Best place to Live?

[rbhollabaugh]

Howdy,
We currently live in NJ in a place that used to be rural on 11 acres. We are thinking of moving to an area that is not so populated with more land. We are open to suggestions. Prefer the 4 seasons and good people. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Rich

[chrisjbell]

I lived in the Midwest for a while. I liked it quite a bit. Good people, lots of open space. I was in Indiana, and that was nice. My mom lived in Ohio on 27 acres for a while and that was also very pleasant - Ohio has a bit more terrain than Indiana (although southern Indiana has some hills).

I'm on 10 acres out in California now and I really like it. I'm not a good "winter" person. We do get the seasons - here in the Sacramento area there are a bunch of trees so you get a decent fall - but they are pretty mild. We definately don't get the fall colors like the eastern areas.

But there are a lot of California people that aren't so good. Where I am is different, though, because we're all trying to live a more rural lifestyle - I know all of my neighbors, which I never have in the past. But I suspect that there isn't any real answer to your question [img]/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]...

[rbhollabaugh]

Thanks,
I know there is no real answer. I am the only one who can find the answer. However, I do appreciate and value other's experiences and judgements. It would be almost impossible for me to look everywhere. It would take a lifetime to do it personally. That's where you and others on this message board come in.
I lived in Indiana for a while - too flat. I also lived in south eastern Ohio where there are some hills. I would consider that area again.
I have relatives in your area of CA. It is tempting...
Rich

[chrisjbell]

<font color="blue"> I have relatives in your area of CA. It is tempting... </font color>

It can be tough to find something out here that mere mortals can afford. Property values are absolutely crazy. But there are places where it isn't too bad - if you go far enough away from the cities. I'm pretty lucky to have what I do - there's no way I could afford it now, though [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]. My place has pretty much doubled in value over the past five or six years.

[pajoube]

Wiith all the replys you will be getting, start taking long weekend trips to look over.
Bozeman, Montana, beautiful during all four seasons.
PJ

[WVBill]

Rich:

Consider the Shenandoah Valley. That would be anywhere along Interstate 81 through Virginia/West Virginia. Still quite rural with nice small towns and the people to match. John Denver's song is right - "Almost heaven".

[Tom_From_NJ]

I am up the road from you, Warren County. This summer we went on vacation to the Mid-West. We really liked Wisconsin. The Madison area reminded us a lot of the part of the world we live in, BUT very open. 30 minutes from Madison was just great, rolling hills, open, very nice people.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck

[rozett]

I would recommend the state of Maine. A wonderful coastline, very nice people, and plenty of space away from the population centers.

However, you can't get here any more..... cause we pulled up the drawbridge shortly after we arrived. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[rbhollabaugh]

I'm bringing a boat to get across!

[Fawteen]

Bad roads. Bad winters. Blackflies. Mosquitos. The fishin' stinks, the huntin' ain't much better. Boring scenery, contrary people.

Nope, you wouldn't like Maine at all.

(Gee ya think that'll work? [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] )