What do you like about where you live?

[Tex .416]

For those looking at Texas rural areas, do some serious homework on water availability before buying. Texas west of I-35 has always had limited water. That also is true in many areas of the country west of I-35. Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Now with the massive influx of people, water resources are over committed and face very real serious shortages. The last time I looked, which was last spring, over 500 municipalities were imposing some level of water restrictions and over 30 had complete failure of the municipal water supply.

Urban areas are buying up water from rural areas. So rural areas are facing major drawdowns of aquifers at unsustainable rates in many areas. Also be cautious of groundwater pollution in areas with lots of oil and gas production.

Water availability is a major issue in many areas of the state and the situation is critical in some.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, over 60 years, other than some time in England in college. The land can be harsh, but the people here are wonderful, independent, and self-sufficient. The women are beautiful, the food is good, and hunting is great.

However, our culture is being wiped out with the influx of those from other states. The population has tripled in my lifetime.

These folks from California and the Northeast moving here will flip this state blue in the near future.

My happy place is in the Brush Country of South Texas. We went to Tanzania and felt like we had landed in Cotulla, Texas, except with elephants and no Mexican food. The habitat feel is strikingly similar.

Here is the drought monitor map for the US. Clicking on a state will enlarge it. The map is updated every Thursday.

Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

 

[Tanks]

7 bedroom 8 baths. 9000 sq ft. Needs some work. You are completely tone death, or just really don’t give a shit. I suspect I know. I have bit my lip so many times on your posts, but you really are a special POS. Tango your happy ass to Virginia.

Ahem, the cost of that home is less than a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2500 sq. ft home on a postage stamp lot in a decent neighborhood in CA, so it is all relative. Heck, my daughter's 3 bedroom co-op in NYC costs more.

And I was being serious. If you look at the pictures, landscaping and entry road is a bit rundown and carpeted areas need to be redone (hardwood most likely). Pool needs a complete update etc., etc.. And that is without even being there.

I don't know what your beef is. Is it the cost of the place or the size? Cost I explained above, size you might have a point, my girlfriend thinks it is too big as well. I pointed out to her that I have two kids, and four grandkids and would want everyone to be able to visit and vacation there at the same time.

I also don't know why you care one way or the other. We have other members here that live on huge ranches or estates. Is Bernie Sanders in you sneaking out?

 

[Tucketed]

Third move back to Florida after numerous East Coast residences. We always enjoyed our past residences, always finding positives of where we lived. We now live in a small beach town with a great community of friends. It has gotten more expensive but where hasn’t it. It does have hurricanes which suck. We love the weather, even in the summer the breeze off the ocean allows us to sit on back porch during the afternoon and read. Even in summer we are outdoor people. Our state kept things open during COVID allowing us personal freedoms. Our state has beliefs in line with mine. Besides watching out for hurricanes I cannot really find a detractor.

 

[Tanks]

Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Heck, one of the reasons I moved from the Houston area, lived in Friendswood, was the hurricanes and the floods. I had water come to just a few feet from my front door during hurricane Alicia.

Funny story. I had one employee call me saying he would not make it to work that day due to floods in Clear Lake. He said the water was almost to his door. I said that's not bad. That is when he mentioned he was on the second floor of his apartment building!!!

 

[Tex .416]

Tanks,

your post about looking at Spicewood is what prompted my warning about water availability. You really better do some investigation about water in that area before making a final decision.

Here is a link to one of the main GCD’s for that area. It is in emergency drought conditions with 40% curtailments i.e. 40% reduction of a well’s permitted pumping volume. This may be a factor in why it is priced as it is. They are warning that water wells “are failing at an unprecedented rate.”

Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District – Northern Hays County Groundwater Conservation District information.

haysgroundwater.com

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

For those looking at Texas rural areas, do some serious homework on water availability before buying. Texas west of I-35 has always had limited water. That also is true in many areas of the country west of I-35. Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Now with the massive influx of people, water resources are over committed and face very real serious shortages. The last time I looked, which was last spring, over 500 municipalities were imposing some level of water restrictions and over 30 had complete failure of the municipal water supply.

Urban areas are buying up water from rural areas. So rural areas are facing major drawdowns of aquifers at unsustainable rates in many areas. Also be cautious of groundwater pollution in areas with lots of oil and gas production.

Water availability is a major issue in many areas of the state and the situation is critical in some.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, over 60 years, other than some time in England in college. The land can be harsh, but the people here are wonderful, independent, and self-sufficient. The women are beautiful, the food is good, and hunting is great.

However, our culture is being wiped out with the influx of those from other states. The population has tripled in my lifetime.

These folks from California and the Northeast moving here will flip this state blue in the near future.

My happy place is in the Brush Country of South Texas. We went to Tanzania and felt like we had landed in Cotulla, Texas, except with elephants and no Mexican food. The habitat feel is strikingly similar.

Here is the drought monitor map for the US. Clicking on a state will enlarge it. The map is updated every Thursday.

Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Damn Californians F’ing up the whole country!

 

[Tanks]

Damn Californians F’ing up the whole country!

