roadking wrote:
You have to do 'recon' runs my friend - you don't just move somewhere - you need to take a few trips to the region make sure it's what you want. Before I moved to CA - I stayed here for almost 2 months. I found work, I found out where the nicest communities were. I was lucky - I was able to stay with a friend.
But I was young and dumb - you're much more evolved now than i was then - you have the internet, GPS, cell phones - etc... IF I saw something I liked back then I had to try and find it on a map and then drive to a real estate office and see if I could get any information on it - now you hit the gps - and google it.
Go for a weekend and drive around -
You might have to take a few VACA days but in the long run well worth it. You can find nice areas by just looking at sat maps on google maps.
GO to Zillow.com and check into realestate for sale all you need is a zip code.
I appreciate the advice on the recon and research. My wife has lived abroad much much more than I have. She has some land right outside of Asheville right now. When she was in college her and her mom would take day trips from Atlanta to Asheville several times a year. So as far as my wife goes, she loves the area, for the same reasons BI has mentioned. I have been looking at real estate via Zillow and Realtor.com… for over a year now.
As you have said I got to go there myself and experience it for myself. Part of what I was referring to by not knowing you don’t like it until after you move there is the culture… neighbors… the spirit of the area. I still remember when my brother moved into a neighbourhood that I felt was one of the best in the area… and it was until his neighbor showed his true colors. While everything else was good… the pile of shit next door ruined it. Where ever we go to initially we plan to rent first.
I pick peoples brains to gain wisdom or to confirm what I have learned or suspect. When I am working days and writing in the forums it tends to be brief and to the point. I should have put more details in there. Which may give the impression that I am clueless… well sometimes I am lol… I have been doing extensive research on the financial aspect of the adventure, and the real estate, but the school resources have been weak and I am not sure I trust what I read.
badinfluence63 wrote:
KS think about it...in the case of national crisis you want to be in the country. You can live off the land by hunting,fishing and gardening. The towns and cities will be quickly depleted of life saving supplies like food. The country gives one a better chance of survival then town or cities.
Your absolutely right.
badinfluence63 wrote:
As far as unknowns..... as someone who has relocated more than a few times it was like RK said, never done w/out spending time in the rea and checking out things like real estate costs, job availability, quality of school systems if you have kids. Just spending a week in the area on a mission will tell yu most of what you need to know. As well you will get this innate sense of how you're feeling being in the area while you are there.
One of the things that I really like the most was the anonimity of no one knowing me...that is until my kids got older and all that goes with that.
The fresh start is cool. Just moving across town gave me a sense of that the last few years. I appreciate the feedback… I always respect your advice. For me it’s not as much about the destination as it is the ride… So I will sing the songs of my people until I find where the lost tribe of kickstand is hidden.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np0solnL1XY[/youtube]
I really didn’t want to hijack the thread with my BS.
badinfluence63 
