I’m partial to the Blue Ridge mtns where I live in SW VA, but having grown up surrounded by water on Long Island, I am drawn to the sea… just not up there, anymore.
Ha! That must be sarcasm. There are things that I want to do and if done in my blue state would put me in jail but in the next state over would be perfectly legal. State laws vary and often deny my freedoms.
Easy Kentucky, great place to get into the mountains and pretty much everyone minds there bussiness. It’s a red state for the most part. East Tennessee would be great to
Im taking all of the suggestions and then looking at homes for sale on zillow. Still don't get to see how close the nearest costco or walmart or tractor supply is but there are some really nice areas in the middle of the country.
Politics wise it wouldn't work but Northern Vancouver Island has some of the nicest weather. We weren't too hot this summer and we don't get bone chilling cold in the winter. Just a lot of rain between October and March.
I guess I should clarify that I am a US citizen. From what I know of canada, it would be a step even farther backwards in terms of gun rights.
New Hampshire is my all around favorite as far as New England states go. Solidly purple but fanatically independent (outside of the small islands of concrete urbanization). The slogan on the license plates is engrained into the culture. Awesome landscapes, great outdoor opportunities and if you don't mind the winter, the weather is on the cooler side of moderate. My kind of place.
My nearest Walmart, tractor supply, Menards, Bomgarrs and such are all 65-70 miles away, and that’s close enough!
My daughter is in new hampshire right now. Commuting to Portsmouth in Maine for work every day. She'll return late next month. She seems to really like the summer weather there but I imagine winter is a bit cooler.
As someone that is not well travelled and has grown up and raised kids all within a small part of a single state it is a big leap to move away. Almost all of our extended family members are within an hour's drive and we have a decent home already. Following the suggestions in this thread I have confirmed that we can afford a much nicer home in other, more preferrable, parts of the country. Whether that next home is rural on acreage, or more suburban. Part of the problem is choosing how we want to live the next phase of our lives. Do I want more farm animals and livestock responsibilities? More lawn mowing? More isolation, less isolation? When I stop working I will have lots more time to spend on hobbies or maybe I'll try driving a propane truck to deliver fuel to homes. Retirement is a huge change from working parents to something else. The wife will finish out this school year at her job and I'll probably work through the end of 2026 for tax reasons to include obamacare considerations. For now, planning ahead with enough time to visit these places to get a feel for the culture.
As a member of FHC, I think that's almost blasphemous of you... Try saying it out loud once...see if it leaves a bad taste
I like to drive stuff. I like to talk to people and get them what they need. Selling and delivering firewood is fun but less dependable and harder on my body. Propane is year round and clean. Measured. I don't know but I don't think I can just stare at a TV for the next 50 years. I do admit to considering how close neighbors would be in case I got into the wood boiler world.
With the right gasifier boiler, your neighbours won't even know you have one. They burn so clean with dry firewood.
Well your first year of retirement can be traveling and seeing what you like.. my situation is different my wife will be within 30 miles of her grandchildren with or without me..
Do you already possess a CDL license with a Hazmat endorsement? If not, be aware that getting one nowadays is no small matter, or cheap either! Just something else to be considered. Also I don’t know what it would entail to switch your CDL ( if you have one already) from one state to the next
