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I lived in Arizona for years when I was single. I liked the weather, the women, and the clear line of sight in the desert. You can see straight to the horizon. Although I did not like waking up to scorpions in the shower or kitchen. Lots of nasty bugs down there. Palo Verde beetles as big as small birds.

Idaho sounds intriguing to me. I vote for Idaho.
 
The midwest comes up a LOT on survival boards. A friend on one has shown me some great property she has located with stupid low prices. Obviously avoide Illinois.
The people there are generally better prepped than most I've known out here, of for no other reason than the winters still get pretty bad, enough so that it can be dangerous to try to make it to the store for something you should have already had.
 
Found a place in BFE Montana and snapped it up. Walking distance to the Jeff. Would harvest the pheasants that run the place but they are fun to watch over morning coffee. Closest neighbors are red, white, and blue....and rattle snake hunting is a sport. Maybe there are other "better" places but this suits us. Will pursue political activism a bit in the future but the constant threats against our freedom in my life-long beloved Oregon has become just too upsetting for us older folks to deal with. What has happened in Oregon is heart-breaking. Yep. Winters are cold here. But winters in Bend were about the same. Where we are the snow is very dry and blows around. We have to shoo the whitetails off. They eat the trees! I like being able to see the Milky Way.

IMG_1250.JPG
 
You only say that because you haven't tried 2O yet. I'm right across the Snake from 2C and it's just isolated enough. Can't stop the Californian invasion anywhere but at least the ones in my area are generally freedom lovers -- political refugees, much like I was from Oregon. Boise has it's issues.
Sad fact is, no place is safe. Idaho is a pretty constitutional state and I'm hoping they/we stand up for those principles. I read comments on this forum (almost always from OR & WA residents) saying that Idaho is the next to fall. I don't believe that. However, if the political tide were to dramatically shift, there's enough empty space out here to peacefully not comply.

...I mean...Idaho sucks. Don't move here.


Haven't spent enough time in Arizona or Utah to comment on them.
i say 2C because theres 4 GM dealerships in the general area. it would be easy to get a job right away with what i do. plus theres a nice hospital she can work at. also, we have friends nearby in homedale and meridian. :D

2O is pretty much right next door so that would be good too:)
 
Folks saying a location only, can you elaborate?


Idaho, and specifically Lewiston.

I've spent a lot of time all over the state. With the exception of Boise, which is increasingly left-leaning, the whole state is great. I'm thinking Lewiston, as the weather is relatively milder, with much less of the the deep-winter swing. As I'm retired, and not likely to get younger, an extended deep-freeze is not as attractive as it was when I was younger.


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I am curious to why Missouri is your favorite?

And Missouri? I've spent a lot of time there also. I love it. The midwest to the far south, it's a different world. The folks are just plain more polite and easier to get along with than northerners and west coasters. Hunting opportunities abound. And unless you've seen it for youself, it's hard to imagine housing prices at 50% of what we'd pay out west. There's still down sides to the midwest and South. The farther south you go, the hotter it is year-round. And Missouri specifically, they still suffer some very extended and bitter winters.
 
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I really like WA state , its just the government that has failed. If it turns out it cant be fixed I guess I'd fallow my friends to Idaho.
 
Found a place in BFE Montana and snapped it up. Walking distance to the Jeff. Would harvest the pheasants that run the place but they are fun to watch over morning coffee. Closest neighbors are red, white, and blue....and rattle snake hunting is a sport. Maybe there are other "better" places but this suits us. Will pursue political activism a bit in the future but the constant threats against our freedom in my life-long beloved Oregon has become just too upsetting for us older folks to deal with. What has happened in Oregon is heart-breaking. Yep. Winters are cold here. But winters in Bend were about the same. Where we are the snow is very dry and blows around. We have to shoo the whitetails off. They eat the trees! I like being able to see the Milky Way.

View attachment 600845
Not sure what BFE Montana means, but we just returned from a week in the Essex area. I want to move there now. DD8ADC81-BDE2-4A9E-8C1C-826EEDA802DD.jpeg
 
Best states for gun owners Best States for Gun Owners (2018) - Guns and Ammo

1. Arizona
2. Idaho
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7. Utah
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33. Oregon
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38. Washington


Best and worst states for retirement The Best And Worst States For Retirement: All 50 States, Ranked | Bankrate.com

18. Idaho
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35. Utah
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38. Arizona
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44. Oregon
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46. Washington


Freedom in the 50 states How free is your state?

