Affordable places you would actually want to live

Paige said:
Why would anyone want to move to that shit hole of a country that has a barbaric culture and hates America!
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It is a modern city on the sea in the UAE where lots of foreigners, including Americans, live and work. They like Americans. Just curious if some working age folks were considering it. Good saltwater fly fishing is available too. Sadly it's becoming harder to find the barbarians these days.
 
Jim in Anacortes said:
And then we have insects. The Ozark's have "Chiggers". These tiny things will bite you in the worst possible body parts..... San Diego had absolutely no pesky insects. No Mosquitos, Cockroaches, black flies etc.. Nothing! I liked that. Here in Anacortes it is about the same...... Mosquitos in Eastern Wa have given me "grief" but I have ways of protecting myself. So..... Yeah, bugs and snakes...they are worthy of consideration when looking for your new location.
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Yeah, I grew up with chiggers. Two minutes of laying in the grass and you’ve got ten dime-sized welts on your balls and asscrack that itch like satan himself. I do not have words strong enough to express my chigger trauma.
 
JS said:
It’s also as rewarding as work can possibly be IMHO. I teach 7th and 8th grade math. It is not glorious, but every single day I get the chance to mentor students that have no one else looking out for their academic success/acquisition of basic math skill.
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I taught 7th and 8th grade science for 5 years, good on you. It takes a special breed to deal with 14 year olds daily. I've been teaching biology at the high school level for the last 5 years and won't be going back to MS ever again if I can avoid it.

My wife and I (late 30s, no kids) have tossed around the idea of moving elsewhere. She's from Central valley California, I've spent my entire life in Western Washington. Unsure about where we would go, but she's going back to school for nursing and exploring options on the east coast so we'll see what happens.
 
Chiggers will have you seriously considering slitting your wrists.
 
Gary Knowels said:
I taught 7th and 8th grade science for 5 years, good on you. It takes a special breed to deal with 14 year olds daily. I've been teaching biology at the high school level for the last 5 years and won't be going back to MS ever again if I can avoid it.

My wife and I (late 30s, no kids) have tossed around the idea of moving elsewhere. She's from Central valley California, I've spent my entire life in Western Washington. Unsure about where we would go, but she's going back to school for nursing and exploring options on the east coast so we'll see what happens.
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east vs west.... i really like the fact that there is much much more public land in the west. and the east has those pesky ticks....
my daughter moved to the burbs of boston. nice enough. a little spendy. i could not put my finger on why i did not like it as much as the pdx metro... could not find a straightforward brewpub.
 
@jaredoconnor
Take a hard look at central and western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is a tech hub, as well as Harrisburg , State College and Williamsport. Even down towards where Vagbond lives has a good need for tech workers.

There's also a commonwealth wide need for skilled, reputable tradesmen of all stripes. While the Amish and Mennonite communities still contribute to the labor force as skilled craftsmen, and the vocational schools are full, there's far more work and opportunity available for those who want it.

Sure you have state local and federal taxes as well as school taxes. My property there plus school taxes is under 2000 a year, with the majority being the school taxes, but you also have space for the kids to run and grow, most neighbors know and support each other, sometimes as deep as 4 generations, the schools are decent but not always the elusive exceptional everyone dreams of, the state park system is really well run, and depending on where you end up, you have access to really good health care.

And, the pace of life can be as fast or as slow as you can handle.

Historical sites are everywhere. Pre colonial? check. French and Indian War? check. Revolutionary ? yep. Whiskey Rebellion, Molly McGuires, have those too.

Winter climates are variable. The valley I grew up in was actually fairly mild, while 20 miles away in Woolrich, they'd get hammered with snow in the winter. Say an average of 25 to 38 degrees with a few days below 0.

Summers? a few days above 85, one or 2 above 100, but liveable. Humid, yes. But unlike here, most homes have A/C.

As for fishing? it's trout and bass and pike and musky and sunfish, etc. Plus, the rules aren't as complicated. This past years Boating and Fishing guide was under 50 pages, and that only because of ads and combining both activities. For salt water, you have to travel to NJ, MD, DE, VA, or even NC or MA. Most aren't all that big of a drive, even from Pittsburgh, given the highway system in the region.

