Hi Fellow Freepers!
A little about myself - I grew up in Brighton, Michigan attending school there and moved into the family business (Tool and Die - Mold Making) where I have been ever since.
We moved the shop and entire extended family to Indiana in '96 because we were being taxed to death by the high rates charged to businesses back home. Found that Indiana is a very nice state to work in, both for taxes and insurance.
Our family bought 100+ acres of land with a nice 14 acre bass lake right in the middle of it just outside of town in the hills, built 3 homes around the lake and have total and complete peace and quiet. A lot of people think I am crazy having a 3/4 mile long driveway and not being able to see or hear another soul around, but for me it is heaven.
The deer are so thick we have to drive slow not to hit them coming or going, and have beaver and all sorts of furry critters all over the place. The town is old and VERY conservative, there are 70+ churches here and our kids still get to spend a couple of hours each week at the church next to the school for religious exposure (christian, non-denominational) - a PUBLIC school! They say grace at lunch or for snacks, say the pledge of alliegence every morning, and if they misbehave get sent to the principles office so she can whack their behinds if it is needed.
My 3 kids have flourished here, and although there is a lot of petty crime in the area like everywhere else it is a great place to raise a family.