Where do you live? And why?

[ArfinGreebly]

Originally Posted by jim in Anchorage

Arfin- That was a great post, well written. I have been thinking more and more about leaving Alaska for the land of free shipping [lower 48.] I am getting a little old for Alaska hunting. What are the winters like in your part of Idaho?

Well, it varies. I'm sure that will come as a shock.

I've only been up here for five complete winters, but two of them had a respectable amount of snow. The winter of 2007-2008 started in late November (well, the snow did, anyway) and piled up to depths of two and three feet on more than one occasion (unshoveled snow got to be four & five feet deep where we were). There was much shoveling that winter.

The 2008-2009 winter started late, but right after Christmas it stacked up again. We had the "pleasure" of moving in the last week of 2008, and the house we moved into had been unoccupied for months. The snow in the driveway was more than four feet deep.

In 2009-2010, we got a decent snowfall, and had a white Christmas, but it never got over two feet deep, and we had a really wet spring.

The winter of 2010-2011 was "average" I guess. Modest snowfall, depending on where you were (two-three feet), although it was slower to melt off, and spring was wet again.

This last winter, 2011-2012, was possibly a little light, although I did get to run the snowblower a couple of times with snow over a foot deep.


These numbers are for Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene. If you lived in Hauser, Twin Lakes, or Spirit Lake, things got a bit deeper. Spirit Lake always seems to have more snow than we do, and it's only twenty-something miles away.

We're at about 2,700 feet. As you go up the slopes, the snow starts to stack up pretty good. There are a number of ski resorts within easy driving distance. A number of the local lakes freeze over, so there's ice fishing.

So, the winters are real without being too obnoxious.

And, of course, in the summer you get to appreciate that there's a lake on every street corner. I recently did a map grab from my DeLorme software and posted it somewhere else online for illustration of the density of our lake population. Theres a butt-load of lakes in the map segment. I'll see if I can dig that up.

And here it is.
Inland-NW-Lakes.jpg

[jim in Anchorage]

I can live with snow. After all I lived 22 years in Buffalo and 17 in Anchorage. But what are the temperatures like? This last January was brutal. Day after day wake up to -20. Average temp for whole month was +1.7. a all time record low.

And whats the normal hunting style there? Are there Lot's of places to hunt? And how do you access them? Road, 4 wheeler, airplane?

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by jim in Anchorage

I am curious over the location of THR members and if it shows a trend. I will start. My parents moved to upstate NY when I was 6, ended up in Buffalo in 1972 where I graduated HS 1974. I hung around, always wanting to go West till 1995 when I put my tools in the back of my trunk [I'm a mechanic] and left alone for Alaska. Did not know anyone here, no real idea if I would be able to find a job. And here I still am.

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

I just stumbled on to this thread and would like to add my .02 cents................................

Born in far northern Illinois (just a few miles from the Wis state line) in the last quarter of the great depression. Fortunately, we lived in a very rural area, on a lake so I literally grew up from the age of (9) with a fishing rod in one hand and a rifle or shotgun in the other. During WWII ammo was hard to come by, but with the help of neighbors and friends that didn't shoot much, I was able to help mom with the menu almost year 'round: fish, pheasants, squirrel, dove, rabbits, ducks etc.

Lived there until age 18......started college 180 miles away with 2 part-time jobs to pay for a large portion of the cost. Hunted pheasants, quail, rabbits & ducks in the few spare hours during season in the fall and winter (Iowa)..............Graduated in 4 1/2 years...... (spent part of that time in the hospital)...being the result of being a front seat passenger in a convertible that hit a tree---2 dead, one lived...me.

Started work (7) days after graduation (had a wife and a child by that time).

