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Before making a long and expensive trip from Saratoga Springs, NY to Eureka Springs, AK, could any 'locals' confirm that it might be worth it? A little background info that might be helpful is that I was raised in downtown Atlanta and lived in Asheville, NC for many years before moving to NY to be with my partner (we are an unmarried heterosexual couple). We home-school four children from ages 2 to 19. After seven long years of saving everything we've earned and remodeling an 1870 farmhouse, we finally have enough money to buy a home and eliminate having to finance.
Our budget does not allow us to move into the towns we initially chose due to high taxes, heating and housing costs, however, we have found several homes in the Eureka Springs area that could work. We are both looking to work as artists (blacksmith and woodcarver) and grow a large organic garden.
Our main concerns are that is indeed a progressive small town where being unique is considered a good quality, people of all types are treated with kindness and respect, religious beliefs are diverse and superficial types are at a minimum. Despite some of the negative comments I've read concerning the sexuality of the community, Eureka Springs has a lot less sex offenders, crime and hard drug use than the other progressive towns we've considered. So, just to be clear, our kids are used to being in diverse towns and have a great fear of a 'small town mentality'.
So am I close enough with my thoughts on this town to make the long drive with four kids, two dogs and two cats for it to be a real possibility. Or, should I just save the gas money for a trip somewhere else?
Before making a long and expensive trip from Saratoga Springs, NY to Eureka Springs, AK, could any 'locals' confirm that it might be worth it? A little background info that might be helpful is that I was raised in downtown Atlanta and lived in Asheville, NC for many years before moving to NY to be with my partner (we are an unmarried heterosexual couple). We home-school four children from ages 2 to 19. After seven long years of saving everything we've earned and remodeling an 1870 farmhouse, we finally have enough money to buy a home and eliminate having to finance.
Our budget does not allow us to move into the towns we initially chose due to high taxes, heating and housing costs, however, we have found several homes in the Eureka Springs area that could work. We are both looking to work as artists (blacksmith and woodcarver) and grow a large organic garden.
Our main concerns are that is indeed a progressive small town where being unique is considered a good quality, people of all types are treated with kindness and respect, religious beliefs are diverse and superficial types are at a minimum. Despite some of the negative comments I've read concerning the sexuality of the community, Eureka Springs has a lot less sex offenders, crime and hard drug use than the other progressive towns we've considered. So, just to be clear, our kids are used to being in diverse towns and have a great fear of a 'small town mentality'.
So am I close enough with my thoughts on this town to make the long drive with four kids, two dogs and two cats for it to be a real possibility. Or, should I just save the gas money for a trip somewhere else?
You and Eureka Springs sound like a fit made in heaven. As for the homo versus heteral sexual enviounment, it can be over played I think. What many are saying is: if you are homosexual Eureka Springs is a good fit, but that doesn't mean the entire town is gay orieanted, just gay friendly. I would add one litte thing or a couple: 1-which you are probably used to, living S.S. NY, Eureka Springs is pretty dead in the winter and the summers are busy with tourists. you will certainly get a mixture of small town thinking in many ways, but this doesn't mean no diversity. Let me add one more thing: you typed AK, that is Alaska, AR is Arkansas. This happens all the time, but it will be brought up to you and peoplel from AR can get very defensive about the state cause we do get tired of all the put downs.
I agree with Nita. I wouldn't want to come there thinking I'll right away make a bundle of money off of being an artist. You'll have to rent a place or buy in town that is coded for business so you can sell out of the house. My husband and I thought about Eureka Springs for retirement. My parents are in Bella Vista so it would be close and I do like the artsy stuff in the town. Now mind you it closes up in winter. We usually stay in a B & B in the first week of January (our anniversary) and love it because no one is there but likewise only a few shops and restaurants are open too. so what I am saying is you might not make a lot of money year round with a business there.
I'm one of those folks who gets defensive:-) It is AR not AK (and that difference will get you out of a parking ticket in IL!)
Seriously, it sounds like it's time to plan a road trip! Eureka is a lot like Asheville (the area around Biltmore especially). There are home-schooled children plus a great little private creative school.
Some additional thoughts regarding "employment"--as a crafts person do not overlook the area's farmers market to show/sell your wares. Additional, twice a year NWA has HUGE crafts fair weekends.
Just curious, what were the other towns you had on your list?
I'm one of those folks who gets defensive:-) It is AR not AK (and that difference will get you out of a parking ticket in IL!)
Seriously, it sounds like it's time to plan a road trip! Eureka is a lot like Asheville (the area around Biltmore especially). There are home-schooled children plus a great little private creative school.
Some additional thoughts regarding "employment"--as a crafts person do not overlook the area's farmers market to show/sell your wares. Additional, twice a year NWA has HUGE crafts fair weekends.
Just curious, what were the other towns you had on your list?
I have to laugh at the AK versus AR thing. When our granddaughter was still at U of A I referred to our state (we didn't live her then) as AK, boy did she let me know a thing or two. Thank God she knew how to show some respect for her old grandma. Otherwise my ears would still be ringing, then rang enough even then. Now, I catch myself doing the same; wondering why people would bet us mixed up with Alaska...
Thank you so much for the responses! Love that you have a sense of humor with the 'AK' typo (I got it right in the status section ;D). Nita, I did get a feel that the issue of homosexuality was being overplayed in many posts so I'm very glad you have confirmed that. And I especially like your statement about small town thinking and maintaining diversity... it's nice when the two can exist in harmony.
