Moving out from Florida! (Looking for opinions)

deftoner

On a bad day just remember: 1st Down,all rest Up.
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*** Warning, long and boring post ***

Well this is a way off-topic subject hahaha.

A series of events most of them of public knowledge, took us to travel, and that pushed an old idea of moving out from florida, farther.

>>> This is a background story you can skip from here >>>>
Here is the thing. Here at this community, I found out wise people, warm people, so I will post this in here since I really want opinion of people that has winning on this.
In 2020, an old injure on my knee came up again. Couple of month before that one day I was helping a lady to change a wheel on the side of the highway. She stopped on a very unsafe place so I rushed to replace the wheel. It was those jeeps that has an oversize tire. And at some point I had my knee on the flore and I rotated my torso to pick up the wheel to put it on place and something cracked inside.
Was a coming and going pain that I hoped that would go away. but in 2020 came back hard. I was expecting a visit to a very good doctor but then covid came and had to pospone (the clinic close to the public) and so one.

When I finally saw the doctor, he recommended surgery, but we could try a treatment. (I was ok with surgery butt there was some risk and the recovery time could take even years).
One of the most painful things was that he told me that I CAN'T keep riding my bike. I cant put my knee on that position for long time and definitely not holding the bike weight with it either.
I said yes but I kept sing my bike. until one day realized that I wont never recover that way, So, as some of you know, I decided to sell the bike. I was killing me to see her there every day and can't ride it.

Anyway, we bought an RV, we did a 3 weeks trip on October, from florida, Alabama, colorado, Texas.
Then my wife change jobs for a big company that allowed her to work 100% remote (I already work remote too), so we decided to travel again. So April 2021 we hit the road again, this time for almost 3 month.

We meet incredible people along the road, awesome landscapes and places. So the idea of moving out was revived.

>>> This is a background story you can skip to here >>>>

So, we decided to move out from florida. is 100% decided, and that will happen in the next month, I'm targeting 4, but could be 6.
Our list was reduced to 3 states:

- Colorado (North from Denver)
- Utah (Somehow near salt lake city)
- Texas (In or near Austin)

Every states has their charm and the good and the bad, I almost want to move to every single small town that I visited during my trips. But I centered my list in 4 things: Education, Safely, Economy. Diversity of weather!! :)
I hate that colorado is a little mainstream these days, but still a good option, I get my 4 seasons, I'm near to a lot of national parks and I will have a great routes when I can ride again. Somehow the same for Utah [CONTENT DELETED - CW] Texas I wont get my full 4 seasons but will be better for taxes for sure.

Anyway, I hope I didnt bored all to death. I would really appreciate thoughts, tips, advice, of ANY kind.

Thank you so much for reading. I attached a picture of my RV 20210529_073344.jpg
 
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~TABASCO~

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They are all three totally different IMOP.....

I lived in Austin years ago and im still in Texas.... Austin is pretty fun to visit these days but now its WAY to congested and unless your very wealthy for your own little slice of heaven I would maybe say, NO

My first choice (of your three) would be Colorado, but when you say north of Denver, are you talking Boulder or up near the boarder ? Bolder, YES..... Border, NO...... Have you considered any of the small towns on the west side of the state? So many cool little places over there..... Maybe check that out.
 

Sierra1

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Wow, that's two very different types of weather. Texas would be my choice, just not Austin. I'd go North Texas, west of I-35.
 

Checkswrecks

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All have great aspects but none of those appeal to me as places to live so I'm going to take a different approach. Do some searches for articles on best places to retire.
Those typically are looking for:

Cost of living, including taxes. For example, I keep reading that Colorado has gotten expensive and sucks on vehicle and other taxes but have no personal experience there.
Quality of life
Healthcare - Especially for your back and just getting older
Entertainment which tends to find communities with colleges

The thing the articles don't usually mention is finding a place near people you relate to or even closer to relatives. For example, how you write comes across as having an accent (English as a 2nd language), and that may mean you'll never be accepted in a small community where everybody grew up together or goes to the same church. Thinking about what I just wrote, Guess that would be another vote for somewhere like a smaller college town.

Good luck and it'll be interesting to follow what you learn.
 

Sierra1

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Cost of living is why so many Californians, and New Yorkers are moving here. The problem is that they are bringing there angry attitudes with them. Other than that. . . . be welcome.
 

blitz11

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In the general vicinity of where you are looking is New Mexico. My daughter spent 19 months in Santa Rosa. Loved the people, made many friends, but the town was SO small that she would travel to Santa Fe for shopping, etc. She still goes back there to help her friends on the ranch. She's a very good horse person, and helps with roundups, moving cattle, branding, AI, etc.

When she moved to Santa Rosa, the job came with a relocation to Santa Fe, NM. (Engineer with the USDA.)