Hey now, without Californians you'd still be using a rotary phone and not have much of a technology

 

[Rare Breed]

Damn. That was uncalled for. What was meant as a snarky, sarcastic post came across as just mean spirited. My apologies to @Tanks and to the reader.

Note to self; After a martini(s) and a bottle of cab, set the iPad aside.

LMAO!!! Been there done that only after bourbon a few times on here and I too had to apologize!!! We know you are a great guy and thought you just might have a bit to much to drink before you made that post! Nice job with the apology and knowing Andy he probably just chuckled especially on the tango part

 

[Rare Breed]

Ahem, the cost of that home is less than a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2500 sq. ft home on a postage stamp lot in a decent neighborhood in CA, so it is all relative. Heck, my daughter's 3 bedroom co-op in NYC costs more.

And I was being serious. If you look at the pictures, landscaping and entry road is a bit rundown and carpeted areas need to be redone (hardwood most likely). Pool needs a complete update etc., etc.. And that is without even being there.

I don't know what your beef is. Is it the cost of the place or the size? Cost I explained above, size you might have a point, my girlfriend thinks it is too big as well. I pointed out to her that I have two kids, and four grandkids and would want everyone to be able to visit and vacation there at the same time.

I also don't know why you care one way or the other. We have other members here that live on huge ranches or estates. Is Bernie Sanders in you sneaking out?

I love it! Think about all the themes you could have…a Tanzania room, Zambia room, etc….seriously. I lived 9 years in Texas and loved it. 16 acres outside of Austin would be awesome and easily fit your requirements

 

[Tanks]

In vino veritas. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc. That being said, no problem. You can't be in boarding schools, fraternities, construction sites etc. without having thick skin.

 

[Tanks]

I love it! Think about all the themes you could have…a Tanzania room, Zambia room, etc….seriously. I lived 9 years in Texas and loved it. 16 acres outside of Austin would be awesome and easily fit your requirements

This place is in VA. 16 acres outside of Austin would be triple the price.

 

[Rare Breed]

This place is in VA. 16 acres outside of Austin would be triple the price.

Bummer…no wonder I thought it was a great deal!

 

[Tanks]

Bummer…no wonder I thought it was a great deal!

Yep. I'd be wiring the funds already if it was.

 

[John A Flaws]

I live in California and love and hate the state for the reasons Nighthawk mentioned. The weather in Southern California is about as close to perfect as you can find. Sunshine most of the year with mild temperatures but for a hand full of days above 90 degrees each year. But as Nighthawk mentioned the politics and cost of living are total crazy. I am already retired, but when my wife retires in a few years I can see us moving to the Reno/Sparks area. Maybe even a bit south like Minden/Gardnerville NV.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Hey now, without Californians you'd still be using a rotary phone and not have much of a technology

We live in a rural town in Colombia most of the year, Rotary phones are still common and a machete can do everything that all the tools in Home Depot can accomplish.

Safe travels

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Hey now, without Californians you'd still be using a rotary phone and not have much of a technology

Said Tongue-in-Cheek. I’m born and raised in the Bay Area. Worked in Silicon Valley during the boom. 1995 to 2001 at every chip maker, semiconductor plant, tool maker, lab, and built every kind of R&D facility you can imagine… I was in the valley at Lam Research and Applied Materials for a couple projects in 2021. Resented the commute and the rat race. I guess I’m just getting old…

Just funny that even though I’ve had a NV residence since 2002, I feel like I’m being accused of being part of the problem where ever I go. I generally respond in jest…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I live in California and love and hate the state for the reasons Nighthawk mentioned. The weather in Southern California is about as close to perfect as you can find. Sunshine most of the year with mild temperatures but for a hand full of days above 90 degrees each year. But as Nighthawk mentioned the politics and cost of living are total crazy. I am already retired, but when my wife retires in a few years I can see us moving to the Reno/Sparks area. Maybe even a bit south like Minden/Gardnerville NV.

Been in Reno/Sparks for over 20 years now. It’s growing too fast. Was great in 2001 when I started investing in residential and commercial real-estate. The area has lost a lot of it’s small town America charm. It’s likely that I’ll collect my pension and base from there until I find my ranch/farm.

For now, I’ve got another year in Nor-Cal before I can retire. I’m sure I’ll keep a place here too… Fishing is still decent. Lot of family and friends here.

 

[steve white]

For those looking at Texas rural areas, do some serious homework on water availability before buying. Texas west of I-35 has always had limited water. That also is true in many areas of the country west of I-35. Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Now with the massive influx of people, water resources are over committed and face very real serious shortages. The last time I looked, which was last spring, over 500 municipalities were imposing some level of water restrictions and over 30 had complete failure of the municipal water supply.

Urban areas are buying up water from rural areas. So rural areas are facing major drawdowns of aquifers at unsustainable rates in many areas. Also be cautious of groundwater pollution in areas with lots of oil and gas production.

Water availability is a major issue in many areas of the state and the situation is critical in some.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, over 60 years, other than some time in England in college. The land can be harsh, but the people here are wonderful, independent, and self-sufficient. The women are beautiful, the food is good, and hunting is great.

