Where do you live? And why?

[Sobel]

Born in Upstate NY moved to Florida in my senior year of high school because my mom wanted more vitamin D. Luckily I can own guns here or else there would be absolutely nothing good about this place.

[jim in Anchorage]

With out bragging since I started it, this is a great thread. Love your stories.

[smalls]

Lived between Windsor and Chatham, Ontario till I was about 3 or 4. Mum got remarried to an American, so we hopped on over to the States. Been living in the Metro Detroit area ever since, but spent plenty of summers back up in Canada with my dad.

I'd like to move, maybe to Texas, Florida, or SC, but my wife's pretty strongly rooted here, and has no desire to move more than 5 miles away from her folks.

[Johnny Dollar]

I'd like to move, maybe to Texas, Florida, or SC, but my wife's pretty strongly rooted here, and has no desire to move more than 5 miles away from her folks.
_________

Move to Florida,smalls. Take her folks along! We still got some room and it's warm and gun friendly here!

[sidheshooter]

Originally Posted by cyclopsshooter

PNW, good weather, good gun laws, fewer people, it is home

^^^This, but I'd personally replace "good weather" with "good people and places".

I'm typing within 100 miles of where I was born and raised, but that has a whole lot more to do with my dad's excellent reasons for settling here than any missing sense of adventure on my part. He had good taste in places to live, IMO.

[justice06rr]

Originally Posted by Sobel

Born in Upstate NY moved to Florida in my senior year of high school because my mom wanted more vitamin D. Luckily I can own guns here or else there would be absolutely nothing good about this place.

There are quite a few good things in FL, if you are open-minded.

Tourism, proximity to beaches, cheap cost of living, etc. As you may guess i'm in the same city as you.

We have very good/lenient gun laws thats for sure. That is enough to keep me away from California and NYC although I've always wanted to live there.

[Old Dog]

West Puget Sound. Ended up here at the end of my military career (did more'n a quarter-century on active duty, got in some combat deployments to the Mesopotamian region), segued into a bit of law enforcement activity (continuing my MP and reserve PD/SO gigs) after Uncle Sam let me go ...

I love Washington state. Nope, we can't have full-auto, but we just got supressors, the rest of the gun laws are good, no duty to retreat and all that -- we shoot home invaders here on a regular basis -- the mountains, the water, the scenery, we got desert on the other side of the hills ... mild weather ... skiing, whitewater rafting, mosquitos ain't bad anywhere ... Only problem we got is Seattle and the King County politicians. After more'n a decade of exile in California, this is paradise.

[Pit4Brains]

Arizona
I didn't make this video but it fits the bill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7xedmvJTzk

If you have never been here before, don't bother. It's tooo hot even though it's a dry heat...

[ZGunner]

Georgia, I've been stationed here since 2007. Originally from Wisconsin, will never go back to live, there's just nothing there for me.

I'd like to get out to the Black Hills area. My family used to take summer vacations out there and I just fell in love with it. Now if I can only get orders to Ellsworth...

[Wylie1]

Shoshone Idaho, <deleted>

[jrdolall]

I have lived in 13 states at one time or another. Grew up in Alabama and Georgia. College at University of Alabama(BA), moved to Florida after school. Texas, California, Tennessee, Michigan, Arkansas, Oregon, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Montana for work reasons. Several of these were for only about three months and then moved to the next assignment so I never really put down roots in many of these states. I finally bought into the company and moved back to Georgia where I lived until we sold the company
I found the land I wanted in rural Alabama and moved back here in 1997. I have spent time in all 48 continental states and every one of them has both good and bad. Alabama is too darned hot but fairly rural and conservative. We also have long a long deer season with lots of deer and liberal bag limits not to mention fishing, turkey, etc. FL is probably my least favorite as far as living there full time. Hot and crowded all year long. When the last of my kids get out of school I may consider moving back to Montana or possibly Wyoming assuming I can get a good price on my land.

[ZeSpectre]

Another rural upstate NY native here. Graduated college and flipped open a map of the east coast of the US, closed my eyes, slammed my finger down and announced to my Mother that I was moving to Bowie, MD.

Damn near gave her a heart attack.

