Please help me choose a place to live, raise a family.

[Libertyteeth]

I recommend Montana.

There are lots of small conservative/libertarian towns in Montana. Details on real estate, jobs, politics, and other aspects of living in Montana, can be found at this site.

http://www.montana-alliance-for-liberty.org/phpBB2/index.php

 

[No_Brakes23]

Being a gun owner or a Christian should be the norm, rather than the exception.

Scary.

But it is natural, after all the Puritans fled religious persecution and then started persecuting all those other evil sinners, (Like Baptists,) as soon as they set up shop.

It's funny that you think of Western Washington as "California North." Considering I just relocated here from Cali, I couldn't be more aware of all the pleasant differences, (And a few unpleasant ones.)

To honestly answer your question, though, I would figure out if your desires for community size are compatible with your job skill set. I think the earlier answer of looking east of the Cascades is a good idea. Staying in WA state would make some things easier, (Like car registration, an expense that is inconvenient right after a move.)

There are a lot of Christian/Firearms refugees in Idaho, you might like that.

Good luck in finding a good place to live.

 

[slzy]

i will make generalzations. most cities have had the most stable citizens move into contiguos couties. those folks are now moving to the next ring. stay as far from the interstate as possible. many state routes are four lanes with 70mph speed limits. stay as far away as possible from these too. obviously what i am hoping to avoid is cities growing together. for my example,and i could be wrong,bowling green ky will eventually grow into nashville,tn, which will grow into murfressboro,tn. a more extreme example might be memphis. it may grow into paducah,and then st.louis. not sayin it will,but look at a map. moving east of memphis is a safer bet.you catch my drift.and east of memphis leads to middle tn and northern. ala.,which have been mentioned.

 

[CornCod]

I have had a few friends who have tried the "lets move to a safer place to raise a family" thing. They had a tendancy to overidealize rural America. Of course, in flyover country the gun laws are better, way better. However, if you think you can flee crime and dysfunction, the only way you can do that in modern America. unfortunately, is by being rich.

Crime rates are rising in rual and semi-rural areas. While in the cities you have crack-head gangbangers, in rural America you have meth-head degenerates.

I moved to Arkansas three years ago from New Jersey, but for merely economic reasons (somebody offered me a job here.) Its not too bad. However, crime is pretty terrible here. I go to a lot of schools in Arkansas on professional business and frankly, if I had a daughter I would homeschool the kid because most of the young girls get knocked-up between 15 and 17 by loser scum

 

[aligator]

Elko, Nv.

Do a web search for Spring Creek, Nv. See what I'm talking about.

 

[real_name]

Norway.

 

[2ndamd]

I will be moving in the next 1 year to 1 1/12 years.
I am looking at South Dakota, Tenn, and Texas. Because all three of them do not have State income taxes.

SD is looking like it may be too cold, and Texas is too hot but, Tenn is looking "just right." But in 12-18 months I could change my mind.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Nevada or Idaho

Anything in Nevada outside of Clark County. Clark County is Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Blue Diamond, Mount Charleston, Lake Mead, and that whole Southern tip of the state.

They have the infamous "blue card" registration for handguns down there. Due to a law (amendment?) passed a few years back, no other part of the state can be infected with the blue card syndrome.

Once you're clear of Clark County, the rest is all good. The farther North you go, the better it gets. Western Nevada (Reno/Sparks, Pyramid Lake area, Carson City, Dayton, Minden/Gardnerville, Genoa, Incline Village [on the shores of Tahoe], Markleville, etc.) is more built up, but still pretty "small town" in its thinking.

One thing I like about Nevada is the bordering states (excepting, of course, the PRK): Nevada shares borders with a fistfull of other CCW-friendly, shall-issue, hunter-friendly states (Idaho, Utah, Arizona).

If you get a non-resident Utah permit in addition to the Nevada permit, you can carry in all the surrounding states -- and their neighbors, too -- except for Oregon and California (I know, you're shocked).

Having recently travelled to Northern Idaho, I'd have to say it certainly qualifies. Hills, lakes, rivers, wildlife, lakes, rivers, a mountain or two, lakes, rivers, wildlife. And with a non-resident Utah permit in hand, you are good to go in everything touching Idaho except Oregon.

Idaho shares some wonderful country with its Eastern neighbors, Montana and Wyoming. The hunting up there is outstanding. Bring a fishing rod, too.

I love Western Nevada. We moved to Carson City as a deliberate act, from Las Vegas (Clark County). On weekends, we drive down the road about 10 miles to Genoa and count the deer. On a good day we'll see upwards of 60 or 80.

