Looking for a good state to call home

[Morgan101]

I live on the opposite side of the State from MoBookworm, but I would recommend Missouri. The climate is moderate. We have all four seasons, but Winters aren't as severe as other places. The soil is good, and there is ample water everywhere. The quality of schools will depend on where you live. Higher education is outstanding.

Politically we are a Red State, pretty conservative and gun friendly. Primary industry is Manufacturing, and median income is about $38,000 per year. Taxes are reasonable. Cost of living is right at or slightly below the national average. If you want to do a comparison look up Numbeo Cost of Living. You can compare your location in Florida to almost anywhere in the world.

Hashbrown suggested Southwest Missouri, and I would agree with that. Beautiful part of the State, and far enough away from the big city craziness. Also far enough away from the New Madrid fault that you would never be affected.

Good Luck. Hope this helps.

 

[bamadeb48]

How about Alabama? No? I love TN.. and Mo...

 

[sonya123]

Virginia is a great state too we just like the Florida water and warm climate. We can grow basically all year round and have fish at lest for now. But it is getting over populated and that is never good for resources of any kind.
If the nation wasn't so dangerous now I'd hit the road if I could talk hubby into it but drive bys are not just in the hoods anymore.The environmental protection folks are now adding more obsticles to us every year. So we will just hang in here and see what happens next.

Different people like different things. I absolutely hated Florida, hot, humid, flat , cockroaches, tourists, too many people, crappy soil for gardening . I don't like hot. I think I would rather deal with the cold and snow we have right now than the constant 11 months of hot in Florida. Don't miss the $500 electric bills either one bit. We don't even have any A/C here and it's fine . I would die in Florida without A/C . And I know all about the DEP in Florida, had to deal with them all the time.

 

[Meerkat]

Different people like different things. I absolutely hated Florida, hot, humid, flat , cockroaches, tourists, too many people, crappy soil for gardening . I don't like hot. I think I would rather deal with the cold and snow we have right now than the constant 11 months of hot in Florida. Don't miss the $500 electric bills either one bit. We don't even have any A/C here and it's fine . I would die in Florida without A/C . And I know all about the DEP in Florida, had to deal with them all the time.

I understand it takes getting use to and its sure not for everyone. I can't take real cold winters. Plus the growing season is longer here and soil can be ammended like logs, brush, leaves, manure ,etc..,plus for those with kids may want to think on long term and possible ice age coming.

 

[sonya123]

I understand it takes getting use to

Never!! I lived in Florida most of my life actually but never got used to the heat , actually, it got worse every year . Where did you grow up if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Meerkat]

Never!! I lived in Florida most of my life actually but never got used to the heat , actually, it got worse every year . Where did you grow up if you don't mind me asking?

Georgia which can get quite humid and hot.

 

[PopPopT]

plus for those with kids may want to think on long term and possible ice age coming.

I dunno. I heard about "climate change" back in the 1980's (40 years ago... gulp... feeling old saying that) that was gonna make states like Tennessee tropical, and the oceans were gonna rise so far as to put most of Florida under water. Still waiting on all of that. Hey, I wish Tennessee were a bit more tropical this time of year when it's cold and gloomy.

Otherwise, people are so mobile today that they can move across the state, across the country, sometimes across the globe, in a heartbeat. I don't know if "long-term" applies to any particular location anymore. Things change. I suspect I would have loved California in the first half of the 1900's. You couldn't pay me to set foot in that state today. Well... maybe you could, but it would cost you dearly.

 

[Meerkat]

I dunno. I heard about "climate change" back in the 1980's (40 years ago... gulp... feeling old saying that) that was gonna make states like Tennessee tropical, and the oceans were gonna rise so far as to put most of Florida under water. Still waiting on all of that. Hey, I wish Tennessee were a bit more tropical this time of year when it's cold and gloomy.

Otherwise, people are so mobile today that they can move across the state, across the country, sometimes across the globe, in a heartbeat. I don't know if "long-term" applies to any particular location anymore. Things change. I suspect I would have loved California in the first half of the 1900's. You couldn't pay me to set foot in that state today. Well... maybe you could, but it would cost you dearly.

