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Old 03-27-2017, 01:27 AM
 
6 posts, read 6,548 times
Reputation: 10

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Short story: I want the hell out of Washington state and our gloomy weather!

LONG story: I was raised in South Tacoma. Now live in Hilltop area (don't cringe lol I love my house and neighbors). I was lucky enough to be stationed back here at Fort Lewis, WA, met my wife, had twins, served three tours as a combat medic, honorably separated, did tech school at Clover Park and now work in Bremerton as a diesel technician. Might I add, I LOVE our blue-collar/liberal mashup we have going up here....but this weather is DESTROYING my soul. I'm not exaggerating a single bit.

My wife has her Masters in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and BA in Sustainable Urban Development we're looking to move somewhere warm, open minded (not too liberal though , she needs to stay near a tech hub or an urban center at the very least. And the move is pretty much dictated on her job opportunities so....

The main places were looking at are: Savannah GA, Tampa FL, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas in general.

We mostly care about good motorcycle riding weather, blue skies (rain is fine but not this drizzle constant haze bull**** I've tolerated for 30 years), cheap housing with MILs for my parents & in laws to retire in, and multiracial neighborhoods that LOVE their right to bear firearms. I'm not sure if this paints a decent enough picture and I'm sure there's always more I could add but I am DESPERATE to find somewhere outta here and ANY food for thought would be appreciated!!!
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Old 03-28-2017, 12:13 PM
 
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
30,976 posts, read 21,481,563 times
Reputation: 9675
Try Stillwater. It's thought of as a blue collar college town, due to the several industrial plants. Maybe city or OSU there has a job for wife. The two biggest urban areas in Oklahoma are an hour's drive away. The town has passenger jet service to Dallas, should that ever matter.

Ada is too small and remote from Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

If you hate hot weather, it may be a good idea to avoid Texas. Oklahoma summer weather is hot enough.

//www.city-data.com/city/Stillwater-Oklahoma.html

Last edited by StillwaterTownie; 03-28-2017 at 12:32 PM..
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Old 03-28-2017, 03:43 PM
 
Location: Tulare County, Ca
1,570 posts, read 1,365,624 times
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Yes Stillwater is nicer than Ada. If you are considering North Carolina, you might also check out Tennessee as Tennessee doesn't have a state income tax except for dividends. Tennessee also has pretty nice weather and scenery.
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Old 03-28-2017, 07:22 PM
 
Location: plano
7,885 posts, read 11,320,459 times
Reputation: 7789
Op take a look at Durant in southeast Oklahoma. It's closer to Dallas than OKC or Tulsa but good economy and growing. It feels like Oklahoma in part and Texas too. They are building a new steel recycling operation to the tune of $300 Million. It takes 100 trucks worth of scrap steel and melts it down and makes rebar so 100 trucks a day can haul it to Dallas and the nearby states where needed for construction. Also got a large glass manufacturer there and a state university and the Choctaw casino which brings in great entertainment and helps support better dining options than towns its size.

It's sunny as heck and some nice country north east of it for road trips in Oklahoma hills and mountains.
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Old 03-28-2017, 10:36 PM
 
Location: Oklahoma City area
689 posts, read 2,049,744 times
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We lived in Oklahoma City most of our lives – retired from Tinker AFB, where they do the same type of maintenance on airplanes as your shipyard does on the carriers. (Got to tour the Stennis once!) We had vacationed a lot in the Pacific Northwest, so, after five years of retirement, we moved to Washington. We lived in Silverdale and Port Ludlow and quickly came to know the drizzle. The summers were glorious but the gray times were too much. When I returned to Oklahoma my doctor put me on a high dose of Vitamin D because I’d lived eight years with too little sun. Oklahoma has four seasons, although this year Mother Nature kind of forgot about winter. We do have beautiful blue skies but, on the downside, the summers are not only hot but they’re humid.

Some neighbors – an Air Force family who’ve lived in Japan, Guam and a few states – used to ask me when something odd happened with the weather. Finally, they quit asking because they knew what I’d say…”hey, it’s just Oklahoma. ”

The cost of housing here is definitely less than in your area, so you and your relatives should be able to find some homes at reasonable prices. And, hey, if you are basketball fans, you can follow the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that those mean old Okies stole from Seattle!!! We moved out there about the time the Sonics moved south and it was funny listening to the Seattle folks complain about it!!

Good luck with your search.
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Old 03-29-2017, 05:05 AM
 
Location: The Great State of Texas, Finally!
5,459 posts, read 12,191,143 times
Reputation: 2791
I feel your pain, OP. I lived in the Tacoma area for 5 years and suffered through the constant "mizzle." When I got laid off, I took it as a sign and moved back to Texas. Oklahoma was my second choice. Don't think you can go wrong either way, but you'll probably find housing more affordable in Oklahoma. Property taxes here are ridiculous.
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Old 03-29-2017, 07:20 AM
 
23,935 posts, read 10,282,201 times
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Been there, enjoyed it. Weather is weather. As your wife is rather specialized in her skill set how about moving where the jobs are?
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Old 03-29-2017, 02:48 PM
 
Location: OKIE-Ville
5,542 posts, read 9,437,854 times
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I don't think Stillwater is that much nicer than Ada, but that's just my opinion.

Ada would be a pretty big culture shock for you moving from the NW to the South-Central.

OK City and Tulsa are great, but it's still gonna be a bit strange for you.

Good luck with your decision.
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Old 03-29-2017, 09:57 PM
 
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
30,976 posts, read 21,481,563 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bass&Catfish2008 View Post
I don't think Stillwater is that much nicer than Ada, but that's just my opinion.
Why? Does Ada's downtown look a lot more built UP than Stillwater's? At least I've noticed that is one of Stillwater's greatest weaknesses. The downtown doesn't amount to much compared to other towns. The county jail is downtown's biggest building.
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Old 03-30-2017, 06:40 AM
 
Location: Oklahoma
17,625 posts, read 13,438,260 times
Reputation: 17542
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bass&Catfish2008 View Post
I don't think Stillwater is that much nicer than Ada, but that's just my opinion.

Ada would be a pretty big culture shock for you moving from the NW to the South-Central.

OK City and Tulsa are great, but it's still gonna be a bit strange for you.

Good luck with your decision.
I think Ada is one of the nicer small towns in the state and probably THE nicest one in the southeast quadrant of the state with the possible exception of JohnW's beloved Durant.

Certainly, coming from a huge metro like SeaTac, Ada would be a shock.
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