So I'm thinking it might be time to move out of northern NJ and I wanted to get some opinions from the masses as to where should a bike enthusiast go?
So what's the perfect combination of good weather, good roads, nice people, real job opportunities, affordable housing and decent schools?
I know Cali would be optimal but economically it's a mess.
I was thinking about central North Carolina, South Carolina, central Texas, or maybe Florida.
Does anyone have first hand experience in these states (calling IZ) or perhaps a suggestion of somewhere else in the US I haven't thought about.
jimi
Austin or Denver/Boulder.
/thread
Quote from: wantingaduc on April 03, 2012, 07:45:42 AM
good weather, good roads, nice people, real job opportunities, affordable housing and decent schools?
on this list, where are you willing to sacrifice?
florida roads are boring.
denver area seems to have some very nice roads but you are in the mountains so weather...
I would say NC area would be decent. IDK much about housing, but they have really good beer around asheville.
Quote from: KnightofNi on April 03, 2012, 08:30:33 AM
denver area seems to have some very nice roads but you are in the mountains so weather...
You need a few months of mod time, [evil] someone has to support the board sponsors. ;)
Quote from: zooom on April 03, 2012, 08:21:59 AM
on this list, where are you willing to sacrifice?
ouch, that's the truth
So what's the perfect combination of good weather, good roads, nice people, real job opportunities, affordable housing and decent schools?
ranked in order of importance they are:
affordable housing, good weather, real job oppertunities, good roads, decent schools, nice people.
Anywhere on the Front Range in Colorado.
Fort Collins job market is pretty saturated since it's a college town, but there's Windsor, Loveland, Berthoud, and Longmont all between here and Denver that will have you within 15 minutes of awesome twisties and 300+ days of sunshine a year.
Oh, yeah. Did I mention that Colorado is a huge beer state? There are 5 craft breweries (that I can think of off hand) in Fort Collins ALONE. Seems like every town around here has at least one.
Quote from: sno_duc on April 03, 2012, 08:39:11 AM
You need a few months of mod time, [evil] someone has to support the board sponsors. ;)
lol, valid point sir!
however, i always rode through the winter, so i just needed regular maint parts. (and to wash the salt off every now and then)
I didn't think of Colorado, but isn't there the snow thing to deal with?
I have family in Gunnison and they get shit loads of snow every year and it's colder then I can imagine 5 months of the year too.
Is this the case for the entire state or does she live in the "anomaly zone?"
Isn't New Jersey populated by assholes 12 months out of the year?
It may be cold, but it's still a step up.
Gunnison is also at nearly 8,000 ft elevation. The higher you go, the colder it's going to be.
Quote from: wantingaduc on April 03, 2012, 08:52:22 AM
ranked in order of importance they are:
affordable housing, good weather, real job oppertunities, good roads, decent schools, nice people.
West coast is out. That should narrow it down a little. ;)
Quote from: Buckethead on April 03, 2012, 09:10:44 AM
Isn't New Jersey populated by assholes 12 13 months out of the year?
fixed.
Isn't New Jersey populated by assholes 13 months out of the year?
Yup, that's one of the main reasons for leaving this shithole state.
Add to that, insane housing prices and property taxes, constant road congestion (at least in northern where I live) totally corrupt government, from the smallest town right to the capital, shit weather, and the highest insurance rates in the country, just to mention a few things... and you have plenty of reason to get the hell of of here.
The only place that fits all your criteria without sacrificing anything is Austin.
here's a second question from me....
what kind of work do you do for where to reccomend best for what kind of job market there is?
if you are a janitor, I guess you can find a job anywhere...but if you are say, a technology guy, it can greatly vary as to the kinds of opportunities that await you...
Quote from: zooom on April 03, 2012, 10:52:02 AM
here's a second question from me....
what kind of work do you do for where to reccomend best for what kind of job market there is?
if you are a janitor, I guess you can find a job anywhere...but if you are say, a technology guy, it can greatly vary as to the kinds of opportunities that await you...
interspecies erotica is in demand EVERYWHERE.
NC
Quote from: wantingaduc on April 03, 2012, 08:52:22 AM
So what's the perfect combination of good weather, good roads, nice people, real job opportunities, affordable housing and decent schools?
ranked in order of importance they are:
affordable housing, good weather, real job oppertunities, good roads, decent schools, nice people.
Austin...
Quote from: El Matador on April 03, 2012, 10:45:55 AM
The only place that fits all your criteria without sacrificing anything is Austin.