However, our culture is being wiped out with the influx of those from other states. The population has tripled in my lifetime.

These folks from California and the Northeast moving here will flip this state blue in the near future.

My happy place is in the Brush Country of South Texas. We went to Tanzania and felt like we had landed in Cotulla, Texas, except with elephants and no Mexican food. The habitat feel is strikingly similar.

Here is the drought monitor map for the US. Clicking on a state will enlarge it. The map is updated every Thursday.

Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Yep! Last year the area around Graham Tx had most of the ponds go dry. The folks almost all had to sell off all cattle in a hurry, begging them at the sales barn to take them since they knew they would get watered there. And yet beef prices are high...sigh.
On a related note, I think we are going to have to get creative with refilling underground aquifers during times of flooding. Aquifers used to be a lot higher--remember all the Pecos melons, grown by sinking wells deeper and deeper until untenable?
I also think more piping of water from wet areas to dry would be helpful.

As far as where I would like to live? I'm a textbook case of living my life within 50 miles of birthplace, and unless my daughter and grand daughter move, I pretty much have one foot nailed to the floor!

 

[Scott CWO]

Grew up in Louisiana, been in Texas for 33 years now. I love Texas, but it isn't a place to retire to, not for me. I'm done with the humidity, and a summer that lasts from May until October. Our population has nearly doubled since I moved here 30+ years ago, and is far too crowded for my liking. My tax/insurance escrow is larger than my P&I payment.

Our projected weather for the next couple weeks.
View attachment 639095

My youngest stepson graduates HS in May, will very likely go out of state to pursue a degree in engineering. Once he's gone, we're empty nesters.

My eldest son finishes his surgical residency in '27, he and his wife very much like the inland PNW, and he'll probably set up practice in WY or SD. We will move near them. The only other thing keeping us in this part of the world is the proximity to my elderly parents - Mom is in hospice care now. After she passes, I don't see Dad lasting very long. WY or SD would also put us closer to my wife's mom, who lives in Kalispell. It's certainly a long drive to get there from Rapid City or Cody, but nearer than we are now.

Near a college town like Missoula would be optimal for the missus, but Californians have destroyed the RE market there.

Like @mdwest - I want rural but not particularly remote. I can take living in a smallish town like Rapid City. It's smaller even than Baton Rouge was when I was a kid back in the 70s and 80s.

RC area and the Black Hills are where I grew up. Great area and mild weather compared to the other parts of the Dakotas.

 

[John the Electrician]

In thinking about retirement and where I’d like to spend the majority of my time when I don’t have to work for others. Many states/areas come to mind. So, I’d thought I’d ask you the same question.

1. What do you like about where you live?
2. Where will you retire? Why?

I make a living working here (Ca) with my day job. I’m from here (native born and raised). I will likely keep a place here due to family and personal business obligations, but I won’t need to be here full time.

I love California for a lot of reasons:
1. Weather
2. Beauty and diversity of scenery. Mountains, ocean, bays, rivers, lakes, desert, microclimates in Northern Ca, perfect year round weather in San Diego, snow skiing in the Sierras, Lake Tahoe, etc…
3. All different types of fishing.
4. Bird and game hunting.
5. Culture - Not too important to me.
6. Lot of Family and friends here.
7. Personal history and memories of growing up in a small town 25 minutes from SF or Napa Valley…

Don’t like:
1. Expensive to retire here in general.
2. Politics.
3. Homelessness and the impact to daily life.
4. Anti hunting & anti fishing.
5. Gun control laws.
6. Housing costs.
7. Taxes are high.
8. Crime.
9. Environmental movement and their impact.
10. Traffic.

California Is just not the same place I grew up in… I’ve had a residence and business in Reno/Sparks since 2002 and like it there for many reasons, but it’s starting to change. It feels and looks more like Ca. That is likely due to the influence of people leaving Ca and coming to NV! Now I’m starting to look further. Looking for more space, friendlier people, more conservative politics or just less political influence, sportsman friendly, cleaner and more peaceful living. And, retirement friendly!

Thanks in advance…

To specifically answer your questions, I like the following things about where I live:

I live in western Wisconsin.

We have four seasons of weather sometimes some seasons are short or long but, we have them all.

The crime rate here is very low. Against common sense, we generally never lock our cars or our house. It’s normal to leave the car run when it’s cold out and go into the grocery store.

There is a variety of employment opportunities. Farming, logging, retail, manufacturing, tech, medical lots of variety.

Education is still strong, although I have concerns about its future.

Hunting and fishing opportunities abound. A decent amount public land available. Private land for lease. Lots of fishing, lots of water in Wisconsin.

Taxes aren’t great, they are lower than all the states that border us.

When retirement comes, I’m not sure where we will end up. We have a single child and will probably be near him regardless of the fiscal consequences.

A more mild winter would be great and a low real estate tax and income tax friendly state would be great. I think Arizona would be good.m; my wife loves off-road Jeeping and AZ fits that bill well.

John