Moved to CO in 1965--way too crowded in IL.... (to live in the foothills of the Rockies & have a couple of horses to facilitate "pack-in hunting trips" into the back-country for deer, elk and bear......... added big game hunting (had started handloading in 1960) to the all-consuming sport of bird hunting....both were pretty good in CO in those days. ... Had a job that required travel about 75% of the time not only in CO., but into WY; ID; UT; NV; AZ; B.C. and Alaska...............An outdoor nut's dream job!!
Moved to MT in 1980 (10 miles out of town), tight up against the Bitterroot Mountains.
Kept the same type job (different company) and continued to doing the large amount of travel......(sure helped getting to know folks in those different states (particularly AK) that helped line up hunting opportunities).
After 39 yrs & 6 months of traveling....I retired and have continued to LOVE living where I do, in the home I built 33 years ago) .........still 10 miles out of town: good hunting; good fishing; can shoot on my place--still like to work up loads; lots of privacy, wildlife and QUIET!...........At this age, I feel "I've Paid-My-Dues" and just want to live out my days doing what I love to do........was married 51 yrs before I lost my wife,.....so in recent years it's been "me & my Brittany".

CARPE DIEM my friends........."we don't get any "do-overs" so do it right the first time!!

[Brockak47]

Where am I from? Bloomington,IN
Where Do I live now: Prescott,AZ. , downside is all my family pretty much lives in Indiana, besides a few in Ohio and Iowa.
Why? I am within driving distance (Less than 5 hours) of places like this (and many many more including Las Vegas):



Sedona:


Grand Canyon:


Lake Powell:

Flagstaff:


Mexico:

[druryj]

I live in God's Country; Oklahoma.

[TwoEyedJack]

When I was 8, my family moved from a small town outside of Boise, ID to central PA. We eventually settled to a 100 acre farm near Stormstown, PA. We hunted white tails, turkey, rabbits, pheasants, and squirrels on our farm and the surrounding areas. It was a pretty nice place to grow up. The winters were brutal. One winter it was -20 for a week. The next there was so much snow we had to shovel it off the barn to keep it from collapsing.

I went to high school and two years of college in State College, PA. After that, I transferred to a university back in the west. All that time back east and I never stopped pining for the west. Anyway, after I got my masters, I took a job back in the Boise area and have lived here since the late 80's. Hunting and fishing are fantastic. Lots of places to ride dirt bikes and horses. The weather is great. Schools are awesome. Idaho is the original "run with scissors" state, and that is just the way I like it. The only downside is that property taxes are very high, we have a state income tax, and a sales tax. Job prospects are not great. The feds own too much land, and the BLM is run by complete idiots. There is no perfect place, but ID comes close.

[WYOMan]

Wyoming! At the foot of the Bighorns, with the love of my life. Because God is great and blessed me beyond what I deserve.

[JERRY]

was Cleveland.

now Alabama.

should be self explainatory.

[Zeeemu]

I live at the southern end of the great megalopolis, BosNYWash, in southern Maryland, the so called, 'Free State'. Nothing free about it of course but it's been home for more than forty years. Gun laws suck here but we do have the finest politicians money can buy.

I've collected too much stuff to easily move so I've settled in for the duration. Lots of retirement travel allows me to enjoy visiting many states and savor a taste of what they have to offer.

Life could be tweaked a little to better suit me but I ain't complaining. Compared to how most humans on this planet live I've got it far better than 99+% of those living today or those who've ever lived - in all of human history. It's a wonderful time to be alive in this great land of ours.

[talldragon]

Originally Posted by Zeeemu

Life could be tweaked a little to better suit me but I ain't complaining. Compared to how most humans on this planet live I've got it far better than 99+% of those living today or those who've ever lived - in all of human history. It's a wonderful time to be alive in this great land of ours.

Great outlook, good attitude to have. We truly are fortunate here in the USA .

[Mosbyranger]

Native Texan, expat now. Lived in upstate New York and Chicago and then Denver growing up (Dad was a UAL Pilot). Now domiciled in western Colorado, since 1980. Good firearms laws, outstanding elk hunting, trout fishing and mild weather. I see no reason to leave Colorado. I see every reason to stay.
MR

[Stantdm]

My wife and I live in Western South Dakota. We moved here from a big city in Colorado when I retired and bought a farm. I live here because its a good place to be in these times. A rural lifestyle fits me fine. There are Deer and Turkey on my farm. Antelope and Elk are not far away nor are sharptails, huns, and pheasants. Most of the people are laid back and easy going. Its conservative in both its political views and its social views. We are close to Montana and Wyoming and can be on the Big Horn in just a few hours.

[DesertFox]

Originally Posted by jim in Anchorage

Where is TBD?

Montana is TBD for now.

