Pulling up stakes

[bones1]

Living in Maryland all my life and am thinking I want to move to get away from the humidity and get a little land or old farm.If you had to do this which part of the country would you consider?.Where would you like to be for your "last" home?.Everyone suggests the Carolinas or Kentucky, I can get a nice spread there that would be impo$$ible in Maryland but I don't know about the climate.
You know...It might be better further north?.
Thanks for any insight .

 

[BizDoc]

I think everyone's going to be rather partial to their area, and I'm no exception. I have lived elsewhere, but have come back to the mountians of Pennsylvania. I enjoy spring with the renewal of all things green and colorful, Fall is magnificent with its colors and smells, winter is cold but beautiful during and just after a fresh snowfall. summer, well it's like summer most places, too hot for me, although this year hasn't been too bad. I've lived in suburbia for a while and much prefer the countryside. When I lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia, your neighbors were considered those within the block inside your development, but here in the countryside your neighbors are two mile in any direction. And what better place to use your tractor, every season brings a new reason to use your tractor with a different implement. When we have family reunions family members come from the Carolina's, MD, NJ and they all say how nice it is here and also how affordable. they all comment that they could sell their homes, pay off their mortgages and buy a better place with land here and have no mortgage. The problem with moving to rural anywhere, if you're from a surburban area, is that there is limited employment for many professions.

 

[bones1]

Thanks for the reply.Pennsylvania is on the list,I still remember my grandparents place in Johnstown, "something" about it has never left me all these years..I want that "something" back again.
Bizdoc, what part are you in?.Any pictures.Thanks again
Something like this?Search-View Property

 

[randy41]

you're not going to escape the humidity anywhere east of the rockies.

 

[MikeD74T]

Heard on the radio a couple of days ago that Rapid City, South Dakota was one of the most reasonable places in the US land/home price wise. Don't know much about the area but that region seemed nice during the few days we were there last May. MikeD74T

 

[EddieWalker]

I'll second Rapid City, South Dakota and that area. It's called the Black Hills and might easily be my favorite place in this country. I don't think I could make a living there, but I still might try. I'm kind of tied to Texas for awhile, but if something changes, we're heading to the Black Hills.

Before moving to Texas, that was my first choice, but my ex wife refused. She said no way to snow, so that was it. She had a cousin here in Tyler, so that was our next option.

I just took Steph there for our vacation end of July and she loves it there as much as I do. She said she's ready to move there anytime!!!

You have either South Dakota, or Wyoming. Wyoming is about the cheapest state to live in tax wise. Housing and land are very affordable in both areas. There is no humidity that we noticed. In fact, it was 100 degrees out and we thought it was in the 80's. It's so dry out, Steph said her skin was flakey, but she loved it because of the dry air.

Lots of wildlife too!! We saw thousands of turkeys. Hundreds of deer. Elk and pronghorn too. There are bighorns sheep there along with mountain goats too. For activities, it's a tourist hot spot with things to see and do that might take a lifetime to do it all.

If you've never been, it's worth a week for vacation at the very least.

Eddie

 

[ToadHill]

You might look at western North Carolina, when you get up in the mountains the humidity is not nearly as bad.

 

[higgy]

Both of the Dakotas are nice, but neither are low humidity, if you want that you need to go to the great basin; Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, even eastern Oregon or Washington.

I have lived in and love the Dakotas, but here I Idaho even when its 100+ during the day, when the sun goes down you will need a light sweater.

Did I mention, no bugs to speak of. I have had one, that is correct, one mosquito bite this year.

If you want more info or pics let me know.

Dane

 

[bones1]

"Both of the Dakotas are nice, but neither are low humidity, if you want that you need to go to the great basin; Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, even eastern Oregon or Washington.

I have lived in and love the Dakotas, but here I Idaho even when its 100+ during the day, when the sun goes down you will need a light sweater.

Did I mention, no bugs to speak of. I have had one, that is correct, one mosquito bite this year.

If you want more info or pics let me know."

Thanks for the input so far.Some of these states never occured to me,I just assumed(incorrectly) that these states would be very hot and humid.
Dane,I've been through Montana and Idaho when I was in my 20's, can't remember too much about them though.
Tell me more about Idaho please.

 

[bones1]

Eddie, the Black Hills would be very tempting, isn't Sturgis there?.Momma would not be a happy camper if I went back to those days.

But I would.


Don't you have some extra land in the back Eddie?.

 

[higgy]

what would you like to know? I have a lot of information that you can have. I would be more than happy to get any information that that you would like.

Dane

 

[riptides]

Sorry BUT, I think you will be in for a shock moving from the green of the east to the green of the west. Any thing west of the mississippi to me is just not green enough. Flora wise IMHO the ecosystem is radically different.

Humidity does have a price. But it also has the rewards of more greenery.

IMHO
-Mike Z.

 

[weldingisfun]

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, left there at 18 moving to Arizona for college. Spent the next 23 years living and or serving all over the World on Uncle Sam's dollar (read that your tax dollars). Settled in Central Texas and don't ever plan on leaving. Hot as heck in the summer (mid-June through September). Cold as a well diggers tush from January into late February. But paradise the rest of the year. No state income tax, but we do pay a 6.75% state sales tax.
I wasn't born a Texan, but I got here as quick as I could!

 

[czechsonofagun]

You have either South Dakota, or Wyoming. Wyoming is about the cheapest state to live in tax wise. Housing and land are very affordable in both areas. There is no humidity that we noticed. In fact, it was 100 degrees out and we thought it was in the 80's. It's so dry out, Steph said her skin was flakey, but she loved it because of the dry air.

