Are you happy where you are?

[markiver54]

Another Markiver curiosity...
Our members' locations stretch far and wide as you all know.

There are those who endure very harsh weather, endure extreme heat, extreme cold and many other variables.
I am personally happy in the geographic location where I reside. Have lived from coast to coast and north and south in the USA.

Are you satisfied with where you live? ( for those who are...you're blessed ) . How many would re-locate if they could?

At my age, I ain't going anywhere else at this point, but I'm ok with that. RU...?

[Joe.45]

I’m originally from northern Virginia. Company moved me to south Florida 21 years ago. Summers last 6 months here but when I talk to my dad I thank the good lord I no lover live in the Washington DC metro area.

[RanchRoper]

Can't beat the cow country of southwest Alberta. Suits me right down to the ground. It's not for everybody though. Land of extremes; windy most of the time, 30-50mph is normal. Can have hot summers in the 90's, but dry. -30 in winters frequently. But you can't argue with the view....

IMG_9652.JPG (208.6 KiB) Viewed 2795 times

[PT7]

Yes, that view is worth it all. You're looking at the right and best thing, Ranch Roper!
And where everyone is at, their special "views" are there, too.
Just have to look and see them with appreciative eyes and thots.

PT7

Can't beat the cow country of southwest Alberta. Suits me right down to the ground....Land of extremes...you can't argue with the view....IMG_9652.JPG

[BigAl52]

Im in a place where there is four seasons. Im not fond of one of them But theres other issues here Im not fond of either. Id go else where if I could but the wifes kids are here and she isnt about to leave. If the shoe was one the other foot Id feel the same way so Im here and its ok.

[Mistered]

For me it's all about having PUBLIC LAND available nearly out my front door.
In Central Oregon I have the National Forest minutes from my front door and for those of us who have grown up with it we can hardly imagine living any other way.
I can leave my front door and in literally minutes be in the National Forest where I can spend nearly any amount of time doing what I enjoy - camping, off-roading, fishing, hunting, shooting and seeing almost no other people.
I can't imagine what it would be like living in a state with virtually no public land - I mean what the heck do you do if you are an outdoors person and have no place to get away from it all?
I read about how people actually PAY to go 'off road' on private property and have to go to ranges to shoot. Sorry - I could never live in an area where I had to 'pay to play'
Most everybody I know has grown up woods romping, camping, shooting, hunting etc. as a way of life and NOT a novelty.
I'll be staying in Central Oregon - unless I win the lottery and can afford to move to Idaho where it's even more remote - and public.

[BrokenolMarine]

We have lived on our small farm in this rural community for more than twenty five years. It's set up the way we want it and we both have our workshops. We have fifteen acres, and the few properties around us are also rural. Behind us is a state park, across the street is the state forest. Now that I retired and we are ready to really settle in, the political nature of the state is changing, and not for the better.

If need be, we will sell out and move. But we won't like it. If we do, we will look for a larger lot, in a much more rural setting.

[markiver54]

Can't beat the cow country of southwest Alberta. Suits me right down to the ground. It's not for everybody though. Land of extremes; windy most of the time, 30-50mph is normal. Can have hot summers in the 90's, but dry. -30 in winters frequently. But you can't argue with the view....
IMG_9652.JPG

RR...you are definitely one of the blessed ones!!

[markiver54]

Yes, that view is worth it all. You're looking at the right and best thing, Ranch Roper!
And where everyone is at, their special "views" are there, too.
Just have to look and see them with appreciative eyes and thots.

PT7

Can't beat the cow country of southwest Alberta. Suits me right down to the ground....Land of extremes...you can't argue with the view....IMG_9652.JPG

Absolutely PT.. good outlook!!

[JEBar]

while we are happy where we live in NC (Hurricanes and all) our lifestyle allows us to move to other areas that we also enjoy .... Spring and Fall at home in NC, Winter in Texas, Summer in South Dakota .... sooner or later age or something else will force us to settle down but we hope that time is still years and years away

[markiver54]

while we are happy where we live in NC (Hurricanes and all) our lifestyle allows us to move to other areas that we also enjoy .... Spring and Fall at home in NC, Winter in Texas, Summer in South Dakota .... sooner or later age or something else will force us to settle down but we hope that time is still years and years away

It's great that you have those options Jim. I sure wish the wife and I could afford an RV. Happy where we reside, but sure would love to travel as you are able to do. Want to stay on the ground and see the sights. Did enough flying in my younger years. Time to take a slower look and truly enjoy!!

[North Star]

My family moved from Evanston IL when I was two years . Lived in the Baltimore / DC area for the next 30 years and witnessed the whole Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam years. The local news was the national news> Moved to Central PA and never looked back.Started a Bed and Breakfast and raised our kids. Now thirty four years down range, retirement is in the very near future. Two kids living in CA. One moved back and there is potential grandchildren ... After much discussions we think that PA. is the best prospect for the long term... We have rural and short 3 hour drive will place us in any one of 3 major cities. Hunting, hiking camping, and gun friendly state makes it comfortable. I guess the roots will be set down here...