[blakec3686]

I live in the Twin Falls area of Idaho...moved here from San Diego to be closer to my father and i know one thing....I AINT goin back lol

[Tinker]

I am fine with people having a negative view of the South. You are absolutely correct, stay where you are. It is much better there.

God Bless James Dickey and his "scarecrow", Deliverance. Forty years later, it is still working it's magic. Talk about a piece of genius craftsmanship.

Now, if we can abolish air conditioning, things will be back to normal.

[Zeeemu]

"Now, if we can abolish air conditioning, things will be back to normal."

I love the south, spent three years at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery without air conditioning - more than 50 years ago. Summers were fine and long but infrequent Winter snowy streets that became iced over were hilarious - and more than a bit scary.

Traffic in town looked like the Keystone Kops. People spinning their tires trying to gain momentum while at the next stoplight all locking their brakes and sliding into each other. I quickly learned to stay on base during such events. I wonder if driving habits have changed much?

[bikerdoc]

I wonder if driving habits have changed much?

nope!

A little infrequent snow will close the state down in a Govenor declared state of emergency, call out the National Gaurd and close schools.
I make a ton of money pulling people out ditches, with my truck.
Grocery shelves get emptied.
And it it all melts by noon the day

[OilyPablo]

Born in So Cal (Fullerton - Orange County). There used to be an outdoor range there where my dad would take us to plink.

Left for Oregon when I got my first job. Lived there - in Grants Pass. Great places to shoot. Then headed on up to WA state for the last 25 years or so, have moved around a bit. Great weather, great outdoors, clean air. Liberal lunacy area, but don't come after our guns and not like CA in that one regard!

[michiganfan]

Folks, like a ton of my uncles and wives, came up from Arkansas when I was three(1950). Dad worked GM 30 years. I went to U of M. Then passed michigan bar and been here since. Daughter is now senior at U of M. Go Blue.

[jrdolall]

Summers were fine and long but infrequent Winter snowy streets that became iced over were hilarious - and more than a bit scary.

You must have been one tough SOB if Summers were fine in Montgomery. I have a $600 power bill in the Summer because I prefer to keep the internal temp below 80. It was cool last night and today barely got to 90 but I left my truck out in the sun and the internal temp was 104 this afternoon. In my lifertime we have one significant snow event that lasted more than two days and that was back in 1972 or so when we got 14 inches in March. We shut down schools if there is a threat of snow or ice because we have no equipment to deal with it. You can't even buy hot dog buns if the forecast calls for snow as the grocery stores empty out completely.

U of M. Go Blue

. Uh.... Roll Tide!

[Zeeemu]

"You must have been one tough SOB if Summers were fine in Montgomery."

Nope, not that tough but I was only 20 years young then and long hot Summers were a treat compared to Missouri ice storm Winters.

Besides, air conditioning wasn't an option. These days, Summers without AC would be miserable. How soft I've become.

[mdauben]

I currently live in northern Alabama. I was originally from the Chicago metro area and had lived there all my life, until a job offer from AL got me to move. That was over 10 years ago, and you could not pay me to move back. I love the outdoor opportunities around here, the weather, the people, and the freedom from Chicago politics that taints the whole state of IL.

[Sound Dude]

I currently live the Phoenix metro area (East Valley).
Grew up in Southern Calif. The day I graduated college, I moved to AZ. Moved to Tucson in the late 70's and loved it there. Perfect sized town. I love the desert environment, and even our hot summers. Moved to Brisbane, Australia in '83 just for grins (I have the Oz equivalent of a green card). Moved back to US in 1990, when it was getting too expensive to raise a family in Australia with the objective of going back to Tucson. However the job I found was in Tempe, so we settled here. I didn't want to be moving the kids around, so we stayed. I don't like how huge and crowded the area has become, and would prefer a medium sized town, but the house is paid, our friends are here, etc. etc. Life catches up with you. I don't think I'd ever not live in the desert. Every time I go to SoCal for work, I'm so glad I left! Not for me.

[007xd9]

I live in Texas because of the business friendly law makers, the people are great and the conservative values in MOST of the state. Also there is not state income tax, the huge diversity in the terrain, and the weather is awesome most of the time.

[007xd9]

Dallas Texas, see above.