Need ideas of where to live

[breeves2245]

Figured this group has been to a lot of places I have in mind. My local office shut down and instead of being forced to relocate to another state (Indiana/Florida) I was offered a work at home option. Been doing this since January, love it. I'm 58, hope to retire in about four years or so and hit the western US in a truck camper. Single Joe, so just me and the dog.

Keep thinking I have an opportunity to have some adventure and live someone else temporarily, maybe for six months or a year. Somewhere in the western US with outdoor activity within a short driving distance. Probably just rent an apartment and lease out my house fully furnished. If the adventure ain't what I had hoped, I move back. Been a landlord for twenty years, so I know the ropes. My idea spot would be an in town apt close to everything, even walking distance but has fishing, golf, hiking, biking, etc close by. I live in a wonderful place now in Northwest Arkansas in the Ozarks, but the idea of a bit of an adventure and still working full time is tempting. Any towns small to mid sized come to mind? Thanks for any ideas.

[tjfogelberg]

After reading all the replies, I see the benefit of keeping S+B in Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul). I could never decide among all the different locations talked about! "Have RV, will travel!" I really like our central location making trips East, West, and South relatively easy. We have all the amenities of a large metro area.
13,000+ Lakes (Superior being my favorite), 60+ State Parks, lots of options in the city, suburbs, or surrounding small towns. We work during the winter (inside) so it isn't a big deal, especially with climate change winters ain't what they used to be. Four seasons are a plus.

[TomG2]

Low Cost of Living? McAllen, Texas. Warm and windy, but cheap.

[john_bet]

Rapid City,S.D. or Great Falls,Mt.

[tatest]

I've lived in Detroit area, Lansing, Myrtle Beach, D.C., Indianapolis, Orlando, the Michigan U.P., the area where Wisconsin meets Iowa, Chicago, NE Oklahoma, and Beijing. I've visited most of the rest of the country at one time or another (and a lot of places in Europe).

For the lifestyle and activities you describe, NW Arkansas (or SW Missouri or NE Oklahoma) are hard to beat, if you want still want four seasons and prefer the colder seasons to be short. If you want to be near the sea, South Carolina Grand Strand is tops for short winters (and surprisingly inexpensive for a resort area).

If you want permanently warm weather by the sea and cost is no object, then San Diego. For cooler (and wetter) climates, work your way up the coast: San Francisco, Portland, the islands off Seattle. But that's West Coast, which you don't want.

I also like the East Texas coastal plains and Texas Hill Country, particularly San Antonio, which sits where they meet. You'll find similar climate and activity opportunities on the coastal plains and Piedmont in the Carolinas (though I find the I-40 urban sprawl corridor from Raleigh to Winston-Salem has grown quite hectic in the past 50 years). North Carolina coastal plain is major golf country and still has heavily forested areas. Small town life in these areas can be quite inexpensive, while rapidly growing urban areas can be as expensive as some of our biggest cities.

I regularly go through really nice small towns in northern Illinois and Indiana, southern Michigan. The climate is great in autumn, but can be as warm as The South in summer and I gave up on long cold winters and winter sports 35 years ago.

I'm not a mountains or desert person, so no recommendations about that from me.

Towns or smaller cities? Here are a few that have impressed me as places I might like to live: Paris, TX; Athens, TX; Palestine, TX; Boerne, TX; Marble Falls, TX; Whiteville, NC; Lake City, SC. On the coast: Murrell's Inlet, SC; Port Aransas, TX; Rockport, TX. Midwest: Hannibal, MO; Dubuque, IA; Galena, IL; Prairie du Chien, WI; Three Rivers, MI; Battle Creek, MI; Goshen, IN; Hillsdale, MI.

[georgelesley]

Alabama Jim wrote:
If you can stand a lot of cold, take a look at Casper, WY. If you want a mix, try looking at Ashville, NC.

A friend of ours was asked to study the climate, cost of living, access to such items as you listed for a major retailer he worked for. He came up with Asheville, NC as the best in the USA all around. We live 45 miles north in NE TN which has lower cost living and similar climate. When we were looking a few years ago we ruled out West of the Mississippi because we did not want to spend everyday praying for rain and South of the Ohio river because after 10 years in Northern MN we were tired of winter.