We have a number of open shooting ranges (we won't have an indoor range until next year some time), some attended (Pyramid, North of Reno), and some not (Carson City and Gardnerville).

If I had to relocate, I think it would be Idaho. There's not as much high tech in Northern Idaho, and I depend on that.

I have also lived in Arizona, and they have some seriously gorgeous country there. Prescott is where you'll find GunSite training center. Good social environment. Real people there. Lots of open country. Great mountains. That would, I believe, be a third choice for me, but the wife would lobby for Montana where she grew up.

Every so often I have to remind myself that this part of the U.S. is a great place to live.

Come join us.

 

[scurtis_34471]

New Hampshire - The Free State

Check out http://www.freestateproject.org for a lot of reasons why NH is the state to beat based on your criteria.

Here's a few highlights:

1. The lowest taxes in the country
2. The lowest dependency on Federal funds in the country
3. Very gun friendly. This is a "cold dead hands" state if ever there was one.
4. Largest legislature of any state. Each representative represents an average of 3000 people. The annual salary for state reps is only $200 and cannot be increased without changing the Constitution. That means that the law-makers are business people and working professionals, not professional politicians.
5. High respect for personal responsibility. For example, there is no mandatory seatbelt law for adults.
6. The population is small, but pretty concentrated. That means there are a couple of decent sized cities to find work in. Its also very close to Boston, if you can deal with the added income tax that goes along with working there.
7. New Hamshire has coastline with beaches and ports, it has mountains with decent skiing and it has lots of lakes and forests.

I live in Florida now, but I grew up in New Hampshire and am seriously considering a return there. It is a very nice place to live, with the possible exception of having to deal with New England winters. I like the warm climate in Florida.

Florida is not bad either, by the way. There is no income tax here. Property taxes are not as high as some places. The sales tax is about 6.5%. Florida has very CCW friendly laws and does not appear in much danger of going "nanny state" any time soon. The crime rates can be a bit high, depending on where you live and you have to pick your location wisely to avoid having your house destroyed by wind and water during hurricane season. The upside is beautiful weather 8 months a year.

 

[coyote_jr]

Stay away from Rhode Island.

 

[Joe Gunns]

One thing to find out about before moving outta state is the bugs. Wa state has few skeeters and biting flys. Elsewhere, during certain seasons, these can be real problem, particularly in the hotter or humid parts of the country. (and Alaska is notorious for 'em and will be getting worse if the climate continues to shift.) Folks that live in those places are used to 'em, so rarely bring it up.

 

[kungfuhippie]

your right, California is full of insects, don't move here, we have some of the best gun laws in the nation (according to the Brady bunch) but those darn biting flys will get you every time. it's just not worth it, I'd rather be around all those dangerous guns and no biting insects. it's worth the risk

 

[The Real Wyatt]

According to the Bardy bunch

States reted F: (if you're a gun owner, F is good)
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Kentucky
New Mexico
Wyoming
Montana

States rated F+:
Alaska
Idaho
Florida

States rated D-:
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
Ohio
Oklahoma
Texas
Utah

States rated D:
Nevada
Arizona
Colorado
North Dakota
South Dakota
Kansas
Indiana
West Virginia

States rated D+:
Missouri
Tennessee
South Carolina
Pensylvania
Michigan
Washington

 

[CountGlockula]

What's wrong with WA, the state you're at now?

 

[No_Brakes23]

Oops! I quoted a deleted post!

Nice, real high road there, JoT. Additionally you are very wrong. Colorado has far more RKBA than Jersey.

What's wrong with WA, the state you're at now?

It might not seem that way to our jaded Cali eyes, but apparently Western WA is a wretched hive of scum and villiany.

 

[wad]

I lived in central California (actually I was born there) for many years. Lived in Northern Minnesota for 1 and 1/2 years, ditto Maryland. I have been living in Texas since 1979. I have been back to Cali to visit a number of times. I miss the great weather and excellent motorcycling roads in the northern parts of Cali but nothing else. I have no desire to return to Minnesota or Maryland . Here in Texas I have lived in a small town just north of Houston. I lived in Corpus Christi for 8 years and am now living in Houston. I don't much like the small towns in east Texas, though they do meet three of your criteria; lots of trees, Christians and gun owners. My favorite part of Texas is the hill country, which lies west of Austin. The country in nice and so are the people. There is no state income tax (give it five years though) but property taxes can be high in some areas. My wife and I are facing the same dilemma. We want to get out but to where. Houston is a great place to come to and earn a good income, save as much as you can then find the place to "retire". In our travels we liked parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, (northern) Virginia, (northern) Georgia, New Mexico, Utah and Idaho.