Lots of wildlife too!! We saw thousands of turkeys. Hundreds of deer. Elk and pronghorn too. There are bighorns sheep there along with mountain goats too. For activities, it's a tourist hot spot with things to see and do that might take a lifetime to do it all.

If you've never been, it's worth a week for vacation at the very least.

Eddie

I will second that. During our 6000 miles trip in August (North Virginia to Denver, Moab and via Yellowstone and Chicago back) I realised few things:

1. It is nicer in Moab's desert than in Virginia in August, low humidity does miracles
2. You better get used to high altitude before you do some serious hiking (I moved in 24 hours from 500 feet to 11700 feet altitude - yikes)
3. There is a lot of America behind east coast and midwest - duh
4. Wyoming, Montana, Black Hills made it to our list of the next move

It was quite eye opening experience - as expected

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Bones,
Dont overlook the Northeast ! It might be a bit of a switch to go from Md heat to the north but this area has much to offer IMHO ! I have been in Md, vacationed in Ocean City a number of years back, seemed quite hot to me but heck it was summer and we were on the beach anyway !

If a little cold weather and snow wouldnt bother you you might consider western Vt or eastern upstate Ny, although Ny taxes seem to be a problem to some ! The scenery and seasons are just fantastic, although as another poster so aptly noted, we all have slight biases towards are respective area !

 

[wdscot]

I live in Spearfish, South Dakota. I was a native of California, but moved here five years ago. I will not live any where else now. I am at the very northern end of the Black Hills. And yes, I do have wildlife pleanty. Nine bucks were in my front yard last week, ranging from Six pointers to spikes (Western Count). I have wild Turkeys, Mountain Lions roam the neighborhood, pleanty of squirls and rabits. I love the weather, even the winters, which are not as bad as advertised.

Spearfish is 30 miles from Sturgis, and the rally is fun to watch. We are fifty miles from Rapid City, thirteen miles from Deadwood. I am in a "gulch" on 2.5 acres of the most beautiful land with pleanty of grass, trees, creek, etc. But this is only 3 miles from downtown Spearfish. College community, retirement community and growing. As earlier posted, everyone will have there favorites, and much will depend on what you would like to do. I bought a new tractor to work on my creek, build paths, play, have fun, and enjoy life. Did I mention that I live in a Log Cabin?

Compared to East and West Coast land prices, prices around here are very reasonable for land and homes. Wyoming will be the most economical state, but South Dakota will come in second.

I could keep on going, but you get the idea. Everyone who suggested you check out the area was giving you good advice. Good luck in your search.

Wayne

 

[curly]

Here's a little place

208 ACRE OPERATING DAIRY FARM WITH 5 BEDROOM HOUSE - NY - (eBay item 230166643915 end time Sep-28-07 15:09:30 PDT)

 

[bones1]

higgy, thanks.Just a couple website links to local real estate brokers would be nice.

riptides, I hear ya.I do like my greenery here but like today, way too humid.

Weldingisfun, why does moving to Texas make me nervous?.

czechsonofagun, "It is nicer in Moab's desert than in Virginia in August, low humidity does miracles" I believe you, but convincing s/o of that statement will be tough.Anything with the word desert is off limits to her.Now dessert is ok.

Scotty, that picture you posted has been saved and is wonderful.I have to hide it for now as we'd be on our way to Vermont tomorrow.Cost of living and property prices reasonable up there?.Maybe too near Ma$$.

wdscot, Spearfish sounds very interesting to me.I'll look it up online.I keep hearing South Dakota come up more and more.Any pics?.

Curly, now thats what I'm talking about!. You can't even but a townhouse here for that ,let alone land and buildings.

I have a lot to research and thanks for the replies so far.

 

[ByronBob]

Out west somewhere sounds like your only option for land and low humidity. Now even with that I'd want some scenery to look at and the southwest seems the natural fit for you.

I would think somewhere away from the big populations you could get what you want.

 

[Spiveyman]

This thread is why it is so awesome to be here in America! There are so many incredible places to live. In many ways I envy the thought of being able to just pull up stakes and start over somewhere else. If I could pick anywhere, it would probably be somewhere in Texas, I figure then I might make it to 6' tall instead of stalling out at 5'10". I've lived at the foot of the Rockies in Longmont, CO. Amazing country, but it'll cost you. Had a job offer in the Carolina's - lots of lakes and warmth for summer boating, still have the mountains and an ocean close enough for a weekend getaway.

But, I'm settled in KY where my family has been for many generations. I can look across the fence on the back of my farm and see the house my great great grandfather built, drive a mile down the road and see the general store my great grandmother ran, the farm my papaw still runs, the house my dad grew up in... my roots are way too deep to pull up. I do love it here as well. Centrally located for the eastern states. Can be in NY or Texas in a day's drive (that's either, not both!). Can be at the beach in one of several states (NC, SC, FL, AL...) or at Lake Michigan in an afternoon. We have 4 distinct seasons, which I love. About the time you get sick of the heat, the leaves start changing, nice jacket weather, then winter sets in and you get some snow - nothing crazy, but enough to enjoy. About the time your sick of being cold everything thaws out and you get lush green pastures, flowers, trees...and soon you are ready to head back to the lake. Yep, it's humid in the summer, and we have pleanty of bugs, but there are ways to deal with it. We can be a bit backwards compared to the rest of the country, but I kind of like that too, keeps the population and land prices reasonable. We have state income tax AND a 6% sales tax, but cost of living is decent.

There's no one place that's best to live, but what you either have there or take with you will make it so. If you have the means, buy/rent an RV and go check some places out. Spend a few months, see what you like. Good luck.