For the past few months. My wife and i have been talking about getting off Long Island. As of recent weeks we have been discussing it more and more. We sat the kids down Friday night and asked them how they felt. We were very shocked that they had no problem with it. We live in a 782sq/ft bungalow. It serves our needs and is quite cozy. We just received another tax increase. We are now paying $3,700 a year for an over-sized closet.

I guess Brookhaven town is very happy with no one being able to save a dime.
We call it crookhaven. Instead of rambling on with my problems. Here is our question.

We would like to move to another state. Right now I am a head custodian in the NY state system. While my job is secure. The pay is another matter. I have 28yrs vested and will not be able to retire for another 9yrs.
My wife is the hottest school bus driver I've ever seen. (Yes I am bias). My feelings are she will be able to find a job just about anywhere. I am 53 and not sure what I would be able to find if we leave.

Given the fact that this site has so many people living in different parts of this country. I think it is a great source for picking your brains on livability in each of your states. I will let a few people of the hook. We have seen enough snow in our lifetimes, and prefer to not see much ever again. The operative word being (much).

While I know this post is a little vague. We would just like to hear what you have to say about where you live and how you like or not like it. General and honest opinions is all we need right now. We would love to thank all responders for your candor in advance and wish all a very happy and healthy New year.

Linda and Frank,

 

If it means anything, If I was to move to the US, I mould move to Cottonwood, Arizona.

http://www.ci.cottonwood.az.us/

http://www.azjerome.com/pages/cottonwood/cottonwood.htm

From a cottonwood related website

Cottonwood is supported through its sales taxes. They do not have a property tax. The city has improved its inter-city transportation infrastructure with ready access to the interstate highway system. Many styles of housing are available in a variety of price ranges.



My Personal opinion:
reasonable time and distance access to:

Grand Canyon
Phoenix
Vegas
Laughlin
LA

 

Frank. Check out NC...particularly the Charlotte area. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System is building a bunch of new schools and is growing by leaps and bounds. They just got a new Superintendant also, and he's trying to make some changes. I've got some problems with Mecklenburg County Government, and the school system, as a large, urban system, has challenges as you can imagine. However, we're talking about you and your wife and your career paths and finding a relatively well-paying job down here. Now Mecklenburg County has a fairly high tax rate, but low-tax counties are well within commuting distance, so you can find a fairly nice place for a MUCH lower price in this area, and the climate is a LOT milder. Also, this area is a Mecca for lots of people up north, and New York...particularly upstate in Buffalo, etc., is an orinating area for a lot of "Yankee" (don't be offended....my folks are Yankees to the core) immigrants (haha).

Something to consider.

Steve

 

I moved to Tenn in 88. Its been good to us in jobs & it has good schools. The climate is mild. Job seem easy to find from my experience. My property tax is $1300 a yr for about twice the sq ft house as you have now.

 

I second that try the old north state,I live in kannapolis about twenty miles north east of Charlotte. taxes are much cheaper and the pace of life is a little slower than Charlotte . finding jobs should not be a problem and the climate is purty darn nice too at least most of the time

 

I have my home for sale in Norfolk, VA, lots of work here and not a bad area at all. I am retired and moving to Michigan.

 

i'd say try upperstate newyork, but definately stay out of the peoples republic of massachusetts.

 

So far we like it. The wife and I made a list of areas we would like to go.
North Carolina was #1. We are both huge Nascar fans. My brother lives in the Lake Norman area. Although I have not spoken to him in 15 yrs. Other family members said he loves it there.
Tenn. was second on our list. Again close proximity to the Charlotte area.

Arizona is third on our list. I have been to Phoenix six times playing in airline golf tourneys. I think it is absolutely beautiful out there. We also have family in the Vegas area. Mil1ion, I have never heard of Cottonwood. We are going to check it out on the web.

Norfolk Va. Was not considered. We are very open minded and will look into it also.

Hawk, Thanks anyway. Winters can get pretty brutal in upstate N.Y. When I was younger we had a cabin on Indian Lake in the Adirondacks. Too cold for me.

Mil1ion,cmpd1781,MAKO314,lariat97,mantta, and hawk
Thank you for your time and input.
It helps a great deal.

Linda and Frank

 

Lets see a pic of the hot bus driver...lol

I live 45 minutes NW of chicago. The closer ya get to the city, the more expensive it isa. I have 1000sf house, + 1000sf basement and pay 2900 in prop tax a year... It's a good area, but sometimes a little crowded, A 10 minute drive will get me in the country...

 

How about Augusta, Georgia. Home of the Masters and the late James Brown, Lord Bless his soul. Home prices are 52% less than the national average. Nearby Columbia county Georgia and Aiken South Carolina rank among some of the top places to live in the nation. you'll also be about 2 hrs from Charlotte,2 hrs from Atlanta, 2 hrs from Darlington, 4hrs from Talledaga, and 6hrs from Daytona. Lots of new schools going up as well.

 

[QUOTE=jake00]Lets see a pic of the hot bus driver...lol

jake, Do you have any idea what happens when you start drooling all over your keyboard? This site would be a lonely place. Can't take that risk. Now if you were 12 or 13 you would be able to see her while you are riding the bus to school.

 

toddn78, You also made our top five. Never relized how central that is to all those tracks. Just for the record tho. It is not a factor only a plus.

Thanks Frank

 

Im a native Charlotte resident, I and my wife are career school system employees. Come on down but first you need to learn to speach spanish and deal with the tens of thousands of illegal aliens that like living here too...........we are being over ran with them and NOBODY is doing a thing about it

 

We have the same problem on Long Island. I believe I mentioned it in one other post about a town one over from me called Farmingville. They are everywhere. Just like gnats on a summer night.

 

If it were me, I'd avoid anything east of the Mississippi. Too crowded. Out west is really nice, but a lot of places are getting very expensive, especially in California and Nevada. Check out www.realtor.com to get an idea of what houses are going for.

Cottonwood is nice, but you are in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but rattlers and scorpions to keep you company.

I also grew up in upstate NY, and the winters are too much for me as well.