I lived in Bowie for about a month and didn't much like it but a college buddy was down in Alexandria, VA and visiting showed me that it was probably where I wanted to be.

I spent 20 years in that area (Northern Virginia) working mostly for the Feds, got married, etc. During that career I had the opportunity to visit (sometimes very briefly) about 39 of the 50 states and got a good feel for what other parts of the USA are like.

One day after some very frustrating house hunting my wife and I said "this area sucks for trying to buy a house, we gotta get outta here!" so we started looking at other parts of Va and NC (and a little bit of PA).

Two months later job offers came down the pike and we moved to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia.

[jrdolall]

If any of you ever get the chance take a trip up Beartooth pass or visit Glacier National Park or even Yellowstone park and you will see why I love living, working, hunting, fishing and raising my kids in Montana

We drive through Red Lodge every year, over the Beartooths(or is it Bearteeth) and into Yellowstone. The lakes on the pass still have ice on them in mid June and the scenery is outstanding. I don't know if I can handle Montana in january but I may give it a try in a few years. I will be there in October on an Elk hunt in the Helena area.

[BadWool]

I was born at Offutt AFB, just outside of Omaha NE.

First conscious memories are while we were living/stationed at Torejon AFB, Madrid Spain. This was during the time of Franco (the last Fascist dictator), who I apparently saw during some of the military parades held in downtown Madrid. All I remember were the bull fights, swimming in the Med, and the fun of living in base housing.

In 1973 we returned stateside to Offutt AFB again, where I attended my first American school. While in Spain I had attended a montessori school of some sort, so I skipped kindergarten and 1st grade when we returned to the US. Had a "girlfriend" in 2nd grade at Avery Elementary school in Bellevue NE, Linnie Lockwood.......then there was Dana Turner in 3rd grade at Belleaire Elementary School ............I don't know why I still remember their names, but in reflection I can see early development of my man-whoreness.

In 1975 we headed out again, this time to Okinawa. Anybody have a time/place in their childhood where all the magic happened and if you could go back and never leave you would? That was Okinawa for me, I had so much fun there. I was forbiddened to be in the boonies because of all the Habus (snakes) and unexploded ordinance left over from WWII. Soooooooo, there was hardly a day you would not find me in the boonies exploring the bunkers and caves the Japanese used to defend the island. I also saw Jaws while on Okinawa, didn't care for the beach after that movie night..........

In 1978 Uncle Sam dropped us in Suckramento CA, stationed at McClellan AFB. It was here that my dad eventually retired and where I graduated from HS and college. Aside from a stint in the US Army, I remained in CA near my parents. Eventually met THE woman, started having kids, bought a house, got married (in that order). As the years passed we were becoming more and more hostages than residents, and hating every moment of existence because of the one party government that dominates California.

After my mom passed away in 2003 I convinced my dad to move to VA in 2007, where he owned property he inherited from my grandmother. All the while my wife and I began plotting to move away ourselves, setting our sights around Lexington KY. Unfortunately the job market in Lexington isn't worth spit.......unless you are a farmer, horse owner, or assembly line laborer. That region of KY just doesn't seem to have a bustling skilled/tech sector to speak of, so after a few years of waiting/searching we turned our attention elsewhere.

In 2010 my wife and I purposely took a major fiscal/credit hit and fled with what we could pack into 5 moving pods (from a PODS competitor), plus a Uhaul, and moved to the United States to a nice rural county located in Central Virginia. We now live in a free county of 15,000 people instead of a prison colony of 1,000,000+ people. Aside from begrudingly going back with my wife to bury her mom when the time comes, I will never set foot in California without really really bad (good in my mind) intent.........

I am not the same person I was 2 years ago. I was consumed by rage and hatred against California. If I could have obtained thermonukes I would have embraced infamy. Now I can laugh at the absurdity that is reported daily out of California and bask in the surplus that Virginia is enjoying for the 3rd year in a row, my kids are FINALLY learning about American history, the people here are genuine, and the 2nd Amendment is staunchly defended and embraced by a majority of the citizens. People here wonder why we picked as we did, and as I explain the differences between life here and the hell back there, my favorite joke is that the only way I will leave is by torches and pitchforks..........

