Author Topic: Could Use Some Help With Some Research  (Read 4437 times)

Offline Ruff

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Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« on: October 01, 2017, 09:56:05 AM »
Howdy pards,

I am doing some research in preparation of a move. So far it has been more like throwing a dart at a map and I could use some help narrowing down the places that I am going to investigate. The criteria that I am using is about a 2-day drive from Stockton, CA, that puts all the west coast and a far out as San Antonio, Texas, over to Little Rock, Arkansas, then up Jefferson City, Missouri, Des Moines, Iowa, Pierre, South Dakota, to Helena, Montana.

I really don’t want to live on the west coast, and prefer the mountains/foothills to a beach. Some of the other things that using to narrow things down are:

MUST HAVES
Reasonable cost of living
Shopping in area (3 hours max to larger stores)
Small town feel (30,000 people max)   
High speed internet (30MBPS Minimum)
Seasonal weather   
Entertainment opportunities (Meetup groups, movie theatre, concerts coming through, casinos)   

WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE
Mountains in the distance/scenery/view
Educational opportunities   
No state income tax
Good library system   
SASS/NCOWS club in the area   

DEAL BREAKERS
Bad politics
High taxes   
Extremes in weather
Large urban area
Ruff
SASS #16965, WASA #155, NCOWS #3636, GAF #304
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Offline Major 2

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2017, 10:54:07 AM »


Only seven lack an income tax altogether: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas

Extremes in weather ...takes out Alaska, Nevada  and probably South Dakota

two day drive ...takes out Florida

That leaves TEXAS
MUST HAVES
Reasonable cost of living  ...check
Shopping in area (3 hours max to larger stores)  ....check
Small town feel (30,000 people max)   .... plenty of them
High speed internet (30MBPS Minimum) ...its 2017 ....they have HS internet in BFE
Seasonal weather  .... Yep !
Entertainment opportunities (Meetup groups, movie theatre, concerts coming through, casinos) ....check

WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE
Mountains in the distance/scenery/view ...Check
Educational opportunities   ... sure
No state income tax....NOPE
Good library system  ... indeed
SASS/NCOWS club in the area  .... ABSOLUTY

I'd suggest you check out Ft. Davis ,  Alpine , Del Rio ( Excellent Mex. food @ Don Marcelino or Dona Elvira  btw )

see  Davis Mountains or the Guadalupe's


when planets align...do the deal !

Offline Ruff

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2017, 12:01:27 PM »
Howdy Major,

Thanks for the advice. Will start taking a look at the areas suggested. No income tax was in the nice to have but not a must have.

Last year when I got to Oklahoma, the town I was first in 5MBPS was the fastest available and 85% of the time it was 2MBPS or less download.
Ruff
SASS #16965, WASA #155, NCOWS #3636, GAF #304
GHSS CP-088, Oregon Trail Regulators (Nebraska) #7, Cracker Cow Cavalry
RO I & II
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Soon to be Abilene, TX

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #3 on: Today at 05:45:45 PM »

Offline Forty Rod

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2017, 12:29:45 PM »
Ruff, my friend, look at Prescott Valley, AZ.  A bit over your population mark, but I am a ten minute walk from "necessity" shopping, 15 minutes from downtown Prescott, and hour or a bit more from Phoenix or Flagstaff, all sorts of entertainment at very reasonable (free to $50.00) cost, the most gun friendly state there is, dog friendly, rural atmosphere, and the friendliest people anywhere.

Even the climate is good here: nowhere near as hot as the southern part of the state, nor as cold in the winter, four seasons, a few weeks of monsoons every summer and a touch of snow (maybe 20 inches total all of last winter), trail hiking, off road vehicle areas, small boating, fishing, hunting, biking rails, good medical facilities, and veteran support up the ying-yang..... if that's a concern.  A lot of CAS shooters are moving in, have a couple of clubs locally, re-enactors, etc.  You can dress up in your shooting duds and walk down the street and nobody stares, except some tourists and little kids.  Since moving here I've had my picture taken more times than Cary Grant.

I'd be happy to introduce you to my fine community and have room for three or four guests.  Let me know.
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Offline Ruff

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2017, 02:37:00 PM »
Howdy Forty Rod,

The Prescott Valley sounds good. I will have to look at it and see if it is a good fit. 

Do you happen to know what rents run? In the past I have lucked into renting "mother in law" apartments so a house or traditional apartment is not my style, I would also consider a room mate situation.
Ruff
SASS #16965, WASA #155, NCOWS #3636, GAF #304
GHSS CP-088, Oregon Trail Regulators (Nebraska) #7, Cracker Cow Cavalry
RO I & II
Double Barrel C's Land and Cattle Co.
Soon to be Abilene, TX

Offline Forty Rod

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2017, 04:34:53 PM »
let me do some checking.  Are you looking for long term rentals or shorter times?

We got a "vacation rental" when we came here looking for a home... fairly expensive because they were trying to make as much as the could as fast as they could.  It was about $1700.00 for two months with an exorbitant security deposit.

If you're looking for a home for a longer period of time the prices are lower, or at least were three years ago when we moved here.

If you'd rather I can give you the names and numbers of some realtors who are closer in touch than I am.

Looking forward to meeting you and helping you find a solution.

Tom
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Offline Major 2

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2017, 05:19:07 PM »
Prescott Valley, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon , and on up to Flagstaff are all drop dead gorgeous.
 40T Rod is spot on....

I sorta skipped over that area because of your criteria

No state income tax
cost of living 

though favorite retirement destination,  it also shorts  high tourist prices  :(
when planets align...do the deal !

Offline Forty Rod

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2017, 05:41:48 PM »
Prescott Valley, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon , and on up to Flagstaff are all drop dead gorgeous.
 40T Rod is spot on....

I sorta skipped over that area because of your criteria

No state income tax
cost of living 

though favorite retirement destination,  it also shorts  high tourist prices  :(

Sedona has become very expensive, very crowded, and very artsy-fartsy.  Still gorgeous, but not my personal cup of tea.

Flagstaff is nice but high altitude cause it to have brutal winters.  I like Cottonwood almost as much as I like PV, but Prescott City has issues I can't deal with.
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Offline CurlyDrew42

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #8 on: November 03, 2017, 12:17:52 AM »
Albuquerque NM is pretty nice.  If I were going to leave WA state it's on my top three list of places.
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Offline Ruff

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Re: Could Use Some Help With Some Research
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2018, 08:48:05 PM »
Curly Drew,

Albuquerque is a favorite of mine, but is off the list. I suffer from migraines when I was there in March, May and then Reno in July, migraines increased the higher in altitude that I got.

Thank you for the suggestion though.
Ruff
SASS #16965, WASA #155, NCOWS #3636, GAF #304
GHSS CP-088, Oregon Trail Regulators (Nebraska) #7, Cracker Cow Cavalry
RO I & II
Double Barrel C's Land and Cattle Co.
Soon to be Abilene, TX

 

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