In the NW Chicago suburbs now (by where my wife grew up) and it feels a lot like CR except I can be into a real city within an hour (I have to go in a few days/month to my office)
Thinking about moving out of Iowa
- Thread starter mschmitty17
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Yeah, I understand your motivations. I think we just disagree on this one. It's obviously usually the high-earners who feel this way. I don't mind the true snowbirds. I get annoyed with the South Dakota / North Dakota people.
I would never actually install one on my windshield even if I drove through toll booths every day.
We have an Illinois and a Kansas sticker. They are each on a small piece of plexiglass with a couple suction cups and when needed we just stick it to the windshield and take it off when we aren't traveling. You could also use the cling wrap plastic method to temporarily put it on the windshield. Some people claim they even work if you just set it on the dash or even toss it in a cup holder. I think if you have one assigned to your car but it ends up reading your plate you still get the discounted price - although at some point maybe they cut you off.
Colorado Springs winters are awesome. Way milder than Iowa. Lived there for three winters and there was maybe one week where it was really cold and snow stayed on the ground. Usually it would snow a lot of days, but typically melted the same day with highs reaching 40-50.
Basically summer was really hot. Low humidity, but plenty of days 95+ through the summer. The dryness at times was a little sad. Things would get pretty brown. I really like rain, so that part got old.
CR is imo the definition of 'if you know you know' for folks in the area that grew up there.
City/urbanish but a small town feel.
Tax avoidance is not selfish. It's American.
Do you have a traditional IRA at work? You are dodging taxes. If you have a Roth IRA, you are dodging taxes.
Each state determines it's revenue/tax sources and hopefully covers expenses. Obviously some states do a better job of controlling costs. Competition between states is a good thing, just like industry or sports.
If you want collectivism, you are probably living in the wrong country.
Didn’t read the whole thread but as a nearly 40 year old stuck in Iowa due to family issues, do it. Travel around and pick a place. Nobody on here is going to be able to value the same things that you do or pick up the vibe you want. My suggestions are the Carolina’s or west coast in the US.
Absolutely do not be afraid of moving to another country if you can find a job. Remote from anywhere or quality of life in Europe. There is value in free healthcare and mandated leave.
**** what anyone thinks. Just do it. You’re in a position where if you don’t like it, you go somewhere else. Figure it out before you get tied down.
Absolutely do not be afraid of moving to another country if you can find a job. Remote from anywhere or quality of life in Europe. There is value in free healthcare and mandated leave.
**** what anyone thinks. Just do it. You’re in a position where if you don’t like it, you go somewhere else. Figure it out before you get tied down.
There’s tax policy that can target this though to open up housing. Just levy it on out of state property owners.
Move to CO. It doesn't have to be Denver. Front range has options. If you want outdoors/mountains you'll be happy. There are times I'm driving my kid to school and get caught looking at the mountains... truly beautiful. As other's have said the alum situation is great as well. I used to live in Denver but moved south due to kids / space needed. I'm not moving back to IA.
When I mentioned this post to my wife, her first response was "Idaho". We haven't been, but know at least two couples who have relocated to Idaho from Iowa and adore it. And as I said, gives you all the upside of hiking, wilderness, outdoor activities. However it will be one step cooler in comparison to say, Colorado -- but still milder than Iowa.
Colorado is crazy milder in winter than Iowa. They still get snow in the winter, sometimes large quantity, but often it melts away within 2-3 days. It can also be quite a bit hotter in the summer -- you're closer to the sun man -- but never as humid as Iowa.
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What's a bit interesting in my experience is if you move to an area that's transient the ability to reinvent yourself and merge with the local culture is easier. There isn't a "gatekeeper"
SoCal. Vegas.
Places where the population doesn't move has higher walls and more history to overcome when trying to integrate.
2023 is when I decided to buy a house outside of the metro area. Rent prices kept going up to the point I decided it would be less painful to have a mortgage payment that is about the same as or less than rent.
After grad school I moved to Wenatchee, WA for a term (18 month) job. Had no plans on staying. Thirty-two years later, we're still here. Wenatchee is ideally located in the rain shadow of the Cascades. It's dry here, but you can be in sage brush and wheat fields to the east, and it's a 10 minute drive to ponderosa pine forests. Every thursday I leave my office at 4:00 for a 4:30 mountain bike ride with a small group. Similarly, in the winter you can be at the ski slopes within 30 minutes. We have the Columbia River right in town for watersports. Great salmon fishing (when its open), etc. etc. We have good breweries and wineries. We used to frequent Bend, OR, for these things, but we have it all here. The Wenatchee/Leavenworth mountain biking trails are world class.
That said, its getting hotter and drier. You can pretty much count on weeks to months of smoke every year from wildfires. Housing is expensive. Gas prices are really high. But wages tend to keep up.
Now that I'm nearing retirement, I've been starting to peruse Zillow in the Post Falls / Coeur d'Alene area. They get about twice the precipitation, more trees, and opportunities for a decent sized piece of property for elbow room. Lower prices just due to being in Idaho. For the purposes of the OP, CdA is close enough to Spokane that you could have a better chance of finding work.
That said, its getting hotter and drier. You can pretty much count on weeks to months of smoke every year from wildfires. Housing is expensive. Gas prices are really high. But wages tend to keep up.
Now that I'm nearing retirement, I've been starting to peruse Zillow in the Post Falls / Coeur d'Alene area. They get about twice the precipitation, more trees, and opportunities for a decent sized piece of property for elbow room. Lower prices just due to being in Idaho. For the purposes of the OP, CdA is close enough to Spokane that you could have a better chance of finding work.
I spent some time in Hood River/The Dalles and this sounds a lot like it.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
I have lived in New Mexico for over 20 years. All I can tell you is don't move here. It sucks.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
To me that sounds perfect. The sun is an evil bastard! I love dark cloudy days. Just wish WA was more affordable.
