Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Suggestions for Rural Living

Posted on 08/25/2024 7:33:28 PM PDT by ducttape45

Earlier today I created a post entitled "When Evil takes over (Is rural living safer?)." The link is below.

When Evil takes over (Is rural living safer?)

It got a lot of comments, and I am very appreciative of that as it generated a lot of conversation. It also struck a cord with me.

As many of you know I am retired, forcibly so because of Covid/Long Covid. I have been searching for someplace to retire to, locally, with not much success. Housing prices are through the roof whether you're buying or renting, and of course everything else suffers from cost increases across the board.

But the reason for this post is find out from my fellow Freepers if anyone has suggestions for communities that offer a more rural setting for folks like myself. Heck, I'd even be willing to look at a tiny home community. I see a lot of posts from folks who describe rural locations but searching online for those kinds of places is almost impossible because Google algorithms always point folks in the wrong direction.

I really didn't know where else to make this kind of request as I really don't know of any good websites to look at. I'm hoping that ya'all can offer suggestions, and hopefully many of us who are looking to (kind of) escape the rat race can possibly find what we're looking for.

Thanks for your time.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: prepping; rural; shtf; vanity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last
To: Tacrolimus1mg

I dated a girl originally from Rockford. She later moved out to Missouri and her parents fled Illinois to Georgia.

Illinois is a hot dung mess. What a sad thing for the state of Lincoln and Reagan.


41 posted on 08/25/2024 10:21:02 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

Well if you’re open to southeastern Idaho, in a few months I’ll have a small rental house available. I always say I’m 2-3 hours from anywhere in the world. 3 hours from Yellowstone, 3 hours from Salt Lake City, 3 hours from Jackson Hole and 3 hours from Sun Valley. 30 minutes from the mountains and 5 minutes from huge lake. Small, rural, conservative town. The house sits with the main house on 5 acres a mile from town. Both homes are rentals. Its the homestead of what was my fathers farm. $600/ month. It’s a farming community with great people. I love my town.


42 posted on 08/25/2024 10:26:00 PM PDT by Idaho gal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tacrolimus1mg

Far Southern IL has lots of lightly used great spots for outdoor recreation (hiking, picnicking, fishing(!), hunting, and you can put up a sign stating “Pritzker Sucks!” and likely not have it torn down. Housing prices are not too bad, living costs are generally low, and property taxes are crazy high, but if you are gonna be in a very modest abode, maybe tolerable. Retirement income is generally not taxed. Access to state parks is free. Cost of living is generally low.

However, other taxes are generally high, and worse, “upstate” and “Springfield” (state gov’t) are corrupt as hell; their economic policies make Kamala look like a genius. IL is gonna crash and burn someday, and probably unfortunately will take Southern IL with it. My guess is that is likely over 10 years away unless some prolonged downturn nationally occurs. (If Kamala wins, move that up.)

I mostly (mostly!) like KY despite the Dem gov., and very good friends of mine are moving to East TN, about an hour away from Johnson City. Nice area. I don’t know about housing costs where they are at, though (they are building a place themselves, with a contractor doing the basic frame, roofing, etc.)


43 posted on 08/25/2024 10:58:15 PM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

I was born and raised in SE Los Angeles county cities.
I now live in very rural Hawaii county.
Cowboy and cow country.
Nearest Walmart is an hour away.
I’d be even more out there if the wife would allow it.
It all depends on what you can do.
My Cars are old but I fix them and they work.
I can borrow a horse If I need to.
It all depends on your tolerance to be independent
from government services.
There are some government services that are necessary
and hundreds that only serve to keep Democrats in power
eg. welfare, SSI and such.


44 posted on 08/25/2024 11:50:47 PM PDT by rellic (rough)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ikeon
Y’all sound so serious about living in a perfect place. Not one mention of prayer or finding a good church. Without God, a person is lost, even with GPS.

You can pray literally anywhere.

"Where two or three are gathered in My Name..."

Regards,

45 posted on 08/26/2024 12:55:22 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: chrisinoc

I second that. And they are higher elevations where it is cooler. That area is beautiful...


46 posted on 08/26/2024 2:21:43 AM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45; PeterPrinciple
PeterPrinciple: Find your community, it is about the people, not the place.

Yes indeed. And in most cases blood is thicker than water so my first advice is to stay close to your daughter. If you are not emotionally close, try to get there. Family...what's that saying? When you have to go there, they have to take you in. They don't have to. But they usually do. Right now, you can live independently. That will change one day. Don't look at your mission as "get away" but rather, "get home."

I will PM you later if you are still restless for a place.

47 posted on 08/26/2024 3:24:25 AM PDT by Buttons12 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

“I’ve been told that places like Kentucky and Tennessee are not bad as long you stay out of the big cities.”

