[Pendragon]

We have both been wanting to move out of PRK for over a year. The recent financial situation has brought that into sharp focus.

The problem has been our (mostly her) guilt about taking our little boy away from her parents who pretty much live to see him. (ow).

Well, we were going to move out of Sacramento and back to our home town an hour North to buy a cheaper house and be able to live in a reasonable manner. As it is, we are holding our current home by a thread until some penalties roll off the loan in July and we can sell it.

Well, after seeing that the home prices up there are now well over $1.50 per sqft and climbing (our area is about $1.80), we (she) realized it was not going to work.

She craves the change and the adventure and we would like to see the Southern Charm for ourselves.

I told my family yesterday (they took it well). We were going to wait, but she told her mom when she came over this morning (she was just really quiet :uhoh:.

So...

As soon as the house sells (they sell in about a week here), I figure the middle of July, we are going to sell off most of our furniture and bulky items and buy space on a truck and a couple plane tickets to Jacksonville Florida.

Well, I actually have to get a job there first so it might be slightly more complicated.

I would encourage other freedom loving people in occupied states to consider Jacksonville. The area seems to have low housing costs ($0.60 per sqft vs $1.80 here) low cost of living, very low unemployment and low taxes. Lots of companies are expanding there and the area has a lot going for it.

I am going to try and get a non resident CCW so I can CCW from the moment I get out of the airport.

Any Jax people here? Is the housing really as cheap as I see online? (2000sqft homes for $120k-$130k ?)

Any tips on which county to live in? Clay seems to have good schools - does it have higher home prices?

Are there any areas where you can get secluded homes that you can shoot on your own land?

Where are the best gun ranges?

I am so excited I can't stand it.

We have never seen a firefly in real life. We have never seen the Atlantic either.

Does moving there invalidate my non res permit or can I use it until I get my res permit? Can I convert the permit or do I have to pay and and apply again?

[Ed N.]

A wise decision, and welcome to you! It's hard to find a better state. Heck, we even have a Bush for a governor! :)

I grew up in Jax., and my parents now live in Clay County. I'm living in Haines City (SW of Orlando) now.

Both my dad and my sister are school teachers (dad's retired). I think you'll find that there are good and bad schools. It's hard to generalize by county. Get some info on the particular schools your kids will attend before you buy.

Can't help you much with housing prices; they vary considerably by neighborhood. Clay County is good if you get a fair distance away from Jax. If you're interested in Clay County, and willing to drive a bit to get to work, take a look at Middleburg and Keystone Heights. Lovely rural areas, and Keystone has many lakes. You might also check out Green Cove Springs.

I suspect you'll like the area, but be aware that, like much of Florida, the Jax. area is being developed rapidly. This causes some severe growth pains and traffic jams, though nothing like what I've seen in Kali.

I'm sure you already know that Florida is quite gun friendly. No open carry (of firearms, that is; you can legally carry a crossbow and a broadsword openly if you like), but we're a "shall issue" state with few restrictions on CCW. Be sure to pick up a copy of "Florida Firearms - Law, Use & Ownership" by Gutmacher.

What sort of job are you looking for?

[Marko Kloos]

Seems like most of the good people are leaving California in droves, and I can't say I blame them. THe SF bay area has got to be one of the most beautiful stretches of country I've ever seen, but the politics of the area make it impossible for me to even consider moving there.

Congratulations on your decision to move to the free America. You'll love life in a shall-issue state.

[Blackhawk]

Great news, Pendragon! Best of luck to you. :D

[Ed N.]

Forgot to mention:

You asked about shooting on your own land.

OF COURSE you can get rural land where you can shoot! I walk out back and shoot all the time. The folks down the road from me shoot doves from their front yard during the season!

I think you'll find there are plenty of places in Clay County that would suit you.

Don't count on a basement shooting range, though. Actually, don't count on a basement. Most places, you hit water once you dig down about 4 feet.

[Pendragon]

Thanks for the tips!

I dont care about a basement.

As for work, my background has been in computer support but those jobs have gotten scarce here with thousands of people like me out of work. The last year I have been doing product QA testing for HP.

I want to get a support job - possibly as a super or manager or possibly move into SQL admin (have training, not much experience).

So - I am a tech worker, but since I work in support, most businesses need people like me so as long as there are businesses with computers, I should be able to find work. (I hope).

[BamBam]

Pen,
I'm excited for you!

My wife's company just axed an IT guy and will be looking for someone familliar with SQL. Too bad you aren't moving to Memphis, lol. (FYI, avoid Memphis like the plague.)

Here's some info on Jax, FL:

http://www.expandinjax.com/

[Standing Wolf]

I'm sure I'll always miss the beaches and mild weather of the San Francisco Bay area; my only regret about leaving the People's Republic of California to return to the United States last year is that I didn't do it years earlier.

Congratulations, eh?