Housing's not as affordable as it used to be for just this reason, ie people moving to Austin from all over tHe country. It'll still be better than the Northeast, though, and it definitely has everything else you're looking for.
Im leaving for Austin in few years.. no matter what, it'll be cheaper then living on the coast..
Quote from: El Matador on April 03, 2012, 10:45:55 AM
The only place that fits all your criteria without sacrificing anything is Austin.
the exception being the assholes 6 months out of the year. :P
you might also consider the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Yes, two months out of the year it's hotter than hell but jobs are a plenty and good roads just outside the walls of metropolis. If you need help and have decided on the DFW area pm me.
Oregon has good roads and the weather isn't so bad most of the year. You could invest in a stitch if you have to commute on the bike.
Asheville, NC or Knoxville, TN. Seriously kick ass riding, mild winters (I rode all year long, but it does get in the 20-30's some. Not much snow though). East TN real estate is very affordable, not sure about NC. Oodles of good food and local beer. Plenty of culture/entertainment. Super cool people. Not sure about the job market though. I had to move to the VA coast to find solid long term employment, but I'm in construction.
My "places to hopefully live one day" list consists of Oregon and Colorado.
Didn't IZ live in Asheville for a bit too...?
Quote from: NAKID on April 03, 2012, 06:26:41 PM
Didn't IZ live in Asheville for a bit too...?
So you're saying it's tainted?
Hahahahaa, really, where HASN'T he lived!!!!
Kentucky
I agree with Knoxville, TN. It's a gem.
Quote from: wantingaduc on April 03, 2012, 07:45:42 AM
I know Cali would be optimal but economically it's a mess.
Economically a mess? Not any worse then anywhere else. As far as riding goes, no better State for weather, roads, and of course, lanesplitting.
beware of the impending fight to raise taxes there which is currently going on.
I lived there for a little over a year and loved the roads/weather but dam it's expensive.
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on April 03, 2012, 06:24:19 PM
Asheville, NC or Knoxville, TN. Seriously kick ass riding, mild winters (I rode all year long, but it does get in the 20-30's some. Not much snow though). East TN real estate is very affordable, not sure about NC. Oodles of good food and local beer. Plenty of culture/entertainment. Super cool people. Not sure about the job market though. I had to move to the VA coast to find solid long term employment, but I'm in construction.
My "places to hopefully live one day" list consists of Oregon and Colorado.
I'll second this list; I can't say I've ridden in Western NC, but I've spent plenty of time on the roads there while paddling, and sure wish I had.
I'd also be remiss if no one in this thread mentioned central Arizona, which is pretty much what I expect Moto Heaven to look like if I'm very, very good in this life. You can pretty much pick your weather any time of year - warm and sunny in the winter down in the Valley near Phoenix (when we've got intermittent snow on the ground) or cool and pleasant in the summer up here in the mountains an hour and a half north when Phoenix is hot. And thanks to all that terrain change, the roads have to twist & turn their way for miles and miles and miles, and a pretty good bike culture - mostly Harleys, but still.
Yup, as it was a115° in a phoenix when there for vacation, the drive to sedona was pleasant n cooler once in the mountains
Quote from: hbliam on April 03, 2012, 11:47:30 PM
Economically a mess? Not any worse then anywhere else.
You must be busy fightin' crime..
47th worst in the US http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/ (http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/)
Quote from: ducatiz on April 04, 2012, 11:55:23 AM
You must be busy fightin' crime..
47th worst in the US http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/ (http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/)
Yeah, but CA is only 14th if you exclude Oakland and Richmond.
Quote from: ducatiz on April 04, 2012, 11:55:23 AM
You must be busy fightin' crime..
47th worst in the US http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/ (http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/)
My wife and I have made more money every year for the last 13 years, even during this "recession." The best thing has been all the deals on travel, property, and just about everything else. It's all what you make of it.
Quote from: ducatiz on April 04, 2012, 11:55:23 AM
You must be busy fightin' crime..
47th worst in the US http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/ (http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/06/21/calif-economy-47th-worst-of-states/)
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-slips-to-number-9-in-world-economic-rankings.html (http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-slips-to-number-9-in-world-economic-rankings.html)
9th largest economy in the world.
Economic output, 10th of 50 States.
It's all how you look at it and which way you want to spin the statistics.