We’re in eastern TN, about 35 miles from Knoxville in a small town. We are pretty much able to avoid Knoxville as much as possible. We have a few family members close, and are becoming more involved with our church. A support system is important, wherever you land.


48 posted on 08/26/2024 3:32:27 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (I'm voting for the convicted felon with the pierced ear. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: STEELRAPTOR

“Try Maryville Tennessee”

We’re very close to Maryville (or “Mrvl” to pronounce it correctly). A really good thing about Maryville is that it’s basically at the airport. And the town is big enough that there are good services available, and Knoxville is close to find any other services.

Also, Smith & Wesson moved HQs there a year or so ago, FWIW.


49 posted on 08/26/2024 3:37:43 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (I'm voting for the convicted felon with the pierced ear. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Ikeon

“Not one mention of prayer or finding a good church.”

Yes. A good church with sound doctrine and caring, supportive people is a must.


50 posted on 08/26/2024 3:39:39 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (I'm voting for the convicted felon with the pierced ear. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

When we planned to relocate from CA in 2009, we got a lot of good info at city-data.com.

They have actual statistics on all kinds of issues. But the input from residents was most telling.

One thing I recall was that someone wanted to leave CA for a nicer place and traveled in the US for a while to check things out.

They got to an area in TN (where we eventually landed), and set up a video camera on a tripod in a rural intersection so they could more easily recall the area later on. They’d done it before and most neighbors were suspicious and standoffish.

When they did that here, people came out of their houses. Brought cookies, and invited them to lunch and to church.


51 posted on 08/26/2024 3:45:09 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (I'm voting for the convicted felon with the pierced ear. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ikeon

This is a good movie if you’re planning on moving to Shangri-la ;) It’s been restored, some parts are gone forever, but the audio is there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Horizon_(1937_film)


52 posted on 08/26/2024 3:56:42 AM PDT by Indy Pendance (Jesus can't here soon enough!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Ikeon

This link works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Horizon_(1937_film)


53 posted on 08/26/2024 4:03:02 AM PDT by Indy Pendance (Jesus can't here soon enough!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Ikeon
Well......... Lost Horizon (1937 film)
54 posted on 08/26/2024 4:07:11 AM PDT by Indy Pendance (Jesus can't here soon enough!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: gawatchman

“Redneck Riviera”

I grew up in Jacksonville. I enjoyed my time between Hurlburt, Eglin, and Duke Field. The sugar-white sands of the Gulf of Mexico was a really nice change coming from the Atlantic coast. Just when I thought I was going to be retiring there, someone looked at my records and saw I hadn’t been to Korea, so I got orders. No complaints, just took 13 years to move on.


55 posted on 08/26/2024 4:12:59 AM PDT by AF_Blue (My decision-making skills closely resemble those of a squirrel when crossing a road)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

Don’t use Google to start with.

2nd Rural living is far safer than city living period. When “evil” takes over.. whatever that means, city living collapses within 72hrs of loss of power. Looting, break-ins, murders will all skyrocket.

Rural is safer but remote rural is better and preferably on the side of a mountain. People are lazy and walking uphill to get something they want is a last resort.

All depends on what you want.


56 posted on 08/26/2024 4:32:25 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

We moved to a small town in Appalachia. Best of both worlds. People are friendly. No crime. No natural disasters like tornados or hurricanes. The county has a Walmart, a hospital and we are 20 minutes from better facilities. We have 12 acres most of it wooded with one level living.


57 posted on 08/26/2024 4:52:34 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

I lived in Hendersonville, TN for about a year and a half. Very safe, noticeable police presence. They have the best YMCA of all time! Only 20 miles from Nashville. I disliked the cold gray winter months so now we’re in sunny Florida.


58 posted on 08/26/2024 5:12:02 AM PDT by Lizavetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

I don’t mean to come barging in on his discussion but it looks to me that you are looking more for small town USA not rural USA. Even here in semi-rural NE PA we are 6 miles to the nearest grocery store, 10 miles to something like WalMart. So figure 20 miles driving for a loaf of bread. We do have a hospital 5 miles away, a state park, trails, and white-water rafting. In our neck of the woods we get our water from a well, septic for the drain, propane, oil or electric heat (or combo of these). Power goes off for days not hours in a storm. You must be prepared for inconveniences and again this is semi-rural. On the plus we have acreage plenty of trees and yard. We do most of the upkeep on our place. The cost is considerably less than our old suburban place. But you cannot be lazy, it will eat you up right quick. Very little crime and neighbors are fantastic.


59 posted on 08/26/2024 5:12:15 AM PDT by fatboy (')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Robert DeLong

This sounds like fairly good advice. Living in the “flyover” country is likely to be less expensive, although it is still probably no bargain.


60 posted on 08/26/2024 5:29:34 AM PDT by oldtech
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson