PREP If you were going to move out West, where would you live and why?

Palmetto

Palmetto

Son, Husband, Father
A question for the board:

If you could move anywhere in the Western United States, and family, money, a job, et. Al. were not a concern, where would you move to live the next 40 years and why?

Factors include living a self-sufficient lifestyle, a freedom minded community, ability to grow food (good growing season) and live off the land so-to-speak.

Would you suggest the mountains or a river valley?

Curious minds want to know.

Palmetto
 
WildDaisy

WildDaisy

God has a plan, Trust it!
Utah. More "like minded" prepared people out there, open spaces, less people, less liberals.
 
Jonas Parker

Jonas Parker

Hooligan
Right where we are, Palmetto. East Texas has a long growing season, lots of lakes and rivers, very "gun-friendly" laws including "the castle doctrine", low taxes and a low cost of living, and mostly like-minded folks if you stay rural or in the small towns. The big cities are, well, like all big cities - great places to be far away from if/when TSHTF. Feel free to come over and visit. We can point you to several places that might suit your needs. PM me and I'll send you our address and phone number.


Texas is a very accepting place (heck, we let Dennis in, didn't we?) ;)
 
N

Nobody

Member
I always thought New Mexico would be nice, but I would have to research that a lot more. However, I'm leaning towards staying in Texas. I've been thinking a lot about East Texas as the area where I would set up a self sufficient homestead. The reasons being the ones Jonas Parker mentioned above. Another real big reason for staying here is that Texas has no state income tax.
 
B

bakodgid

Contributing Member
Idaho County. I don't live there, but have been there a few times. There is plentiful water, game, forest. Growing season is good for gardens. Minimal county regulation including zoning. The people seem to be very freedom minded.
 
ainitfunny

ainitfunny

Saved, to glorify God.
Western Washington State. Right where I am. We studied the world when we got the choice to move anywhere free for our final move after retirement from the Air Force. We had never been here but it came up top of the list for everything. Recreation, Employment, Education, No Income tax, Ocean, Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Culture, Temperate climate,... never too hot never too cold, No Tornadoes, No Hurricanes, Not outrageous property tax if you live in the suburbs. Good roads, good parks, pools, zoos, aquariums, home prices run a little higher than elsewhere but understandably so.
Here we have good Concealed carry laws, and other than the utter annihilation of the once thriving commercial fishing and timber industries here by the "helpful" FEDERAL folks at EPA and other destructive Federal power abusers, there is little to no obvious signs of the dying economy here, no vast tracts of vacant businesses, no great collections of vacant homes, or large areas of dying communities.

The BIGGEST disadvantage to living here is the extremely frequent rain and coolness. Some people just cant handle that. But when the sun DOES shine, which DOES happen frequently, you find you have made your residence in Heaven. Consequently, "rain" does not cancel ANY activity here, just make sure you take your vitamin D pills and keep an umbrella or rain slicker in the car at all times.
 
T

Troke

On TB every waking moment
The next 40 years? Well, the first thing you do is run down to your local primary school and look at the make-up of the children there. That is the next 40 yrs.

Then start deciding.
 
dstraito

dstraito

TB Fanatic
there are beautiful spots all over the United States but I can't imagine living anywhere but Texas. I could probably live in Hill Country, by the Ocean, in East Texas or by one of the many lakes. I'm not planning on staying in a big metroplex but I'll have to wait until I retire to move.
 
G

gelatinous

Eyes WIDE Open
Can't fathom anybody recommending the west coast. The libs are as thick as the black flies on another thread. The eastern parts of Oregon and Washington are certainly more conservative, but you're still ruled by the BS from Salem and Olympia. After living in Oregon over twenty years, and being raised in Washington state, my opinion is if you want beautiful scenic land and can keep your head in the sand over the political landscape you MIGHT like it here. But if you have even the slightest conservative persuasion you better look at Idaho. The libs dominate almost everything in both states. Common sense was thrown out the window years ago when a healthy timber industry was shut down over a bird.
 
D

Delta

Has No Life - Lives on TB
While I've never been there, I am drawn to Alpine Texas, simply for the weather. I am so tired of being cold. And Alpine is high enough (4514') that it doesn't really get hot and muggy like the rest of Texas. It does have rail service to the rest of the world. It has more rain than where I am now, and certainly a long growing season. And, in case you like late evenings, it is at the western edge of its timezone. There are nice mountains nearby.
 
