General Discussion

gwheezie

(3,580 posts)

39. Virginia but

Fri Mar 3, 2017, 02:37 PM

Mar 2017

I live in rural Virginia but work in Richmond. Even though Virginia is bluish in national politics & at the governor's office, it is gerrymandered & red at the state level. It's a battle for women's rights, criminal justice reform & lgbtq rights.
I think you could be pretty happy in a place like Richmond because of the universities there is music, art & opportunities for interesting seminars. Also the weather is decent so there are many outdoor festivals & events. If you're interested in history, Richmond is full of it. It's a diverse culture.
The negative for me is the gun culture & Confederacy.
I live in red Virginia but we're putting up a good fight. If you like the coast or waterfront the northern neck (rural,small-town) or Virginia Beach (military, tourists) are interesting.
I have a 15 acre farm between Richmond & the northern neck that would sell for under 200k but there are no services here. The library is in a single wide. Verizon is the only cell carrier that works & I have no neighbors.

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We are thinking of selling our home in SF and moving somewhere cheaper...need suggestions for [View all] Dream Girl Mar 2017 OP

Take a look at Austin, TX marylandblue Mar 2017 #1

Broadly speaking, look for a University town (if you can give up city life) brooklynite Mar 2017 #44

The drawback there is I-35 right through downtown. alarimer Mar 2017 #73

Yeah, but if they are approaching retirement, traffic doesn't really matter TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #102

Traffic noise is a huge problem, esp. in SF Bay area. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #150

Everyone in Texas gets a $25K homestead exemption TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #184

Traffic matters for everybody in Austin, regardless of age. Paladin Mar 2017 #210

I lived there for 6 years TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #216

I swear, Houston has their traffic under better control than Austin. Paladin Mar 2017 #217

Actually, I agree with you TexasBushwhacker Mar 2017 #218

I lived in Austin for a couple of years back in the 80s MrScorpio Mar 2017 #114

New Mexico while wonderful WhiteTara Mar 2017 #2

This is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. My step daughter moved to Virginia and loves Dream Girl Mar 2017 #6

Northern Virginia is blue (the areas around DC). blue neen Mar 2017 #31

But NoVA is very expensive. No way would OP spooky3 Mar 2017 #82

was looking today. Some nice houses at about 350,000 which isn't cheap KittyWampus Mar 2017 #163

They are not close to D.C. if they are nice and $350k. spooky3 Mar 2017 #173

Here's one house. And some areas in desirable neighborhoods may see values stall... KittyWampus Mar 2017 #174

Richmond is more than 1 hour 45 minutes away. And that is spooky3 Mar 2017 #194

We went to Florida for a soccer thing last weekend. When we boarded the plane, it seemed like Dream Girl Mar 2017 #12

Hills borough County (Tampa) is blue. Blue_true Mar 2017 #120

We were in Tampa, very nice but wasn't sure if it was red or blue. Dream Girl Mar 2017 #123

Spend a little time in St. Pete Fl. Just south of Tampa. Lochloosa Mar 2017 #197

Tampa is slightly blue, St. Pete is slightly Red. Either place could use your vote AND its cheap stevenleser Mar 2017 #221

Avoid Eastern Wa. and Idaho, esp. No. Idaho, then. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #151

I would not advise Eastern Wa either but Doreen Mar 2017 #179

VA is actually purple---red in parts, blue in growing areas outside DC wordpix Mar 2017 #72

We are a reality based community and GulfCoast66 Mar 2017 #171

Vegas is and will always be a blue city. I know Californians who retired there. Inexpensive too. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2017 #3

My sister has been searching lately... Wounded Bear Mar 2017 #4

Pittsburgh, PA is inexpensive, has a great cultural and restaurant scene, has hills like the bay appleannie1943 Mar 2017 #5

A second vote for Pgh. We moved back home from CA livetohike Mar 2017 #83

3rd Vote for the 'burgh BBG Mar 2017 #137

pittsburgh! babydollhead Mar 2017 #149

Pittsburgh, yortsed snacilbuper Mar 2017 #170

Asheville is nice for transplants. NC's a purple state, Asheville's a progressive, artsy small city blm Mar 2017 #7

I like Asheville a lot. NCTraveler Mar 2017 #113

In Florida, I'd consider Gainesville. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2017 #8

Alachua County is far less red than it used to be. Blue_true Mar 2017 #35

If I had to live in Fla. Alachua would be the spot, on the east side. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #152

Through most of the South college towns tend to be pretty blue areas csziggy Mar 2017 #93

Agree! It's a beautiful state and it's possible to avoid the red, but one has to look carefully. n/t RKP5637 Mar 2017 #119