Santa Fe is beautiful, not too crowded (yet), and the motorcycling / dirt biking in Northern New Mexico/Southern CO is spectacular. I spent 4 weeks there this spring, and I would move from Bozeman, MT, in a heartbeat. (we live in Bozeman so my wife can ski. The skiing here is better than NM, thus our location.) You can ski in the winter, ride motorcycles in the summer. it's hot, but not humid. Riding dirt bikes on a 90 degree day was no problem - just carry water.

Albuquerque is close, less expensive, but not as nice, and has really high crime rates. (my daughter won't park her tacoma there, but will park "chuck the work truck" when she's there on business. )

Just my $0.02. Some of my graduated students live in SLC, and they are bothered by the air quality. Santa Fe is on a Mesa, so air quality is good (if that is an issue).

Good luck. Thanks, also, for the head light covers.
 

Sierra1

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In the general vicinity of where you are looking is New Mexico. My daughter spent 19 months in Santa Rosa. Loved the people, made many friends, but the town was SO small that she would travel to Santa Fe for shopping, etc. . . . .
Along the same lines is Page AZ. If I were to move anywhere, it would be there. Absolutely gorgeous, with wonderful weather. It has the same pros/cons as Santa Rosa. Flagstaff is the closest big city; 2 1/2hr drive.

And, Utah, and Colorado would still be relatively close for vacations.
 

Sierra1

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[CONTENT DELETED - CW] My suggestion of Page AZ still stands. It's small enough, and it's in the middle of the Navajo Reservation. Politics aren't real important there.
 
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magic

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Why does this have to turn into another political argument? The OP wants to get out of Florida. I know quite a few people who retired to Florida only to move back to the midwest. Most of them cite the summer heat, hurricanes, overcrowding, traffic, crime and poor healthcare as their reasons.

The OP states both he and his wife can work remotely and wants a diversity of weather. I wonder if he has ever shoveled snow! Probably not a good idea with his health problems. My short list would include southwestern Colorado, northern California or western North Carolina.
 

regder

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My experience with your destinations is limited to Colorado, but damn is it amazing. Probably my favourite state out of all that I have visited of about 40 or so. Huge variety of scenery and various levels of civilization. From Denver, which is a great city, the Rockies, to vast emptiness in the east
 

AusTexS10

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I've lived in Austin for 65 years, since age 9, and it's the only place I'd live in Texas. Problem is, it's not the town I grew up in, not by a damn sight. They blame the Californians (picture is just for fun) and New Yorkers that moved here, but there are just as many local ne'er do wells that messed it up badly, too. Growing up, it was somewhat famous for having the cheapest cost of living in the USA for a city of its size, but it's gotten over that title, way over it. Lots of good road riding in the hill country, but for all its size Texas doesn't have much public land access if you want to go off the paved byways. Austin is a beautiful city, except we are overrun by homeless camps that were allowed by the city council which, politically speaking, is way out of step with most of the rest of the area. Maybe I'll just say I probably couldn't afford to buy a home here now, so I'm mighty glad I bought my current home in 1986. But it's a neat place.
 

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Bill_C

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I have lived and/or spent time in each of those destinations, as well as in Florida (Pensacola). I see the appeal of all of them, but for my money I'd choose Utah. Salt Lake/Ogdon is close to Idaho and the nice part of Wyoming, so that's a plus. I prefer southern Utah (St. George) but I could live in either without any issues. Denver/Boulder CO has gotten too busy for my tastes and has lost some if the charm it had when I was younger. Traffic is bad as well. Austin is a great town, but the housing prices after factoring in property tax rates makes Austin a nice place to visit but not a place I could live.

For the record, regarding small towns and accents/non-native speakers (as it was previously mentioned), I am married to a non-native speaker and have lived in small rural towns and big metro cities... her accent has never really been an issue. Sure there are some odd occasions but they are few and far between and just as prevalent in large cities as in small towns. I have found that most people in the world are actually pretty nice and accepting. The general rule is don't be a jerk and people will usually treat you well. Treat people with respect and a smile and they will bend over backwards to accommodate you (or in my case, my wife's acccent).

No matter where you choose I'm sure you'll be fine. I just happen to prefer Utah the most on your list. The scenery is just so beautiful and it has some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 

AVGeek

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I’d add Arizona to your list. While I prefer the tax structure of Nevada, Arizona is amazingly beautiful, far more mountainous than most people realize, and in the right areas, very comfortable to live in year round.
 

gunner

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Have you visited NW Arkansas? Plenty of great areas to ride on and off road, 4 seasons, pretty mild winters and summers, and the Bentonville / Fayetteville area meets your criteria.
 

Cycledude

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I know a few folks that sold their homes and bought a huge camper to travel around the country in, so far they say they are very satisfied and don’t plan on ever buying another house.
 

deftoner

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Of the places you named Colorado would probably be my choice.
Thanks for the reply! Looks like I didnt have the notification on for my post (I was little sad that "nobody" replied, but then I saw that I had a lot of replies! :D Thanks for your reply
 
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