Where to live?

[Melissa]

We will be looking for a new location to live when we are finished with the military and I was wondering where a good place would be. Because of the times we live in these days I think it is very important to pick wisely where you chose to place your roots. If anyone can help as far as nice, good, safer areas I welcome suggestions.

We are originally from the western states. We like camping, hunting, fishing. We don't like big cities and prefer to not have one around us. We like the peaceful outdoors. We like to experience all the seasons. We would also like to have a temple relatively close. If anyone has some suggestions that would be great.

[awar_e]

It is becoming more difficult to make a simple evaluation of another person's needs. Even our own needs change with age and circumstances. We have some scriptural direction regarding the tops of the mountains, but even that has some variations of what exactly was meant.
Recently we see an all out war against the constitution which may not even now have a remaining thread to hang by.
We also see a few states, mostly in the West declaring that states rights under the constitution will be upheld.
In fact one town in Utah has declared that the city council desires all residents to own a firearm of some type.
We are in a serious sorting of wheat and tares at present and it may require the hand of God to help set things right.
Here in Utah County we have 2 temples and 2 more under construction. We also are blessed with the worst air conditions in the nation as temperature inversions become a short lived plague at times. Perhaps the air can be cleansed though honest prayer of enough people.
The state and local govts are for the most part honest but they do have their share of gadiantons who are anti constitution. All sheriffs but one have embraced the movement to halt federal enforcement of additional destruction of the 2nd amendment. Wyoming appears to also be on track on this point as well as other neighboring states.
I am in Utah county and find many who support honest constitutional govt, which I would consider as a major factor in choosing a home. Without a firm stance on the constitution, there is no way to guess what conditions will soon be in other areas

[linj2fly]

Hi Melissa! We've been evaluating places for a long time. We look at places according to their ability to produce/abundance/growing season. We've done a few road trips. Places that are on our list are:

walla walla, wa area(we really liked the town of dayton)
Lewiston, Id (Esp south area)
Northern California (however this is not an option dt their laws).
I like central Utah but nursing jobs are hard to get.
We checked the Boise area but its so crowded.
In the Midwest, our choice would be around the ozarks. Lots of natural springs, caves, good grazing in the four state
region. Excellent growing season. These things are a good trade off for the humidity. Cost of living is cheaper....but the nursing wages were a big drop for us ($18-20 is generally where they start for new grads) and col drop wasn't significant enough for us to justify the pay. Wages were better in Idaho and Washington if that helps ($27 in walla walla; ~$23-24 in Boise; again, that's where new grads start).

I think all these places have four seasons and great for an outdoor, rural lifestyle.

[vaquero]

Beautiful area, remote, sparsely populated, high-elevation (6 - 8,000 feet) and conservative. It is far enough south that the winters are not harsh and unlike the intermountain west, has lots of sunshine year-round.

Albuquerque, which has a temple, is about a 2 1/2 hour drive. Snowflake, which also has a temple, is about a 3-hour drive to the west. Property taxes are vey low--about the lowest I have encountered anywhere--and New Mexico income taxes are also low. They have a 3% sales tax--in contrast to Arizona's 10%--and the licensing fees on vehicles are much lower than any of the surrounding western states. I title/license all my personal and business vehicles in NM. A new pickup in Arizona would cost me well over $1,000 to license while New Mexico will run under $100.

I do business in both Arizona and New Mexico and have also done so in Utah. New Mexico is my preference. When I fly, I'll go out of Phoenix or Albuquerque, depending on destination and costs. Albuquerque is my preference as the airport is smaller, security hassles much reduced, and parking less expensive.

One negative I can see is the ongoing wolf "reintroduction" but that is now an issue in all western states. The locals do a pretty good job, however, of reducing the wolf population. The other negative is that with the sparse population also comes a lesser Church presence than one would find in more densely populated areas. Inherent in a remote location is more driving for shopping, Church, etc.

[davedan]

Stategic Relocation

[MsEva]

One idea might be to choose a few states to look into and see if they have the type of jobs you guys are looking for. Dave brought up strategic relocation by Joel Skousen and that would be good to look at also. One thing to keep in mind is how close a military base is to the area you are thinking of moving to-for example, Hill airforce base is one that has been mentioned that is a target to be nuked at some point, so in and around that area would not be a good idea.....I wish you the best.

[linj2fly]

ditto on joel skousen's book. VERY useful.

[Melissa]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I will have to check out that book.

[kgrigio]

It's hard to beat the cost of living in the midwest. We have lived in Iowa for 12 years now and love it. Southeast Iowa is close to Nauvoo and you can still get farm land for relatively cheap. Iowa can be a bit liberal, but that is generally Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities.

[gkearney]

Star Valley Wyoming

[mouse]

Strategic relocation by Joel Skousen is worth its weight in Gold. I also recommend his book, The Secure Home.

[marc]

Brigham City, Utah. No regrets here.

[eric]

We will be looking for a new location to live when we are finished with the military and I was wondering where a good place would be. Because of the times we live in these days I think it is very important to pick wisely where you chose to place your roots. If anyone can help as far as nice, good, safer areas I welcome suggestions.

We are originally from the western states. We like camping, hunting, fishing. We don't like big cities and prefer to not have one around us. We like the peaceful outdoors. We like to experience all the seasons. We would also like to have a temple relatively close. If anyone has some suggestions that would be great.

Melissa, Kalispell, Montana is God's country! Check it out. You will love it!

[eric]

Hi Melissa! We've been evaluating places for a long time. We look at places according to their ability to produce/abundance/growing season. We've done a few road trips. Places that are on our list are:

walla walla, wa area(we really liked the town of dayton)
Lewiston, Id (Esp south area)
Northern California (however this is not an option dt their laws).
I like central Utah but nursing jobs are hard to get.
We checked the Boise area but its so crowded.
In the Midwest, our choice would be around the ozarks. Lots of natural springs, caves, good grazing in the four state
region. Excellent growing season. These things are a good trade off for the humidity. Cost of living is cheaper....but the nursing wages were a big drop for us ($18-20 is generally where they start for new grads) and col drop wasn't significant enough for us to justify the pay. Wages were better in Idaho and Washington if that helps ($27 in walla walla; ~$23-24 in Boise; again, that's where new grads start).

I think all these places have four seasons and great for an outdoor, rural lifestyle.

Walla Walla will be inundated by water coming off the Pacific. You need to be above 2400' elevation in order to avoid the water off the Pacific that is coming. Have you read Visions of Glory?

[Songbird]

It's hard to beat the cost of living in the midwest. We have lived in Iowa for 12 years now and love it. Southeast Iowa is close to Nauvoo and you can still get farm land for relatively cheap. Iowa can be a bit liberal, but that is generally Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities.

I'm with you on this. I love it here. The spirit of the sacrifice of the saints is rich. I have felt that Southern IA is part of the original garden of Eden. Of course, I don't know that, But I feel something special here. The One to ask is Father.

[moving2zion]

my wife and I were given a copy of skousens SR book as a Christmas gift. We have since shared it with others. we know a few folks that are getting ready to leave the Left Coast.

[jackvance1985]

right now i'm more focused on standing my soul - rather than my body - in holy places. kinda being in the world and not of the world. i'm all for bringing up your family in a decent place, but not the flee into the desert type mentality. i don't think god watnts us to do that. he wants us where we can bring the gospel to the vast sway of humanity.

[Jack of all trades!]

Have a feeling the "vast sways of humanity" soon just might be in the "desert"!!