Best state?

[KalashMan]

My wife and I have been living behind enemy lines (aka NY) since 2005. We'll be looking to move in the next 2-3 years. I'd like to return to AK, but it doesn't look likely.

My mother will likely be going with us (at least the same town).

We're looking at the South East currently. South of VA, east of LA. Probably the biggest focus on SC, GA and northern FL. I've thought about AZ, but I'm not much of a desert rat. :wink:

Anyhow, what state do my fellow Wt'ers think the best to live in?

Keep in mind:

-I am pro-gun (as if i needed to say so).
-I am Christian
-Fairly Right-wing with some Libertarian leanings.
-A Chef by trade so I'd need a fairly good population center within 45 minutes of wherever I live.
-Looking for low overall taxes.
-Hunting/fishing opportunities.
- We own a pit bull (and will likely continue to do so along with other breeds like Presa Canario, etc), so nowhere with breed bans.

Opinions?

Mario

[larryes]

Hernando, FL. We have a great church and only 30 minutes from Ocala.

[larryes]

Oh...plus Hernando is on an end of Lake Tasks Apopka, a 22 mile chain of lakes.

[kilgore]

I think "best" is subjective. GA is ok. Not the best or the worst. I think it's a trade-off. I live SW of, and work NW of Atlanta.

Obviously, Metro Atlanta is where most of the work is. Compared to the rest of the state it's also where most of mugabe's minions live.

State gun laws here are acceptable. You can own a registered SBR, SBShotty, supressor, full-auto, etc.
You can have non-neutered mags, happy sticks, etc.

Taxes are a bit high. That's part of ther trade-off for living close to the city.

You can find conservative areas to live in that are still relatively convenient to ATL. Usually, the more conservative an area is, the more Christian values you will find (at least around here).
I live in a fairly rural area. It's pretty conservative, plus I only have to walk about 800 ft to shoot, and I can be in downtown ATL in 1 hour.

Hunting and fishing - yep..

No Pit Bull ban in GA that I am aware of.


Have you been praying about it?

[GunClinger]

Best state? Shame on you for even needing to ask. You've been around long enough to recognize the obvious answer, as documented here regularly in the Pfleger Chonicles. ))))

[Ratt]

Nothing wrong with the Zone...I was born and raised there...... just don't live down in Phoenix. I currently live in Texas... its okay, fairly gunfriendly, and no state income tax.

[Mayflower]

I been through most of em... A lottery win buys me a ticket to Montana.

But Georgia will do for now.

[Pokeguyjai]

Definitely not the best state but...

If proximity to NY is important to you, check out east PA. I was raised in LI and PA is pretty sweet. The current county (Northampton) that I am living in has no problems with any NFA, and the old chief signed off on everything. We were about a 5 minute drive from the NJ border too. :grin: I am thinking about moving a little farther north, near I-80 where I can get a bunch of awesome land and still be 1.5 hours from NYC/BK for work and other stuff.

If you are a chef check out the out skirts of Philly. You got Atlantic City nearby and I personally think Philadelphia is a kick ass city. Better than NYC in many ways IMO.

[Rage]

I moved to NV from NY (NYC area) just over 4 years ago. Have you thought about coming out west? It can be hot, but no humidity and still relatively un-liberalified.

[B+Shooter]

Have you not considered Kentucky? I feel blessed to have available the things you listed here. Many people in the state are registered as Dem's, but they're conservatives, just keeping the political party of their forefathers.

[KalashMan]

Thanks for the input, folks.


Northwest Florida. No state income tax and good gun laws (including "castle doctrine" and "stand your ground" laws to support self-defense). The Panhandle is the conservative part of Florida, very different from the Southern half. In fact, we refer to it as "Lower Alabama". For me, that is a plus!

Good to hear. My wife's sister actually lives outside Dothan, AL, so NW FL is definitely on the list.

I spent a lot of time in South FL as a kid (Cuban family, so it was almost mandatory), but the last time I was there (2002) it was so damn crowded I couldn't believe it. That and the pit bull ban in Dade County make it a No-Go.