[Mags]

.
Yes and no. Love our rural home and forested property in the Tualatin Valley of Western Oregon.
But...
...as we've gotten older the dark/dreary/wet fall/winter/spring has gotten to be depressing. Not enough days of sun.
...Oregon has the 3rd highest state income tax (nearly 10%) takes a big bite out of IRA/401K/Pension distributions (fortunately no
.........state income tax on SS (yet)). The extra 10% we have to take out to cover state income taxes, pushes us into higher income bracket
.........forcing payment of Medicare Part B & Part D (Rx) IRMAA in addition to regular Medicare.
So we are looking to move and looking at states with...
...more days of sun throughout the year (colder dryer sunny winter is ok, arctic winter temps is not. extreme heat summer is not).
...no income tax on retirement savings.

So currently looking into Nevada, Eastern Washington and Texas as some other places to live.

[Les]

Runcorn is OK, but I definitely miss the South African weather and open spaces.

[ESquared]

I grew up in KC, then went "away" for college, and between those years and my first job, I spent the next dozen years living in 9 different cities in 3 countries, all the while trying to figure out how to get back to KC. Aside from a few years in the PNW (which was one of the parts of the country that I hadn't lived but wanted to, so that was tremendous), I've been back here since '89.

It has four distinct seasons (none of which are crazy harsh for extended periods), it's easy to get around, real estate is reasonable/bargain-ish, the people are very friendly and it's where my family is (all of 'em).

Hard to stay away!

[markiver54]

.
Yes and no. Love our rural home and forested property in the Tualatin Valley of Western Oregon.
But...
...as we've gotten older the dark/dreary/wet fall/winter/spring has gotten to be depressing. Not enough days of sun.
...Oregon has the 3rd highest state income tax (nearly 10%) takes a big bite out of IRA/401K/Pension distributions (fortunately no
.........state income tax on SS (yet)). The extra 10% we have to take out to cover state income taxes, pushes us into higher income bracket
.........forcing payment of Medicare Part B & Part D (Rx) IRMAA in addition to regular Medicare.
So we are looking to move and looking at states with...
...more days of sun throughout the year (colder dryer sunny winter is ok, arctic winter temps is not. extreme heat summer is not).
...no income tax on retirement savings.

So currently looking into Nevada, Eastern Washington and Texas as some other places to live.

Hope you are eventually able to achieve your goals Jim. Can understand based on the issues you have laid out. Must be frustrating because I know it must be beautiful up there.

Even where we are with all four seasons, we have sure come to dislike winter because of our bone barometer.. Have gotten record rainfall this past year, which I don't like either. I would like more sunshine in my life cause of my love of the outdoors!

As I posted though, looks like this will be home till the end...ya never know though; health issues could some day drive us to a warmer, dryer climate, but then, there is family to consider because they are all here. Only one who is not is my Dad still alive at 86 and lives in the Denver area. Only time will tell...

[North Country Gal]

We lived all over the country when I was growing up, but my mother was a born and bred north country gal, so I guess I inherited here love of this great country. All she wanted to do when she retired was go back home to her north woods. She taught me to love the north country, too, so its in my blood, though I also love the wide open spaces of the west.

Life in the north woods of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan is not for those who don't like winter and hide indoors from it, but for those of us who love our winter sports, winter is a blessing and something to be enjoyed. Our long and cold and snowy winters also help to keep the population down, unlike warmer spots to the south that have gotten "discovered" to death. We have two seasons, up here: Winter and a shorter one called Not Winter.

Not too many places left where a gal can XC ski for miles, right out her back door, and have the woods all to herself. This is home to me.

[markiver54]

Wonderful that you are happy NCG! Points well taken...beautiful country up there. You're spot on regarding population being a non-issue. I'm happy for you!

[cooperhawk]

I have live in a lot of places. Minnesota, Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia and back to Minnesota. They all had their good and bad features.

Arizona was really hot in the Summer.
Louisiana was hot int he Summer and damp cold in the Winter.
Maryland wasn't bad, Kinda hot in the Summer but Winters weren't too bad.
Virginia was pretty darn good. Got hot in the Summer but the Winters were pretty mild, and lots of public hunting land.

Back to Minnesota. I was born here and family is here. Nice in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, but whoa, Winters are rough.
Below zero every night for the last two weeks with a lot of snow. Spent all day Thursday moving snow with plow and tractor.
Mostly stay inside.

We live on a small lake in forty acres of woods. Nice. Lots of hunting around here. Gun clubs and ranges too.
Good neighbors. Close enough to the city for food and recreation. Not bad.

But the one single thing that will keep us here forever is the Grandkids. Wife will never leave them, so that's that.

[PT7]

Ah, the grandkids and the wife's love for being near them. My wife would have totally agreed!

Good for you, Cooperhawk, to keep them together.
And not least, your MN 40 acres sounds great, too!
Continue to enjoy.

PT7

I have live in a lot of places. Minnesota, Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia and back to Minnesota. They all had their good and bad features.

We live on a small lake in forty acres of woods. Nice. Lots of hunting around here. Gun clubs and ranges too.
Good neighbors. Close enough to the city for food and recreation. Not bad.

But the one single thing that will keep us here forever is the Grandkids. Wife will never leave them, so that's that.