So where should we move?

[kcsunshine]

Wifey, come on down to the hills of Tennessee. Our winters are usually pretty mild - except I thought last year was bad (but then my bones ache more than they used to).

However, Georgia's fire ants (if they're gone) have started making it up here but not in large numbers.

We have no state tax and property tax in the county where I live are not too outrageous. Plus - you'd have me and bibliophile birds for neighbors.

 

[Wifezilla]

I did like TN when we drove through. It was so lush. The truck drivers scared the stuffing out of me though. I was a pizza delivery driver back in the 30 minutes or free days, but that was nothing compared to those crazies driving 90 mph in pouring rain on dark, winding hilly roads with a full load. CRAZY!!!

As for the type of business, we own a copy shop. The area we are currently in is between a big town (Colorado Springs) and a small town (Fountain) in a mainly residential area. There is an army base nearby. About 40,000 people in the immediate area.

 

[elijahboy]

the outskirts of columbia sc is where it is at
an acre for 5g or less

 

[k0xxx]

Since everyone seems to voting for where they live, I'll put in a plug for Arkansas. Specifically, north Arkansas.

When I retired, I did a bit of research and my criteria was low taxes, reasonably priced property, and low crime. My current property taxes on our little 1300 sq. ft. home and 15 acres runs about $60 per year.

You won't find land much cheaper, short of being out in the middle of the desert or the prairie. Although it can be expensive near the "retirement" towns. While spending a couple of weeks up here looking for land, I was listening to the morning newscast on the local radio station. The big local news event was that Mrs. So and so, backed into Mrs. So and so 2's mailbox and did $325 in damage to her car. That about sold it for me.

I believe that there may be fire ants in the lower part of the state, but I've never seen them here. I HATE them little buggers. We do have freezes, but nothing very bad or that last too long. We actually got down to/or near zero for a couple of nights last winter, but that was a rarity. I don't know anything about the conditions as they relate to business, though.

 

[savingdogs]

We love Southwest Washington and moved here from California. The weather is not bad if you can stand lots of rain. It makes everything very pretty and you rarely have to water lol.

Politically, our area is kinda all over the place and there are pockets of different political groups. Washington is very liberal around Seattle and very conservative in the more outlying counties and in the country. I'm a fellow libertarian so if you find a place like that, lemme know!
Right now land is cheap and you could set up business without paying a fortune, but the economy is bad here, especially here in my county (Clark) so your business might have a hard time at first.

Tri Cities is actually a very good suggestion as they are a growing area, a friend of mine just bought there because her husband got a five year contract job. We are kind of over the Cascades from there, but if you are on the east side of the Cascades you have a different climate, the Cascades hold back the marine layer.

Oregon has a TERRIBLE climate for business....we live on the border....and their schools are doing terrible, one of the worst in the nation and they constantly whine for more money. Those things both would make me cross it off my list. Washington is just as pretty and less expensive, less liberal, although sometimes we are not better managed.

I have a friend in Colorado Springs who loves it but finds that people kind of keep to themselves, which isn't what she was looking for. But she found her niche eventually.

 

[Nifty]

Moderator hat: Let's keep politics out of this interesting discussion please.


Member hat: We've discussed moving a LOT. IMO (biased) It's hard to find anywhere that has as nice of a climate as California. Sometimes my wife says she'd like to move somewhere warmer in the Winter and cooler in the Summer... I think that basically limits us to Hawaii

There are just SOOOOO many variables to consider when moving. Costs of living, climate, natural disasters (we don't mind the very rare earthquakes here), crazy pests (fire-ants in Texas, scorpions in Arizona, etc.), schooling for the kids, culture, crime, distance from family and friends, and on and on and on...

 

[TanksHill]

OFG ... How many times have you watched the movie "The Postman"?

 

[framing fowl]

i keep wondering about kentucky.

Weather's great and people are friendly. Our property taxes are inexpensive. Business climate is good. We just landed a Tiffany's jewelry manufacturing facility after competing against 50 other locations in a 2 year process. They have also said that they are thinking of opening a retail location here. With the horse industry, there is lots of money and lots of old money around. We also just hosted the World Equestrian Games for the first time the event was held outside of Europe. Rave reviews for the city other than the actual ticket prices.

Not sure about how you'd do with a copy shop here though. There's an independent shop with many locations that are really movers and shakers in Lexington. The other bad thing is it can be really tough for a mom and pop to break into the local market. If your grandpa went to church with their grandpa, you're golden. Other than that, they'll be friendly to you when you dine out or shop in their stores but takes a lot of time to develop the relationships where they'll start doing business with you.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Well, I'd put in my plug for Ohio, but I loved Tennessee and would go back in a heart beat if the area I would want to live in wasn't infiltrated for psycho-ballistic inlaws.

Can't talk E into Florida - he says too hot and hurricanes, and again, more wretched inlaws.

I'm leaning towards Texas - where shooting cattle rustlers (even if they're inlaws) is still legal.



My other pics would be Roberstdale, Alabama - but they DO have fire ants....

Or Baxley, Georgia.

 

[Wildsky]

Quail, we must be related - seems we have the same inlaws.