If You Could Live In Any State...

[Mairte]

That was this house when I first moved in. I have my reservations at times about starting over but plan on buying something in better shape this time! The first winter I was here, the house was barely insulated...

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Depending where you move to in Illinois, there could be a lot of faires around.  We live in NW Illinois & from the second week in May to the second week in October, 5 months, we went to faire every weekend except for 8.  And some of those we didn't go were because we had company for 3 or 4.  So there definitely are a lot of faires in the area.

But the weather is absolutely awful in the northern part of the state.  Our son went to school in Carbondale in Southern Illinois.  It is on the same latitude as Richmond, VA, & the weather was a lot more temperate.  He hated coming home at Thanksgiving & Christmas, because there it would be 50-60, & here it would be 10-20.  And going down to 35 below in January!

[Mairte]

It cant be any worse than where I am right now(Minnesota)...though I am considering states further south, I know the north is in my blood and I would probably soon miss it!
I like the idea of more faires within driving distance (within a day?) Though I am not above longer road trips. And IL isnt too far from most of my family, there is something to be said for that since we are close knit.
The old farmhouse is in the Wilmington,IL area.
Another good movie to watch while I am considering an old house....Funny Farm.
Anyway, this is good, tossing ideas around.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Well, i grew up in PA... was based in GA, then NC, then KY before being sent to Europe... how i ended up in TEXAS is beyond me!

Having lived here for half my life, i can't imagine living anywhere else... unless i hit the Lotto, then i'll have houses all over the place.

[RumbaRue]

A couple of years ago, my companion and I traveled by car to the Pirate Con that was held in New Orleans. Traveling through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - wow there's a whole lot of nothing but desert in those states. On our way back we went through east Texas around Tyler area and we camped at Tyler State Park in Texas and it was just beautiful. But since I can't take heat or humidity very well, it was not a place I could live.
I loved the part of Colorado we went through - Pagosa Springs was just gorgeous and I might be able to live there, but I know I can't deal with the snow and cold.
In the past I've been up through northern Calif. and Oregon (now that's a true consideration), but that was way back in the 1970's and it would be nice to go back through Oregon as I think it was the best state of all.
I've moved around southern Calif. a bit, from Orange County up to the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, but after having moved down to north county San Diego, I love it here.
I have a gorgeous view of the hills/mountains to the east, comfortable temperatures most of the time and I've seen more wildlife here than anywhere else I've lived. Yes it is expensive to live here, thank goodness we don't live in San Diego proper otherwise we'd be in some run down apartment, way too expensive to even consider. North county, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido are the best. 

[Mairte]

I have been to Pagosa Springs,CO before, havent been in many places more beautiful. I did check into Colorado once but at the time the cost of living there was quite high? I dont know if that has changed.
Another state I was in that I liked was West Virginia. Awesome views.
I do plan on this being my last move, thats why I am considering so many options. I have lived here for 12 years and DO like my house, I am just not in any way a town/city person.

[Merlin the Elder]

Now, if I could live in any state, there are several good options: state of perpetual bliss; state of intoxication; state of mind...oh yeah...and state of confusion, whether I want to or not.

[Mairte]

Hmmm. State of intoxication would make things a lot less painful...provided one could STAY that way!

[Welsh Wench]

I don't care what anyone says about Florida. Boat drinks and endless sunsets are good enough for me.

[Mairte]

I have never been to Florida, though my oldest daughter was in November because friends of hers live down there. She didnt want to come back!

[Anna Iram]

Gonna be kind of nippy on that beach tonight. were getting down to the low fourties this evening. From a high of mid eighties yesterday. Things change fast around here!

[Butch]

We live in MO because it is close to my wife's and my families in NE.  HOWEVER; I really liked VA!  So, I guess if I could live in VA with the traffic I experience in MO, I would be very happy!

[Rowan MacD]

  I was raised in San Diego and regularly visit family there, but would not live there now. 
  If I could combine the nice weather from my home town with same small town, low crime, decent traffic, and low smog I have here in Nebraska, that would be heaven.
   I'll chose quality of life over weather anyday.

[Trillium]

If money wasn't an issue...I'd move back to WV or HI.  WV is beautiful in the summer, doesn't normally get above 90 and the land is lush.  In the winter it doesn't get below 0.  The seasons are just the right amount of time. Land is cheap but good jobs are hard to find there.  Hawaii is beautiful year round and the people and culture are wonderful, but it is very expensive.

We have talked about possibly moving to Colorado at some point.  Texas has been good to us but we don't get much in the way of seasons and the summer here is unbearable for us.

[LadyFae]

I enjoy living here in MN but I'd like to test out Alaska and NY as well.