If proximity to NY is important to you,


It isn't. Not by a long shot.

I thought of PA, but the wife isn't into the cold/snow anymore.


I have thought about the SW, but I have this phobia about dying of thirst... :wink: Seriously though, deserts kinda freak me out. Totally alien environment for me.

Kain-Tuck is a possibility. What are winters like?


Mario

[bae]

Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, parts of Washington and Oregon, Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, Texas

[RayMich]

Northwest Florida. No state income tax and good gun laws (including "castle doctrine" and "stand your ground" laws to support self-defense). The Panhandle is the conservative part of Florida, very different from the Southern half. In fact, we refer to it as "Lower Alabama". For me, that is a plus!
I agree. Florida will likely be my destination when I'm able to move. Although, I prefer somewhere on the west coast or the Panhandle. I love the water and I really miss the boating and fishing that go with being by the ocean/gulf.

It will be even nicer if Florida would allow open carry, not so much that I would OC myself, because the only time I would OC is while hunting. But legal OC, would reduce the chances of getting in trouble if a CC gun is accidentally exposed.

How is Florida with regards to NFA firearms?

[Fulanito]

Definitely not the best state but...

If proximity to NY is important to you, check out east PA. I was raised in LI and PA is pretty sweet. The current county (Northampton) that I am living in has no problems with any NFA, and the old chief signed off on everything. We were about a 5 minute drive from the NJ border too. :grin: I am thinking about moving a little farther north, near I-80 where I can get a bunch of awesome land and still be 1.5 hours from NYC/BK for work and other stuff.

If you are a chef check out the out skirts of Philly. You got Atlantic City nearby and I personally think Philadelphia is a kick ass city. Better than NYC in many ways IMO.

Funny...I grew up in Doylestown. I love the area but the property taxes are killer!

[Fulanito]

I happen to like what NC has to offer. Lowish property taxes, they dont touch the military pension, great middle of the road clinmate (not too hot, nor too cold. Great universities in the Raleigh area. Im partial to Pinehurst and Whispering Pines. Will be looking to buy their soon.

[tweek]

Texas, especially the DFW metroplex is worth considering. tons of business going on, lots of good restuarants need talented chefs. property is reasonable and if you pick te property taxes wont hurt. lots of places to shoot, hawgs always need killin. nfa stuff is good to go. john chamrers is just down the road so training is easy to get to. plus next year we get F1 racing in Austin anv motogp the year after.

why go anywhere else?

[Craig R]

While best is subjective New Hampshire is rated as the freest state in the country. It is also the safest state to live in 3 years in a row.
No firearm permit needed to open carry if that's your thing. Number 1 for the last nine years as the best place to raise a child.
No sales tax or income tax. The problem is NH gets written off because it's in the Northeast like it's crazy ass liberal neighbor to the south. (MA)




We're looking at the South East currently. Sadly this is where NH fails miserably.

[Mervo]

Subjective question. My heart is, and will always be in Colorado. However, if you don't need or enjoy the mountains you'd probably hate it.

My wife would probably tell you someplace close to the water FL, SC, VA, etc., but I hate the water.

[Jakob1944]

OOOOh........I have a feeling Texas is about to get another Yankee......

[ReconScout]

Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, parts of Washington and Oregon, Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, Texas

what he said. ...minus the Texas part :wall:

[Ringo]

I second the nod to Missouri. It's CCW-friendly, has a sound Castle Doctrine, taxes are reasonable, and most of the folks are good people. I live in South Saint Louis County, which is great for me because I like all that a bigger city can offer: world-class cultural attractions (STL Symphony, great museums), pro sports (Cards are the current champs, eh?) and it's a great food city. It's also easy to get around in -- from my house in the 'burbs, it's 25 minutes to the Arch, Busch Stadium, and other useful points downtown.

There are some rougher areas of Saint Louis, but if you learn where not to live, it's a great area.