You can get a very decent home for that kind of money OldHippieChick Mar 2017 #9

I'll second Asheville, NC. dawg Mar 2017 #10

I'll third NC. Check us out. You got the mountains, cities/towns and shore all in one sprinkleeninow Mar 2017 #99

How about Atlanta, GA. nt SticksnStones Mar 2017 #11

Ugh... Baconator Mar 2017 #20

Why Ugh? Atlanta is one of the top 20 most liberal cities in the country. dancePop Mar 2017 #220

Meh... Just never had a good impression when visiting or passing through... Baconator Mar 2017 #222

Arent sex toys still illegal in Georgia? Warren DeMontague Mar 2017 #182

Atlanta is fine greymattermom Mar 2017 #190

Oregon is cheaper than the Bay Area and politically more aligned than the South or S West jalan48 Mar 2017 #13

rainy on coast, cold winters inland wordpix Mar 2017 #74

Not really cold. Western Oregon is part of the NW temperate climate zone. jalan48 Mar 2017 #88

I was talking about E. Oregon - west is warmer, wet wordpix Mar 2017 #121

My bad -I misread your post. jalan48 Mar 2017 #125

A couple years ago we has more than a week under 0 degrees as a high. Shrike47 Mar 2017 #136

My wife and I were in a similar situation in New York a few years back brush Mar 2017 #14

Maine or Vermont voteearlyvoteoften Mar 2017 #15

Gorgeous places in Maine, outside portland, like Gorham sunonmars Mar 2017 #97

I'm partial to the Tallahassee, Florida area csziggy Mar 2017 #16

Tallahassee Native Here TBA Mar 2017 #28

I've lived outside the city since 1979 csziggy Mar 2017 #69

I'm in Central Fl and want to move more north amuse bouche Mar 2017 #162

Straightline about 35 miles from our house to St. Marks csziggy Mar 2017 #167

You should come! We have a show the last two weekends in March. TBA Mar 2017 #204

I am following you on Facebook - started sometime in January csziggy Mar 2017 #209

Oh no. I hope things settle down for you soon. TBA Mar 2017 #211

I hate to quibble, but Gadsden County is dark blue. About 76% are registered Democrats and retread Mar 2017 #96

Yeah, since they smeared Cliff Thaell northeast Leon has suffered csziggy Mar 2017 #107

How about our awesome mayor running for governor? TBA Mar 2017 #205

We moved from the Bay Area to upstate New York: Hudson Valley/Catskills region Tom Rinaldo Mar 2017 #17

It might not be deep blue but check out Colorado Baconator Mar 2017 #18

I thought Colorado Springs is deep red? n/t moonscape Mar 2017 #36

It is. That's OldHippieChick Mar 2017 #92

It's a weird mix... Baconator Mar 2017 #169

make sure whatever state you move to values healthcare for their citizens. Most likely once you still_one Mar 2017 #19

Good point..the blueness of California will make it hard to leave, we may been be moving Dream Girl Mar 2017 #27

The single payer of Medicare doesn't happen until 65, and as for single payer in the near future, still_one Mar 2017 #32

Grew up in Cleveland and lived in Minnesota for five years. I know snow and cold but don't think I Dream Girl Mar 2017 #37

Minneapolis ginnyinWI Mar 2017 #67

We just moved to Rehoboth Beach from Akron, Ohio. we can do it Mar 2017 #160

Why not move from San Francisco to the East Bay? nt Blue_true Mar 2017 #42

Or the North Bay? ailsagirl Mar 2017 #86

very important for low income retirees to learn about states' health care, esp. since wordpix Mar 2017 #76

If you want progressive, Takoma Park, MD. Stinky The Clown Mar 2017 #21

good luck buying in w/ 400K, maybe a condo? wordpix Mar 2017 #77

Just sayin' . . . . Stinky The Clown Mar 2017 #79

my dad used to build homes like that in the '50's, '60's wordpix Mar 2017 #124

If I ever moved to a warm, liberal climate it'd be like The Fan district in Richmond VA. KittyWampus Mar 2017 #22

This is great! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. Lots of places I hadn't considered. Dream Girl Mar 2017 #23

You couldn't go wrong with Vermont. Vinca Mar 2017 #24

Southern Vermont near the Massachusetts border, rural and artsy. Blue_true Mar 2017 #47

Exactly. Around Brattleboro. Vinca Mar 2017 #50

if you can afford to go elsewhere in winters, it can be brutal wordpix Mar 2017 #78

I'm near there, too. This winter hasn't been too bad. Vinca Mar 2017 #98

Burlington on Lake Champlain with lots of things to do karynnj Mar 2017 #201

I was transferred From Mass. in 1994 as were so many of my peers - asiliveandbreathe Mar 2017 #25

