I am not looking for a house at this point. Everybody said to rent an apartment at least a year where you THINK you want to live. At this point, I am in the initial search stage but I could use help on everything from travel restrictions and accomodiations asked above, to apartment recommendations.
God Bless you all and thank you all very much for the help. I hate to strike out cross-country only to find the Texas DPS sees my California plates and tells me to turn around and go home, or some such.
But in the event I can't search for my new forever home this summer and I am stuck in California another year, I won't complain. I am blessed. I know how fortunate I am, how good I have it, and how many people are in extreme suffereing right now, from economic hardship, to health problems, to fear and anxiety and uncertainty. Jesus Christ is my Savior and I know just how good I have it. I can handle one last year trapped in California if it is His will.
I think now with the riots, the Yuhan Flu is gone... no one is dying, it is simple colds I guess. Funny how these things work. But there should be no problem, business is now back to protecting your property from the mobs. VOTE FOR BIDEN.
New Mexico. No quarantine Period. Face mask required but many people don’t wear it. Social distancing required. Do not stop off at Gallup, New Mexico. It’s still a coronavirus hotspot a few weeks ago the national guard closed it off for weekends. You can still bypass it on I-40.
Minimal protests in Albuquerque. I’m not sure of the motel situation in Albuquerque as far as security and best place to stay/ avoid although I would hope another NM free per can weigh in. Indian reservations and pueblos have travel restrictions but I don’t think you’ll be stopping at those places. Don’t forget to get a green chili cheese burger at Blake’s Lora burger on your way through.
People I know who are traveling are hauling small trailers behind them.
Palm Beach county, Broward, and Miami-Dade are the last 3 counties to fully open up...all of Florida will be in Phase 2 very shortly.
Here in West Palm, everything is open- beaches, restaurants, hotels, you name it. I haven't seen anyone wearing masks, not even in restaurants. Occasionally see one on someone outdoors, walking alone...but that's another story I guess.
No quarantine issues....even though it's still technically in place for people traveling in from NYC/NJ....but you wouldn't even have that issue.
Come on down....
Alabama: Masks are not required.
Hotels are open.
Some travel stops/rest areas are reopening.
Restaurants are reopening with seating limits.
When driving through Alabama, take a look at the Auburn/Opelika area. Growing economy, lots of stores, a great university town, so lots to do, 80 miles from Atlanta, but far enough away to not be influenced by thugs.
Dothan is another great town with lots to do, just north of the Florida beaches, (Panama City, Mexico beach). Lots of retirees.
Also, beautiful golf courses, recreation, and nice weather except summer is hot and muggy but air conditioning fixes that.
And did I say cheap? You bet! No taxes on retirement incomes, lowest property taxes in the country, but a 6-10 percent sales tax on all goods (state = 6%, county, towns, cities can add 2-4 %).
Palm Beach county, Broward, and Miami-Dade are the last 3 counties to fully open up...all of Florida will be in Phase 2 very shortly.
Here in West Palm, everything is open- beaches, restaurants, hotels, you name it. I haven't seen anyone wearing masks, not even in restaurants. Occasionally see one on someone outdoors, walking alone...but that's another story I guess.
No quarantine issues....even though it's still technically in place for people traveling in from NYC/NJ....but you wouldn't even have that issue.
Come on down....
Alabama - hotels are open, no masks required, don’t know about apartments. COVID cases have been increasing with community spread hot spots in Mobile and Montgomery.
We’re in Farragut area of TN.
1. Hotels are open.
2. Don’t see many masks, and they aren’t required by government generally. Beauty salons maybe, and restaurant workers. I had lunch with friends yesterday and the tables weren’t even “socialIST distance”. All tables were full. No masks by customers.
3. Can’t say about apartments, but home open houses are happening.
Re #4 and $5. Sorry, but I don’t know.
Texas lifted the limited travel quarantine they had.
Arizona did not take the shut down seriously.
I would be more concerned about riot news. Do not stay in Tucson or Phoenix. Are you taking I-10 or I-40?
>>I hate to strike out cross-country only to find the Texas DPS sees my California plates and tells me to turn around and go home, or some such.
If there aren’t two dozen liberal bumper stickers on it, you should be good.
I don’t get out much but I live between Chattanooga and Knoxville. From what I can tell TN is open. Some restaurants are open for dine-in with some social distancing. Masks are not required even though some businesses ask you to wear them. The only places I have seen that are requiring them are some doctor’s offices. Stores are open. In fact, I saw the big sign at Hardee’s in my town that said “Come on in” in big letters. TN is probably safe. :-)
I live in a small town so Freepers in Nashville and other big cities might know more about them.
South Carolina is open. Masks are suggested but not required. Restaurants are at 50% capacity. On accommodations I would say reservations are a must due to some capacity constraints. Myrtle Beach is no longer family friendly in the tourist areas. Protests exist, but not on a large scale. South Carolina’s cities are becoming purple but are still conservative as compared to California.
Arizona is open. Many Californians are here for the shopping and dining they can’t do in their own state. Unfortunately, they brought some rioters and looters with them.
It sounds like you are doing what my wife and I did nine years ago—drive through potential states to live in.
I suggest Tennessee, Florida, and Texas due to their not having income taxes and leaning conservative.
Texas will be fine. Stay in counties that do not hold the major cities (Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, and Austin), but hotels are open in those places, too.
Forget living in Pensacola - it’s not bad but you can do better at nearby Gulf Breeze, Navarre, and Niceville. Most of Escambia and all of Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties are very conservative. Christian churches abound and crime is very low, plus the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and tons of lakes and rivers. We are surrounded by military and retired military.
I left SW Fla a week ago after spending the “lockdown” there. Gov DeSantis did a fantastic job keeping the elderly safe. We were having construction done and all the “ workers” were allowed to work . Even in April no-one wore masks on job sites. In Mid-May, Fla opened up. Everything open, very few masks and no uptick in numbers that matter : hospitalizations/deaths. I LOVE Florida.
Don’t worry about it. Just bring along some masks in case someone asks if you have one. Then just go. Visitor centers may be closed, but restrooms will be available along the way.
This site has some updated information that you may find helpful. It lists southern state information,