The south can be very humid in the summer, WA is dry in comparison. When WA gets hot, it gets dry. Personally I would rent a place for a few months before buying anything.

And bugs, check the insect activity. Some of those place, that are very humid, have tremendous amounts of flying insects.

The plan is to take a few vacations between now and retirement to visit the areas that make it to the short list.

Don’t mind the humid in the mid to high 80’s. Sustained highs in the high 90’s and triple digits just saps me of all energy though. Bugs can be managed, so long as we aren’t risking malaria or Bot flies, I am not too worried about that.

Been starting to research raising chickens, will likely do that if we get property like I want.

Would be nice to be somewhat self-sufficient and it would help fill the hours.

North Georgia fits your criteria perfectly! I had 12 acres and built a house after I graded a flat spot. The natural terrain allowed us to shoot up to 100 yards using natural berms. Neighbors would join us whenever we shot.

You said Georgia for the conservative political climate, that is changing rapidly. And with the rampant and increasing gun violence around Atlanta things might look really different in 5-10 years. Personally I am getting the hell out of here as soon as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
You said Georgia for the conservative political climate, that is changing rapidly. And with the rampant and increasing gun violence around Atlanta things might look really different in 5-10 years. Personally I am getting the hell out of here as soon as possible.

Do you think Atlanta will drag down the whole state? Do the crime problems migrate a distance from Atlanta?

I am looking at the Dahlonega and Ellijay area of GA.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
You said Georgia for the conservative political climate, that is changing rapidly. And with the rampant and increasing gun violence around Atlanta things might look really different in 5-10 years. Personally I am getting the hell out of here as soon as possible.

Do you think Atlanta will drag down the whole state? Do the crime problems migrate a distance from Atlanta?

I am looking at the Dahlonega and Ellijay area of GA.

I love that area, I grew up in Chattanooga and have family in Atlanta metro, also have lived here on again off again since 1980. I am amazed how much it has grown up in that area over the years.

Yes crime has been radiating extremely from Atlanta north and south of the metro area. Dahlonega and Ellijay do not seem bad, but they are not as rural as I remember. Will Atlanta drag down the whole state? Who knows? But considering I cannot leave the house without seeing NY and IL plates everywhere, I know the politics are gonna change.

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
You said Georgia for the conservative political climate, that is changing rapidly. And with the rampant and increasing gun violence around Atlanta things might look really different in 5-10 years. Personally I am getting the hell out of here as soon as possible.

Crime overall is down in Atlanta for the last 30 years. Gang crime has had a slight uptick in the last 5 years or so. But "increasing gun crime" makes it sound like an epidemic and that's not really accurate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ime_rates_and_trends

On the other hand, all of Appalachia has seen big bumps in meth and opiod use, trafficking, and related crime.

Ellijay and Dahlonega are great towns and, on the whole, very safe. I would also look in the Blue Ridge area.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
You said Georgia for the conservative political climate, that is changing rapidly. And with the rampant and increasing gun violence around Atlanta things might look really different in 5-10 years. Personally I am getting the hell out of here as soon as possible.

Crime overall is down in Atlanta for the last 30 years. Gang crime has had a slight uptick in the last 5 years or so. But "increasing gun crime" makes it sound like an epidemic and that's not really accurate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...ime_rates_and_trends

On the other hand, all of Appalachia has seen big bumps in meth and opiod use, trafficking, and related crime.

Ellijay and Dahlonega are great towns and, on the whole, very safe. I would also look in the Blue Ridge area.

I agree Downtown has gotten better but the suburbs? Sure seem worse to me.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

...I would also look in the Blue Ridge area.

I was just going to suggest this. SW Virginia is a hilly area that has a moderate climate, affordable rural property, and relatively low taxes. Were I retiring somewhere other than where I am I'd look around these VA counties; Allegheny, Craig, Giles, Bland, Pulaski, Carroll, Floyd, Patrick, etc. In this region you'll avoid the worst of the Summer heat at 2,000' elevation and up.
Just across the border into eastern WV, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Greenbrier, Monroe, would be nice to retire to as well. The negative for WV is higher state income tax (up to 6.5%) although property tax might be slightly less.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

...I would also look in the Blue Ridge area.