Ultimately, the decision you'll have to make is definitely based on how you prioritize. Good luck, whatever you decide.
 
goinoregon said:
east vs west.... i really like the fact that there is much much more public land in the west. and the east has those pesky ticks....
my daughter moved to the burbs of boston. nice enough. a little spendy. i could not put my finger on why i did not like it as much as the pdx metro... could not find a straightforward brewpub.
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Yeah I'm the same with the NE... I don't necessarily dislike some of the nicer areas, but it's different in a way that would never feel like home to me. I can't quite articulate why, but it's just not for me. I don't mind visiting though.
 
RCF said:
You definitely understand.
No see ums are terrible.
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When I was stationed in Kentucky and Texas, chiggers were the bane of every outdoorsman and service member. Chig Away, Chigger Tox, and one other I can't recall, I stayed stocked up on. Those little monsters will drive you nuts.
 
wanderingrichard said:
Several of us mentioned the trades as an alternative to more white collar jobs.

Here's a great video for why

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As was stated earlier: I think people are very much underestimating the number of people who are about to be displaced by AI. Some already have, and some know it's coming. A lot of the trades already have way too many flooding in. It's only going to increase.

And for those saying "an AI computer can't do these jobs," what do you think all the advancements in robotics are for? I know they're good for an internet laugh right now, but they're on the cusp of being able to do actual human tasks. Then plug AI and machine learning into them, and game over.

"The trades" aren't the surefire bet everyone thinks it is anymore. This is something we'll wish we had pulled the plug on way, way sooner. Unfortunately, way too many powerful people have a lot to gain with this, while us plebs will be left holding the bag.
 
DimeBrite said:
View attachment 172923
It is a modern city on the sea in the UAE where lots of foreigners, including Americans, live and work. They like Americans. Just curious if some working age folks were considering it. Good saltwater fly fishing is available too. Sadly it's becoming harder to find the barbarians these days.
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Lived there a few years in a corporate environment. I think that's the only way I could live there. Sure it's a world crossroads, but, Meh.
 
Evan B said:
As was stated earlier: I think people are very much underestimating the number of people who are about to be displaced by AI. Some already have, and some know it's coming. A lot of the trades already have way too many flooding in. It's only going to increase.

And for those saying "an AI computer can't do these jobs," what do you think all the advancements in robotics are for? I know they're good for an internet laugh right now, but they're on the cusp of being able to do actual human tasks. Then plug AI and machine learning into them, and game over.

"The trades" aren't the surefire bet everyone thinks it is anymore. This is something we'll wish we had pulled the plug on way, way sooner. Unfortunately, way too many powerful people have a lot to gain with this, while us plebs will be left holding the bag.
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Evan,
Please show me an AI or robotic factory that repair a damaged or defective car, milk a cow, correctly install wiring or plumbing, fix said systems and contribute to the tax base.
No matter what tech can do, skilled humans will always be needed to control and repair things.

Yes there are machines that can lay bricks and blocks and concrete for buildings. Yes, Lego is almost totally automated.

There's always going to be a need for a skilled human in the loop. Our problem is figuring out where to abandon old crafts amd skills and develop new ones to compensate.
 
wanderingrichard said:
Evan,
Please show me an AI or robotic factory that repair a damaged or defective car, milk a cow, correctly install wiring or plumbing, fix said systems and contribute to the tax base.
No matter what tech can do, skilled humans will always be needed to control and repair things.

Yes there are machines that can lay bricks and blocks and concrete for buildings. Yes, Lego is almost totally automated.

There's always going to be a need for a skilled human in the loop. Our problem is figuring out where to abandon old crafts amd skills and develop new ones to compensate.
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You're thinking current/past. I'm talking about what's coming. Do not underestimate this technology. I think people also are really underestimating how quickly robotics is coming along.

Trust me, I wish it wasn't the case. I would pull the plug on robotics and AI completely if I could. But they're advancing far quicker than most people realize. This is not that far in the future.
 
Another change maker is 3D printing with US companies investing 5 billion in new plants, and as AI is introduced into the process capabilities and production capacity will accelerate.
As the raw feed materials become more extensive and the machines themselves larger and more capable, (car chassis are now being printed into assembled parts and next gen will produce a one piece chassis), this industry will replace the 'many moving parts' production of past decades, displacing employees in what is already a shrinking employment segment. Those machines will require skilled operators and mechanics, however, opening up an entirely new employment field.
Area employment opportunities, weather changes, area density planning, transportation, healthcare, local cost of living, social issues, etc, etc...the decision to relocate these days requires input of a matrix of data points.
Always comes down to the one thing...find a place that checks most of the boxes, and make a stand.
 
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