Quote from: hbliam on April 04, 2012, 03:54:06 PM
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-slips-to-number-9-in-world-economic-rankings.html (http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-slips-to-number-9-in-world-economic-rankings.html)
9th largest economy in the world.
Economic output, 10th of 50 States.
It's all how you look at it and which way you want to spin the statistics.
The state with the highest amount of deaths by riparian brush rabbits!
Quote from: hbliam on April 04, 2012, 03:54:06 PM
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-slips-to-number-9-in-world-economic-rankings.html (http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-slips-to-number-9-in-world-economic-rankings.html)
9th largest economy in the world.
Economic output, 10th of 50 States.
It's all how you look at it and which way you want to spin the statistics.
...and you can't own a new pistol magazine with more than 10 round capacity...
and how many people?
All yours bro. [thumbsup]
I'll stay here..
which really sucks BTW.
No one in their right mind would want to live here. ;D
Quote from: ducpainter on April 04, 2012, 04:08:13 PM
...and you can't own a new pistol magazine with more than 10 round capacity...
and how many people?
All yours bro. [thumbsup]
I'll stay here..
which really sucks BTW.
No one in their right mind would want to live here. ;D
The earth rarely shakes in NH, it just slowly crumbles away from the frost heaves [laugh]
Quote from: lethe on April 04, 2012, 04:13:16 PM
The earth rarely shakes in NH, it just slowly crumbles away from the frost heaves [laugh]
meh...
we fill them in... ;)
Quote from: ducpainter on April 04, 2012, 04:08:13 PM
...and you can't own a new pistol magazine with more than 10 round capacity...
and how many people?
All yours bro. [thumbsup]
I'll stay here..
which really sucks BTW.
No one in their right mind would want to live here. ;D
Hmmm, politics? And yes, I can and do own hi cap mags.
And I am 2 minutes away from good waves, 90 minutes from ok snow, 30 minutes from LA concerts and shows. 70 degrees most days, ocean breeze every afternoon. Amazing riding, great deserts for dirt riding.
The people? Keep me employed. But yes, I'll like move somewhere else when I'm old and crotchety.
NH? My family lives there. Dover. I just keep getting pictures of snow.
Quote from: hbliam on April 04, 2012, 04:20:20 PM
Hmmm, politics? And yes, I can and do own hi cap mags.
And I am 2 minutes away from good waves, 90 minutes from ok snow, 30 minutes from LA concerts and shows. 70 degrees most days, ocean breeze every afternoon. Amazing riding, great deserts for dirt riding.
The people? Keep me employed. But yes, I'll like move somewhere else when I'm old and crotchety.
NH? My family lives there. Dover. I just keep getting pictures of snow.
Special dispensation or pre ban?
no snow now...
and no skiers either...
or boaters...
or leaf peepers.
Life sucks without all those people.
You should stay in Cali and make your living off the masses...
and I'm pleased to be crotchety any day I'm not there. :-*
Asheville.....perfect in every Quality of Life aspect....except employment
Quote from: RAT900 on April 05, 2012, 12:18:42 AM
Asheville.....perfect in every Quality of Life aspect....except employment
Beautiful area but the humidity issue would preclude the South from ever using the term "perfect." My late father lived in NOLA. I was not a big fan of being soaking wet within five minutes of drying off from a shower.
Quote from: ducpainter on April 04, 2012, 04:08:13 PM
No one in their right mind would want to live here. ;D
That's right! Terrible place to live. We get an average of 4000' feet of snow per month, no law enforcement, nothing but busted up dirt roads, the residents eat small children, worst place to live!
But if you want to visit, different story, it's like paridise. Just cross the border and drop off some cash. Make sure not to stay too long........
Quote from: hbliam on April 05, 2012, 03:09:53 AM
Beautiful area but the humidity issue would preclude the South from ever using the term "perfect." My late father lived in NOLA. I was not a big fan of being soaking wet within five minutes of drying off from a shower.
mountain humidity and temps combined are no where close to being as awful as they are down in the flatlands and swamps
Im in the automotive industry.
Actually I manage a dealership now, so work isnt hard to find, for the most part. As long as there's a few medium size cities nearby, I should be ok.
I lived in Cali, San Jose actually, for 8 months a few years back and loved it.
But... the cost of living is crazy in Cali and the sagging economy isn't showing signs of turning around anytime soon. Plus it seems that all the places Id want to live there, in northern Cali, are already pretty crowded.
I've looked at Arizona and New Mexico too, anyone with firsthand experience there?
