I would check out the following locales on my short list:
Lebanon, PA and Lititz... the latter was mentioned earlier. Both are cute towns, very close to Lancaster. The only issue with PA is that it’s suffering from the migration of Jersey and NY liberals but you’re safely ensconced in either town from those idiots. There are many rural hamlets you can find that avoid those types. I’m afraid my beautiful Chester County will soon be destroyed by their huge influx.

Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC areas also get the nod. Their higher elevation than the coast typically equates to less humidity and heat during the summer months.

Shepherdstown, WV is a small colonial college town with low income tax, a very gun friendly state and Antietam battlefield is nearby for history buffs.

I was impressed with Boise, ID but it’s been 16 years since my last visit. Winters are cold though. I also enjoyed Western WA such as the Spokane area, which is more conservative than its eastern counterpart. Great wilderness areas are nearby for the avid trekker.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dakor,

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:
Cedar City, Utah pretty well meets your description. Small college town. Not too far from major shopping in St.George.

I'll second this, I live 40 miles south of CC in Washington County. Our county is growing rapidly and at 3000 ft we're hot in Summer. We escape to Cedar City and above for cooler temps. Land would be more available in the Cedar City/Parowan area, too.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:

"Gimme a couple example towns that I can browse through?

Anybody have any thoughts on Waynesville, NC?"


Cleveland (where I live)...20 miles north Chattanooga...

Chattnooga and suburbs (Ooltewah and Apison)...

Maryville...

Townsend...

Athens...

Tellico Plains....(small town w/mountains)...

Wartrace (some beautiful country)...

Waynesville NC area seems nice as well as Hendersonville NC.

It misses some of your wants, but hits others: Michigan.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Here is what I know we want...
- in or close to mountains

Mountains not so much, but there are somewhat kinda more-or-less semi-mountainous areas further north. South is flat as a ruler.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
- 4 actual seasons including some snow

We got that. The further north and west you go: The more snow.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
- conservative state, conservative region, likely to remain that way for a long time to come

Not so much. Not too-badly leftist, though. It tends to be shown as a "blue" state, but it's actually kinda purple-ish. Stay away from the urban and near-urban suburban areas.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
- would like a small plot of land... a few acres would be good

Land is plentiful and, depending upon where you go, relatively affordable.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
- cheaper to live than here... if we are stuck in CA for now I’d at least like to move somewhere where my CA dollars will help me initially

That would be just about anywhere in the U.S. But Michigan is particularly affordable in the north and northeast. There are places in the north you can buy big bits of property and be within "reasonable" distance of stores and services.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Here is what we’d like to avoid...
- regular weather extremes (don’t want a place where it is commonly ungodly cold or super deep in snow)
- no ungodly heat either (current locale has summer average highs at 98 with many consecutive 100+ days every year.... no more of that)
- no tornados or hurricanes

This is where Michigan rules: Weather and environment.

Because of the surrounding Great Lakes the weather is moderated. We get neither the extreme cold of most northern states nor the relentless, oppressive heat of the southern states. We're at the far northeastern tip of Tornado Ally, so, while we do get them, there aren't many and they're usually the smaller, shorter-lived ones. Obviously no hurricanes, typhoons or tsunamis. Geologically stable, so few earthquakes, and never any severe ones. Because we do have a Real Winter, we don't have the bug problems they have in the south. We rarely have problems with water, because we're literally surrounded by the largest fresh-water repository in the world. We do get droughts, but they're generally not as bad as many other areas of the country. That means we don't regularly suffer from massive wildfires, either. There are areas more prone to flooding, but not as badly as other parts of the country. You just have to be careful of where you buy.

That being said: Lake effect snow on the western side can get pretty hairy.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Is our list too restrictive?

I don't think you're going to hit all your requirements. You're going to have to prioritize.

My wife and I keep discussing where we might like to move to were we to move. To be honest: We have yet to have identified a single part of the country we'd like better than Michigan. Every time one of us comes up with an idea, the other goes "Yeah, but..."

I am also trying to disengage from California, for considerstion i will add the Black Hills of South Dakota, maby just west across the border near Sundance, or perhaps further west, Buffalo WY. zBuffalo is fine now, but serious money is going to find it and prices will go Jackson Hole ish. WY has much public land and hunting oppertunities if that is important

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
You are describing Colorado. Not Denver if the conservative thing is a deal breaker. But maybe Co Springs, or somewhere not far into the mountains. Or perhaps the western slope.

We have four seasons, it snows good, but doesn't blanket the whole winter, summers are great.

Plenty of land outside the city.

not cheap, but cheaper than CA.

relatively safe from environment - no hurricanes or tornadoes. Occasional flood or forest fire though.

We're about to become California-East. Just wait until January.