9. Arizona
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17. Idaho
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22. Utah
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36. Washington
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44. Oregon

Excellent post, thank you.

I've been researching this A LOT.

Here's some summary of some important research, to answer my own question, maybe help others.

Guns and Ammo currently ranks AZ #1, ID #2, and UT #7 for gun rights. All are roughly the same with okay private sales and no state restrictions and no red flag, but AZ and ID also have Constitutional Carry. All have strong self defense laws and castle doctrine and stand your ground.

By contrast, WA is atrocious and yet ranks #38 (pre-1639 approval), beat out only by the most atrocious locations like CA, Illinois, NY, etc. It's probably going to rank worse in 2019. And the trend is that WA is not going to get better...

Best States for Gun Owners (2018)
Keith Wood - October 31, 2018

"1. Arizona
2. Idaho
3. Alaska
4. Kansas
5. Wyoming
6. Oklahoma
7. Utah
8. Montana
9. Texas
10. Georgia"

ID benefits from being the "most conservative" state in the nation. I read that somewhere. Voted against Hillary by 3-1 margin with relatively high 60% turnout. Powerful stuff. Seems like an excellent moderate climate with some snow skiing and outdoor paradise with hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, etc. No real risk of a flip in the coming decades and Californians are seemingly NOT welcomed. Home values far less than comparable WA areas. Most of ID is a 1 day drive making it a relatively simple move. #2 for gun rights in the nation per Guns and Ammo, with new pro-gun laws enacted in 2018 and gun control repeatedly knocked down by huge margins when introduced.

Utah is mostly conservative, voting against Hillary by about 2-1 margin. SLC area is blue, however. Booming economy. Home values seem on par or less than WA areas. Seems like an excellent moderate climate with some snow skiing and outdoor paradise year round with parks, rock climbing, biking, etc. Apparently Mormon influence can make it a challenge for non-Mormons. Minimal to zero risk of UT flipping in the coming decades. UT is a 2 day drive, making it at least an overnight stay to move there. #7 on guns per Guns and Ammo. Some reference to some gun control introduced but DOA.

AZ has issues with some heavy blue in the north and south and east. The 2016 election was essentally a 1-1 race with a slim Trump margin. Outdoor paradise for mostly summer, and limited winter sports (in Flagstaff). Issues with water and Mexico illegals and high temps in some areas is a valid concern, trumped only by the real concern it's practically a purple swing state and could easily slip BLUE in the near term, and along with it the BLUE nonsense and gun laws. I understand Tucson is a sanctuary city. Dems and illegals are pushing hard to control AZ. AZ has voted in RINOS and disappointments like McCain, Flake, and Dem socialist Sinema. Home values seem less than WA. AZ is a 3 day or more drive, making it the hardest of the 3 to move to.

Anyway, that's a down-and-dirty summary.
 
Idaho, and specifically Lewiston.

I've spent a lot of time all over the state. With the exception of Boise, which is increasingly left-leaning, the whole state is great. I'm thinking Lewiston, as the weather is relatively milder, with much less of the the deep-winter swing. As I'm retired, and not likely to get younger, an extended deep-freeze is not as attractive as it was when I was younger.

I'm curious about the quoted part. Some folks repeat that it is increasingly left leaning, next-to-fall, etc.

It has the highest or close to the highest RED voter turnout and voted against Hillary three years ago by about 2.5 - 1 margin. And for Trump 2-1. Every district voted RED. It hasn't voted for a Dem POTUS in my lifetime, and the margins are generally 2-1 against Dems. 2 blue districts in the state.
 
Can and will. Arizona. Operation Exodus isn't moving as fast as I'd like, but we'll get there.

(Nevada was our first pick for so many reasons, but it is the next to fall. That left Idaho and Arizona. Between heat and cold, these sun-worshipers had no problem figuring out which one.:cool:)

The wife and I had finally made our dream of becoming snowbirds real. Bought a 36' 5th and spent some winters in the LTVA outside of Quartzsite AZ. We just love the whole of the Sonoran desert. But speaking of sun worshipers, the southern LTVA had a "clothing optional" area that just happened to be across from our favorite parking site (no, not for that reason). Of course, the "clothing optional" area was populated by overcooked octagenarians wandering around au naturel... not a pretty picture!!! :eek:


I'm curious about the quoted part. Some folks repeat that it is increasingly left leaning, next-to-fall, etc.

