Let me first start by saying that I'm 28 years old, and have lived in Long Island, NY for about 23 years, and in Florida for the remaining balance.

Florida was great for what it was at the time.  I was young ( late teens/early twenties) and racing motorcyles. Now I just can't bring myself to live there anymore, for many reasons.

NY is ok.  The gun laws suck, yes, but they are somewhat bearable.  I don't want to live in a place just for the main reason of that particular states gun laws.  The taxes in NY are crazy ( $16,000/yr), as well as everything else.  I figured now would be the time to leave and re-establish before I complicate my life further with marriage, family, work/business.

I need a pace that has the seasons, but the winters and summers are not too crazy.  The NE has humidity that kills me.  I need a place where I can buy property, and do the things I enjoy.  Motorcycling, dirtbikes, mountain bikes, guns, etc.  I want to enjoy this stuff while I'm still young, and feel like I'm wasting my life here.

What I ask of you guys is, what would be the main criteria that would affect your decision on living in a particular place?  Median income, age, weather, population, etc?  I'll be opening/buying an existing business, so job pay is not critical.

I''ve always had a love for Colorado, and almostmade the move about a year ago, but just never really did it.  I was looking at Durango.  I also have family (through marriage) in Thorton.


If anyone that has moved lately and has some imput, I'd really appreciate it.  Also, if anyone lve in CO, and has some reccomendations about where to live that would be great.  Im open to other states as well.

I am on a contract now, in CO, and, I flew into Denver and, drove I-70 to Grand Junction.  Wow.  Just.....wow.  This state is absolutly beautiful.  I think the Grand Junction/Frutia area might be your speed.  There's jobs, and, it's fantastic here.  I have a buddy that loved Cripple Creek, CO.  

I never thought I'd think about leaving TX, but, I have to admit....CO is making me think about it.

Check out Utah

Quoted: I am on a contract now, in CO, and, I flew into Denver and, drove I-70 to Grand Junction.  Wow.  Just.....wow.  This state is absolutly beautiful.  I think the Grand Junction/Frutia area might be your speed.  There's jobs, and, it's fantastic here.  I have a buddy that loved Cripple Creek, CO.   I never thought I'd think about leaving TX, but, I have to admit....CO is making me think about it.

It must be the mountains

Thats what does it for me.  Thats after living on the ocean in Fl too.  I think I prefer the mountains over water.

Anyone else have anything?

Check out Grand Junction, CO.  www.grandjunction.net/

What type of business are you in?  Grand Junction has a county population of about 125,000 people.  It's right on I-70, and the next two larger cities are Denver (250 miles east) and Salt Lake City (250 miles west).

Real estate is getting expensive here, but not as much as Durango, and certainly not as much as Florida or New York.  Lot of mountain biking, motorcycling, dirt biking, canoeing, rafting, hiking, and we're surrounded by BLM land, so you can go shooting just about anywhere.  I shoot at a canyon about 5 miles from the house, and pass two shooting ranges on the way there.  Mild winters, hot but dry summers.  Close to Moab, UT if you're really into the mountain biking and 4-wheeling.

I love it here, but will probably be moving soon for better job opportunities.  Been here for 14 years, and don't really want to leave.

Good luck!

Goonboss,

Are you here in GJ now?

Quoted: Check out Grand Junction, CO.  www.grandjunction.net/ What type of business are you in?  Grand Junction has a county population of about 125,000 people.  It's right on I-70, and the next two larger cities are Denver (250 miles east) and Salt Lake City (250 miles west). Real estate is getting expensive here, but not as much as Durango, and certainly not as much as Florida or New York.  Lot of mountain biking, motorcycling, dirt biking, canoeing, rafting, hiking, and we're surrounded by BLM land, so you can go shooting just about anywhere.  I shoot at a canyon about 5 miles from the house, and pass two shooting ranges on the way there.  Mild winters, hot but dry summers.  Close to Moab, UT if you're really into the mountain biking and 4-wheeling. I love it here, but will probably be moving soon for better job opportunities.  Been here for 14 years, and don't really want to leave. Good luck!

My crew is staying in Grand Junction.  I went to the Mesa State Stadium and, ran, did chinups, situps, etc.  The track was open, and everyone there was very nice.  Mesa had a baseball game goin on the next field over, and, I went over there and watched a little before I left.  I am really impressed by the place.

I'm told if you are a welder or a natural gas tech or worker, there's money to be made.

Quoted: Goonboss, Are you here in GJ now?

Yup

Quoted: I'm told if you are a welder or a natural gas tech or worker, there's money to be made.

Ohhh, yeah.  There's such a shortage of natural gas workers right now that there are actually CHINESE crews working here, because they can't find enough people.  They just came in a few months ago.

Unfortunately for me, those big gas companies all have their corporate offices down in Texas, it seems.  No accounting work done up here at all.

IM me if you want to head out for a beer tomorrow!  We usually head to the Blue Moon, at 7th & Main.

Move the the Knoxville, TN area - four seasons, none too harsh, LOW cost of living, no state income tax, plenty of jobs, and you can buy my house I have for sale (I'm moving to FL).