[Netpackrat]

Alaska's good points include decent gun laws, no state taxes on individuals (at least, for now), great fishing, and the ability to hunt things like moose, caribou, and brown bear. But anybody considering a move up here should be advised that the state government is very socialistic in nature and big labor has way too much influence over things. There's very little private land available for purchase outside of the cities, and even if you do own private land, you will NEVER own the mineral rights since those were stolen at statehood. Alaska will probably never be a right to work state, either, so depending on what you do for a living, you may find yourself either forced into a union, or your choice of employers limited. And also there are the federal agencies such as the park service that like to lord it over the locals and just cause trouble for them in general. And they get plenty of opportunities, since what private land IS available tends to be surrounded by federal, and they try to interfere with access, etc. Don't forget to consider the high cost of shipping pretty much anything here, and the high fuel prices even though it is extracted and refined here.

I'm not meaning to discourage anyone from moving here because Alaska's good points are really good, just be sure it is what you want to do and never, ever move to Alaska unless you already have a job waiting for you here.

[BigEd63]

Benton County Arkansas if you are a chef by trade. Probably best paying for that. Walmart Main HQ in Bentonville and attached Vendors is the reason.

Also considered the most conservative area of the state.

Plus you can still find rural property for a good deal and commute if you want.

[back2basics]

the only thing anything should buy at walmart is ammo

[B+Shooter]

Kain-Tuck is a possibility. What are winters like?

There pretty moderate, especially if you are used to the northern winters. We are VERY NFA friendly (Just look at my home range, Knob Creek!). Property values are good, taxes are decent. The geophysical features are amenable to primitive skills, and there are plenty of southern hospitable towns.

[BigEd63]

the only thing anything should buy at walmart is ammo

I'm not talking buying I'm talking marketing his top notch chef skills to those who can afford to pay well for them.:wink:

[DmDbo]

I was raised in Idaho, married a Wyoming girl and have also lived in Utah, Pennsylvania, California and Montana. There should be a state called Wyodahotana cause I love them all. The great thing is after you pick one you're still close to the other two!

[Grey Man]

w/e anybody tells you it sure as hell ain't MN!

[Nightbird]

http://www.survivalblog.com/redoubt.html
http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html

I know none of this is in the SE like you are interested in, but if you liked Alaska then you might think about Idaho. At least these links will give you some criteria to look for in the states you are considering

[KalashMan]

I have friends in ID. Problem is, the wife has decreed nowhere that has regular snow...

Mario

[Nightbird]

That pretty much eliminates anything north of the Mason Dixon. If that were my criteria I would pick somewhere in N.E. texas, or the Florida panhandle as has been suggested.

[DragoMan]

Good luck with your "Escape From New York" plan. As far as the state of Georgia goes, I have a few insights that you might find helpful / informative. As a resident of south Georgia, (below the gnat belt), for over 40 years have a few thoughts...

Weather: Georgia has its share of wild weather, we pretty much get the gamut here: thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, (it’s been a while since we’ve gotten hammered),floods, drought, high temps, low temps, (north Georgia), etc. etc. (not too many earthquakes though). I give Georgia a B- here.

Humidity: Humidity, is often something that some people really have difficulty coming to terms with. There is a joke that says to the effect that people from south Georgia will be growing gills in a generation or two. If you like sauna-like temperatures and with high humidity, come on down!

Personally, I like warm to hot weather...air conditioning is for lightweights. Speaking of air-conditioning, AC is what opened up the south to waves of northerners relocating down here. Life without AC in the south, for most people, was a deal-breaker. (So, you might want to visit Georgia in July / August to see if you can hack it.)

Although, today, with air conditioning you can walk from your air-conditioned home to your air-conditioned car, to your air-conditioned place of employment with only a few paces in non-conditioned air.

BTW, we have humidity most of the year in Georgia, so it's the gift that keeps on giving. I mention this because when we do have cold weather is the damp bone-chilling variety, rather than the "dry-cold" type that is experienced up-north or out-west.

Here's an important note: Humidity affects people in different ways, for many it closes up their sinuses so that breathing through your nostrils is at best, difficult.If you are prone to sinus trouble, living in the South East may be problematic.

