Folks I think I?ve had it really, America as we knew it gone, I?d like to pack it up

[smokeythecat]

I'm older! I win the prize! Whatever that is! Do you remember the first time you walked into a department store (remember those?) and the doors opened all by themselves! I stood there with my mouth open! I think I remember saying "Star Trek lives".

 

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[Jeff Beaumont]

I have just returned from spending a month in Jacksonville, Florida. If I were a younger man (I am 79 years old) I would move there in a heart beat, the town is booming, the surrounding areas are booming and I have never seen people with such a great attitude. People are happy in Jacksonville and surrounding areas (I was in St. Johns) just south of Jacksonville. The beaches are wonderful the restaurants are fantastic and there is plenty of work. I wish you good luck in your move, I think you are making a good decision.

 

[unclemac]

it sounds like you belong in southern Idaho or northern Nevada, maybe even Utah... there is still opportunity in smaller towns so you don't need to be priced out of the big cities. Take a trip out, pretty livable and not on a decline at all..

 

[releventchair]

I have just returned from spending a month in Jacksonville, Florida. If I were a younger man (I am 79 years old) I would move there in a heart beat, the town is booming, the surrounding areas are booming and I have never seen people with such a great attitude. People are happy in Jacksonville and surrounding areas (I was in St. Johns) just south of Jacksonville. The beaches are wonderful the restaurants are fantastic and there is plenty of work. I wish you good luck in your move, I think you are making a good decision.

The friends who are so interested in the keys.... They peeked into real estate prices in the area. He visited a construction company to inquire about work.
That led to being asked when he could start.
That did not cool any enthusiasm....L.o.l..

And they are folks who like some privacy at home. As well as stable mentalities as a norm in public.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I've known at least 20 people over the years who moved to Florida and all but one came back here to New England. That tells me all I need to know about Florida. Nice place to visit, but no one wants to live there permanently. Ridiculous heat and humidity, gators, pythons, frogs and lizards everywhere, bugs the size of your fist, devastating hurricanes and so on. No thanks...

 

[GoDeep]

I've known at least 20 people over the years who moved to Florida and all but one came back here to New England. That tells me all I need to know about Florida. Nice place to visit, but no one wants to live there permanently. Ridiculous heat and humidity, gators, pythons, frogs and lizards everywhere, bugs the size of your fist, devastating hurricanes and so on. No thanks...

There's a reason a lot of unsavory news stories start with "Florida Man....."

 

[smokeythecat]

GoDeep, I hear you. I heard an old saying once - "grow where you are planted". Florida in any place you can get decent medical services is very expensive and built up now. I was surprised at the urban sprawl when I was there a couple years ago for a visit.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Most native Florida residents wish people would quit moving here, it has become too crowded and they bring their politics with them. The first hurricane that hits the state after new residents arrive usually sends the faint of heart back north.

 

[rayoh]

I just turned 67 and went from one of the best paying jobs that northeast Ohio had to offer to being a janitor at the local school. In the late 70's I was making 1000 bucks a week and went from all the overtime a person wanted to seeing our local dock shut down. 500 employees to 35. I was extremely grateful to get the low paying school job as there were hundreds of people trying for one or two low paying school jobs.

While I was hoping to find another job, it never happened and I ended up having great benefits with the school and one heck of a retirement. Things here in northeast Ohio are finally starting to come around and there is a strange thing happening in my sleepy little town. All of the people who left for Denver, Houston, and Southern California when the economy took a dive in the late 70's are moving back. Cheap cost of living, low taxes, good hospitals, and small town living is bringing these folks back. Of course, many of these people don't like the snow and cold, but they can afford to head south for the three or four bad months.

My little town has one big draw which is Lake Erie. Some of the best fishing and scenery around. I take it for granted, but not these wealthy returnees. Us "baby boomers sure do have some interesting thoughts about our country. I for one, wouldn't change a thing.

 

[smokeythecat]

Treasure_Hunter, I hear you. One of my "hobbies" is weather, or more like weather preparedness. I am 100 miles from the ocean, in a straight line. 150 by car. When Hurricane Isabelle came through I lost power for 5 days and 5 trees. Fortunately, I didn't have to leave. And my neighbors who use firewood made short work of the trees, none fell on the house or electrical wires. I had set up a 12 volt sump in the basement as a backup and it saved the day. I still haven't forgiven that hurricane.

The SMART folks don't go to begin with, and yes, most if not all bring their politics with them. Flood insurance is expensive.

 

[Crow]

Gidday amigos

A place is what you make of it.

I think it is more a state of mind. People flee from one rat race to help create another in time.

How many places do you know was real nice place to live only become discovered by the masses? Becoming so popular with people moving there that it becomes the rat race they was originally escaping from?

You will find that is a trend happening the world over.

Crow

 

[GoDeep]

Unhappiness is on a meteoric rise in America (and the rest of the world too). We are bombarded day and night about what happiness is, should be or could be. It pits and compares us against friend, neighbor and stranger alike. We see only snippets of snapshots of other peoples high points of happiness and begin questioning and comparing our own as if their crafted image would make us happy.

If only we buy this, move here, travel there, drink this, eat that, read this, watch that, we'll find the elusive happiness the world has convinced us we are missing.

The hard truth is, if one isn't happy where they are, a physical change in address will more often then not, only bring about momentary happiness and the underlying reasons for our unhappiness will soon reemerge.

 

[DizzyDigger]

I've traveled extensively throughout the lower 48 states and Canada,
and, while every state has it's plus's, they've all got their bad sides, too.

Big cities are just that, a mass of people all conglomerated into one area.
They're pretty much all the same, too. There's a good side of town, and
then there's a moderate area, followed by the bad sides. Big cities suck.