I have been to paradise, and it is none of the places previously mentioned. If you can, move to the south island of New Zealand. It has great skiing, snowboarding, surfing, SCUBA diving, whitewater rafting, bicycling, sailing, motorcycling, soaring (sailplane, hang glider and paragliding) and sheep herding (if that's what you're into). The people are friendly, the rugby is world class, and the living is safe as your back yard. If you want you could hitchhike where you are going and you would get there safely without any more traumatic experience than maybe being behind schedule. The economy is not super strong right now, the largest city has recently been devastated by two successive earthquakes, so if you are in either demolition or construction, there is probably work for you. I don't know why I haven't moved there already.
Quote from: wantingaduc on April 05, 2012, 05:20:56 AM
I've looked at Arizona and New Mexico too, anyone with firsthand experience there?
I'm in Prescott, AZ - as I noted above, Central AZ is pretty much heaven for motorcycles. This is two minutes from my front door:
"Casual" run down the twisties of White Spar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhSGadA3-bg&feature=youtu.be#)
This is about 20 minutes in the other direction:
Route 89 to Jerome Arizona 07/04/2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF8c7EeFPPk&feature=youtu.be#)
More of the same in pretty much any direction & as far as you're willing to ride in a day, and there would be four or five times as much fun readily available if I had a bike that was good for gravel/dirt. I haven't ridden there, but I hear the same about New Mexico.
Employment may be a different story. The Phoenix economy was pretty much a Ponzi scheme - lots of people getting rich building houses for the people who hadn't moved there yet - and the housing crash pinched pretty hard there. Prescott tagged along with the boom times in Phoenix -- ie., building second homes in the mountains for the people getting rich in housing down in Phoenix and retirees sitting on lots of equity - and it's only the past few months we've started to show some signs of life. Flagstaff (more snow than us) and Tucson (more desert than us) are smaller cities with big state universities in town that insulate them at least a little from economic shocks.
And yes, if you can swing New Zealand, start packing now.
Quote from: 77south on April 05, 2012, 06:14:04 AM
I have been to paradise, and it is none of the places previously mentioned. If you can, move to the south island of New Zealand. It has great skiing, snowboarding, surfing, SCUBA diving, whitewater rafting, bicycling, sailing, motorcycling, soaring (sailplane, hang glider and paragliding) and sheep herding (if that's what you're into). The people are friendly, the rugby is world class, and the living is safe as your back yard. If you want you could hitchhike where you are going and you would get there safely without any more traumatic experience than maybe being behind schedule. The economy is not super strong right now, the largest city has recently been devastated by two successive earthquakes, so if you are in either demolition or construction, there is probably work for you. I don't know why I haven't moved there already.
That does kind of sound like paradise [thumbsup]
...cept for the sheep. Though, for some people around here... [laugh]
Not sure what industry you're in, but we probably have some of it, here in Texas ;D
oil
medical
tech
green energy
drug trade
pretty much anything!
plus...we have funny hats.
oil pays well...and standard of living here is super cheap comparing to everwhere else (Houston at least)....
But damn it's too Flat here!!!!!!! ;D
Quote from: RAT900 on April 05, 2012, 12:18:42 AM
Asheville.....perfect in every Quality of Life aspect....except employment
from someone who moved from asheville to portland
"Asheville, like Portland, is where young people go to retire."
Quote from: seanster on April 05, 2012, 12:02:14 PM
oil pays well...and standard of living here is super cheap comparing to everwhere else (Houston at least)....
But damn it's too Flat here!!!!!!! ;D
That's because you live in the flat side.
Well...the other side is kind of flat too, until you get REALLY far west. You have to kind of live in the middle [laugh]
Think we may be moving to San Marcos soon, if everything goes to plan.
Quote from: wantingaduc on April 03, 2012, 09:04:31 AM
I didn't think of Colorado, but isn't there the snow thing to deal with?
I have family in Gunnison and they get shit loads of snow every year and it's colder then I can imagine 5 months of the year too.
Is this the case for the entire state or does she live in the "anomaly zone?"
Definitely not as bad on the Front Range as in Gunnison. Winters and Springs can vary with moisture. Some years you may lose a couple months to snow and ice, but other winters can be dry and sunny. Summers don't generally get ridiculously hot and you can always head to the mountains if they do. Plenty of good riding and scenery....
