Where would you live?...

[seabee]

Jim and I have been talking about wanting to move.We'd like to move south. The weather would be much better on Jim, more things in the area then what we have here, and from what I can see, homes cost less. Plus our school system here leaves a lot to be desired. We send the kids to private school because the only other option would be homeschooling, the public elementary school is that bad. Our property taxes just went up $1000! It is ridiculous. So as I was checking places on the internet it got me thinking. Where is the one place you would want to move? Or would you stay right where you are? Why?

 

[RvUsa]

Alaska, I love cold and snow, it doesn't love me or my arthritis, but I love it anyway! But I kinda like it here, so I think we will stay for a while. LOL

 

[Born 2 Fish]

The CARIBBEAN
Yeah man, thats what I'm talk'n bout !

 

[seabee]

Think of the fish you could catch there!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Yeah man, That would be the life !

Tennessee is a nice place to live,,some of the public schools are pretty good, we live very close to a private school that is ranked high in the nation,but it still gets chilly here in winter, altho the winters don't last long.

 

[clkelley]

As far as quality of life. Where we live in North Alabama is great!!

Housing is reasonable, (and not losing value either) property taxes are cheap, TVA utilities are cheap. Weather is pretty good. We do get a couple of weeks of pretty cold, but other than that it's great.

The schools are pretty good depending on what part of town you live in.

For an example, our house is 1500 SF in a subdivision, worth about $150K, 3BR, 2BA all brick, double car garage, 1/4 acre lot, 5 minutes from shopping, good jobs, property taxes of less than $1000, utilities run about $250 a month. (Hopefully will go down as soon as we get our new windows installed.)

 

[seabee]

That would be great. Some place we wouldn't have to heat 3/4 of the year! Woo Hoo! Plus even a milder winter would be better for Jim. He has a hard time going out here with the slush and snow, and COOOOLD. His joints stiffin right up in the winter.

 

[seabee]

As far as quality of life. Where we live in North Alabama is great!!

Housing is reasonable, (and not losing value either) property taxes are cheap, TVA utilities are cheap. Weather is pretty good. We do get a couple of weeks of pretty cold, but other than that it's great.

The schools are pretty good depending on what part of town you live in.

For an example, our house is 1500 SF in a subdivision, worth about $150K, 3BR, 2BA all brick, double car garage, 1/4 acre lot, 5 minutes from shopping, good jobs, property taxes of less than $1000, utilities run about $250 a month. (Hopefully will go down as soon as we get our new windows installed.)

Just our electric bill was $280 this month!!!

 

[clkelley]

Just our electric bill was $280 this month!!!

Most of that was electric. We don't have gas. Water averages about $30 and garbage is $17.50. We're on a septic, so no sewer, but usually they just double the water bill if you are on sewer.

 

[ram101]

Our property taxes just went up $1000! It is ridiculous.

Does that include school taxes?? We will pay between $4200-4500 this year in combined taxes for our home. Our property taxes from the school dist alone are $3400. Schools are great though!!

 

[Shannone1]

We've always loved Michigan. Average summer temp is not too hot where we live...82 Average winter temp isn't too cold...41. Each of the seasons last just about three months so just when you get tired of one season, another one is just around the corner. We have more coastline than FL or CA without the hurricanes, mudslides, wildfires or HUGE bugs !!

We can make snowmen and have snowball fights and then warm up around the fire in the winter. Sledding, skiing and snowmobiling are all fun winter sports. Have I mentioned how gorgeous it is with the snow among all the pine trees ?? And I can't imagine living somewhere where you couldn't have a white Christmas. Christmas Eve is magical when it is snowing.

In the spring we can see all the beautiful flowers come up and see everything come back to life. Animals come out from hibernation and nothing feels as good as the first time you can open all the windows and let the fresh breeze in.

Summer brings hot weather for boating/camping/hanging out at the lake/beach. There are so many lakes and beautiful state parks to visit. Lots of private campgrounds too. Traverse City, Ludington and Mackinaw Island are all wonderful and only a few hours away.

Fall is my favorite though. The leaves change colors, we go to the cider mill and pick apples and eat fresh donuts, wear sweatshirts and have bonfires in the backyard, watch football games with friends, carve pumpkins and have the leaves crunch under our feet while we are trick or treating in town among all the historical homes. It gets darker earlier and the house is cozy with candles burning and a fire in the fireplace.

I absolutely LOVE Michigan and I can't imagine living anywhere else

 

[ntsammy5]

The kids love NC, but I think in western VA and WV are beautiful too.

 

[auntie]

Just our electric bill was $280 this month!!!