The area surrounding Seattle would work for you jmowreader Mar 2017 #26

I knew someone who lived Mendocino Mar 2017 #66

The Sequim area oldtime dfl_er Mar 2017 #84

My buddy could see the ocean Mendocino Mar 2017 #90

We love our new place in Centralia.. SoCalDem Mar 2017 #196

Port Angeles isn't bad jmowreader Mar 2017 #118

That's where my mom retired mrs_p Mar 2017 #176

Some suggestions in Florida that fall in your price range. Blue_true Mar 2017 #29

Portland, Oregon! bitterross Mar 2017 #30

House prices are insane right now mrs_p Mar 2017 #177

That is insane bitterross Mar 2017 #208

Portland oldtime dfl_er Mar 2017 #212

Please avoid NM PasadenaTrudy Mar 2017 #33

Some parts of New Mexico are elite and blue. Santa Fe, Los Alamos Blue_true Mar 2017 #57

But still.... PasadenaTrudy Mar 2017 #106

I live in NM and love it - it's beautiul and very blue womanofthehills Mar 2017 #183

I lived there 30 years ago. marybourg Mar 2017 #112

Young are moving out for jobs but it seems like retired people are moving here womanofthehills Mar 2017 #187

Yes to the art scene. marybourg Mar 2017 #214

City within a City MedusaX Mar 2017 #34

Come to PA BumRushDaShow Mar 2017 #38

Our son is looking at Lafayette college in Easton is that nearby? Dream Girl Mar 2017 #43

It's about 1.5 hours NE of Philly BumRushDaShow Mar 2017 #48

Virginia but gwheezie Mar 2017 #39

Step daughter lives in Charlottesville. Thoughts? Dream Girl Mar 2017 #46

Cville is lovely gwheezie Mar 2017 #54

w/ $400K you'll do well but I'm looking in lower price range wordpix Mar 2017 #81

property values are going to help turn Virginia bluer. It's a great state to invest in. KittyWampus Mar 2017 #64

I love where I live gwheezie Mar 2017 #65

where? How far from C-ville? wordpix Mar 2017 #126

I don't live near cville gwheezie Mar 2017 #132

IMO, the future is very bleak for home ownership, jobs, tiny houses will be the future and UBI will CK_John Mar 2017 #40

New Mexico is going blue. haele Mar 2017 #41

We retired 10 years ago, moved from SF, had to find a way more inexpensive area. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #45

Depending on what we set we could be snow birds and spend winter months in Mexico. Dream Girl Mar 2017 #49

I hadn't even thought about hurricanes and flooding as a consideration. Dream Girl Mar 2017 #53

I was working in SF on 9-11 dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #143

Minneapolis and St. Paul MineralMan Mar 2017 #51

I lived there for five years. Went to the u of mm law school. I liked it, great culture,restaurants Dream Girl Mar 2017 #60

Cool. So you know the place. MineralMan Mar 2017 #62

I tried to make it clear in my post. NCTraveler Mar 2017 #116

Very funny, indeed. MineralMan Mar 2017 #117

Dallas, TX is blue and the surrounding suburbs are very (very!) affordable. LanternWaste Mar 2017 #52

you are right about Texans CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #68

DFW has a lot of great things going for it. n/t tammywammy Mar 2017 #146

NM is blue in the northern 2/3. The southern third is deep red Warpy Mar 2017 #55

New Mexico is actually pretty blue down the middle and red in the east and the west, mostly east Quixote1818 Mar 2017 #165

Eugene, OR WheelWalker Mar 2017 #56

Agree about the University town; they tend to be great. LisaM Mar 2017 #58

The skilled jobs in San Francisco center around Blue_true Mar 2017 #129

I live in Seattle, and I hear you. LisaM Mar 2017 #131

Seattle was great until they put the damn freeway in the middle of it. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2017 #155

Yeah, we're hanging on. LisaM Mar 2017 #158

Homes TravelingMan Mar 2017 #59

Benicia is nice but a bit pricey, but would keep us in Bay Area. Dream Girl Mar 2017 #89

Pittsburgh! It's a purple state and we could use some help!! It's been ranked consistently ebbie15644 Mar 2017 #61

Interesting that this topic just came up Corgigal Mar 2017 #63

I haven't been to Kentucky much but it is a beautiful state csziggy Mar 2017 #70

True, but it's the rocks Corgigal Mar 2017 #75

Now, the horses are a completely different thing! csziggy Mar 2017 #91

Ah beautiful Corgigal Mar 2017 #140

my friends are in Harrisburg, very liveable wordpix Mar 2017 #85

A good friend lives there part time and loves it. mahina Mar 2017 #100

My son is a Berea grad Corgigal Mar 2017 #142

I think Tennessee is turning blue. Nashville is expensive but the rural areas and small towns around Lint Head Mar 2017 #71