Montreal Canada
-Free schools
-Free medical
-free penssion plan
-21% of income tax
But 6month's of winter and snow... [bang] [laugh]
Quote from: ducatigirl100 on April 07, 2012, 08:03:08 PM
Montreal Canada
-Free schools
-Free medical
-free penssion plan
-21% of income tax
But 6month's of winter and snow... [bang] [laugh]
21% is not free, it's socialized.
and apparently inaccurate:
http://fairpensionsforall.net/2012/01/16/montreal-pension-problems/ (http://fairpensionsforall.net/2012/01/16/montreal-pension-problems/)
"Is this fair, when you consider most taxpayers don’t even have a company pension?"
And the pension (or social security equivalent) doesn't pay to well and is taxable [roll] :
The maximum monthly amounts for Quebec retirement pensions beginning in 2012 will be $986.67 for those age 65; $690.67 for those age 60 (70 per cent of the age 65 amount); or $1,282.67 for those age 70 (130 per cent of the age 65 amount). By comparison, these amounts in 2011 were $960 (age 65), $672 (age 60) and $1,248 (age 70),
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/What+should+know+about+Quebec+Pension+Plan+payments/5959837/story.html#ixzz1rPpmTmUs (http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/What+should+know+about+Quebec+Pension+Plan+payments/5959837/story.html#ixzz1rPpmTmUs)
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/What+should+know+about+Quebec+Pension+Plan+payments/5959837/story.html (http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/What+should+know+about+Quebec+Pension+Plan+payments/5959837/story.html)
Luckily Canada is beautiful and gave us GSP.
Quote from: hbliam on April 07, 2012, 08:26:30 PM
Luckily Canada is beautiful and gave us GSP.
The most boring fighter in the history of Mma.
Quote from: El Matador on April 07, 2012, 09:51:26 PM
The most boring fighter in the history of Mma.
You wanna trade them for Ol' Cockchest?
Quote from: Buckethead on April 07, 2012, 09:54:59 PM
You wanna trade them for Ol' Cockchest?
It was kinda exciting to see such a huge guy become a little girl after taking one punch.
I have some family on the North Island near Aukland in NZ and from his, and most people's comments, it's paradise.
The problem is getting there, finding a reasonable job and being allowed to stay, mcuh less talking my wife into moving half way around the world and that far away from our families.
Still it's one of the only foreign countires I would even give consideration to.
I've got a buddy in VA (not far from Roanoke,sp?) who rides. He loves it and will never move back to northern NJ.
Good terrain, cheap housing, no problem w/ jobs, and mild winters.
Quote from: duccarlos on April 03, 2012, 11:11:50 AM
NC
I agree. We do get coldish winters & snow in the winter in the mountains. The lower edge of the mountains puts you in awesome day-ride territory! That also gives you access to major metro areas and a huge selection/range of housing costs.
JM
Greenville, SC is frequently in a top ten places to live list, we are near the mountains and BMW is always hiring as well as their tier 2 & 3 suppliers.
So if one didn't need worry bout money?
Quote from: cokey on April 11, 2012, 06:48:30 PM
So if one didn't need worry bout money?
Southern Spain. [coffee]
Quote from: Gadgetech on April 11, 2012, 06:38:04 PM
Greenville, SC is frequently in a top ten places to live list, we are near the mountains and BMW is always hiring as well as their tier 2 & 3 suppliers.
Greenville is a really nice area IMO. You have easy access to major cities (I-85 to Charlotte & Atlanta) and easy access to the good WNC and north GA riding areas!
JM
I'm looking for opinions on 2 other places, Asheville NC and Bolder CO.
Anyone know how these places fare by my criteria?
jimi
I've really liked Boulder every time I've visited. The local college girls are a big part of that. I'm sure there are roads too. Someplace.
Quote from: wantingaduc on May 09, 2012, 08:41:55 AM
I'm looking for opinions on 2 other places, Asheville NC and Bolder CO.
Anyone know how these places fare by my criteria?
Boulder is interesting depending on your views. Liberal, upbeat, lots of pro and semi-pro athletes, outdoorsy. University is liberal arts which lends a young hippie eco-vibe. Housing is expensive due largely to restricted development. Definitely a fair share of wealth, which lends a bit of an uppity vibe. Roads around are great for riding, though and the weather is good -lot of sun. But close to the foothills, so they do tend to get a bit more snow in the winter than say Denver or Fort Collins. Job market is pretty decent for Tech and college related faculty/staff. Don't know about other sectors. They also have a handful of top-notch breweries if you're into beer.