Fred's Horseradish

Fred's Horseradish

Membership Revoked
We (I now) bought this place in 1981. I feel it is a Godgiven ideal setup. On the edge of the wilderness, but on a 3 lane highway 30 miles NE of Red Bluff.
No one on the backside for miles. I can easily get out to deliver.
 
Maryh

Maryh

Veteran Member
Sierra Vista, Az or Flagstaff,Az. I know it sounds silly with all the border problems but I have never been to a place that you feel like you can touch the stars at night. The nights are beautiful. In the rainy season, the storms coming over the mountains are a wonder. Sierra Vista is a higher elevation than Tucson, therefore, it is cooler. My military daughter still owns a house there and if it weren't for the grandkids in Ohio, I'd be renting from her in a minute!
 
Ender

Ender

Inactive
bethshaya said:
Utah. More "like minded" prepared people out there, open spaces, less people, less liberals.
Click to expand...

Agree- PLUS:

Well managed state, financially, good gun laws, silver & gold now alternative currency, prepared communities with a willingness to help those less fortunate, hard-workers, and well-educated.
 
Wildweasel

Wildweasel

F-4 Phantoms Phorever
I looked hard at Dillon, MT about ten years ago or more. Never got to go check the place out, but my researched showed the area around town was very promising for a relocation spot.

Places I've visited that also look good for a b/o relocation site are Cloudcroft, NM and the southern Indiana hill country. However, I tend to think that any location suficiently far enough away from the urban centers (200+ mi) and the major highways (10 mi) will be far enough away from the majority of any troubles that are comingf our way.

The again, if I win the lottery and have basically unlimited funds I'm sure I could find someplace extremely desireable and defendable. Maybe an abandoned Nike missile site somewhere or such.

WW
 
B

blueridge

...
Maryh said:
Sierra Vista, Az or Flagstaff,Az. ...
Click to expand...



Both are interesting spots - BUT...

Sierra Vista is somewhat isolated (by mtns, etc.) and VERY near the Mex. border - illegals come up the valley - supposedly encouraged by some in SV...also helps to be in the military or retired from it.

Flagstaff: be prepared for relatively high housing $$$ and 100 inches of snow a year...other than that...
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Depends on what you mean by "west". I'd live in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho or New Mexico. And of course, Texas (the best shape economically IMO).
 
cleobc

cleobc

Veteran Member
I like it right where I'm at in Nevada, in a small farming valley an hour and a half from any city. But if I needed to choose again, it would probably be eastern or northwestern New Mexico or Klamath Falls, Oregon, places I've been to a lot and know something about.
 
pops88

pops88

Girls with Guns Member
I'm about an hour north of Flagstaff. It's where I do my "big" shopping. Flagstaff is a nice town. I've been very happy in this area for the last year, and would be happy to stay, but have to move this summer. I'm not at as high an elevation, so didn't get much snow, while Flagstaff does get a lot. The stars at night are beautiful and the sunsets are incredible. We get a lot of beautiful wild flowers and plants. We have open and concealed carry. There is a lot of tourist traffic to the Grand Canyon on the state route in my area during summer, but hardly any during winter. I figure it's a good bug out place- middle of no where and not many people around. I'd be happy anywhere around this area. I'd love to build a house here. I should add that I've lived in Ohio, PA, NJ, NV, HI.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
My area is breath-takingly beautiful. The natural setting is dramatic with lots of wildlife. The people are conservative, with a strong backbone. Many have generational ties back to the gold miners. Agriculture is the primary economy and there are lots of forested areas. There are strong family and religious values.

That said, the state and federal government are doing their best to permanently destroy the economy with land set-asides and regulations. There is insufficient funding to operate government services. Most of the ambitious young people have left. Lots of retirees moving in. There is also a group of people with intergenrational poverty, child and sex abuse - many who are meth addicts. It snows in the winter and the growing period is too short unless you live in the County seat.
 
R

RJC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
El Paso County, Colorado, In the the eastern foothills of Pikes Peak. It is among the majestic spots of this world, imposing grandeur. Sometimes harsh wintertime blizzards, however it has been said you see the sun 360 days out of a year. Negative is that it is the foremost target in a nuclear war.
 
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Hansa44

Hansa44

Justine Case
Lincoln City, Oregon. I lived there 10 years and never tired of it. The beaches are pristine, the ocean can be wild, it rarely gets hot and stays around the mid 70's.

If I want a day in the big city, I'd drive to Portland. Even the drive was spectacular almost every direction.

Unfortunately work is limited. It is a tourist town but has everything I needed.
 
rafter

rafter

Since 1999
Estes Park, Co for the wildlife, and recreation. Salida/ Buena Vista Colorado area for the banana belt for growing stuff and gold prospecting. Both are great for off grid.