I was kinda kidding but who knows. If Florida is about to be under water may need to get busy on that house boat plan. I already have the plans drawn up imn my head.
We will even be able to grow basics on our boat.Save rain water or use desalter.

 

[PopPopT]

I was kinda kidding but who knows. If Florida is about to be under water may need to get busy on that house boat plan. I already have the plans drawn up imn my head.
We will even be able to grow basics on our boat.Save rain water or use desalter.

One thing that still would bother me about moving back to the gulf area is... hurricanes. Went through several but Katrina was the last straw for us. Dang eye of that monster went right over our house.

We did travel a bit, across the panhandle of FL, the lower tips of AL and MS, and over about as far as Lake Charles, LA. There is definitely appeal in the south. Not so cold, long growing seasons, not so long winters. And if you're close to the water, the potential for fishing might be a good thing if one were poor enough that it would be "eating off the land". They tell me redfish is some good eatin' though I lived down there for nearly a decade and never had it.

The political environment in FL seems to be pretty good. Haven't kept track of the other gulf states. (And never really explored the gulf area in Texas.) Southern AL and southern MS do have some decent places. We have family in southern AL.

The older we get, the more inclined we are towards not looking to any particular place as our "forever home". We're here in TN now, and we'll make the best of what we have. If we feel the need to move at some point in the future, we're open to that. If the Good Lord wants that to happen, there will be no rest here, as has happened before.

 

[Meerkat]

One thing that still would bother me about moving back to the gulf area is... hurricanes. Went through several but Katrina was the last straw for us. Dang eye of that monster went right over our house.

We did travel a bit, across the panhandle of FL, the lower tips of AL and MS, and over about as far as Lake Charles, LA. There is definitely appeal in the south. Not so cold, long growing seasons, not so long winters. And if you're close to the water, the potential for fishing might be a good thing if one were poor enough that it would be "eating off the land". They tell me redfish is some good eatin' though I lived down there for nearly a decade and never had it.

The political environment in FL seems to be pretty good. Haven't kept track of the other gulf states. (And never really explored the gulf area in Texas.) Southern AL and southern MS do have some decent places. We have family in southern AL.

The older we get, the more inclined we are towards not looking to any particular place as our "forever home". We're here in TN now, and we'll make the best of what we have. If we feel the need to move at some point in the future, we're open to that. If the Good Lord wants that to happen, there will be no rest here, as has happened before.

Hubby is not a happycamper so he hates to move. Where I'm the 'home is where the hat is' type.
I'm ok long as I can get away now and then but this pandemic is not allowing for my time away. I'm handling most of the time though.

 

[viking]

I dunno. I heard about "climate change" back in the 1980's (40 years ago... gulp... feeling old saying that) that was gonna make states like Tennessee tropical, and the oceans were gonna rise so far as to put most of Florida under water. Still waiting on all of that. Hey, I wish Tennessee were a bit more tropical this time of year when it's cold and gloomy.

Otherwise, people are so mobile today that they can move across the state, across the country, sometimes across the globe, in a heartbeat. I don't know if "long-term" applies to any particular location anymore. Things change. I suspect I would have loved California in the first half of the 1900's. You couldn't pay me to set foot in that state today. Well... maybe you could, but it would cost you dearly.

As far as I'm concerned California is a third world country, but we do go into the northern part, Jedidiah Smith Redwood Forest is a beautiful area to visit, if anyone has never seen a redwood tree, it's a very good place to go because you will be in awe of the size and height of them. There are places in the redwood forests that if you walk a few hundred feet into them, you could easily get lost, they are truly amazing. Sadly Washington State, where I grew up is also becoming a third world country, but there are places up there that are absolutely beautiful, the Olympic Peninsula costal highway is one, the Hoh River Rain Forest is where I tell people to visit, it has huge trees, moss almost touches the ground from their branches, grass grows up to the edge of the roads and the average annual rainfall is over 100 inches.