I took a leap of faith a couple years ago and moved to the Prescott Arizona area. Great place mild four season weather modest cost of living solid red state ( constitutional carry, class 3 etc)
Keep in mind working in an area where your wage is 50% less but cost of living is even less equals a pay raise.

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
I took a leap of faith a couple years ago and moved to the Prescott Arizona area. Great place mild four season weather modest cost of living solid red state ( constitutional carry, class 3 etc)
Keep in mind working in an area where your wage is 50% less but cost of living is even less equals a pay raise.

Prescott is one the areas on my list already to look into. Thanks!

Yer missing out... but most do.

We have lower taxes, much better gun laws, hills, snow, heat, rivers, an AMOST 19 percent red state (with the exception of State Auditor Nicole Galloway (who IMO has done both a decent job and for checks and balances a democrat so she can keep the R's in check spending wise in the state))

You live where it is pronounced Miss-O-RI the you don't get your ass north of I 64 on the east end of the state and hang tight.

If you live where it is pronouncec Miss-OUR-AH.... Well, you have very little to worry about there crime wise except a few tweakers... (sorry, they apparently prefer the term "Methican Americans."

I live in Western NC, and love it. But if I HAD to move somewhere else, it would be eastern Tennessee. Specifically, in the Hampton/Elizabethton area. I love it there.
Beautiful country, no personal income tax and pretty decent political climate.

If medical care is an issue, Johnson City is less than 15 min away with a Level One trauma facility. It's also a great hospital with a medical staff that rivals any in the country.

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:

If you live where it is pronouncec Miss-OUR-AH.... Well, you have very little to worry about there crime wise except a few tweakers... (sorry, they apparently prefer the term "Methican Americans."

Now that is funny.

When visiting friends and relatives across the country, I drive whenever possible. And stick to the two-lane highways. Take the BR spur through small town business districts. Get out, walk around, meet people. From everything you say, Wyoming comes to mind.

Monkey throwing darts at a map works for many.

I had contemplated moving out of NH for many years before I pulled the trigger

I went to various places to check them out - had the luxury of being able to do that

spent 4 months in Florida and that was enough

spent 5 months in California - that was 4 months too long

had several projects in and around the Charlotte NC and Asheville area - spent a few weeks and perhaps it was just me but the locals rubbed me the wrong way, South Carolina was worse.

considered Maui for about 5 months and then ran into a treasury agent who lived in Vegas for 15 years.

Took his advice, flew to Tucson, spent 3 days here and that was it.

quote:

Originally posted by DetonicsMk6:

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
You are describing Colorado. Not Denver if the conservative thing is a deal breaker. But maybe Co Springs, or somewhere not far into the mountains. Or perhaps the western slope.

We have four seasons, it snows good, but doesn't blanket the whole winter, summers are great.

Plenty of land outside the city.

not cheap, but cheaper than CA.

relatively safe from environment - no hurricanes or tornadoes. Occasional flood or forest fire though.

We're about to become California-East. Just wait until January.

Yep. Unfortunately the votes in the Denver/Boulder metro area seem to control the rest of the state.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:

quote:

Originally posted by bushpilot:
May I suggest NW Arkansas. Total Republican congressmen and senators, Republican Governor and all state officers, low taxes, great land values, low cost of living and very reasonable taxes. We have the largest off-wall street brokerage house in the US (Stephens), great medical, symphony, and a ton of other amenities plus we have mountains, lakes, cleat rock bottom streams, rivers,and forests. You will love it here.

What is the frequency of tornados? Is it an every year kinda thing, or a once in a while/every few years?

NW Arkansas hasn't had a touchdown in a few decades. Joplin which is about an hour north had one a few years back.

You are describing east TN. Anywhere from the Knoxville/Maryville/Alcoa area to the tri-cities of Johnson City/Bristol/Kingsport. Beautiful mountains, every kind of outdoor activity - lakes, streams, trails, 4 seasons, solid Red, no income tax, access to lake/farm/city property depending on what you want. Low real estate and cost of living.

Just moved across the state line into Virginia recently, but we were close enough to still live in TN and tried to find something, but ended up finding our dream home in southwest VA. The part of VA we are in is very red and beautiful part of the country.

I moved to NH because that's where my wife told me were going. Not like there was a long discussion involved in that decision.

quote:

Originally posted by UTsig:

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:
Cedar City, Utah pretty well meets your description. Small college town. Not too far from major shopping in St.George.

I'll second this, I live 40 miles south of CC in Washington County. Our county is growing rapidly and at 3000 ft we're hot in Summer. We escape to Cedar City and above for cooler temps. Land would be more available in the Cedar City/Parowan area, too.

Cedar City looks nice.

I spent a summer in Cedar City doing geology field camp while in college. I’d love to go back. Beautiful area and great weather in the summer. Can’t speak to winter weather.