We retired and moved out of Illinois in 2020. We loved downstate Illinois, which is predominantly conservative, but the state government is controlled by leftists from Chicago. We are now across the river in red state Missouri, and we love it. Our property taxes alone are 1/3 of what they were in Illinois.
I hear tell the gasoline tax is going up another 2 cents per gallon. We cross from Missouri into Illinois when we visit my wife’s sister in Edwardsville. They live in a very nice area along Route 157, and it got me to thinking that if Edwardsville was not in Illinois, it could be booming like St. Charles county in Missouri.
Yes. There are lots of really nice natural areas in S. IL too. Nothing spectacular (although Garden of the Gods has a couple "iconic" views), and no big tourist draws (except for criss-crossing eclipse paths now "done" for a very long time), but plenty of nifty spot to go camping, angling, hunting, etc. Most are usually underused, so, ideal to "get away" / back to nature and have a spot to yourself. The taxes are really hideous, though, and IL doesn't have anything like CA's high tech industry or NY's financial industry. What wealth it does have is mostly being driven out. Like you. :-( Another example is my friend who owns a auto repair business near Chicago, and has done fairly well, but is retiring early and leaving before the state totally kills him with taxes.
We loved downstate Illinois, which is predominantly conservative
Yes. There are lots of really nice natural areas in S. IL too. Nothing spectacular (although Garden of the Gods has a couple "iconic" views), and no big tourist draws (except for criss-crossing eclipse paths now "done" for a very long time), but plenty of nifty places to go camping, angling, hunting, etc. With a few exceptions, most are usually underused, so, they are ideal to "get away" / back to nature and have a spot to yourself. The taxes are really hideous, though, and IL doesn't have anything like CA's high tech industry or NY's financial industry. What wealth it does have is mostly being gradually driven out. :-(
Like you.
Another example is my friend who owns a auto repair business near Chicago, and has done fairly well, but is retiring early and leaving before the state totally kills him with taxes.