Pollen: Lots of pollen down here. Allergies can be mild to profound. If you have an allergic reaction to pollen expect 2 weeks of misery in the spring and 2 weeks of misery in the fall.

Insects: for some people this is a deal-breaker. In south Georgia we have lots of bugs....they're everywhere. This fact drives some women and also girly-men absolutely nuts. Although, with high doses of chemicals, the "indoor" bug problem can be overcome. Any discussion of insects shouldn't leave out the state bird: the lowly and ubiquitous gnat. If you are outside any time at all you have to come to a half dozen small kamikazes hell-bent on flying into your eyes, nose, and ears. (This is not so much a problem north of Macon). Besides gnats we have billions of mosquitoes, biting sand gnats, (coastal areas only), biting horse flies, wasps, yellow jackets, etc. etc. Every home in Georgia must be treated for termites, as it is a constant threat…. Termites will destroy an untreated home inside a few years.

Atlanta: Atlanta is a city that is like many large other large American cities, in that it is in a state of steady decline. One reason for this is that the tax base that has traditionally funded the city has been eroded and hundreds of thousands of those on the welfare rolls have moved in from across the country to jump on the gravy-train. Atlanta, still has a fairly high standard of living, but the skids are greased and it’s on the way down. Within 5 years it will be just like any other “hell hole”…Newark, St. Louis, Detroit, etc. (BTW, I have lived in the “Big A” and have family that currently lives there). Just like a tree where the inner core has died, sooner or later the entire thing will come crashing down. Atlanta traffic is another issue: My sister who works in downtown Atlanta has a 23 mile commute each day, (one way), and it takes her two plus hours each way. According to the politicians, crime in Atlanta is very low…. Although, if you speak to Atlanta residents you may get a different response.

Culture: You may feel at home here, then again you may not. Southern culture is a strange gumbo, not to everyone’s liking. I have lived in the south all my life, but there are large segments of southern society that I feel that have no connection to. (I probably have more in common with Austrians than I have with large blocks of Georgians)…. The “south” is not a monolithic culture. All in all there are a lot of “good” people here, solid citizens. Most people I find to be very approachable, and easy to speak with. As a side note, Georgia women, are in my estimation, the most attractive in the land…really, the state is full of drop-dead beautiful women, (“Georgia Peaches”).

Values: While, in toto, Georgia is a conservative state ….it is drifting to the left. As small towns become mid-size to large towns the city governments seems to be embracing leftist “great-society” values. With the influx of hundred’s of thousands of northerners, many have brought with them the same values that created the society from which they are fleeing. I work at a medium-sized state university, which has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars inviting the glitterati of Marxist and leftist leaders to talk to our students. Georgia is largely a Christian state, (Baptist and Methodist mostly), with a very high number of churches representing all major denominations. Letter Grade: B

Georgia Gun Laws: Gun laws are very good, with recent roll-backs on several prior restrictions. A solid “A”
.
Law Enforcement: Many small towns, counties the police and sheriff’s department are crooked as a corkscrew. Often a few families call the shots….. Things are changing slowly. All in all a C+.

Drugs: Many rural counties are experiencing meth epidemics, complete with the personal and property crimes that accompany them. Drugs abuse is a growing problem, better than most states though…

Cost of Living: Low to below average. Outside of a metropolitan area you can get by on a fairly low income. Taxes are generally low, outside of urban areas. I give Georgia an “A” in this regard.

Schools: On average I give them a C+ , private schools are generally much better than public schools. There are some very good Universities in the state, and also some very good state technical schools. Due to lottery funding, the elementary, middle, and high schools are pretty good. For Georgia residents, the Hope scholarship is available at the university level. An even better deal is at the technical schools, where Georgia residents can just about go to school for free.


All in all, Georgia is better than 85% of the other states in our disunited union…I give it a solid B+.

Lastly, the above comments are personal observations, they may not be 100% valid for you...so as always, "your mileage may vary."

On a personal note, I’m working on getting my ducks in a row to move to west Texas….I hope to be there within 2 years.

