I was born in Wisconsin, I lived in Detroit, spent many years in Bowling Green, KY an have spent the last 8 in Louisville, KY and Love it.
Plenty of things to do downtown, plus there are plenty gun shows, car shows and attractions like Derby, AAA Bats baseball and Six Flags. You are also 1.5 hours from Indy and Cincy. Close to Knob Creek and the Machine Gun Shoot two times a year. Plenty of places to hunt within an hour or two.
As far as Housing you can get more bang for your buck in Bullitt County, but schools are better in Oldham and Jefferson County in my opinion. For higher ed you have U of L, or go an hour or so away to U of K, WKU or Eastern, KY. As long as you stay out of some parts of the West End Crime is not much of an issue.
Gas today in Bullitt County is $2.09 and in Jefferson County saw it for $2.25 - $2.29.
Taxes are probably higher in Oldham County, then Jefferson, then Bullitt. Great place to live in my opinion. You can IM me on who you are talking to company wise and I can give you my $.02 if I know them. I use to be a head hunter several years ago, so I still have a few contacts...
Mike