We moved to NW GA from the Lehigh Valley when I was 46. Took an IT job in Chattanooga, TN. We love it and tell folks all the time that we fled the Northeast, so I know exactly where you are coming from. We traded our 13-acre farm for a 60-acre farm and had extra money to boot. We love it!!
My sweetheart & I lived in Marietta before job opportunities brought us to Ohio. We drove through our old stomping grounds recently on the return trip from a beach vacation, and fell in love again! We were thinking of moving northwest of Atlanta somewhere in the foothills, but like the OP have to get rid of this house that’s dragging us down (among other things). Our plan is to try to put the house up for sale in a year or two. We think it will take that long for us to get on our feet somewhat, especially with this election result. We long to live a semi-rural life but near the city within reason. The dream is to live where the backyard backs up to a lake. We don’t need 60 acres, but a few would be REALLY nice!