Hi All,
My wife and I are thinking of moving out West in the next 1-3 years, and are researching places to land. This site is such a wealth of varied people and information, I figured it can't hurt to get the two cents from the GBBH (Great Big Banjo Hangout)!
Here's our list, and we'd be eager to hear of any advice/experience with them, and we're also open to adding places that we may have missed....
Things we like:
Not a drought 100% of the time (is that even possible out West?)
We like lakes, rivers, and mountains.
We like seasons, though they don't have to be extreme.
Proximity to a decent airport is important, we don't know where our kiddos will end up, so will likely need to get to them occasionally. I guess. :-D
Our Current List:
Oregon
Bend
Nevada
Reno
Carson City
Arizona. (the airports here are far, mostly just in phoenix, so that's a strike already)
Flagstaff
Sedona
Prescott
Utah
St George
Idaho
Boise
California
Tahoe
And lastly, in case it frames perspectives, we're currently up in New Hampshire and we love it. But we've been here 20+ years and are looking for a change.
Thank you all! :-)
I like our visits to Oregon a lot. If I were younger and brave enough for a big move Oregon would be high on the list.
We like Arizona, and enjoy time there at my brother's second home.
* However, noticed an absence of New Mexico on your list. I went to college for a while near the southern border in Las Cruces. But we really enjoy the amount of time we spend in the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Taos areas. Why:
> We really like the Northern NM foods, a mix/fusion of Mexican and NM Native American dishes, different then typical Texmex that is so prevalent in the midwest and where we live in Kansas.
> Fishing everywhere.
> Plenty of arts and music.
> Mountains and skiing nearby.
> great trails to hike.
> Arid and desert areas in the vicinity.
> Cost of living reasonable in many areas.
> beautiful streams.
> Weather offers the full spectrum of seasons.
Get there while you can.
Saw an article a few weeks ago how the rich are buying it all up.
Albuquerque, Santa Fe added!
Vegas / Henderson added!
Thank you!! 
Dang, well we aren't rich: Banjo playing isn't super lucrative in NH. 
And our timeline is to get there in the 1-3 year range....
We'll see! Thanks!
Much of your list is not in the Rockies, if that matters!
I live in the west. You should add Cody\Jackson WY. No drought and seasons.
If money is no object, Tahoe.
I personally wouldnt live in those cities on your list sans Saint George, but then again, Ive spent time in every one of them so internet pictures dont impress me.
banjo bill-e: You are correct, I guess I was thinking more the time zone.... :-)
Cody/Jackson added! Thank you!
Tahoe not added....We're good, but not that good. :-D
Politics is not for discussion here, but if it matters to you, know that attitudes vary from place to place and state to state in the West.
Yessir, Sir Bill.
We're looking at what I'll call "matching color" areas....
New Hampshire itself is kinda a mishmash of politics, so we're used to some variation. Vermont it the big one that's waaaay to one side.
But the pointer is appreciated! Thank you. :-)
Scottsdale Arizona is nice in the winter, but the summers are hot
Having spent most of my life in the Madison, WI area, our trips to Flagstaff felt very much like home to me. College town so you get all the sports, arts, and variety of restaurants that come with it. Told my wife we could retire there she said "but they have winter!" She was very much in the snowbird mindset at the time. Turns out, we're staying put.
Scottsdale, too hot, no freaking way.
Flagstaff gets really, really cold. On my frequent drives from WY to Phx, Flag is usually the coldest place in winter along that drive, well south of zero and windy. Sometimes Panguitch, UT wins. Northern AZ is one huge traffic jam now since everyone from everywhere moved to Payson, Flagstaff, Showlo, Lakeside etc.
California is the superior western state, geographically. Few dispute that and tis why sooooo many live there.
Upon retiring, I moved from the Midwest to Colorado eleven years ago ... the Grand Junction area to be precise. The mountains, the canyons, the river, the weather - all suit me. The culture was something I had to get used to, but I've adjusted.
Edited by - Carter Canyon on 03/02/2025 07:49:15
Asked Her where she wanted to retire to and without any hesitation she said 'Green Bay'. So we have been here in Cheesehead land for 25 years, Yes winters are cold and snowy but lots of pickin' time and summers are bright and good fishing and hunting if that is your preference. Education, good restaurants, good health services. Lots of small rural towns full of friendly people.
Thanks again all!!
Scottsdale = Too Hot! Agreed
Colorado keeps going on and off our list....Not sure if it's close enough to her family to drive.
The Minnesota/Wisconsin/Michigan area was always appealing to me, but it's likely too similar to NH to make a move worthwhile.
I think we're down to Carson City in the lead, Reno a close second, and AZ (Flagstaff/Sedona/Prescott) at a solid third.
Flagstaff/Sedona/Prescott
All 3 are very different culturally, economically and geographically. Weird to lump them together but from an outside perspective maybe its all desert....lol.
Id choose southern cali if I could. Carson City and Reno are vastly different than Flagstaff/Sedona/Prescott. Reno has hardly a tree, Carson City not much better. Sedona is pretty tree bare as well. All of these locations lack advanced healthcare. But they are in the mountains.
Rent at each location for 6 months, see if u fit in. We get lots of Eastern folks in the mountains I live in in AZ, but they usually leave within 3 years. Culture shock.
Reno, Carson City, Sedona and Prescott have hot summers above 100, but below 115 that Phoenix (Scottsdale) gets to. Flag is very cold in the winter. Idaho Springs , ID is mild, treed and by the tetons.
quote:
Originally posted by Grey DogThanks again all!!
Scottsdale = Too Hot! Agreed
Colorado keeps going on and off our list....Not sure if it's close enough to her family to drive.
The Minnesota/Wisconsin/Michigan area was always appealing to me, but it's likely too similar to NH to make a move worthwhile.
I think we're down to Carson City in the lead, Reno a close second, and AZ (Flagstaff/Sedona/Prescott) at a solid third.
LOL, if you can afford Sedona, then your troubles are over. You can go anywhere.
Famous quote: "If the rich are unhappy, it's their own fault."
Awesome info, NotABanjoYoda, thank you!!!
I do like trees....Hrmmm.
I very much wanted to add Idaho the list, but my spouse has a medical condition that warrants a prescription for medical THC, and Idaho does not permit that at all. :-(
And we likely cannot afford Sedona, EricA: We're thinking geographically for now, and once we trim the list down a bit were going to look at specifics. Money's why Lake Tahoe fell off the list, so Sedona may go the same way. Thanks!