Wherever you go, be very wary of Home Owner Associations / Property Owner Associations. They are hotbeds for control freaks, corruption and, in general, terrible people :banghead: .

 

[Harve Curry]

There is Sierra County New Mexico. CCW and open carry here. I know some places for sale near me. Elevation is 6200' and up. Sierra County has the largest lake, Elephant Butte at 4000' elevation. going to get a space port, Wal Mart and new country club. Hunting is mule/coues deer, elk, turkey, coyote, bear, mnt.lion, dove, quail, to name a few.

 

[Thin Black Line]

TN or KY for the natural environment you desire and more importantly at
real estate prices that are still affordable. The east coast has its beauty,
but many places are too expensive. The western part of NC is quite
beautiful and conservative. IN and MI may not be mountainous enough,
but the country folk are as conservative as anywhere. There are wooded
mountainous areas of AZ and NM that are breathtaking to say the least, but
I would avoid the desert areas completely. However, some of these areas
that are close to jobs are also too expensive to own a piece of.

 

[FourTeeFive]

I love Washington, and I'm a gun owner (and proud of it)

Not sure what you don't like about it, but one of the things I like about WA is the diversity of opinions and that fact that you CAN be a proud gun owner in such a place. In fact, I know more liberal gun owners than non.

And yes, your "Being a Christian should be the norm" statement does scare me. And it would have scared Thomas Jefferson too:

"The constitutional freedom of religion [is] the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights." --Thomas Jefferson: Virginia Board of Visitors Minutes, 1819. ME 19:416

Personally, I like to live where the PEOPLE are good and honest. That doesn't have a lot to do with someone saying they are of a certain religion.

 

[DRZinn]

your "Being a Christian should be the norm" statement does scare me. And it would have scared Thomas Jefferson too:

What part of that post implies forcing anyone to be or act like a Christian? He simply wants to live among people who share his beliefs. As Thomas Jefferson probably would have wanted as well.

 

[Rem700SD]

I haven't read all of the previous posts, but in your original post you did not metion what it is that you do for a career, or what you would like to do as a career. In my mind, this has great influance over where one can reside.

 

[FourTeeFive]

What part of that post implies forcing anyone to be or act like a Christian? He simply wants to live among people who share his beliefs. As Thomas Jefferson probably would have wanted as well.

So would saying "where being white is the norm" be an ok thing to say?

I just think that someone looking for a place where "Being a Christian is the norm" is not a very Christian-like way of looking at the world.

 

[jnojr]

Not sure what you don't like about it, but one of the things I like about WA is the diversity of opinions and that fact that you CAN be a proud gun owner in such a place.

But for how much longer? How many years will it be before enough Californians invade to destroy WA, OR, NV, and AZ?

 

[DRZinn]

So would saying "where being white is the norm" be an ok thing to say?

I think it would be pretty stupid, unless all white people had similar beliefs not substantially shared by non-white people. Since all Christians do have similar beliefs not substantially shared by non-Christian people, I think wanting to move to an area where most people are Christian is a pretty OK thing for a Christian to do.

I just think that someone looking for a place where "Being a Christian is the norm" is not a very Christian-like way of looking at the world.

So Christians should actively seek out a place to live among non-Christians?

What, in your opinion, would be a "Christian-like" way to choose a place to live?

 

[FourTeeFive]

Since all Christians do have similar beliefs not substantially shared by non-Christian people, I think wanting to move to an area where most people are Christian is a pretty OK thing for a Christian to do.

Wow, even those Christians who do decidely un-Christianlike things under the guise of their religion? Such as various Christian leaders? I guess according to what you say that all Christians do have similar beliefs! Interesting... guess I better move the kids away from those Christians...

Of course I am being cynical here, but it is pretty naive to think that being around people saying they're "Christians" is no guarantee of a good place to live. Some of the most evil people I've ever met have specifically called themselves Christian to gain the trust of other Christians and take advantage of them.

Again, good people are good people, regardless of religion. And I'm pretty sure most religions would agree with that on a non-fundamentalist level.

What, in your opinion, would be a "Christian-like" way to choose a place to live?

Acceptance of others, tolerance. Just a thought!

My point is, to some of us a person saying "where being Christian is the norm" is the same as saying "where there aren't any Jews, Buddhists, etc." And I find that to be a pretty offensive thing to see someone say here on "the high road."