PS: A great online resource for checking out possible relocation areas is "City-Data" which can be found at:

http://www.city-data.com


Good Luck,


DragoMan

[ZMB HNTR]

THIS ANALYSIS (http://247wallst.com/2011/11/28/best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-an-analysis-of-all-50/) might help you make a decision.

[Fulanito]

The new Castle Doctrine approval, as of 1 Dec, makes NC look even better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yutloQZAOUM

[tweek]

Bored in class so I feel like slapping other states around some more.....
So more reason to relocate to DFW TX:
1. We have 2 race tracks that mere mortals can get on without too much effort - either track days for motorcycles or DE events for cars (SCCA, PCA, etc) or join as a member and get out as much as you want.
2. Texas Motor Speedway if NASCAR is your thing
3. lots of dirt bike parks (seem like there is one every 5 miles or so)
4. We whine about traffic but compared to other cities (NY, Boston, LA) we're a bunch of sissies about traffic
5. Did I already mention shootings - we have several tactical ranges (one I'm trying to convince Mr. Chambers to use - 3 pits! one big enough to really do some cool stuff in) a few ranges go out past 500 yards
6. still have lots of business, I work with tech startups and things are still moving
7. cost of living isnt outlandish - property costs the same here as Bentonville Ar, same as groceries but we don't pay taxes on food.
8. moving to NW Arkansas means you are placing your fate in the hands of WalMart - just save the time and drink liquid drano now.
9. We have a football team that likes to get its ass beat. Same for the hockey team. The baseball team likes to tease people with dreams of a championship. We almost had a basketball team hold the championship for 2 years running - damn contract.

just give in and move here. You'll love it.

[Francisp]

mario, are you in Brooklyn by any chance?

[LawDog]

never, ever move to Alaska unless you already have a job waiting for you here.I'm glad you didn't get to me before I came up. Five years ago, my wife and I sold almost all of our furniture and many of our possessions. We loaded up a small Uhaul trailer and the back of my pick-up truck, and just headed north to Alaska. My wife left a position as a vice-president with Wachovia. We came up with no jobs and didn't know a soul up here. But she immediately found work in a real estate company and is now managing all of that company's business in Alaska. And I found good work as a lawyer in a small town that I adore. But we did have something going for us that not everyone has: Divine intervention. God apparently wanted us here.

Alaska isn't for everyone. If "no regular snow" is part of the criteria, then that pretty much eliminates this place. But we have virtually no gun laws. Not only are there no personal income taxes, but they actually pay you to live here (about a thousand dollars a year). Anchorage doesn't even have sales tax. In my little town, I can bicycle to work most days--even in winter. (There are very few legal jobs where that is an option.) I am surrounded by pristine wilderness and abundant hiking opportunities. For the cost of a $24 fishing license, I can fill the freezer with about 30 red salmon each year, pulled right up out of the Copper River. And I can sit at the big bay window in my living room and sip my coffee while taking in the view below. (This is a few months ago. We've got a lot more snow now.)

[Netpackrat]

I'm glad you didn't get to me before I came up. Five years ago, my wife and I sold almost all of our furniture and many of our possessions. We loaded up a small Uhaul trailer and the back of my pick-up truck, and just headed north to Alaska.

So am I. Your experience isn't necessarily typical, since Alaska can be an expensive place to live while looking for work. Another thing is that in many fields, AK is still very much a place where somebody from Outside needs to pay their dues before getting the job they want, even if it is something they have spent years doing down south. Many companies are still hesitant to bring people up who haven't proven that they can handle the climate here. My brother spent several years trying to get back home, and applied for a lot of jobs in his field (engineering). The strategy that worked for him, was to hire on with a company down south, that has a division in Alaska. He paid his dues down there, and was able to get a transfer up here. Even though he wasn't doing the work he wanted to, he was home, and after a year or more of paying his AK dues, he's now got a better job that's appropriate to his experience. Another friend of mine who grew up here is an engineering prof at a university down south. I think he's finally starting to realize that it's going to take the same sort of strategy as my brother used, to get him back home.