Unutterably Silly Paradise Acres

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Cost of living, climate, culture, population density, landscape, proximity to family, the relative importance of these....too many unknowns, DG. Can you tell us a little more?

A friend of mine retired a few years ago and their daughter (who was interested in moving, too) did a thorough study of all the above and came to the conclusion that for them the best place to move to was northern Idaho. I'm not recommending it but I do recommend the process of carefully thinking about what's most important to you and considering all your options. You might be surprised at what you find. I haven't yet done that for my wife and me but I intend to.

My mom drove through Idaho on the way to Canada a few years back and was raving about how beautiful some city in Idaho was, I think Couer d'Alene.

I like where I live in St. Tammany Parish (County to you Yankees), Louisiana. It has the weather you are looking for as far as mild or no winters and plenty of heat and humidity. Also, as long as your are N. of the I-12 and not right by one of the little, sandy-bottomed rivers, you aren't going to flood. However, in these days of climate change and coastal erosion, a hurricane can certainly blow your roof off or put a tree on your house. Pros include being less than 50 miles away from NOLA and only about 4 hours away from great Florida beaches. Cons include a lot of suburban sprawl and the possibility of hurricanes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8947351...57601369547242

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8947351...7601369547242/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8947351...7601369547242/

[vivaldirules]

I personally wouldn't worry much about natural disasters. Their occurrence rate is pretty low in most places even though they are inevitable. I wouldn't want to spend my life trying to hide from them. For me, the only exception might be near the coast in Florida. I'm not sure what the statistics say but I'd guess the frequency of personal disasters might be highest there and probably unacceptable for me, anyway.

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I personally wouldn't worry much about natural disasters. Their occurrence rate is pretty low in most places even though they are inevitable.

You know, 5 years ago I would have agreed with you. Here in the southern U.S., though, the incidence of storms major enough to cause significant damage has really SEEMED to increase, and I think I've read a few meteorological reports that confirm that statistically. I dunno -- now I think twice about where I'm going to be when I hear a line of storms is approaching, and I never used to worry about it. "Indoors" was good enough, just to avoid getting wet. Now, trees are blown over with great regularity, even without tornadoes. Our weather is just more severe, somehow.

[DixieGal]

Tim vetoed the Pacific NW because of it being too far from the few family members we have. (I liked it for that reason! ) he wants SE Florida, our "home away from home." We have weathered a couple of h'canes, no big deal compared to the EF5 tornadoes that we have survived twice now.

Both Chapel Hill and the east TN mountain region of NC are lovely. How is the status of taxes, public transport, proximity to beaches, housing market.

We like cities.

[DixieGal]

We have friends in beautiful Young Harris, GA. We could mine for gems and teach at William Holland Institute. They are aching for instructors. The Old Guard of lapidary artists are dying out. The age group of Tim and me are trying to learn the art before it is lost.

Scratch that. I forgot about being blind and not able to do that anymore.

Next suggestion?

[poohbear_nc]

Both Chapel Hill and the east TN mountain region of NC are lovely. How is the status of taxes, public transport, proximity to beaches, housing market.

Both of these areas, as well as most of NC, have an "interesting split personality." You'll find high-end real estate bordered by lower valued areas - a lot of formerly agricultural land and old farms are being sold off for development as the heads of farming families die off, especially old tobacco farms. Anything in or near a "college town" will be over-priced. Chapel Hill is a 3-4 hour drive from the coast.

Western NC suffered greatly from NAFTA, when most of the furniture manufacturing moved to Mexico. It is recovering slowly - lots of mountain land was bought up to be developed as "luxury" home sites. The new growth industry there is retirement homes and health care for the retiring baby boomers. You might want to look at areas around Boone, and thereabouts.

[covingtoncat73]

You know, DG, the little town (not so little now) where I grew up has a nice little art scene and music happenings. Like I said, less than 50 miles from NOLA, so you can experience Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras and other city happenings. It has a lot of suburban sprawl now but still some lovely countryside and woods (see the pic links above). Anyway, maybe I found you a house? There is the "Fall for Art" and "Spring for Art" festivals, free concerts at the landing, music at the Saturday Farmer's market that can be very good due to NOLA proximity, a monthly "block party" on the final friday, etc. etc. Anyway, I think I found you a house!

http://realestate.nola.com/RealEstat...d_id=489896206

[Greg Anos]

DixieGal, I'll give you the Texas choices. (Quiet VR!)

I would say the San Antonio-Austin-Texas Hill Contry Triangle.

San Antonio, is cheaper, but more...ahem...redneck.
Austin, is more expensive, but much more metropolitan (read Liberal).
The Texas Hill country is north of San Antonio, west of Austin. Quite scenic with various small towns. Think Ricky Maveety, except she moved to one of the biggest snob pockets in all of Texas.

Climate is hot and relatively humid from May 1 to Oct 15. Green Christmases (no freeze before Christmas) are not unheard of in San Antonio. Winter temps are highly variable, wth a warmup of several weeks usual sometime between Jan 1 and Feb 15, During the warmup, high temps of 70's are normal and often the 80's (and low humidity). This is the Picnic time for the natives, (no bugs/snakes).

While there are tornados that occur there they are few and far between. You are basically out of Tornado Alley.

The North Padre Island/Corpus Christi area is 150 miles away from downtown San Antonio, freeway all the way. A hard day trip. Corpus itself is out, It's become a Rustbelt type town.

For more details. Just ask. I know S.A. very well. Austin has grown so much in the last 30 years I don't know it very well.

