What state to move to, to escape life?

[johnbarth]

Best of the Best

I've had the good fortune to have visited most of our great states and have lived in 5 of them. To me, there's no place like Arkansas. Thanks

 

[MinScout]

I'm surprised Wyoming is'nt listed. It's our least populous state by shear numbers. Seems to me, if you want to "escape" in the lower 48, Wyoming is the place to go. I'd second the U.P. of Michigan as a possible choice. Lots of woods, lots of snow, but not many people

 

[mogunner]

What State to move to to escape life?

I, myself would like nothing better than to be in an area surrounded by wilderness and no neighbors, but, thats next to impossible with encroaching development. So I chose the next best thing, right here in Central Missouri, I have 20 Acres, surrounded by woods, nearest neighbor is a 1/4 mile away and its nice and peaceful. Gravel road but thats not a problem for a good truck. Iwould add MO to your poll list.

 

[PaladinX13]

What's the Man to Woman ratio in some of these states? Romatic prospects might be part of your plan....

 

[LoveMyCountry]

ArfinGreebly:

Boundary County . . . in fact Bonner county isn't that bad.

I sit smack in the middle of Bonner County and it used to be open to alternative housing/living styles but now we are getting "civilized".

The more Northern parts of Idaho hold some breathtaking country and, in case it matters, there's a river there the size of the Mississippi

Either the Mississippi river is a lot smaller than I thought or I have missed one up here. Could you enlighten me on this one?

LoveMyCountry

 

[Eyesac]

I just moved to Northern Nevada and have fallen in love with it. Cheap. Good gun laws. Drive 15min in any direction and you're alone. I'll never leave.

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

New Hampshire.

 

[SixForSure]

That no one, but NO one has even mentioned the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts

There's a shock!

 

[MyRoad]

I would take SE Oregon for a great rural living...

Do you know what the zoning laws are like there? I don't know how much is state-wide, and how much is county controlled. Here in NW Oregon, they are very strict about what kind of structure you can live in. For instance, you can live in a trailer while building your house, but they give you a time limit to stay in the trailer. If your house isn't done in time, you have to reapply for the permit. No alternative housing either.

 

[AStone]

MyRoad's observations are in part what's motivating my serious look at Alaska. (There are other bigger reasons for me, but still...)

I sent the link about The Underground House Book that LoveMyCountry mentioned back in post 41 to a friend who is a builder and heating/cooling contractor (works with solar, renewables, extreme energy efficiency building, etc).

Here is most of his response. Note his comments about building codes, etc.

Good book! This book has been around for years, although he hasn't updated his materials costs to reflect inflation or [the price of oil]. $50 won't buy the polyethylene sheet any more. I would add some building science to the concept and add some extruded polystyrene insulation to the system, especially in Alaska. Ground temperature may be warmer than ambient air temperature most of the winter, but that doesn't mean you can do well in 30-40 degree indoor temps when the ground freezes 5 or 6' down. Just remember, no matter what the temperature in the room is, it's always room temperature. Add some PV, which works in summer up there, and you are in business.

Alaska has No Building Codes except in cities large enough to have their own. The banks have a "5 Star Home" scientifically correct energy efficient building loan with a 1/2% interest rate advantage and their own inspection system. The building community voluntarily builds great houses that don't self-destruct or sicken their occupants. It's a small community and word gets around.

...

A friend of mine who reps heat recovery ventilators (HRV) just went to Alaska to check things out and thought he had stepped into an alternate universe.

 

[usp_fan]

I've got to say North Dakota as well. We moved up here a short time ago and the quality of life versus the pricing is very attractive. The thing that gave it away to me---during the job interviews, I noticed every desk had a hunting picture or gun catalog on it.

Lot's of land, easy CCW, relatively low cost housing, and a freedom oriented atmosphere. Just stay away from Fargo --the nearest thing to a real city in the state. Bismarck still has character, although it is growing fast also.

--usp_fan

 

[SSN Vet]

you need to take a trip to the county!

Aroostook county......northern Maine......you ain't seen boonies yet!

OBTW....bring your chain saw!

 

[scottw]

Wyoming is now a boom state, prices there are getting high and there isn't any cheap property there anymore. The CO2 injection is taking over, however you can get work in the oil fields. The old saying is "Please don't tell my folks that I work in the Oil Field, they think I play a piano in a whorehouse in Montana." The other problem with Wyoming is the Billionaires are running the millionaires to the smaller towns and driving up prices. Ten Sleep for example.

 

[Jeff F]

I voted Nevada. Heres a few pictures from my job.

 

[tanksoldier]

To escape the state of being alive, one needs to enter the state of being dead... obviously.

 

[jeff-10]

Some of those states can be expensive to live. I would think if you intend to not make much money and want to live rurally you may want to look at Arkansas, Kansas or Mississippi. Those states have a very low cost of living and some very rural areas. Alaska, Wyoming, Montana can get very expensive.

 

[Geronimo45]

Alaska... and make sure you know how to make beer before moving there. The ability to brew is a great survival skill, especially in colder climes.

 

[TimboKhan]

My vote would be Wyoming, which I guess falls underneath "other". My reasons are pretty simple. First, Wyoming is very sparsly populated, but offers plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities. Second, land is pretty cheap in WY. Third, cost of living in WY is pretty cheap, and the population densities allow for a fair degree of self sufficiency. Those are just the reasons I can think of off the top of my head.

On the bad side, the small rural towns of WY are overrun with meth addicts, most parts of the state are pretty darn windy, and although the state has a wide variety of habitats in which to live, a good deal of it is open plains. That last one may or may not be bad, depending on your point of view.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

Alaska and montana are too cold. Arizona is just right, with lots of tiny little towns in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Valkman]

Myself I want no part of any state where I live in snow for months on end.

Nevada is good but I'd stay out of Clark Co. (Las Vegas). It's turning into CA and we're off to Pahrump which is in Nye Co. - where brothels are legal and full auto is too!

 

[ArfinGreebly]

River In Northern Idaho

LoveMyCountry:

Rats! Sorry to hear about Bonner County. I kinda liked Sandpoint -- about the size of the town where I grew up. The area East of Lake Pend O'Reille didn't seem too densely populated, but I didn't have time for an in-depth look.

Up in Boundary county you have the Kootenai River running through Bonners Ferry. It originally wanders down into Montana from British Columbia, gets dammed up (Libby Dam) and forms a really long lake that backs up across the border into Canada. The river turns West and flows into Idaho, then turns North at Bonners Ferry and heads back into British Columbia, forms another 64-mile-long lake, and eventually flows into the Columbia River.

No it's not as wide as the Mississippi at all its points, but it's certainly an industrial-strength river, and a heck of a long one.

 

[Jkwas]

If you went to Montana, You could ride a pygmie pony and be a dental floss tycoon!

 

[Glockfan.45]

Missouri

So long as you move far outside of the I 270 loop . But I voted for Alaska, I like the seperation from the lower 48. If you want ruff untamed country try Antartica. Really my wifes Aunt lived there for a while, and Uncle Sam pays you to go.

 

[MyRoad]

I agree with those that don't want to live in a place with a really long, cold, harsh winter. On the other hand, with temperatures rising and population movement to the SW impacting an already delicate water situation, I don't think the desert is the best bet either. That's why I chose Oregon: lots of valley or forest to choose from, moderate climate, long growing season and soil that will grow a huge variety of food, and lots of water sources. I did not research their land-use politics and policies enough though. And land prices here - especially with the growing wine industry - are becoming rediculous.

 

[panzermk2]

UP of MI an hour as the crow fly's north of Iron Mountain