As for winters being dead, we expect and welcome that. Winters give us the chance to rebuild our inventory before we begin booking shows and stocking our venues in spring. Holiday orders online keep us busy also.
Debbie, we aren't looking to ever make a bundle of money... we left our old jobs (which did that) to scale back enough and do something we love. I did see in another thread that you visit a BB in January and the town was quieter at that time. That actually sounds like a nice idea and we would probably do something similar.
OurGreatEscape, we will DEFINITELY be at the farmer's market and the crafts fair is a huge draw for us! The other towns we have considered are:
Exeter, NH
Woodstock, VT
Bellingham, WA
Belfast, ME
Ithaca, NY
Beautiful towns but we'd have to finance to afford a house large enough for our family and much of our earnings would go toward taxes. Plus, being from Atlanta, I have a hard time with the cold! We are going to start making plans to take a trip down within the next few weeks and hopefully, return to gather our things. Thank you all again for your responses!
Thank you so much for the responses! Love that you have a sense of humor with the 'AK' typo (I got it right in the status section ;D). Nita, I did get a feel that the issue of homosexuality was being overplayed in many posts so I'm very glad you have confirmed that. And I especially like your statement about small town thinking and maintaining diversity... it's nice when the two can exist in harmony.
As for winters being dead, we expect and welcome that. Winters give us the chance to rebuild our inventory before we begin booking shows and stocking our venues in spring. Holiday orders online keep us busy also.
Debbie, we aren't looking to ever make a bundle of money... we left our old jobs (which did that) to scale back enough and do something we love. I did see in another thread that you visit a BB in January and the town was quieter at that time. That actually sounds like a nice idea and we would probably do something similar.
OurGreatEscape, we will DEFINITELY be at the farmer's market and the crafts fair is a huge draw for us! The other towns we have considered are:
Exeter, NH
Woodstock, VT
Bellingham, WA
Belfast, ME
Ithaca, NY
Beautiful towns but we'd have to finance to afford a house large enough for our family and much of our earnings would go toward taxes. Plus, being from Atlanta, I have a hard time with the cold! We are going to start making plans to take a trip down within the next few weeks and hopefully, return to gather our things. Thank you all again for your responses!
I am sure Eureka Springs will welcome you with open arms. BTW we have some really awesome craft shows like Escape mentioned, in the fall, the most popular one is here in BV. I had a friend, who is from Il and she used to show her wares here every year. She thought is was one of the best shows in the country (or this part of the country) and she think NWA is as close to heaven as one can get. I would think, of the places you are considering, Belingham might be another one that would fit your needs, but I am not sure about the cost of living there. Yes, the other 4 will be pricey and pretty darn cold. Oh, we have our cold winters as well, but not like New England.
I'm not from Eureka Springs, but considering a relocation there as well. There is a forum that a lot of locals in that area use that can give you an idea of what it's like there. You can also ask questions you have. Google geek fest.
As far as homeschooling goes, I really didn't get the impression that there were any people homeschooling there outside of a single extended family. I could be wrong. Clear Spring School is a very alternative private school in the town and the tuition is incredibly cheap compared to any other private school I've looked into.
I am sure Eureka Springs will welcome you with open arms. BTW we have some really awesome craft shows like Escape mentioned, in the fall, the most popular one is here in BV. I had a friend, who is from Il and she used to show her wares here every year. She thought is was one of the best shows in the country (or this part of the country) and she think NWA is as close to heaven as one can get. I would think, of the places you are considering, Belingham might be another one that would fit your needs, but I am not sure about the cost of living there. Yes, the other 4 will be pricey and pretty darn cold. Oh, we have our cold winters as well, but not like New England.
Nita
Nita, that is very encouraging to hear! We are very pleased to see that there are so many shows within a close distance. Not that we don't enjoy traveling to shows but less distance would enable us to tend to a much larger garden (thus lowering the food bill even further ). A large wood carving competition is also in the area that I've wanted to enter for quite some time so that also adds to some excitement.
Glad to know there is still a good winter there. I'd love to get back to a few months of winter v/s half the year.
Greenways, you are probably right about less home-schoolers. I noticed the NWA had about 48 members (verses 1200+ in Saratoga). Even with lesser home-schoolers, I'm sure we will find several good families to connect with.
Everything we are reading and hearing about are becoming more and more positive. Except, when we told a neighbor and she said her sister lives outside of Little Rock and AR in general is like the "Australia of the US" as far as critters and heat go. LOL! Guess they aren't too familiar with GA? Nice try though.
I did my oldest daughter's wedding there in Eureka Springs at the Crescent Hotel. The best Prime Rib is at Gaskins Cabin Steakhouse. I should know I raise Angus cattle in OK and their Prime Rib is the best. Yes, Every late December or early January we stay at a different B&B and they're all good. Eureka reminds me of a town I moved from 14 years ago in the Northwest corner of IL called Galena which is an old Victoria type town with lots of artsy and antiques. I've always missed that town but Eureka has one big advantage and that is AR (did I do that right) has much lower property taxes and house prices on top of that.
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). A large wood carving competition is also in the area that I've wanted to enter for quite some time so that also adds to some excitement. 
