VANITY: Recommendations on moving to Idaho or Montana... or elsewhere?

Third Person | November 10th, 2012 | Third Person

[Third Person]

Hi FReepers...

For the last year, my wife and I have been giving serious consideration to moving our family out west.

We are born and raised New Englanders. We're a homeschooling family that enjoys outdoor mountain activities and also the arts and sciences.

We are looking for a conservative area [low taxes, less government, personal freedom, family friendly] and were wondering if anyone out there might have some recommendations. I have focused on Idaho and Montana, but am receptive to other suggestions.

I plan on making a trip out early next year to investigate... thanks in advance to all who reply!

[Berlin_Freeper]

Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the bluegrass found in many of its pastures because of the fertile soil. It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources, including the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park, the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States, and the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River.

Kentucky is also home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States, the largest free-ranging elk herd east of Montana, and the nation's most productive coalfield. Kentucky is also known for horse racing, bourbon distilleries, automobile manufacturing, tobacco, and college basketball.

[MarkeyD]

Engineer and nursing should be able to find work anywhere. I’m a EE writing software working from home.

[OKSooner]

"High-end swimming pool construction, service, and maintenance."

*ahem* Oklahoma City or one of the more affluent suburbs thereof, i.e. Edmond, Yukon, or Norman might be worth a look...

[Renfield]

If you aren’t Mormon, don’t move to Idaho...you won’t fit in.

Check out Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina. The culture you want, and much better climate than the mountains of Montana.

You might also investigate Meadows of Dan, Virginia.

[BooBoo1000]

Montana is sort of split down the middle by the Rocky Mountians, West is beautiful, lots of timber, water, some larger places like Missoula. East of the divide is called “ West Dakota” miles and miles of open space, mostly wheat farmers and ranchers. East side is cold, can get to -45-50 degrees with lots of wind. Winters are long and cold. West of mountians, weather is like Seattle, in winter lots of cloudy weather, rain snow, winter is long and not so cold. As has been mentioned, you need to bring your job with you. You cannot eat the trees,

Most of the residents are just really nice people, they believe living and let live. It is a great place to send kids to schools as most places have really good schools. Two main Universities, University of Montana in Missoula and Montana State in Bozeman.

If you like to hunt and fish this is the place.Montana has the reputation as “ The last best place” and I believe it.

I would move to Montana in a minute if I lived in one of the places back East. Montana Has a Democratic Governor and a Republican House so it makes for a lot of good arguments, but mostly the opponents end up friends.I don't know if this helps you buy your idea of going to Montana next summer.Welcome to the “ Big Sky Country”

[yetidog]

No. I am speaking of Chris Gault, the conservative intellectual hermit.

[ICCtheWay]

We don’t have mountains but we do have Buttes and sweeping views... Pretty good schools, good hospitals...etc. My area is in North Central Texas about 25 miles north of Fort Worth... No Income Tax, lots of jobs in Shale gas and oil country. Wise County Texas... Semi-Rural... good people... Record voter turnout last Tuesday - 85% for Romney... Google Map Decatur TX... or Lake Bridgeport - Runaway Bay, TX... live on the lake... Need some City life - Fort Worth is not far away... Glenn Beck moved to a rich enclave in the DFW suburbs about 25 miles from here.

[MarkeyD]

It’s not that bad

[peteyd]

The same Kentucky where Dems want to run Ashley Judd for the senate.
Yikes!!!!

[Rushmore Rocks]

We absolutely love the Black Hills of western South Dakota. Ultra conservative, great medical facilities, good shopping, cultural events, good airport, beautiful scenery, friendly people, no state income tax, Interstate Highway 90 (if you need to go anywhere else), some very nice restaurants (plus all the fast food places), growing economy, low unemployment rate, low crime rate. The weather is not nearly as bad as most think. We get a few days above 100 degrees in the summer and a few days below zero in the winter, definitely four seasons.

As a military brat (and wife), I’ve lived all over this country and a few other countries. This is the best.

But don’t tell anyone else.

[peteyd]

The same ones who have wreaked havoc on Calif are now on their way to Texas and Montana.

[waynesa98]

Look at north dakota and texas. Or New Zealand. Arizona is still pretty good, with bambi’s war on carbon you could install photovoltaics and only have to worry about gas.

[ICCtheWay]

Personally - I’m moving to Thailand in the Spring - 2013... I love my home here in Wise County but my retirement income tells me I have to go live someplace really inexpensive. I will be Teaching English to Thai citizens. My lovely country home is for sale ... 3/2 on 4.5 acres in a grand setting.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Tennessee!

[KeyLargo]

For those that own a small business here is some information:

2013 State Business Tax Climate Index

Wyoming
South Dakota
Nevada
Alaska
Florida
Washington
New Hampshire
Montana
Texas
Utah

http://taxfoundation.org/article/2013-state-business-tax-climate-index

And this from the SBA. Although remember SBA IS a government agency:

The Legal Steps Involved in Moving Your Business to a New State – FAQs Answered

http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/legal-steps-involved-moving-your-business-new-state-%E2%80%93-faqs-answered

Small Business Owners Make Plans to Leave Illinois

http://www.illinoispolicy.org/blog/blog.asp?ArticleSource=3776

[castlegreyskull]

“Engineer and nursing should be able to find work anywhere. I’m a EE writing software working from home.”

We worry about many things with this. My wife will be leaving her mother and father, as well as her sister. I will be selling my house at a 15K loss. The cost of moving. So all the timing in this needs to be on our side to make this work. I think we should get decent work. The more I think and pray about it, I believe it is what I have to do.

[cripplecreek]

While not ideal (yet) we are winning the battle here in Michigan and could use all the conservative help we can get. We've got a solid GOP majority in the state legislature and a majority of our US congressmen are republican. We're defeating the unions one battle at a time as well. Its a beautiful state with a wide range of terrain. The state is pretty sparsely populated north of Lansing. Plenty of hunting and fishing with good gun laws both open and concealed carry.

My far southern corner of Michigan.



I'd certainly suggest a visit to take a gander.

[BooBoo1000]

Don't let those guys fool you about swimming pools. Kalispell in Western Montana, has been surrounded by Multi=Million dollar homes. You won't see them from the road, but they are there back in the trees.You cannot imagine the number of high end developments.White Fish up the road 15 miles from Kalispell, is a hub for high end homes, winter activities, ski at Big Mountain, snow boarding, all winters sports, so look at Kalispell.

[RitchieAprile]

bring your own money since you won’t be making any there.

you can’t run away from the future.

[axxmann]

Lots of environmentalists in Sandpoint. Coeur’d Alene is also gettimg more and more liberal. Rural areas are still conservative. Potlatch is supposedly a booming area for firearm manufacturing.
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