I've read all the previous posts, every one of them. Interesting reading. I've already been a refugee. We moved to Wash. in 1987 from California. I was glad to make the move, difficult as it was with a family of five. But now, Wash. is no longer as it was in 1987. It's a shame. I won't go over all the changes, I'd just be preaching to the choir.
First let me say, I'm not allowed to move. Our adult children and families are all here in Wash. If you are married, you know what I mean by "not allowed." Secondly, in a few days I will turn 69 years of age. I'm thinking probably too late for me to make a major move; it's a pretty big deal when you've been in the same house for 32 years. I've been retired for over 11 years and I'm pretty well dug in.
Having said the foregoing, I will allow that a number of relocation venues hold my interest even still. List:
Wyoming. Pretty freedom-loving, lots of open space, lower prices. Downside, they get some tough winters. But: Retired people can sit home in a snow storm and watch re-runs of "Gunsmoke" and don't have to hack through weather to make it to work.
Montana. I used to like it more, western Montana, mostly. But Missoula is seeing an influx of California refugees. You know those horrible former Californians (like me) but rest assured if they are leaving their native state and seeking something better, they can't be all bad. Prices are still a lot lower than Wash.
Idaho. I've spent time in north Idaho and liked it. Also spent time in southeast Idaho, didn't like it so much. But there are many livable places there.
Nevada. At one time, I thought a move to the Reno area (Washoe Valley) would be interesting. But it's become such a big place lately. Hot in summer, have some bad winters. Carson Valley is another Mecca for refugee Californians.
Missouri. I like the state, was stationed there in the US Army decades ago. I like the hilly southern part, which tends to have a slightly milder winter than in the north (flatlands). Gets pretty hot and muggy in high summer. I could never con my wife into moving there (tried it in 1981, didn't work). For her, too buggy and when I took her back there, I didn't mention the ticks. Definitiely lower real estate prices. If you move there as a refugee, you will always be an outsider even if you live there another 30 years.
Iowa. Both of my own parents were natives of Iowa. They were refugees when they moved to California in 1941. Even today, I look at real estate offerings in rural Iowa. Some real bargains, but you have to think about weather some. Rural Iowa (and anywhere else rural in the US now) is not necessarily a calm, bucolic backwater isolated from time and crime. The meth trails from Mexico to Los Angeles continue on through to many rural towns all over the country. Small towns in Iowa are sometimes full of tweakers. Which means people skulking around looking to score anything via theft to feed their habit.
Arizona, not too nuts about living there. Spent time in the army there too. If you must "do Arizona," think the northern part.
Anyway, I think about this subject a lot when I review my property tax bill and time my movements around the Sound to suit favorable traffic patterns.
First let me say, I'm not allowed to move. Our adult children and families are all here in Wash. If you are married, you know what I mean by "not allowed." Secondly, in a few days I will turn 69 years of age. I'm thinking probably too late for me to make a major move; it's a pretty big deal when you've been in the same house for 32 years. I've been retired for over 11 years and I'm pretty well dug in.
Having said the foregoing, I will allow that a number of relocation venues hold my interest even still. List:
Wyoming. Pretty freedom-loving, lots of open space, lower prices. Downside, they get some tough winters. But: Retired people can sit home in a snow storm and watch re-runs of "Gunsmoke" and don't have to hack through weather to make it to work.
Montana. I used to like it more, western Montana, mostly. But Missoula is seeing an influx of California refugees. You know those horrible former Californians (like me) but rest assured if they are leaving their native state and seeking something better, they can't be all bad. Prices are still a lot lower than Wash.
Idaho. I've spent time in north Idaho and liked it. Also spent time in southeast Idaho, didn't like it so much. But there are many livable places there.
Nevada. At one time, I thought a move to the Reno area (Washoe Valley) would be interesting. But it's become such a big place lately. Hot in summer, have some bad winters. Carson Valley is another Mecca for refugee Californians.
Missouri. I like the state, was stationed there in the US Army decades ago. I like the hilly southern part, which tends to have a slightly milder winter than in the north (flatlands). Gets pretty hot and muggy in high summer. I could never con my wife into moving there (tried it in 1981, didn't work). For her, too buggy and when I took her back there, I didn't mention the ticks. Definitiely lower real estate prices. If you move there as a refugee, you will always be an outsider even if you live there another 30 years.
Iowa. Both of my own parents were natives of Iowa. They were refugees when they moved to California in 1941. Even today, I look at real estate offerings in rural Iowa. Some real bargains, but you have to think about weather some. Rural Iowa (and anywhere else rural in the US now) is not necessarily a calm, bucolic backwater isolated from time and crime. The meth trails from Mexico to Los Angeles continue on through to many rural towns all over the country. Small towns in Iowa are sometimes full of tweakers. Which means people skulking around looking to score anything via theft to feed their habit.
Arizona, not too nuts about living there. Spent time in the army there too. If you must "do Arizona," think the northern part.
Anyway, I think about this subject a lot when I review my property tax bill and time my movements around the Sound to suit favorable traffic patterns.
