Have you ever seen the winters in North Dakota?
For those who haven’t, let me put it this way:
People in Wyoming and Montana think that they’re the junior varsity winter team.
North Dakota is the varsity winter team.
Most people either cannot withstand a winter in ND, or their spouse won’t withstand it.
For complete self-sufficiency, I think that the southeast states are far easier for most modern people. The weather is better, the resources are better, the hunting and fishing for subsistence is easier, the farming/cropping is easier and more plants will survive there, etc.
Texas, in certain areas, is far better than the northern Rockies or ND/SD. In west Texas, you’d better be a pretty handy guy to be able to handle the water issue by yourself.
Yes, have lived in some northern states and did not like it a bit! Was just giving some states that seem to be responsible as to the budget. I agree with you though, if I had to pick a place to live (and hope) it would be a Southern State.
Having spent a winter in North SD I know what you mean.
Best stay away.