Where to live?

[brian.austin]

I'm toying with the idea of moving after my lease is up in May. I have no idea where. I might stay here in the Phoenix area, although I'm getting tired of Arizona's metro area.

So I decided to make a list of things I have liked about places I've lived and see what might fit. Perhaps you have some suggestions on where a good place to live might be?

1. Stable or strong IT job market
2. $200,000 can buy a comfortable 3 bed/2 bath, 2000 sq/ft house on 1-2 acres within 45 minutes of an urban area. I'm not looking for a palace nor a fixer-upper (at that price).
3. Seasons. Snow is okay but not necessarily required.
4. Recreational activities. Fishing, canoe/kayak, festivals, hiking, etc..
5. Cultural activity. Theater, art, festivals, etc..
6. Relatively small population. Nearby larger urban areas are okay. I like small towns, under 20,000 people.
7. Relatively conservative values. I'm not looking for a red state or red county. I'm also not looking for a entitlement community like Detroit or some cities in CA.
8. History, including older homes and areas of significant historical impact (at least locally).
9. Relatively good school system. Not because I have kids or plan on it but I've found that a good school system tends to be a barometer of the overall health of a commuity.
10. Must support "shall issue" concealed carry laws and not freak out about a gun on someone's hip.

No California. I won't live there.

EDIT: for those of you just joining us, the list above are REQUIREMENTS, not a wish list, I guess. If it doesn't meet those, I'm not in the market for that location.

EDIT-2: added #10 regarding guns.

[Douglas]

What about just a few hours north in flagstaff? Just from my trip there last year, it seemed like a really nice place. Obviously a few days wouldnt tell me everything about the area. Weather was definitly nicer then Phoenix. (temp wise)

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Douglas

What about just a few hours north in flagstaff? Just from my trip there last year, it seemed like a really nice place. Obviously a few days wouldnt tell me everything about the area. Weather was definitly nicer then Phoenix. (temp wise)

I considered it but it doesn't meet 1 or 2 and isn't really great in the fishing area for 4.

No decent IT jobs outside of government in that area. And AZ government entities are cutting back right now, which adds to the local IT labor supply.

Homes are expensive as well.

Thanks for the input, though.

[korman]

Switzerland meets your conditions except for 2 (it's more usual to rent here).
If you're into the great nature, Norway is also quite interesting.

Korman

[wolfepakt]

If not for #1 I would suggest SE Wyoming.
Not much of an IT market out here.
200K will buy a nice house on 2-40 acres (I have a 1200 ft2 house on 40, paid low 180s)
Denver is an hour and a half - 2 hrs away.
Oh and NO state income taxes, and the max sales tax by Wyo. constitution is 6%.

It is a heck of a lot colder than AZ though!

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by korman

Switzerland meets your conditions except for 2 (it's more usual to rent here).
If you're into the great nature, Norway is also quite interesting.

Korman

I don't speak anything but English. I considered something overseas but language would be an issue.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by wolfepakt

If not for #1 I would suggest SE Wyoming.
Not much of an IT market out here.
200K will buy a nice house on 2-40 acres (I have a 1200 ft2 house on 40, paid low 180s)
Denver is an hour and a half - 2 hrs away.
Oh and NO state income taxes, and the max sales tax by Wyo. constitution is 6%.

It is a heck of a lot colder than AZ though!

I grew up in Michigan. A good day in January was 4-6 hours of ice fishing in the morning while finishing the day up with some slope time.

However no IT market means no income without a total career change. I'd rather be stable in a location before going that route.

[jc77]

Oh I love southeastern Wyoming! Love love love!! I might consider moving there sometime myself

I'd say come to Montana but our job market is nill right now.

[wolfepakt]

If you want to look and see what is around in WY wyomingatwork.com You might find some IT type stuff with the state or at the Univ of Wyo in Laramie.

The biggest weather downfall out here is the ........ wind (insert explicative at dots!)

[cwhite]

Try the Northern Virginia area for a job....lots there.

Housing right there is pricey but if you go outside of the metro area it's better.

Great schools but stay away from the DC area.....

Some snow but not much.

Lots to do re your sports and fun you mentioned. Shenandoah Nat Park an hour away.

Tons of culture in the DC area and surrounds. Wonderful restaurants, wineries, museums, etc...too numerous to mention. Also the area is very culturally diverse, which I like.

You could find a small town with conservative values in a bedroom community to the city or Northern VA.

History Tons!!!!

I lived therefor 30+ years and for the most part enjoyed it all. I was never a crime victim and I went lots of places alone.

Research it and if you have questions pm me....I think for a photographer it is a fantastic place to live.

[Mechoption]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

I'm toying with the idea of moving after my lease is up in May. I have no idea where. I might stay here in the Phoenix area, although I'm getting tired of Arizona's metro area.

So I decided to make a list of things I have liked about places I've lived and see what might fit. Perhaps you have some suggestions on where a good place to live might be?

