What is a good state to move to for retirement and for semi-isolation?

6//7/26 | Maga2017

[MAGA2017]

I'm hoping to retire within the next 7-10 years. Maybe even sooner if possible. I have zero interest in living in an assisted living community or anything like that.

I'm hoping buy some land in a rural area, at least 10 acres or so. I want to build my own little cabin and basically just be left alone. I honestly don't know if I can truly be off-grid. I will have a vehicle so I'll probably go the nearest town every so often for food and supplies. I can get batteries and power them via solar or a with a gas generator. Maybe get a propane stove. So I'll have some creature comforts. I want to have a wood stove for heat.

I currently live in WA state. I do like scenery and climate here but I would prefer to be in a red state. I'm tired of idiots in charge here, the taxes, etc.

The states I'm thinking of are: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas and Wyoming.

I'm curious what people here think are the best states for this kind of life. Does anyone here live in these states? What are the pros and cons? Thank you.

---

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: cabin; property; retirement; rural; vanity

[HKMk23]

I did like the tenor of Evanston, but their Community Development Plan about makes the whole town into one big HOA. At least that’s how it came across to me when I was checking it out.

[Billthedrill]

That list pretty much matches what I retired to in northern Idaho nine years ago, so I do have some hard-learned input. The only thing that does not match is that I'm on-grid (most of the time, like when it isn't down due to a storm) and that makes all the difference in the world for a solitary, aging man. I can and do go off-grid at need but it's at a cost in comfort, the principal one being with grid I get a well pump. Yes, you can run one on a generator too.

Access is an issue if you settle in a place that gets snow much of the year. Sure you can ride most things out but appendicitis or a broken bone when there's three feet of snow on that private road that nobody but you plows can be a real problem.

One psychological issue that can grow on you is how you deal with solitude. You won't really know how you do deal with that without trying it, but be aware that you may need human contact of some sort more than you think. A working cell phone helps. Internet connectivity via Starlink has proven to be a sanity-saver for me. The mini dish works very well on battery.

This life is not for everybody, and I'm aware that moving back into town is probably on the menu when I become less physically capable of managing the property, the house, and myself. But I awakened to eagles overhead and deer on the lawn this morning.

[BipolarBob]

Over Mucho Grande?

[MAGA2017]

I don’t mind cold weather. I want area with lots of trees I can cut down for firewood. I like having a wood stove.

[onona]

Wyoming. Hands down. Least populated state in the union. If I could I would

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Check out Tennessee. Mid to Eastern. We retired here 5 years ago. Best move ever.

[MAGA2017]

I could do that. The Spokane area is not bad. I saw some property for sale in Republic, WA a few years ago which I wish now I got. It was a wooded area with small creek running through it. I don’t remember the details but it was something like 12 acres for under $20,000.

[Dr. Sivana]

Việt Nam is a really fine place to retire.

Not if you need a traditional Catholic Church available.

[PeterPrinciple]

I don’t remember the details but it was something like 12 acres for under $20,000.

---

I have a few acres next to my farm for sale but you can’t do anything with it except have a picnic.

[MAGA2017]

Thank you. I know I need to be careful about access. There are lots of lots for sale but there’s often no clear direct access to them. So I need land that is right off a public road. Idaho is a state I’m considering. I do like it there but I’m worried about becoming a purple state in the near future. Lots of people from California have been moving in.

[MAGA2017]

I’m an introvert so I’m very comfortable being by myself. I like to read and would be very reading books and keeping to myself.

[Bullish]

Greenland.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Rural E TN would be a poor choice. You’ll always be the outsider and if anything goes sideways you’ll be the first to be shot and/or robbed.

I think you mean West TN. I live in Eastern Tenessee near NC and haven't seen any of what you describe. We were accepted, invited for dinners and barbeques. Made friends at the range and folks are real friendly. And we transplanted from Massachusetts.

I wouldn't go anywhere near Nashville or Memphis.

[mass55th]

If you draw a pension or have an IRA, make sure the state you move to, won’t tax it.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Arizona or New Mexico. You’ll freeze to death in Alaska.

[maddog55]

Wyoming...1 person per 20 square miles.

[MikelTackNailer]

ISWYDT

"Yankees got purty mouths" LOL

It's very unlikely that an FR member would drag the Left Coast around with them, but keep up the good work - like this tag line.

[Celerity]

I’m living that in Arkansas.

[EnderWiggin1970]

It may get more snow than you’d like.

I retired to Wyoming. It is pretty arid, so deep snow only comes in the mountains above the level where anyone lives year round. The wind in much of the state is the bigger concern (frequently capable of flipping semis and the occasional train.) I guess to your point, the wind can take a 3" snowfall and pile it up to the eaves of a house, while the ground is scoured bare elsewhere. The snow fences do a good job of keeping that from happening on the roads.

In Casper we hit -44F with a wind chill in the -70's a few years ago, and had straight-line winds up to 115 MPH another time. Long cold months contrast with a few hot dry months in the summer (though it can snow in a cold snap in most places anytime). The OP may find the low humidity here a striking difference depending on where in WA he lives. It makes the extreme heat and cold "bite" less but combined with elevation makes nosebleeds and dry skin more of an issue.

[ThunderStruck94]

I moved from Dallas, TX to Waynesville/Maggie Valley, NC last June after getting bit pretty bad by a rattlesnake. I had bought a house in McKinney for $430k in 2018 and by last year, I was paying almost $13k a year in property taxes. Here I bought a house for $600k and my property tax is $4300 a year. My 6 month auto insurance went from $2500 to $1000. My house insurance dropped by 2/3rds. Sales tax went from 8.75% to 7%. Water bill dropped by $250 a month because it rains here and I don’t have to water a lawn. Power bill dropped $300 a month because at 3000’ it maybe hits 85 peak summer. I am retired military so there is no income tax on me here. This is the most beautiful place I have ever lived.