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Moving soon....need some insight.
December 2006 | Me

Posted on 12/08/2006 4:58:06 AM PST by MyFreeperName

I am moving in the relatively near future and I'd like some helpful insight.

I am tired of living with sheeple in suburbia, and merely existing from day to day, not following my dreams. So, I intend to try to do something about it. I want to build a great place for me, my daughter and close loved ones, Kinda like Walton's mountain. Yes I am a romantic idealist....so sue me.

It may not happen, but that's what I'm shooting for. If you don't have a target, you'll never hit it, right?

Work shouldn't be a problem (I am in the dental field), however, I am reeeeallly hoping my next move will be my last, so I am trying to take my time in choosing a place. There are several factors to consider:

Me in a nut shell: **Early thirties, divorced, have one daughter that lives in DFW, Texas half the year. So I'd like to stay somewhere relatively close. **Non-Denominational Bible believing Christian. **I am a Constitutionalist/Libertarian Socially liberal - Long hair is cool (though not usually attractive on most guys). I believe in legalizing marijuana, I generally feel like you should be able to do whatever you want - we don't need a law for every freaking eventuality. What I do is no one else's business unless what I'm doing is going to affect someone one else negatively (like drunk driving, for instance). Seat belt laws and laws saving me from myself are utter crap. Personal freedom is very important to me. Being gay is ok, I just don't morally agree with it, that doesn't mean we can't get along. Bush and Clinton are both Satan's minions, they have screwed up so much in this country. **Financially conservative - The less government, the better. Cut spending and services WAY down. Focus more on debt reduction, social improvement projects and such. **I love outdoors activities: kayaking, horse riding, ATVs, fishing, hiking, skiing.....you get the idea. Sport hunting is dumb, hunting for food is ok. Conserving our wild spaces is important to me. **I am an artist, a photographer, and I love music. A community of some of these people would be nice, though I can communicate well enough online. **I like martial arts. A school of martial arts would be nice, but isn't a necessity.

What I want: **I am looking for something that reminds me of the "100 acre wood" from Winnie the Pooh, or "The Shire" from the Lord of the Rings, for lack of a better description; I intending to build a self sustaining "off the grid", homestead type parcel of land with a house that looks akin to a "Hobbit Hole" or earth shelter. I don't have to live WAY in the boonies, just somewhere with enough acreage that I don't hear any traffic and I can legally shoot my guns if I want to. **Pasture land for my animals with a stream and/or lake access on the property with a nice view of some mountains. Yes I know I sound like I want a Utopia (and I know "paradise" doesn't exist), but I know places like this exist (I've seen them, honest) and I want to find one of my own, no matter how long it takes. **Decent access to good shopping (I prefer a good selection of mom & pop stores to "chains", I can buy "chain" stuff easily enough online). Good local restaurants and entertainment are also a plus. I love going to the movies. **Low crime rate, friendly community and a good school system for my daughter. **Very gun friendly environment. I carry concealed and own several weapons. I believe an armed society is a polite society. **Low tax burden and cost-of-living.

I state all of this just so you know where I'm coming from, not to start a flamewar over anything. :D

I am thinking the Ozarks area of Arkansas, the Blue Ridge/Smokies area of Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky, or Northern Alabama and Georgia are the best places to start. A comparative analysis by someone whose lived in the Ozarks AND Smokies, and even the Rockies would be greatly appreciated.

Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho don't quite work for me. I don't care to be cold that long and its too far from my daughter. Texas is likely out because I detest mid/east Texas, prolly has something to do with my ex, scrubby brushland and DFW in general, so I will stick to the aforementioned areas, unless given a good reason not to.

New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming were great as far as general cost-of-living and political climate, but weather and distance seem too prohibitive. I am undecided about Oregon and Washington.

I used the NRA website, All Experts Encyclopedia at About.com , Wikis, City-Search.com , Sterling's "Best Places" and Findyourspot.com as starting points for my search. Any other help/suggestions are most welcome. Feel free to email me at electricecho@gmail.com .

I like the sound of rolling hills/foothills with mountains, streams and lakes nearby.

Flat land/prairie.....blech Desert....blech High on a mountain....blech...pretty, but too much trouble. Ocean.....I love the ocean, but the only place with mountains and ocean that isn't ice cold is the NW. Hmmm, maybe I should reconsider.


TOPICS: Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: home; moving; shire
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To: MyFreeperName

Just do like a friend of mine did. Marry a young widow with a Nice house, 150 acre farm and a bomb shelter.


21 posted on 12/08/2006 8:09:33 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Sam's Army; MyFreeperName

I only read as far as "I am tired of living with sheeple in suburbia"

But I'm sure you'd love South Philadelpia.  I'm going to start freepmailing you rental listings.

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.