1. Stable or strong IT job market
2. $200,000 can buy a comfortable 3 bed/2 bath, 2000 sq/ft house on 1-2 acres within 45 minutes of an urban area. I'm not looking for a palace nor a fixer-upper (at that price).
3. Seasons. Snow is okay but not necessarily required.
4. Recreational activities. Fishing, canoe/kayak, festivals, hiking, etc..
5. Cultural activity. Theater, art, festivals, etc..
6. Relatively small population. Nearby larger urban areas are okay. I like small towns, under 20,000 people.
7. Relatively conservative values. I'm not looking for a red state or red county. I'm also not looking for a entitlement community like Detroit or some cities in CA.
8. History, including older homes and areas of significant historical impact (at least locally).
9. Relatively good school system. Not because I have kids or plan on it but I've found that a good school system tends to be a barometer of the overall health of a commuity.

No California. I won't live there.

EDIT: for those of you just joining us, the list above are REQUIREMENTS, not a wish list, I guess. If it doesn't meet those, I'm not in the market for that location.

Looks like a shopping list for Vancouver, BC. Although you'd need to live out in the burbs to hit #2 and #6

[SquirrelDip]

Originally Posted by Mechoption

Looks like a shopping list for Vancouver, BC. Although you'd need to live out in the burbs to hit #2 and #6

Close... Sounds a bit more like Kamloops/Kelowna... (3 or 4 hours east of Vancouver)

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Mechoption

Looks like a shopping list for Vancouver, BC. Although you'd need to live out in the burbs to hit #2 and #6

This reminds me: I forgot the guns thing.

I ain't givin' them up.

Adding to the list...

[verdesardog]

Look at North Bend Washington...

[Killjoy]

Not all counties in CA are DNI (Do Not Issue) for CCW permits.
Some of the more rural areas in fact are "Shall Issue". With much of the rest of what you want.
Reasonable home prices, fishing, kayaking, parks, history, good schools, etc, etc, etc.

But alas, you did say No to California.

[wolfepakt]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

This reminds me: I forgot the guns thing.

I ain't givin' them up.

Adding to the list...

Now there is a man after my own heart.
They can have my guns when they pry them from my cold dead hands!

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

Not all counties in CA are DNI (Do Not Issue) for CCW permits.
Some of the more rural areas in fact are "Shall Issue". With much of the rest of what you want.
Reasonable home prices, fishing, kayaking, parks, history, good schools, etc, etc, etc.

But alas, you did say No to California.

Honestly, the whole politics thing in CA makes me even more irritable than I usually am. And the traffic stinks.

Nice place to visit but I'm not living there.

[aam1234]

if you are willing to live outside of the US, I would suggest Australia or New Zealand. My friends say great things about these two places.

The gun thing might be a problem though.

[Douglas]

To my knowledge, which I admit isnt all that extensive, I dont think there are too many countries like the US who are as liberal with their gun use laws. As an aside and dont want to take this off on a tangent, on another board, someone was mad at Obama because he doesnt do more to take steps to make sure things like what happened at Fort hood dont happen again. Like repeal the 2nd ammendment. First, he doesnt have the power (thank goodness no 1 person has that much power) and 2nd, I could only imagine what would happen if he or any president did.

But back on track, what about the NW? I dont know the IT situation, but Oregon is nice. You can find some temperate areas in the center, but still have the coast close by, or in winter drive to some of the heavier snowy areas in the US only an hour or so away from areas that dont get snow. And the prices are reasonable from what Ive seen. That would cover 2-6. But its more of a liberal state and I dont know the gun laws there.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Douglas

To my knowledge, which I admit isnt all that extensive, I dont think there are too many countries like the US who are as liberal with their gun use laws. As an aside and dont want to take this off on a tangent, on another board, someone was mad at Obama because he doesnt do more to take steps to make sure things like what happened at Fort hood dont happen again. Like repeal the 2nd ammendment. First, he doesnt have the power (thank goodness no 1 person has that much power) and 2nd, I could only imagine what would happen if he or any president did.

You're right about the gun laws elsewhere. Plus living overseas usually requires some pretty stringent visa requirements, such as guaranteed employment, income levels, etc.. It's not really on the table.

But back on track, what about the NW? I dont know the IT situation, but Oregon is nice. You can find some temperate areas in the center, but still have the coast close by, or in winter drive to some of the heavier snowy areas in the US only an hour or so away from areas that dont get snow. And the prices are reasonable from what Ive seen. That would cover 2-6. But its more of a liberal state and I dont know the gun laws there.

Oregon's gun laws are almost identical to Arizona's. There has been an influx of CA people into the state, though, and the political landscape is shifting to even further in the blue. Oregon has always been fairly liberal socially but conservative in other areas. That appears to be changing from what I've heard.

Unfortunately, outside the Portland area, IT opportunities are rather limited. In the Portland area, lots of IT possibilities but real estate sucks.

It was a consideration. I actually had a line on a Director position at a rural hospital along the coast but never followed up on it.