Rockies are calling me home too....'The mountains are calling and I must go.....'
 
SurvivalRing

SurvivalRing

Rich Fleetwood - Founder - author/coder/podcaster
Wind River Basin, Wyoming...many of the best qualities of most of the states mentioned, jobs abound, plentiful wildlife and fish, nearly 4 month growing season (year round for indoor container gardening), plentiful wind and solar for off grid power, at the foot of the Rockies (check out Lander...one of the top places in the nation for outdoor sporting (fishing and hunting)).

Yep, it gets darn cold here in the winter (but it ain't killed me in 11 years, so I'm staying...). We're 150 miles from the nearest interstate, have access to fast internet, local college, lots of local businesses covering anything you need (and the net for the rest).

Gun laws are second to none...4th state in the US to allow concealed carry without a permit. ( http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnew...oming-adopts-constitutional-carry-of-firearms )

We've raised our kids here, and now helping with our grandkids...love it.

Rich
 
pops88

pops88

Girls with Guns Member
In the summer of 1995 six monks arrived in the southern Arizona desert to establish St. Anthony’s Monastery, carrying with them the sacred, millenial heritage of the Holy Mountain, Athos.
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St. Anthony's Monastery

Supposedly they were told by God to move there and start a church. A number of people believe areas of Arizona will be safe areas when TSHTF.
 
Spooky

Spooky

Contributing Member
Live in an RV in Arizona... follow the weather.... Desert in the winter, mountains in the summer. The weather is great.... solar panels work great... gun laws are wonderful.... everyone is a dog lover.... Lots of places to go to when TSHTF.... Elk and mule dear in the mountains.

I'm campground hosting on Mingus mountain (Black Hills) right now and have met A LOT of great people!

Night viewing of the stars is awesome in the desert!
 
Bad Hand

Bad Hand

Veteran Member
Colorado sucks especially the front range I was born and raised there I left when it became Kalifornicated. Before that happened it was the best state in the US you couldn't beat the hunting, fishing or trapping. I had to move to get away from the Kalifornicators but they followed me here. Since the housing bust though most of them have gone broke and the houses they bought are in foreclosure so the majority have them have left now if the rest will just leave.
 
Hansa44

Hansa44

Justine Case
Bad Hand said:
Colorado sucks especially the front range I was born and raised there I left when it became Kalifornicated. Before that happened it was the best state in the US you couldn't beat the hunting, fishing or trapping. I had to move to get away from the Kalifornicators but they followed me here. Since the housing bust though most of them have gone broke and the houses they bought are in foreclosure so the majority have them have left now if the rest will just leave.
Click to expand...

Yep...They did the same thing in Oregon. Sold their CA. homes, came to Oregon and prices skyrocketed. Way beyond the means of Oregonians. Except...there were few jobs to go with all their cash.
 
B

Buster

Inactive
Spooky said:
Live in an RV in Arizona... follow the weather.... Desert in the winter, mountains in the summer. The weather is great.... solar panels work great... gun laws are wonderful.... everyone is a dog lover.... Lots of places to go to when TSHTF.... Elk and mule dear in the mountains.

I'm campground hosting on Mingus mountain (Black Hills) right now and have met A LOT of great people!

Night viewing of the stars is awesome in the desert!
Click to expand...

Many people do not realize the advantages of your strategy. The Sonoran Desert is about as good as it gets for 5 months a year. Also, Arizona has several mid altitude areas such as the Verde Valley, Patagonia for example. And in the summer the White Mountains aroundpinetop, Springerville and Alpine are very nice. If it were me, right now, I would check out Payson.
 
pops88

pops88

Girls with Guns Member
Live in an RV in Arizona... follow the weather.... Desert in the winter, mountains in the summer. The weather is great.... solar panels work great... gun laws are wonderful.... everyone is a dog lover.... Lots of places to go to when TSHTF.... Elk and mule dear in the mountains.
Click to expand...

A few days ago, my daughter pointed out a rabbit. I told her I'd seen 3 the day before. She made some nice comment like, "awww." I told her I was thinking, "dinner." My neighbor no longer has airbags after hitting an elk. As for loving dogs- we live in company housing and it came with a dog door and fenced yard. We're about one step up from RV living, but there are a number of RVs here in the national forest. A pilot friend of my husband told him to get an RV and live for free in the national forest like he did. We have one road in with a fork off of it, and a bulldozer.
 
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