22 posted on 12/08/2006 8:42:12 AM PST by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: MyFreeperName
Alaska, Wyoming, and Idaho don't quite work for me.

Don't know about the others, but Alaska is gone. Twenty years ago there were still some pieces of Alaska left, but it is so over that it can't even be explained to the newcomers.

23 posted on 12/08/2006 8:46:40 AM PST by RightWhale (RTRA DLQS GSCW)
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To: MyFreeperName

Sounds like rural mountainous south is for you--WV on down to Alabama. Get some regional magazine subscriptions about the Blue Ridge, the Smokies. Some of these areas have turned resort and have gotten expensive. Having what you want and a thriving night/restaurant scene will be very difficult--I visit these types of places for overnights like in Asheville, Greenville and at one time Atlanta (I can't handle Atlanta even for pleasure visits anymore). North GA, North Carolina, Southwestern Virginia. Just follow the lines of the ridges.


24 posted on 12/08/2006 8:58:50 AM PST by Mamzelle
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To: MyFreeperName

I live in Colorado and you can forget the Rockies. There are no Hobbit/100 Acre Wood type of environments in this state. That requires a mild climate and a lot of water, neither of which we have.


25 posted on 12/08/2006 9:43:22 AM PST by Gingersnap
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To: MyFreeperName

You're right to rule out Texas. The only place you'd feel comfortable is Austin.


26 posted on 12/08/2006 9:56:36 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: MyFreeperName

Ney York City


27 posted on 12/08/2006 10:00:26 AM PST by Hatteras
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To: MyFreeperName

Try the rural parts of Whatcom County, Washington.

Trees, Lakes, Mountains, Ocean.

Mild weather year-round.

1.5 hours to either Vancouver,BC or Seattle.


28 posted on 12/08/2006 3:45:53 PM PST by proudpapa (of three.)
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To: proudpapa

Thank you for that. I'll check it out. I also have heard that Tullahoma, TN is nice.

Someone mentioned Alabama earlier. Any suggestions on a town to look at?

To other posters concerned for my daughter:
As for moving to DFW. NO, for various reasons I'm not going to go into. I am able to spend all of the time I'm allowed to with her and we are very happy, so I don't need to actually live in DFW, nor do I want to.


29 posted on 12/08/2006 9:11:00 PM PST by MyFreeperName
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To: Mamzelle

Any specific thoughts on nice places to begin looking?...since you have actually been to most of these places, it seems.

I used to live in Asheville. It wasn't for me.


30 posted on 12/08/2006 9:11:01 PM PST by MyFreeperName
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To: MyFreeperName
First, you ought to check out some of the Hill Country of Texas--Ingram, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, New Braunsfels, if you haven't. Seek out rivers for the kind of landscape you want, not just mountains.

There is North Georgia--all the areas where "Deliverance" was filmed, the Chatooga River, Rabun County, Clayton, Haiwasee. The Fontana Lakes/ Tennessee River areas in Tennessee/NC have not been completely developed. I don't know much about rural Mountainous Alabama--except discovering that the pine flatland actually ends in hills around Huntsville. Banner Elk, Boone, Blowing Rock NC--The New River Valley in WV. There is a lot to look at.

You're not going to find a perfect political situation, either--but you won't have to live in a population of liberals.

And if you really want the bucolic isolated Rivendell--you're going to have to learn to cook to please yourself.

31 posted on 12/09/2006 8:27:36 AM PST by Mamzelle
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To: Mamzelle

Just did a drive-through of the TX hill country this year...blech.

N. GA-Heard Clayton was for millionaire types. I'll have to investigate the others though.

N. AL-Do you know anything about Rock City or Gadsden?

NC-Politics and land are ridiculous.

I don't need Rivendell, just a nice place to call home away from everyone else, and a nice community to drive into once in awhile to get "cultured". :)

I love to cook, btw.

Thank you very much for your thoughts, they are appreciated.


32 posted on 12/09/2006 7:52:21 PM PST by MyFreeperName
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To: MyFreeperName
You didn't like Ingram and Kerrville? Gee, they're my two favorite places in Texas.

I don't know Alabama well, but it's closer to Texas and there are hills around Huntsville.

Millionaires are in Clayton, but more are in Cashiers and Highlands NC. They raise land prices but you are not going to be able to avoid sight of volvos and skinny knees in golf shorts --and Michigan accents!!-- in the Blue Ridge Mtns. They are all over the Blue Ridge and Smokies, and they have to bring in an army of illegals to tend their pools and fairways and high-maintenance ole ladies. There is still a lot of wild property to be had.

33 posted on 12/10/2006 9:57:36 AM PST by Mamzelle
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To: MyFreeperName

Move anywhere they sell boxer shorts with little hearts on them. That is a prime demographic indicator.


34 posted on 12/10/2006 10:05:41 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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