I was just going to suggest this. SW Virginia is a hilly area that has a moderate climate, affordable rural property, and relatively low taxes. Were I retiring somewhere other than where I am I'd look around these VA counties; Allegheny, Craig, Giles, Bland, Pulaski, Carroll, Floyd, Patrick, etc. In this region you'll avoid the worst of the Summer heat at 2,000' elevation and up.
Just across the border into eastern WV, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Greenbrier, Monroe, would be nice to retire to as well. The negative for WV is higher state income tax (up to 6.5%) although property tax might be slightly less.

I specifically meant the town of Blue Ridge in N. Georgia, but your post still has good info for OP.

Not considering local laws. It REALLY depends on the landscape and what is surrounding it. For example if your property has a gully that makes a natural backstop then you'd be ok, or if the property behind your 1 acre property is 50 acres of totally undeveloped land you'd be ok.....it really depends on the lot and natural features.

I have 14 acres and have cut out about an acre for a range.
We shoot at a large clay mound that is in front of about 4 acres of woods.

How long is a stick?

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
How long is a stick?

What color is it?

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
You said Georgia for the conservative political climate, that is changing rapidly. And with the rampant and increasing gun violence around Atlanta things might look really different in 5-10 years. Personally I am getting the hell out of here as soon as possible.

Do you think Atlanta will drag down the whole state? Do the crime problems migrate a distance from Atlanta?

I am looking at the Dahlonega and Ellijay area of GA.

Your side of the state is really messing up my side of the state, big time. So yes, the Atlanta libs could mess up the whole state I would think. We are considering moving 15 miles into Idaho. Well, I'm thinking about it, the wife not so much.

Jim

I'm between Dahlonega and Ellijay.

Enough that the bullets stay in your back yard...

If it's hilly or woody, it's easy to get a range on a couple of acres. If it's open and flat, not so much...

2.5 acre square lot is roughly 330'x330' or 110 yards x 110 yards. When you think about it, after you put a house on it, driveway, landscaping, shed, garage, etc. (most of which goes near the middle of the property) you end up with your berm near a property border. If you don't have a hill to work with, and preferably shoot down or shoot into, or you don't have an empty lot in line with your berm, you either have a pretty complex construction problem or you will have nervous neighbors.

Larger properties are obviously easier, or select a smaller property in the mountains, with a stream, lake or swamp abutting, or something that backs up to wasteland or conservation land.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Not considering local laws. It REALLY depends on the landscape and what is surrounding it. For example if your property has a gully that makes a natural backstop then you'd be ok, or if the property behind your 1 acre property is 50 acres of totally undeveloped land you'd be ok.....it really depends on the lot and natural features.

Natural backstop sounds like a great idea. Vacant lot next door, not so much. Once the rounds leave your property, you have no control. What if someone is hiking there (trespassing even) and you don't know it? What if it sells and gets developed? Better to buy something that already has a natural backstop or build your own. What could be better than playing on a dozer for a few hours anyway?

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Not considering local laws. It REALLY depends on the landscape and what is surrounding it. For example if your property has a gully that makes a natural backstop then you'd be ok, or if the property behind your 1 acre property is 50 acres of totally undeveloped land you'd be ok.....it really depends on the lot and natural features.

Natural backstop sounds like a great idea. Vacant lot next door, not so much. Once the rounds leave your property, you have no control. What if someone is hiking there (trespassing even) and you don't know it? What if it sells and gets developed? Better to buy something that already has a natural backstop or build your own. What could be better than playing on a dozer for a few hours anyway?

You can’t be sure that totally undeveloped land will never have humans on it. I don’t mean in the uncertain future. I mean some Saturday afternoon when you and your buddies are shooting and some guy brings his kids on a nature hike on that underveloped property, or 4 wheeling, etc.

Best figure a way to be certain no bullets leave property under your control.

One thing to keep in mind no matter where you move or how much land you wind up with. Unless you shoot nothing but lead-free, "non-toxic" bullets keep your backstop contained to a modest and well defined area that can be excavated fairly easily.

If you or your wife or heirs ever sell the properly, a wide area of lead contamination could make the land unsaleable or, at best, greatly reduce it's value.