Looking to relocate - here’s my criteria…

[march2]

With the bug issue, I'd say give ID, MT, and WY a shot. ID is getting expensive though.

[folkguitarist555]

Originally Posted by march2

With the bug issue, I'd say give ID, MT, and WY a shot. ID is getting expensive though.

Montana is extremely expensive now as well. So is boise, Salt Lake City, and etc. with no end in sight.

[ChrisMT]

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

Dry and good water access is an oxymoron.

Except for a couple places in other continents that aren’t in the US. But OP can move to Puerto Penasco I suppose!

Northern Nevada is dry with water everywhere. Alpine and desert lakes, rivers etc.

Carson City and the Minden area have good schools and are red. Real estate is expensive.

[brickpatio2018]

Perhaps Northwest Arkansas or Branson, Missouri. (lakes, warmish, not exactly dry but not Deep South moist). The places that are warm and truly dry aren't really great for lakes.

Colorado Springs has a great climate and perhaps lakes up in the mountains. And it's conservative.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by brickpatio2018

Perhaps Northwest Arkansas or Branson, Missouri. (lakes, warmish, not exactly dry but not Deep South moist). The places that are warm and truly dry aren't really great for lakes.

Colorado Springs has a great climate and perhaps lakes up in the mountains. And it's conservative.

Northwest Arkansas and Branson areas are horrible for bugs. Not so bad in town but the rural areas through that part of the country are seriously buggy. Especially ticks and chiggers. Gnats in the late spring and early summer are a problem. Brown recluse are a problem even in town. Bagworms can be bad in your trees some years. And flies can be bad. Gotta have a screen or entry door. And NEVER leave your sliding glass patio doors open in spring or summer unless you like going on fly hunts.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by Zambon

Based on your criteria:

1) If Warm, dry(ish) weather is your #1 criteria then you really have to be in the Southwest. The rest of the country will either be colder or more humid than you would like.

2) Arizona, New Mexico, or Nevada are red states in the Southwest that are warm and dry(ish), so your first criteria have already narrowed down your search significantly.

3) Each of those 3 states has lots of land that is relatively cheap compared to most other parts of the country.

4) There is very little water in the southwest and that issue is getting worse and worse. You may find a nice lake to live near and you may be able to enjoy it for a while before it dries up. So far so good.

6) Bugs are generally not a huge issue in the desert when compared to wetter places. You can never completely escape bugs though.

Here is where things start to break down:

5) You are looking for a red state that values education. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that is an oxymoron. Now, before everyone gets upset with me for saying that, I am not a liberal or Democrat. While it is true that I am to the left of the Republican Party, I am to the right of nonsense, so I am in no way a leftist or Democrat. This was not a political answer. Just an objective one.

So, In my opinion, you should focus on these 3 states: Arizona, New Mexico, or Nevada. They are all huge states, so you will need to do some more homework to find the perfect spot, but they are able to check all of your boxes except the 1.

Great suggestion and it's true that the water issues are worsening in that part of the country.