It has the highest or close to the highest RED voter turnout and voted against Hillary three years ago by about 2.5 - 1 margin. And for Trump 2-1. Every district voted RED. It hasn't voted for a Dem POTUS in my lifetime, and the margins are generally 2-1 against Dems. 2 blue districts in the state.

My stepdaughter lives in Nampa, just outside of Boise. So many illegals moving in. And more and more Californians every day. Yes, Boise is changing. But not the entire state. I believe it will hold for some time.
 
We really like the Sonoran desert. But nothing around Phoenix appeals to me due to traffic and heat. I've been there when it was 127F! Really makes your A/C work hard. Feet melt into asphalt. Doing anything outside is impossible. In the cold, you can put on more clothes. But in the heat, once you are naked, you're done. Well done. Cooked.

We have relatives in Lewiston/Clarkston/Asotin and in Nampa. If I had to choose between those, it would be Lewiston due to moderate climate, fishing, closeness to mountains, rivers, etc. Boise is too crowded, and Nampa in particular has become a cesspool.

I think I'd go to N Idaho, but not C'dlene, which will soon be Boise lite. Calis are moving there too. So, I'd go up around Sandpoint, Lake Ponderay... my kind of people!! ;)
 
I've got probably another ten years here in the Beav'. I like the idea of Idaho but what will it look like by the time i'm ready to head that way? How badly will it be infected by the lefties fleeing Cali? Cali is bleeding blessing lefties like crazy. They are going all over the place and turning those places into clones of California.
 
i say 2C because theres 4 GM dealerships in the general area. it would be easy to get a job right away with what i do. plus theres a nice hospital she can work at. also, we have friends nearby in homedale and meridian. :D

2O is pretty much right next door so that would be good too:)
Exactly. Homedale is 2O, I'm just to the south.
 
We are seriously thinking about the rural Kalispell area in Montana. Oregon is seriously just a few paces from becoming the Peoples' Republic of China.
 
Call me crazy but I have a hard time thinking of leaving WA. I'm getting ready to move back up towards Kitsap/Mason county area. I left a few years ago to be closer to family in Portland. That was a mistake and miss being back up near the sound. I can't stand King county and some of the other areas that have the same ideology... So here I am getting ready to move and still contemplating where to go!
 
We are seriously thinking about the rural Kalispell area in Montana. Oregon is seriously just a few paces from becoming the Peoples' Republic of China.

I know some good folks in Kalispell. They run two companies there - #1 is St Marie graphics, and #2, more important to me anyhow, is Swiss Products. They make a range of accessories for Swiss rifles and carbines to the very highest standards

If schueting Swiss schtuff is your thing, then they are THE folks to know.

If you DO get over there, tell them I sent you.
 
I've got probably another ten years here in the Beav'. I like the idea of Idaho but what will it look like by the time i'm ready to head that way? How badly will it be infected by the lefties fleeing Cali? Cali is bleeding blessing lefties like crazy. They are going all over the place and turning those places into clones of California.

Sad, but too true. Our world is changing. I think most of ID has another 20yrs. I also think there will always be pockets there to hide out with like-minded folks.

I know some good folks in Kalispell. They run two companies there - #1 is St Marie graphics, and #2, more important to me anyhow, is Swiss Products. They make a range of accessories for Swiss rifles and carbines to the very highest standards

If schueting Swiss schtuff is your thing, then they are THE folks to know.

If you DO get over there, tell them I sent you.

There are good folks left in Kalispell? That's great to know because it has become kinda crowded. But I have friends near Whitefish that live in log homes out in the woods. They used to run an elk ranch, but Montana F&W made it illegal in the state. It's been awhile since I was around those parts.
 
I know some good folks in Kalispell. They run two companies there - #1 is St Marie graphics, and #2, more important to me anyhow, is Swiss Products. They make a range of accessories for Swiss rifles and carbines to the very highest standards

If schueting Swiss schtuff is your thing, then they are THE folks to know.

If you DO get over there, tell them I sent you.
I was just there last week. Going back soon.
 

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