Rocks in the area are mostly Creatceaous Limestones and marls, (marine fossils). The top of the Hill Country has igneaous rocks and metamorphics.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

DixieGal, I'll give you the Texas choices. (Quiet VR!)

I would say the San Antonio-Austin-Texas Hill Contry Triangle.

San Antonio, is cheaper, but more...ahem...redneck.
Austin, is more expensive, but much more metropolitan (read Liberal).
The Texas Hill country is north of San Antonio, west of Austin. Quite scenic with various small towns. Think Ricky Maveety, except she moved to one of the biggest snob pockets in all of Texas.

Climate is hot and relatively humid from May 1 to Oct 15. Green Christmases (no freeze before Christmas) are not unheard of in San Antonio. Winter temps are highly variable, wth a warmup of several weeks usual sometime between Jan 1 and Feb 15, During the warmup, high temps of 70's are normal and often the 80's (and low humidity). This is the Picnic time for the natives, (no bugs/snakes).

While there are tornados that occur there they are few and far between. You are basically out of Tornado Alley.

The North Padre Island/Corpus Christi area is 150 miles away from downtown San Antonio, freeway all the way. A hard day trip. Corpus itself is out, It's become a Rustbelt type town.

For more details. Just ask. I know S.A. very well. Austin has grown so much in the last 30 years I don't know it very well.

Rocks in the area are mostly Creatceaous Limestones and marls, (marine fossils). The top of the Hill Country has igneaous rocks and metamorphics.

Don't forget, RSE, Glen Rose with its dinosaur tracks and fossils is a fairly short trip (150/200 miles) from either SA or Austin, too. (Being rockhounds/lapidarists they might like that). I say "fairly" short, because in Texas we measure distance differently, it seems. I have driven two hours each way for lunch with a friend in Texas and thought nothing of it, something that makes my inlaws up here shake their heads and question my sanity.

[kindlekitten]

too bad Time has dismissed the PAC NW. after all, once you are on a plane, it's just air travel

[Greg Anos]

But you can't bake in the 95 degree heat in the Pac NW.

(I'm not real happy 'til he thermometer hit 85F)...

[Xenophon]

I've been very happy here in Pittsburgh for quite a while. If your image of the city is still steel mills and smoke, it's way out of date!

We have relatively inexpensive real estate, all the cultural amenities of a *really* big city, big league sports (for those who care), great universities and medicine, a thriving high-tech community, etc. But it comes with the advantages of a smaller city in terms of cost of living, commuting time, etc.

For a few examples:

• Libby and I regularly attend the best early-music concert series in the country -- it's 10 minutes from our front door.
• The nation's top venue for recording live Jazz performances (the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild) also runs a Jazz concert series... fifteen minutes from home.
• Symphony, ballet, opera, etc. -- 15 minutes from home, although these aren't really my thing.
• Something like a dozen professional theater companies around the city. There's almost always a performance to go to if that's what floats your boat.
• Major museum complex (thanks to Andrew Carnegie).
• Top-notch library system -- ditto.
• Tons of outdoor activities within a few hours drive -- whitewater, rock climbing, hiking, etc. (I admit that the skiing is relatively lousy, however.)

As always, your mileage may vary, and your particular list of desirable attributes is probably different from mine. If you want to know more, drop me a line.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Don't forget, RSE, Glen Rose with its dinosaur tracks and fossils is a fairly short trip (150/200 miles) from either SA or Austin, too. (Being rockhounds/lapidarists they might like that). I say "fairly" short, because in Texas we measure distance differently, it seems. I have driven two hours each way for lunch with a friend in Texas and thought nothing of it, something that makes my inlaws up here shake their heads and question my sanity.

Lot's of roadtrip length things to do from that area. Goldwaithe and all the commercial Pecan orchards (which sell to the public) are 150-200 miles away. Palmetto park is only 60 miles east of S.A., and south and east of S.A. is the oak belt, with some of the prettiest wildflowers in Texas during the season. Fossil wood is common 70 miles south of S.A. There's even been Gold and silver (very small quantities) found in the igneous areas of the Hill Country.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

I've been very happy here in Pittsburgh for quite a while. If your image of the city is still steel mills and smoke, it's way out of date!

We have relatively inexpensive real estate, all the cultural amenities of a *really* big city, big league sports (for those who care), great universities and medicine, a thriving high-tech community, etc. But it comes with the advantages of a smaller city in terms of cost of living, commuting time, etc.

For a few examples:

• Libby and I regularly attend the best early-music concert series in the country -- it's 10 minutes from our front door.
• The nation's top venue for recording live Jazz performances (the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild) also runs a Jazz concert series... fifteen minutes from home.
• Symphony, ballet, opera, etc. -- 15 minutes from home, although these aren't really my thing.
• Something like a dozen professional theater companies around the city. There's almost always a performance to go to if that's what floats your boat.
• Major museum complex (thanks to Andrew Carnegie).
• Top-notch library system -- ditto.
• Tons of outdoor activities within a few hours drive -- whitewater, rock climbing, hiking, etc. (I admit that the skiing is relatively lousy, however.)

As always, your mileage may vary, and your particular list of desirable attributes is probably different from mine. If you want to know more, drop me a line.

But it's not hot and humid. (I've been there in the winter...)

[pholy]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

But you can't bake in the 95 degree heat in the Pac NW.

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

But it's not hot and humid. (I've been there in the winter...)

And these are bad because...?

I start wilting at 80 F, dry or humid... Even Toronto is getting too warm in the summer.