone! Maybe a bit too alternative compared to the rustic charm you're looking for, though ;P 　　　　　　　
23-room stone mansion with roots in Flint's history hits market for $222,750 | MLive.com

Yeah, IF you want to live right down in the 'HOOD. Gorgeous house, and probably a great area back in the 1920's - 1930's, but I sure wouldn't live that close to downtown now.

[leebeemi]

Originally Posted by MikeBear

Well in that case, you are gonna LOVE Manistique! LOL

Plus there's a Clyde's Drive-In in Manistique. Yummmy!

[LittleSwissArmyGirl]

Originally Posted by monica1982

Just saw this on Mlive... well within your price range, very old, and made of stone! Maybe a bit too alternative compared to the rustic charm you're looking for, though ;P 　　　　　　　
23-room stone mansion with roots in Flint's history hits market for $222,750 | MLive.com

Thanks for sharing that monica1982! Yes that one is a little over the top. Detroit seems to be chock full of humongous fixers like that too. I don't know if I could handle Detroit or Flint. Flint is so infamous now, across the Net, thanks to that drinking water fiasco.

Here is another one that's amazing looking except out in the country;
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...317_rect/9_zm/

I wonder if these old stone houses are more energy efficient than traditional stick built homes? I even wonder if those beautiful red brick fixers in Detroit could ever be more energy efficient than a wooden house. If they really aren't, and since you get REAL winters over there, it's possible my whole idea of cool house with lower bills could be blown out of the water before it even gets started.

So much to think about!

[LittleSwissArmyGirl]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

One thing to remember about da UP is that it can start to get pretty isolated once you cross the bridge. It's a shorter drive to get to Washington DC from Detroit than it is to get to Houghton. One area to look that's an easier day trip to metro Detroit might be the Gun Lake-Yankee Springs area kind of midway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Both of those cities have a strong artsy/coffee house/craft brewery scene and you're getting a bit more east of Lake Michigan so you don't get quite so much wintertime snow and gloom like you would along the Lakeshore.

Thank you beachmouse, that sounds like another great place to research. I'm on it!

[unclejake21]

Keep in mind, you will not have the mountains that you have in Washington... not even close. Our spring and Fall will be similar as they will be rainy a cloudy a lot with cool temperatures. Depending on where you live in the state, the amount of snow you get in winter can vary a lot. Along the shores of lake Michigan and lake superior, you will get pounded by lake effect snow on a regular bases, often time resulting in several inches to a foot or more of snow being dumped in a short period of time.

The summers here are wonderful, they will be different each year, some being more wet and stormy and others more dry... but in general, you can expect a lot of days to be in the high 70's to low 80's with some 90's thrown in from time to time.

[LittleSwissArmyGirl]

Originally Posted by unclejake21

Keep in mind, you will not have the mountains that you have in Washington... not even close. Our spring and Fall will be similar as they will be rainy a cloudy a lot with cool temperatures. Depending on where you live in the state, the amount of snow you get in winter can vary a lot. Along the shores of lake Michigan and lake superior, you will get pounded by lake effect snow on a regular bases, often time resulting in several inches to a foot or more of snow being dumped in a short period of time.

The summers here are wonderful, they will be different each year, some being more wet and stormy and others more dry... but in general, you can expect a lot of days to be in the high 70's to low 80's with some 90's thrown in from time to time.

unclejake21 Yes I do know the scenery is going to really change. I'm used to the Columbia River behind my cliff house, with the Oregon Coast Range on the other side and everyday looking like an Old Masters painting once the fog lifts. Your summers temps sound perfect. What about Northport MI? Would I get hammered with snow there?