[andrew]

My wife and I are contemplating a move somewhere -- anywhere, but somewhere better than LA -- to raise our two young children.

I thought there'd be no better place than Free Republic to get an interesting thread going that could serve a utility for beyond my needs.

(Because we have friends and family in New York City, we were thinking maybe somewhere in the Hamptons. So I could be in hissing distance of Alec Baldwin, too.)

[Destructor]

Not Austin, Texas. This place is the Liberal arm pit of the otherwise great State of Texas! Austin is getting too much like Houston, Texas. Big and ugly. In a few more years you won't be able to tell them apart! I'm currently looking for somewhere else to move myself.

[slimer]

Take into consideration lifestyle, schools, recreation, weather, cost and quality of life, etc.

InSane Diego is great with weather and recreation. The cost of living is high but if your thrifty there are ways to minimze this. Quality of life is good. There are a variety of places to go and things to do. As far as schools and raising children, you'd better go somewhere else unless you can afford private school or want to do home schooling.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Bill "Slick Willie" Clinton once said '' MOUNT YOUR CAMELS AND YOUR ASSES, WE'RE HEADING TO THE PROMISED LAND........ACTUALLY IT WAS, SIT ON YOUR ASSES, LIGHT UP A CAMEL.......SHUCKS, THIS IS THE PROMISED LAND!"

[Richard M. Nixon]

Come on, fella. Don't be such a wuss.

Tough it out and stay in L.A.

[gorush]

Forget the weather part, you must endure less-than-nirvana meteorologically speaking to live among genuine people. Go North young man, go North.

[BraveMan]

I'm kind of suprised nobody has mentioned the South Carolina coast. Beautiful area . . .

I got arrested in Tennesee once. They busted me for smuggling in books . . .

[crystalk]

You can get to NY City from almost anywhere in the East, quicker than from the Hamptons! Such a dead end, what if it had to be evacuated suddenly? And so c-c--c-cold!

Take a map of the Southeast. Chop off the part of Florida south of I-4. Draw a straight line from Charleston SC to BOONE NC (NW corner of state). Draw another straight line from Tallahassee to Nashville.

Pick your town in between those lines there, small or large, college if you like it, lake if you like it, beach if you like it.

This frames Georgia, where you probably will want to avoid inner/greater Atlanta. Come to think of it, just see how close to Georgia you can get, in any other state. Florida and Tennessee do not have income taxes.

Northeast Florida is really the best. Posters above recommending Virginia mountains, that is where I am from but the three worst things are January, February, March, and taxes.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Try Hot Rocks, Arizona. It don't get any gooder.

[Clara Lou]

Anchorage, Alaska, or thereabouts. It is heavenly beautiful winter, spring, summer and fall. The air is sweet.

[timestax]

San Diego County! No doubt the best place in the continental 48 states!!

[The Raven]

Move to the lowest taxed state (I think it's tennessee). Or to the state closest to seceding from the Union and ditching socialism.

[oceanperch]

RIght where we are is good for us. Rural Oregon Coast. Fifteen minutes away from town. Economically indep. and far away from great neighbors.

[Brad C.]

North to Alaska...

Yes it gets cold in the winter, but you can always put more clothes on to get warmer. There is only so much you can take off when your hot, and then you are still hot. (grin)

Hey our largest city has less than 400,000 people, smaller than most suburbs in the lower 48. Little or no taxes, depending on where you live. The absolute best hunting and fishing in the world. For instance, last August I was out fishing with the boys near Valdez. First lure hit the water at 7:32, and we had 42 silver salmon (8-17 lbs each) on board before 8:15. Man that's fun.

Besides, and this is very important. We have the very last pristine coastline left in the United States. But you may want to come up quick to see it, because there are a few of us that want to start punching holes in that ever so fragile tundra, scarring it unrepairably for centuries to come.

To quote our State poet:

"Its not the land, have you seen it? Its the cussedest land that I know. Yet there are some who would never trade it....

[Blake#1]

You should begin by looking for a state. In a state made up with people of your political views you have a chance to maintain your culture. Less so with a city. The Upper Rocky Mountain region comes to mind. Western Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah (single religion) to name some. People that make up FreeRepublic should consider such a move before all states are run by Dems.

[lawdude]

It sure as he** wouldn't be Payson, AZ. Too darn many California types there already. Ya know, they come into town, bitch about just how bad LA is and then try to make Payson look, act, sound, smell, and rot...just like LA. You might try Sedona, AZ, Madison, WI, Boulder, CO or Wash, DC.

Just kidding (read: venting,) but the influx of Caulifornites into the town is disturbing. Payson is great but any number of small western towns are nice. I also like Albuquerqurequey. He** you know what I mean.

[Betteboop]

If you like the feeling of living with your back to a wall--take Long Island. Also, you have to like sand and don't expect to have a lawn. You will also be overrun with yuppies all summer and won't be able to go anywhere without traffic. Also, where do you plan to work?? Out of your home would be a must since you are 150 miles from mid-town. Hey, they don't call it LONG Island for nothing.

[winodog]

I am close to moving to Kingman AZ.

[smith288]

I would recommend Metro Columbus, OH. Alot of superb areas around the outerbelt.

[Clemenza]

Disagree if you wish, but MY pick is New York, NY, the town so nice they named it twice. :-)

Politically: New Hampshire, Nevada and any other state with no state income tax or good gun laws.

Climate: Southern California

People: Colorado

[timestax]

bump