$400k, or less, would buy a very nice house in the Chicago area. guillaumeb Mar 2017 #80

I'll Stay in CA The River Mar 2017 #87

Me too! PasadenaTrudy Mar 2017 #109

I would stay but if I'm not working we will have a big mortgage and no income. Dream Girl Mar 2017 #145

Athens, GA CottonBear Mar 2017 #94

Go north, plan to winter in the south if necesary. Hortensis Mar 2017 #95

Near me, of course! Laffy Kat Mar 2017 #101

Tucson, AZ is blue. Coventina Mar 2017 #103

I hate to dis my beloved Austin, Jane Austin Mar 2017 #104

I live in the mountains 15 miles to the east of Albuquerque.... chillfactor Mar 2017 #105

You skipped Hawaii pandr32 Mar 2017 #108

It's not blue but the price is right and there is a lot of good in the area. NCTraveler Mar 2017 #110

Nevada City CA ghostsinthemachine Mar 2017 #111

3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath. $265,000 ghostsinthemachine Mar 2017 #223

Western Colorado randr Mar 2017 #115

That's so nice to learn about the Slope. I'll recommend Lakewood, Colorado, though eleny Mar 2017 #133

We are in the same boat. I will have to keep my eye on this AJT Mar 2017 #122

Wouldn't the winters be milder than Wisconsin? Dream Girl Mar 2017 #144

Washington State? Mz Pip Mar 2017 #127

We are in the process of moving to Sothebys Carolina liberal N proud Mar 2017 #128

Boone NC ileus Mar 2017 #130

Orange County, NC is also VERY blue. Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough mnhtnbb Mar 2017 #134

How about DE or MD TuxedoKat Mar 2017 #135

Hi neighbor! we can do it Mar 2017 #139

Actually... TuxedoKat Mar 2017 #219

I'm going to try to sell my farm & de sounds nice gwheezie Mar 2017 #141

We have a place in Fenwick randr Mar 2017 #164

My good friend has property in Fenwick. Mendocino Mar 2017 #203

Why not join us in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware? we can do it Mar 2017 #138

I'm going to, for a week in July! Have never been! WinkyDink Mar 2017 #148

You're going to love it! Diverse, clean, great food and drinks! we can do it Mar 2017 #159

Well, PA turned Red once, but it's great for us retirees! Can't swing the proverbial WinkyDink Mar 2017 #147

Wilmington, North Carolina NCcoast Mar 2017 #153

Columbus? RazBerryBeret Mar 2017 #154

You will not be happy outside of California flamingdem Mar 2017 #156

Meh. Warren DeMontague Mar 2017 #180

have you thought about leaving the country? Hamlette Mar 2017 #157

Yes, in fact we always thought we might move to Mexico because we have been there many Dream Girl Mar 2017 #172

Philly burbs! apcalc Mar 2017 #161

Montgomery County, Maryland, a very blue state. kwassa Mar 2017 #166

You could move to Connecticut, I guess. krispos42 Mar 2017 #168

Fort Collins mrs_p Mar 2017 #175

somalia will be nicer than here in a few years Gabi Hayes Mar 2017 #178

Portland, OR Warren DeMontague Mar 2017 #181

I currently live in Santa Fe, NM, PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2017 #185

Any place with a decent sized university is probably a good bet. meadowlander Mar 2017 #186

Tacoma or Olympia Wa gopiscrap Mar 2017 #188

if you don't need income...come to Kansas and help us actively trying to turn our state BLUE demtenjeep Mar 2017 #189

Lol, you can move to Vallejo and get a nice house for that sum. Lots of us SF refugees are here. diane in sf Mar 2017 #191

There are parts of Florida that are blue Sancho Mar 2017 #192

Drive up to Arcata, California, and get acquainted with that area. NBachers Mar 2017 #193

We moved from So Cal to Washington state ...love it SoCalDem Mar 2017 #195

Tucson is a blue dot in ruby red Arizona NMDemDist2 Mar 2017 #198

Asheville, NC bathroommonkey76 Mar 2017 #199

Can't get bluer than Vermont karynnj Mar 2017 #200

Oregon coast; pretty cheap and pretty blue CanonRay Mar 2017 #202

Burlington, VT is nice JDC Mar 2017 #206

Sacramento David__77 Mar 2017 #207

If you don't need an urban area, I think the suggestions here for parts of Virginia are very good spooky3 Mar 2017 #213

There are areas in California where homes are far more reasonably priced than Sf. lucca18 Mar 2017 #215