Sounds like our electric bill here on Long Island..then we add the gas bill. I know how difficult it can be in the cold weather when you're dealing with a wheel chair. My dad now has the motorized wheel chair..but even that's tough going with the snow. ...or slush, and basically crummy winters we have. The winter limits his mobility considerably. I never thought I'd consider moving to a warmer climate..but I would consider it if we could make a living elsewhere. There is THAT to consider. LOL!
I think I'd miss NOTHING of where I live now.(okay..pizza and bagels) Although I would miss upstate NY. I do love the mountains,rivers, pine trees, clear skies, and the stars..well, they're beautiful. I forget how beautiful a night sky can look until I see the Adirondack sky. That's where we have a seasonal campsite. A couple in a site near to us, lived there most of their lives in the area. About 4 years ago, they moved to Florida, and now they keep a seasonal cottage in the campground. Sort of the best of both worlds. He teaches, and they come back to NY about the end of May and he goes back to Fl. in August. His wife goes back to Florida in Sept. Needless to say they have family in the area also..so it's a nice compromise of living in two places. Best of both states if you ask me. I'd love to be able to do something like that.

 

[auntie]

The kids love NC, but I think in western VA and WV are beautiful too.

Quite a few people from where I live,(Long Island) have made the move to NC in recent years. I seem to be hearing more and more of it.

 

[poohbearwithme]

I love this area of Florida but Mobile, AL seems to be where everything is starting to happen. My biggest advice would be stay North of I-10 for better home owners insurance rates. I'm not just talking about Florida, the I-10 advice includes Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and the Texas Coast.

 

[Disney Campers]

I lived in Michigan, Arizona and currently Florida, in Arizona I had the least amount of trouble with my allergies. We are in the Tampa Bay area and I like it, close to south and central Florida, year round camping and NO snow. I have to agree Shannon on the Michigan State parks, got some great memories of Dad taking us camping in Ludington, and all the other state parks around Michigan, but those winter were brutal.

 

[seabee]

Does that include school taxes?? We will pay between $4200-4500 this year in combined taxes for our home. Our property taxes from the school dist alone are $3400. Schools are great though!!

Yup, we pay $4900. It went up $1000 this year. Somehow my house jumped $120,000 from last year, though nothing has changed on the property. That does include the school taxes, it stinks because we don't even use the school system, and it's not great.

 

[seabee]

We've always loved Michigan. Average summer temp is not too hot where we live...82 Average winter temp isn't too cold...41. Each of the seasons last just about three months so just when you get tired of one season, another one is just around the corner. We have more coastline than FL or CA without the hurricanes, mudslides, wildfires or HUGE bugs !!

We can make snowmen and have snowball fights and then warm up around the fire in the winter. Sledding, skiing and snowmobiling are all fun winter sports. Have I mentioned how gorgeous it is with the snow among all the pine trees ?? And I can't imagine living somewhere where you couldn't have a white Christmas. Christmas Eve is magical when it is snowing.

In the spring we can see all the beautiful flowers come up and see everything come back to life. Animals come out from hibernation and nothing feels as good as the first time you can open all the windows and let the fresh breeze in.

Summer brings hot weather for boating/camping/hanging out at the lake/beach. There are so many lakes and beautiful state parks to visit. Lots of private campgrounds too. Traverse City, Ludington and Mackinaw Island are all wonderful and only a few hours away.

Fall is my favorite though. The leaves change colors, we go to the cider mill and pick apples and eat fresh donuts, wear sweatshirts and have bonfires in the backyard, watch football games with friends, carve pumpkins and have the leaves crunch under our feet while we are trick or treating in town among all the historical homes. It gets darker earlier and the house is cozy with candles burning and a fire in the fireplace.

I absolutely LOVE Michigan and I can't imagine living anywhere else

Gees, now you made me not want to leave Maine, we have all that too. Except our winters are a lot colder, and longer.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I f ya'll are serious bout moving and have a list of possibilities that ya'll will visit to check out, and if Tennesse is on your list,,bring some lobster with you,,I'll provide the butter.

 

[des1954]

We have always loved the Tri-Corner area of NW Georgia - and acually were going to move there, twice. The first time --- I chickened out. The second time (just last fall/winter) our house didn't sell - but I was all packed and ready to go. It's probably a lot like where Frank and Denise live.

There are four seasons - all mild and moderate - the people in the area are actually friendly - the taxes are lower than where we are now as are the utilities. The scenery is spectacular!! The area we want to move to is the Ellijay/Blue Ridge/Blairsville region. The tri-corner states are Georgia/NC/Tenn. It's an hour north of Atlanta, and an hour south of Knoxville. I can't comment on schools because I don't have children - except my cats and I've "home schooled" them (LOL)!!

Even though I've lived in Florida for 35 years now (moved here when I was 19) I still long for a crisp, cool, fall day and a little dusting of snow now & then. I grew up in WNY, but really have no desire to go back to that area.

If you like a foresty, rural area with a moderate climate & all the amenities close at hand, I would definitely check out somewhere in the GA/TN/NC mountain region.

If you like high taxes, crowded highways, very high utilities, and crime...check out the central part of Florida from Tampa Bay east thru Daytona Beach.