SATX John

Have you looked at Mayland and Delaware. Those areas are close to you specs and with rivers allow many water views. Many areas are affordable, but I would think your profession would drive you to a specific coast or region. The other area you know, in the great lakes region, but the winters are far too cold for me.

I would suggest you relook North Texas. Some of your disadvantages do not impact that area, but depends on your job for location.

Good searching

Martinsb

Texas! Yes I'm biased because I live here, but what a great State! Dallas has everything you could ever wish for in a city and if you want some quiet, country bliss amongst the pine woods then East Texas fits the bill. Property prices are reasonable too so you can easily do both for the price of one house in many other locations. Allied with a strong economy and good employment numbers, what's not to love?!

Lion in Winter

The giant flying cockroaches?

Martinsb

Everything's bigger in Texas!!

I have yet to see a giant flying roach, though my first armadillo sighting was entertaining, proof positive of the liaison that happened after the famous hare and tortoise race!

I am still trying to work out whether skunks or armadillos have the worst road safety record here in Texas!

WEBlue

Try Houston, they're plentiful there.

Also giant mosquitoes, sometimes carrying fun diseases like West Nile Virus. Other fun Houston pests include stinging 'asp' caterpillars, fire ants, crazy ants, centipedes, etc.

Armadillos are relatively benign, though touching them can give you leprosy . . . .

Englishtart

Having lived in Texas for two years, my vote goes to the 'humans' on the roads!!!

Martinsb

We tend to get more of the little 'tiger' mosquitos here, annoying little ankle biters!

100weight

Thanks guys. These ideas are interesting.

Just to clarify - we are fortunate in that we can work from home, so employment doesn't dictate where we live. Which is why we're looking at getting out of Michigan!

I don't think we could live in CA due to the expense. And I don't think we could live in TX because I only have a limited supply of blood and mosquitoes LOVE me. 2 months in FL and it looked like I had measles!
Plus the wife went to Dallas and really didn't fancy it much.

The MD/DE suggestion is interesting. Don't they get snow? How cold does it get?

Michael

California is actually not that expensive if you don't live in LA, San Diego, or the bay area. Sacramento is very inexpensive and Poppy Girl lives on the way to Tahoe in the Auburn area. Also anything along the north coast of California once you get out of the bay area is inexpensive. However Sacramento is hot during the summer.

The inland valleys are very inexpensive.

Sally Redux

I think he wants to be by the water though.

Michael

There is the delta which has plenty of water near Sacramento, the Pacific ocean and rivers along the north coast, and the aqueduct in the inland valleys (that is meant to be a joke). Also near Auburn is one of the biggest reservoirs in California used for recreational purposes.

My kids were raised in Vacaville and Eureka for several years and those are very inexpensive. CADreaming lives in Eureka.

Sally Redux

Yes I was thinking of the inland valleys -seem a bit parched - but good points in your post for him to consider.

Michael

Yes the inland valleys are hot and boring.

Bob

Cold and snowy, but doesn't have quite the same lake effects that you're used to, nor as cold.

As for mozzies, you'll get used to them, they'll still be a pain, but after a couple years, they won't bother you nearly as much.

Michael

I lived in northern Minnesota for 18 years and I never got used to them. As a teenager, it was hell trying to make out with the windows closed with high humidity in a car just to keep the mozzie's away.