Where should we live?

Question

I'd like to at least try to live in another state. I currently live in MN and don't really like it! It's too cold! I really want to live somewhere it's warm! I'd like somewhere that is sunny a lot, I don't do well with gloomy weather all the time! I don't want to live in a big city, or in the middle of nowhere, but more like a smaller town with a good hospital close by, for piece of mind. I'd like to have a big yard, possibly a farm. My husband and I were thinking about California, but not set on it. Neither of us has a degree, so we need somewhere we can get by, have a decent job, and not pay all our money for rent/mortgage. It needs to be safe, as we have a 2 year old, and plan on having more children in the future. My husband is in Iraq right now, so we won't be moving for at least a year, but I'd like to look into it now, to see if this is right for us! Thanks!

Answer 1

I love my TEXAS life. Of course I've never lived in another state. But I've been to many, and I like it here. Some of Texas isn't as pretty as the others like Southeast Texas is drab.. That is where I'm at so stay above Interstate 10 about an hour and you'll be just fine. Unless you like the flat lands then Southeast Texas is good. Lumberton Texas has good schools and everything is just around the corner but it is nestled in the woods... Very nice.
We are nice, honest, trusting & helping folks. Down home and we can cook really well..
I've seen alot of the Home shows that tell you the prices around the U S on housing.. Texas is cheaper on all the cost of living.
Try it out for a bit.. Or do some research online on real estate in Texas.
Just DON'T live IN Houston/Dallas/Austin/SanAntonio.. They are way to big for your little one.

Answer 2

We ARE having what the local weatherman has called a "Quality of Life Tax" which is understood as a trade off between mild weather and the many cultural and economic advantages that Minnesota has long offered its residents. Like certain bugs and fungi, the cold has kept less hardy souls away from this state. And recently, it has been -19 F with frequent wind chills under -60 F.

I understand your response to the cold, but I would not agree with you that the weather has been dreary. This Winter has provided some of the most beautiful pristine cold weather, with blue skies and bright sunlight that warms your face ever! Consider going to a tanning salon if you're feeling a little blue, it can help a lot. The wind has been daunting though, and even the St Paul Winter Carnival had to limit its parade to 300 yards Saturday.

I wish you well finding your nirvana. Some people need to live in areas of greater warmth and sunlight. People have been moving to California for over a century for the weather, and the economic factors you need may be difficult for you to find there. But let others share with you about this. If you stay in Minnesota, find a Winter sport that gets you outside in the crisp cold; it makes all the difference in the world. And dress accordingly! You might decide to stay here.

The kind of area you describe is becoming lost in this country with development and increasing population pressure. Kingman, for example, might be a nice place for you now, but with the new bridge across the Colorado River just south of Las Vegas slated for completion in 2010, that whole area will be built up by developers. 50,000 new homes alone in the corridor leading up to Sin City. The rest of Arizona is really no different. The Phoenix area would be a nightmare for you of congestion and development. It's one of the fastest growing areas of the country. What culture shock for you should you move to Texas.

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Answer 3

I just moved from Colorado to Texas. The people in Texas are MUCH friendlier then they are in Colorado. I moved to Colorado originally from Ohio for a job; and absolutely hated Colorado. I had friends move to Texas, and I frequently visited Texas, and always felt comfortable in Texas. The climate is wonderful, the people friendly, home prices affordable (Colorado is WAY expensive for so little house), and the Texas economy seems healthy, Colorado’s economy is depressing. I also thought about Phoenix, Atlanta, Charlotte, or Portland, Oregon; but decided on Texas. I was too worried about finding a family friendly area, and to my surprise my kids adjusted well, met friends quickly, and are doing well in school. Every place has it's pro's and con's, and obviously judging on how many people are moving to Texas, there are more pro's to Texas then there are Con's. If you do decide to move to Texas, there shouldn't be a problem finding a good place to live, there are new home developments all over the place, as well as new apartment complexes, doesn't matter what city you choose, everything seems to be newer. If you find Texas isn't right for you, you might consider Georgia, North Carolina, or New Mexico. All are beautiful states with a reasonable cost of living. The happiest day I had when I lived in Colorado was the day we moved out, the second happiest day was when we arrived in suburban Austin.

Answer 4

California is definitely not for you if you dont want to pay high rent or a high mortgage. You wont get any land there unless you are willing to pay well into the millions. My aunt has a little house near Sacramento that she could sell for over $1.5million. It's only 1200 square feet!
I would recommend looking in Arizona. I have several friends that live in AZ and love it. It's where my family is originally from, so I visit AZ regularly. It seems to have a lot of the aspects you are looking for. Cool winters, great summers, safe areas (just don't live in Phoenix)
Kingman AZ is a nice little city. It's 100 miles away from Vegas. 200 miles from Phoenix. The housing market is low. It has a good hospital. And it's close to California.

Answer 5

Assuming that I am restricted to the United States (which I have traveled to quite often), I would want to live in Oklahoma or Arizona. Arizona is probably less out in the "middle of nowhere" than Oklahoma though. I think that those two states would be good fits according to your list and no one ever thinks of them... I see a lot of people say "Texas," but no one ever thinks of Oklahoma or Arizona...

Alaska would be my third choice which is probably not warm enough...

Washington, D.C. is my next choice. It's very nice (I've visited it several times), and it has a lot of really neat things to see. It has probably got more people than you would like there since you don't want to live in a big city, but it does have the hospitals you want...

Washington state (especially Seattle!) may also be a good choice for you because I've heard that in the winter it rains instead of snows usually. I was there in the summer though, and it was wonderful.

Answer 6

Try central Texas. Warm when it needs to be, just cold enough in winter so that your two year old knows what it is, great culture, lots of farmland and open spaces that seem miles away, but are conveniently located so you can get to a town when you need it and ignore it when you don't. Central Texas sounds like where you want to be. Maybe near New Braunfels, Kyle, or Buda.

Answer 7

I live in the Dallas, Texas area. The weather is great. You get alittle bit of everything without going over board. If it gets to freezing here, that's real cold. I spend April through early October in my swimming pool. Love the weather. California is "TOO" expensive for me..and that's not mentioning the earth quakes.

Answer 8

California is very expensive to live as far as housing and a few other things. Check with different cities and find out what the cost of living is in each city. There are website to check out what the cost to live in each city. Good Luck.

Answer 9

I live in Canada, so I know cold.

That said, I've always been partial to the southwest and think its weather would be great, maybe Nevada, or New Mexico.

http://www.stuffintheair.com/weather-underground-vegas.html

for the latest.

Answer 10

myrtle beach, sc or any of the surrounding areas. huge, commercialized area for jobs, with still that small town feel, especially if you check out the outer areas. and you can't beat the beach.

check out this relocation website: http://www.discoverourtown.com/SC/Myrtle%20Beach/Relocation-174.html