Quoted: Move the the Knoxville, TN area - four seasons, none too harsh, LOW cost of living, no state income tax, plenty of jobs, and you can buy my house I have for sale (I'm moving to FL).

Any skiing down there?

Quoted: Quoted: Move the the Knoxville, TN area - four seasons, none too harsh, LOW cost of living, no state income tax, plenty of jobs, and you can buy my house I have for sale (I'm moving to FL). Any skiing down there?

I don't think that Knoxville is too far from the Great Smoky Mtn's IIRC.  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Move the the Knoxville, TN area - four seasons, none too harsh, LOW cost of living, no state income tax, plenty of jobs, and you can buy my house I have for sale (I'm moving to FL). Any skiing down there? I don't think that Knoxville is too far from the Great Smoky Mtn's IIRC.

Forgot to mention skiing around here.  Powderhorn is about 45 minutes from here.  Telluride is about 100 miles south, Aspen is 100 miles east, etc.  And with the mild winters here in the valley, you can literally ski in the morning on the mountain, and play golf in the afternoon in the valley.

Quoted: Forgot to mention skiing around here.  Powderhorn is about 45 minutes from here.  Telluride is about 100 miles south, Aspen is 100 miles east, etc.  And with the mild winters here in the valley, you can literally ski in the morning on the mountain, and play golf in the afternoon in the valley.

How about mountain biking and the dirt bikes?  Is there accomodations for these activities?

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Move the the Knoxville, TN area - four seasons, none too harsh, LOW cost of living, no state income tax, plenty of jobs, and you can buy my house I have for sale (I'm moving to FL). Any skiing down there? I don't think that Knoxville is too far from the Great Smoky Mtn's IIRC.

Ditto on moving to Tennessee.  absolutely beautiful.  just about anything you want to do is within an hours drive.  Dirt bike, mountain bike, hiking camping, shooting, skiing, boating, hunting/fishing, etc..
It has been mentioned, but NO State Income Tax.

Plus, the southern women, wowza what a nice benefit

Good Luck on your move

Well, I personally would move to an area with a strong job market.  Some small rural town may be nice, but if you're an IT guy, you may out of work for a while.  

Make sure and do tons of research, find out about COL index (cost of living), housing rates, and the job market depending on your background.

Arizona and North Carolina are some of the fastest growing states right now supposedly.  They have nice tax breaks for large companies, so corporations move there and hence people move to the states for jobs.  California, Colorado and Florida are also growing, but that's mostly because of their natural attractions.

Dont forget to use some of these helpfull sites once you narrowed down your choices.

Online Salary Calculator
Neat tool to see how much you need to be making in a new state once adjusted for the cost of living.  Remember that NY and FL are pretty high, so you might be ok making less $$$ in a different state.

www.city-data.com
great website for demographic info, crime rates, median incomes, etc...

www.epodunk.com
will have tons of town info, also nation wide states such as fastest growing cities, etc...

Remember, without a good paying job, how are you going to be able to really enjoy your gun rights?

EPOCH


ETA:  If you haven't noticed I was a relocation specialist for a living my first year out of college

Quoted: Check out Utah

What is wrong with a little west of where you live? Say Winchester County?

I lived in Northern Virginia, in Reston for about 7 years. West of there gets you into the country pretty quickly. Nice rolling hills, mountains, perfect climate (change of seasons, some snow, but not too brutal) Plus you can get into major civilization in about an hour and a half.

I now live in Cent. Fl some my kids can be near their entire family, but I loved that area and miss it.

I don't like the area in which I live and I'm always musing my options around. I've never been there but have often wondered about the ozark area. I like to backpack, hunt and stuff.

I lived in Alabama a few years and liked that as well. I havn't been back in a long time so I don't know if it's been ruined yet. Yes, there are some real backwoods places to be avoided but same can be said for anywhere. I loved it there, I could fish, hunt, backpack, ect, only problem is industry left and so did the jobs, my parents had to leave it.

Quoted: How about mountain biking and the dirt bikes?  Is there accomodations for these activities?

More than you can imagine.  Almost all of the land around here is BLM land, and is open for hunting/shooting/biking/etc.  Tracks from dirt bikes are all over the desert.  As far as mountain biking, no problem there - whether in the valley or up on the Grand Mesa.  Lots of trails out by Fruita as well.

HTH,

Prefect

Quoted: More than you can imagine.  Almost all of the land around here is BLM land, and is open for hunting/shooting/biking/etc.  Tracks from dirt bikes are all over the desert.  As far as mountain biking, no problem there - whether in the valley or up on the Grand Mesa.  Lots of trails out by Fruita as well. HTH, Prefect

How does Colorado Springs, compare to say Pueblo and Durange.  When I first started looking last year, I had looked at a business for sale in Cortez, and had thought about living in Durango.


I'm talking home prices, parcel sizes, and cost of living?

To some of the other people that have suggested eastern states, I'm tired of the humidity here.  In the winter and summer.  Unless your paricular state lacks it?