Florida has some nice areas, but it's got some bad ones, too. Not a place
for me...too hot, too many bugs, etc. Same goes for Georgia, Ala. Tenn.
the Carolina's. Beautiful country, but unfortunately I'm just not wired
for that hot, humid weather.

Maine is absolutely beautiful at certain times of the year, but it can be
cold and nasty in winter. Same goes for NH and Vermont.

The country areas of Pennsylvania, Conn, upstate New York and parts of NJ
are nice, but what appears as a "small town" could have 50,000 people living
there, and public land is scarce.

Midwestern states are boring when it comes to landscape, and Kansas is so
flat in areas that it's almost scary. Tornadoes and massive thunderstorms in
the Spring, and in winter places like Ohio, Iowa and Nebraska can get particularly
nasty. There's no mountains to see until you get to western Neb.

Colorado is beautiful outside of the cities, but the weather is completely bi-polar..
you never know what you're going to get, and when.

Texas is....well, Texas. I could almost live there, but don't habla espanol too
well, and the summers can be wicked hot. West Texas is nice, but they have
a serious alien problem.

I love New Mexico and Arizona..gorgeous country, but again it's too hot for
this old boy.

The Dakota's and Montana can have bad winter's, same for Wyoming. Even
with the cold and snow I think I could handle living in Wyo.

Utah and Idaho have nice people and beautiful scenery. A lot of history
in Utah, but it's a tough place to make a living if you don't live in the city.

Eastern Ore. offers much, and the people are good natured. Western
Ore. is nice, but they do get more rain than the east side, and I would
not get along with the people.

I was born and raised in So. Cal. (Orange county)..left there in '87,
and you couldn't pay me to live in that state again. N. Calif. is beautiful
in some spots, but it's also packed with "special" people, and I lack the
patience to live among them.

The wife and I found our little bit of heaven here in the far NW of Washington.
I'm 130 miles from that nightmare called Seattle, and it's a small town of
around 800. It has it's problems, too, but every town has a drug problem
these days.

Our backyard is a scenic river with five salmon runs per year, and true wild
steelhead. We've seen elk, deer, black bear, bobcat, beaver, mink and a bunch
of other wild critters right off the back deck. Bald eagles are plentiful several
months a year, and some stay year-around.

We're staying as long as I can do the work to take care of the place, and if
I get my way, I'll die here too.

 

[ben ohio]

I have this old saying i picked up many years ago .No matter where you go there you are .

 

[49er12]

Moving is not easy, just to consider it says something. I’d prefer a a small rev trailer live in go where ever, it’s not about running or chasing a rainbow. Folks regardless of family or not you no most of you wish you can be free of responsibility it’s stressful just to concern for yourself. It’s not shameful, god or Jesus approves you to enjoy your freedom even in the smallest way. Nobody understands what I say, your soul needs refreshing don’t suffer and die, I see blu and white collar folks at my job so dam spent, they can’t concentrate, husband, wife, kids does anyone admit your life is predetermined why bother thinking. It’s ok to be single and free nobody can commit to a long term relationship it’s not humanly possible in today’s world why sacrifice is enormous and most will get tired of it. So keep in mind the big picture of such a commitment that will not be long term, poor kids don’t have a stable and good foundations divorce rates high. Ok dr. Phil is done remember life isn’t just a convenient relationship, thankyou

 

[GoDeep]

Most native Florida residents wish people would quit moving here, it has become too crowded and they bring their politics with them.

Politics doesn't discriminate when it comes to "Florida Man" stories, plenty from both sides of the aisle making headlines.....

 

[smokeythecat]

I had a small camper once. I didn't have it especially long. It was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Not good for the arthritis for sure. Even back then it was uncomfortable. Things to consider are the costs and conveniences. New(er) vehicle to pull it. You get an older camper/trailer you get a POS. We thought of doing the cross country thing once, but there is no longer many (if any) places east of the Mississippi to put one even overnight for free. Count the cost. Back in the day I thought $24 a night was a rip off. Many places it can be $75 to $100 to pull in and do a hookup. I paid $3.15 for a gallon of gas today and I think we are getting into an inflation spiral. Some of the MD state parks are $50 a night and you will need a reservation, which means you will need internet service wherever you are. You basically can't just drive up and expect a place to stay. Some federal areas are $30 per night. $50 a night is $1500 a month. I also noticed generators are not allowed in md state parks most of the overnight hours. At my age I couldn't even consider it.

I'd say do research and if you decide to pack up, do it next spring. It would take probably the rest of the summer at least to prepare anyway. Some of the western routes close with snow by September. You will need a very good plan. A very good one. And probably more $$ than you are spending now. That's what I ran into once upon a time ago.

It's kind of like shopping for a college to send your kids to. You must visit the college the year before you apply. Maybe take a two week vacation. Hop on the big silver bird, maybe start in the right hand corner. Manchester, NH has a great airport, been there, done that. Then may the short flight to Norfolk, get a rental and go to Raleigh Durham NC, check out western NC, drive back and grab a bird to, say, Houston. You can see some of Texas, Arkansas from there, from Houston airport, check out San Diego. I drove from San Diego to LA once. And back. Not a bad, ride, the try Vegas and either the looney Pacific Northwest, or maybe the Great Lakes region. Whatever you do the cost is not going to be cheap. So if you don't have considerable savings, it's a no go from the start. I have managed to save some and have enough credit on the card for a trip anywhere, but due to the cost, I'm only doing short road trips.

 

[DizzyDigger]

What Texan's think about Calif...

 

[Tnmountains]

I could not imagine being any other place than I am and I have been everywhere. I do like the Fla Keys though but only if I had a very large boat with lots of motors on the back with a nice galley, bunks and head. Guess I will stay here.

 

[smokeythecat]

Tnmountains, just don't take that boat through Haulover Inlet in Miami.