[mrock0219]

Hello newcomers, I, too, have lived in Maryland and Vermont is relatively cheaper for housing and many other things. However, typically the wage scale is lower. You will benefit well with your jobs in the medical field and should do quite well in our state.

Best of luck to you.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by Ulysses61

Flu: I urge you to try and thru-hike the AT. I've section hiked 1000+ miles of it over a period of 5 years. In 2001, I attempted to thru hike from Springer Mtn, but my husband broke his leg 200 miles before Harpers Ferry and we had to quit. A very worthy goal! When I retire, this is also my dream.

Sorry to hear about that. What were your trail names and did you guys log your journal on Trailjournals.com. I'm sure you know about Whiteblaze.net which has grown quite a bit since coming on line in 2002. I have pretty much done the AT from DWG to NH and have done the Long Trail end-to end four times, but not a day goes by where I don't think about pulling an AT thru.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by PortieOwner

Also known as a "howdy neighbor" tax. They can be as high as 2 percent in some Maryland counties (some breaks exist for 1st time buyers, veterans, etc.). Imagine a 2 percent tax on a $700,000 home in Maryland, on top of already enormous closing costs.....

I don't know if it's true since I have not researched it, but I heard from someone that New Jersey will get you on some sort of transfer tax both coming and going. It is absolutely amazing on the variety and burdens of taxes and all this while apparent that so much is wasted on all kinds of nonsense, yet like lemmings a select group vote themselves into deeper and deeper financial abyss each and every year.

[Ulysses61]

Flu: I never did post anything to Trailjournals.com, though I visit there quite often. My trail name was Curlers and hubby's was Umbrella. I might also suggest you do the John Muir Trail, which is the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I've done that three times and it's spectacular!

Glad to find another person on these Boards whose life dream is to thru hike the AT.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by Ulysses61

Flu: I never did post anything to Trailjournals.com, though I visit there quite often. My trail name was Curlers and hubby's was Umbrella. I might also suggest you do the John Muir Trail, which is the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I've done that three times and it's spectacular!

Glad to find another person on these Boards whose life dream is to thru hike the AT.

Who knows, maybe sometime in the future we will both be in the same year "class" to complete a thru. I really have the fever now reading all the posts by the upcoming 2008 aspiring GA to ME class. If I could just hit the lottery I would be down at Springer ASAP, otherwise it's looking more like the 2012 to 2015 time frame if the financial gods smile on me. Will be kind of restricted to hanging around here this coming summer and hope to finish my 5th Long Trail trip. Am almost done with all the side trails, check it out on the Green Mountain Club's website. I do want to take a trip down to SW Va to check out the area and maybe get in some miles while I'm there.

[wired one]

The way I see it, being a home owner and single parent/wage earner..

I work for doctors so I will never set the financial world on fire. I have neither health insurance or retirement from my job which pays reasonably well. I rent out a room in my house to make ends meet.

Between my mortgage and utilities, I would be able to do reasonably well.. IF it weren't for heating my house. Oh yes, if I lived in the south, I'd pay for cooling.. but there it is. You CAN live without AC, but try living in vermont without heat. Vermont will suck you dry one way or another. I thank god my kids are beyond daycare.. I'd be sunk for sure if I had that to pay.

Yes, I could get another job with benefits.. but I would have to take a paycut that would make paying my mortgage impossible.

I figure I need to stay for two more years till my kids are out of highschool and off to college.. then.. sure.. I'd move in a heartbeat if I could find a place that I could afford that was-

1. warmer- much warmer
2. out of the jesus belt and not bush country
4. relatively close to an airport
5. had some kind of reasonable quality of life (including technology).

Any suggestions??

[goatwoodward]

I'm considering Charlottesville, VA & you may want to look into VA as well - I keep hearing that Charlottesville is "like Burlington, only warmer" and that other areas nearby are still nice, but less expensive. Asheville, NC & Austin, TX are liberal/non-religious oasis towns in the South. I've heard that there are also towns in Colorado, Oregon, & northern CA that approximate VT.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by wired one

1. warmer- much warmer
2. out of the jesus belt and not bush country
4. relatively close to an airport
5. had some kind of reasonable quality of life (including technology).

Any suggestions??

Funny you should ask. Years ago when we thought we might be able to live in a warmer climate (we can't) and might want to leave Vermont (we don't), we discovered Eureka Springs, Arkansas (http://www.eurekasprings.com/). One nickname: "The hole in the bible belt where the buckle goes through."

Before we made our visit to check out Eureka Springs, we realized that we didn't even want to visit that climate, much less live there, so we never did make it down. It looks adorable and affordable. And if you believe that

Originally Posted by wired one

You CAN live without AC

(I can't -- not even in Vermont), the climate may be just fine for you.

I've always felt a little wistful about crossing Eureka Springs off my list, but maybe will visit sometime. If we do, it will certainly be during whatever passes for winter there.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by wired one

The way I see it, being a home owner and single parent/wage earner..

I work for doctors so I will never set the financial world on fire. I have neither health insurance or retirement from my job which pays reasonably well. I rent out a room in my house to make ends meet.

Between my mortgage and utilities, I would be able to do reasonably well.. IF it weren't for heating my house. Oh yes, if I lived in the south, I'd pay for cooling.. but there it is. You CAN live without AC, but try living in vermont without heat. Vermont will suck you dry one way or another. I thank god my kids are beyond daycare.. I'd be sunk for sure if I had that to pay.

Yes, I could get another job with benefits.. but I would have to take a paycut that would make paying my mortgage impossible.

I figure I need to stay for two more years till my kids are out of highschool and off to college.. then.. sure.. I'd move in a heartbeat if I could find a place that I could afford that was-

1. warmer- much warmer
2. out of the jesus belt and not bush country
4. relatively close to an airport
5. had some kind of reasonable quality of life (including technology).

Any suggestions??

Charlottesville, Va is very nice as are many areas in North and South Carolina. A former co-worker moved to an area about 20 min outside of Charlotte North Carolina(I don't remember the name of the town) with a great school system, a low cost of living, better paying job for the same type of work he did in Vermont and the housing costs are close to half of what they are in Vermont. My wife and I are in the same boat many on the forum are in. Within five or so years we know we will no longer be able to afford to live in Vermont. We are factoring in every possible aspect from retirement right on through to the lifestyle we want to have. Our feeling is we are living now and we want things like cable, internet and a decent running reliable car. We shouldn't have to sacrifice the lifestyle we enjoy and want to continue to have just to live in a state. There are fifty states to choose from and all of them have nice areas. You just need to find the right one. Everywhere I have lived is equal to where I live now. That was because I researched the places I have lived. I can't say many bad things about any of them.

[Noleman]

Ok,

Reading all these post about high cost of living has me a bit concerned since I might retire in Vermont in a few years. Could someone list their cost of expenses and compare to other areas? I mean what cost so much? I know taxes, taxes and more taxes. But here in Maryland I pay state income AND county income taxes. Somehow I really don't obsess with it and all and actually forget about it until I read all these posts with everyone talking about taxes and all...And how much is heating cost? Could all of these add up to making ones living expenses THAT much more than other areas? I have read people wanting to live in Virginia or the Carolina's since the taxes are low. But to me it is the other aspects of life that you pay dearly for. If that works for you fine, but not for me.

Here are a few things that I pay for here in Maryland. Love to know what people pay for in Vermont:

Gasoline: $3.20
Heating and Air: maybe average thru the year $125 month
cable: $65 per month
car insurance $550 a year ( mine is much lower than everyone else I know for some reason)
state income taxes 8% ( at least)

just a few but would like to hear back what these high costs actually amount to comparatively