[Shinbone]

North Central Illinois, where I was born. I have no idea why anyone would want to settle here. Maybe people who think it's great have never been anywhere else.
I haven't had any problem finding work here. The area used to be a manufacturing center, but not much anymore.
Can't wait for carry laws because the lack of them has made the large cities war zones.
Would love to move out west. Maybe Wyoming.

[swiftak]

I was born in Paris, France. Was an Army Brat and travelled the world until I was in the 8th grade. Saw alot of things that most people don't see in a lifetime. Thank god my parents were both from New Hampshire as that was where we returned to. I spent 6 years in the Army and returned here. I hunt, fish, trap, and cut wood. The gun laws are as good as they can be and I cannot see another house from mine. I love the woods and the 8 inch native brookies in the brook behind my house.

[HorseSoldier]

Army brat, ended up mostly growing up in the American South. Ended up eventually moving to Alaska.

Why Alaska? Well I think anyone on this forum will understand.

+1. What he said. Can't see myself ever leaving AK.

[Larry the Liberal]

Born in Kansas ... family moved to Los Angeles when I was 10. During the 60s it was great ... but by the time the late 70s arrived L.A. was ruined ... started looking for a way out. Ended up moving to the Central Coast ... Morro Bay - San Luis Obispo ... and discovered paradise.

Eight years ago the wife and I bought an Airstream and took off for 6 years of full time traveling around the USA. Visited some very nice places that tempted us to move ... but none of them had the unique combination of weather, food, wine and outdoor lifestyle that the Central Coast offered.

Lot's of folks love to hate California for the gun laws (and other politics) ... and yes, it can be frustrating. But for me, there is more to life than firearms. This part of the state is very 2A friendly, extremely low crime rate ... an overabundance of gun stores ... 2 great ranges (one public and one private) ... and the home of Apex Tactical, Hogue and Weatherby. I love it here ... and I ain't movin'.

[bubbacrabb]

Living in Oregon currently. I can not stand it. I came here because of my job, and I have to say the entire western half of the country is horrible. Food sucks, people suck, cant wait to get back on the right side of the Mississippi. I just cant stand how complicated life is out here. Oregon can kiss my midwest behind when I get out of here. I'm a Hoosier by birth, but I'd rather live in the communist state of Illinois before dying in this hippie place.

[jrdolall]

Ended up moving to the Central Coast ... Morro Bay - San Luis Obispo ... and discovered paradise

This is one of those places where you can be in 65 degrees, drive 10 minutes up 101 and be in 105 degrees. I love most of CA. If they didn't have way too many people and weren't hopelessly bankrupt (financially and morally) I could live there because of the things you mentioned. Gas is 50-70 cents per gallon higher then it is in the SE due to the "special blend".

[Davek1977]

born and raised in South Dakota....growing up, couldn't wait to leave here.....then I grew up and realized I no longer wanted to live anywhere else. I have what I want and need here....friends, family, hunting, fishing, and a prevalent attitude that is overwhelmingly gun friendly

[brnmuenchow]

My family has been in Texas since 1891, and can't really imagine living anywhere else. Aside from the really hot summers it's a great state. If I had to live anywhere else I imagine going to Alaska, even being from Texas I love the cold. I have to admit though if I left Texas I would miss "Lone Star" beer not to mention many other items made here in the "Lone Star State".

[Arkansas Paul]

Born in Fairhope Alabama, down on the coast. Have lived in Mississippi and Arkansas as well. Currently in Central Arkansas. Good hunting here and the gun restrictions aren't bad, comparatively speaking.
I don't know if I'll always live here or not, but it will be somewhere in the south for sure. American by birth, Southern by grace. It just don't get any better than sweet tea, southern hospitality and country girls.

[mgmorden]

I live in the backwoods of the South Carolina Lowcountry, and live here because my family has always lived here (well, at least for a very long time). Recently when doing genealogical research I discovered that I have great-great-great grandparents buried less than 3 miles from the house (and just going back to "great-grandparents" they're buried less than a half-mile away). We don't spread out much.

[THowie]

Live in Nashville. Came here for a job about 10 years & fell in love.