In three years of living here nothing has made us regret the decision.

[jgrimes]

Missoula or Kalispell MT certainly come to mind. Also, Boise ID.

[ependydad]

Being able to work from home was the biggest enabler to my family and I going fulltime. We move every 1-3 weeks.

Why wait until you're retired to head out on the road?

[bartlettj]

Durb wrote:

mike/kellie wrote:
Check into Bend Oregon. I'll throw in dog and beer friendly.

X2 Golf in the morning and snow ski in the afternoon. Turn left Ponderosa Pine forest. Turn right high desert with juniper. 7 peaks to look at and hike and some of the best rock climbing around. Turn left trout fishing galore. Turn right scenic water skiing.

There's a severe housing shortage in Bend. However, if you are living in an RV and find a park you can afford month to month it shouldn't be a problem. It is quite cold in the winter, though.

[Durb]

mike/kellie wrote:
Check into Bend Oregon. I'll throw in dog and beer friendly.

X2 Golf in the morning and snow ski in the afternoon. Turn left Ponderosa Pine forest. Turn right high desert with juniper. 7 peaks to look at and hike and some of the best rock climbing around. Turn left trout fishing galore. Turn right scenic water skiing.

[DryCreek]

Austin?

[bartlettj]

frankdamp wrote:
It's a LOT further west than you're looking, but our town (Anacortes, WA) is just great. Population is about 20,000. It's a 60 mile drive to Everett and about 100 miles to both Seattle and Vancouver BC.

The climate is very manageable. Summertime highs rarely get above 75F. Snow is unusual, We've only had snow maybe 6 winters in the 17 years we've lived here and it doesn't hang around.It's usually gone in 24 hours and only a small amount. The only negative is long-ish periods of "800 scattered 1200 overcast, rain & fog" and low 40s temperature from mid November to early March.

Scenery is spectacular- Cascade Mountains to the east, Olympics to the Southwest, San Juan Islands close by to the west. Anacortes has lots of shoreline beaches and parks. I-5 is 35 miles to the east if you need to go to a bigger city.

We have no plans to move unless seriously ill/disabled, or wearing a wooden overcoat.

My parents live in Anacortes and I love it too, however it is quite expensive.

[troubledwaters]

If it were me, I would choose anywhere in the Midwest like, St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis areas, semi close to a biggish city (1 to 1-1/2 hour drive), but on a lake.

[frankdamp]

It's a LOT further west than you're looking, but our town (Anacortes, WA) is just great. Population is about 20,000. It's a 60 mile drive to Everett and about 100 miles to both Seattle and Vancouver BC.

The climate is very manageable. Summertime highs rarely get above 75F. Snow is unusual, We've only had snow maybe 6 winters in the 17 years we've lived here and it doesn't hang around.It's usually gone in 24 hours and only a small amount. The only negative is long-ish periods of "800 scattered 1200 overcast, rain & fog" and low 40s temperature from mid November to early March.

Scenery is spectacular- Cascade Mountains to the east, Olympics to the Southwest, San Juan Islands close by to the west. Anacortes has lots of shoreline beaches and parks. I-5 is 35 miles to the east if you need to go to a bigger city.

We have no plans to move unless seriously ill/disabled, or wearing a wooden overcoat.

[Cloud_Dancer]

IMO it's complicated because we're all different, our wants and needs are different. For example, what works for me is a place in north-central New Mexico (5,000 + altitude), and a place in central Texas. Fishing holes, shopping areas, entertainment, AND healthcare facilities,....all play into it. Yes, a big motorhome, towing a 4x4 GMC Envoy, makes it convenient and comfortable to move around. Yet, there's nothing like having a place where I can work on my projects. My wife is a quilter, she needs lots of space for her equipment, and stuff. And, she loves to join her quilting friends on their visits to small towns with quilting shops.

So, a place for winter and a place for summer (both where you can park the motorhome), and the space to spread out a bit.