Poll: Where is everyone from & where would you move if you could go anywhere?

[Every Road Leads Home]

Hi Guys and Gals,

     Just wondering where everyone here resides?  And if you could move anywhere else where would you move?

  I was born and raised in Massachusetts about 30 min south of Boston.  Never really fit in with everyone around here though.  I've always like being outdoors, traveling, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, snowboarding, etc.  Luckily for me my Dad also liked those things and took us to Maine for vacations all the time.  We always went in a van too!  Bought a house in Maine a few years ago thinking it would cure my desire to "run away" all the time but it hasn't worked.  Now i'm selling my house in Mass and Maine and doing an undermined amount of traveling.  I've always want to live out West so going to spend some time doing just that.  My grandfather is from Washington and i've always wondered if that's why I more felt like I belong out there.  Many of my family has slowly migrated that way over the years and realizing it's finally time I do so myself.  

-Matt-

(Pic is of a flower farm i came across on one of my cross country road trips. This was in Oregon)

 

[Gary68]

oreegone,sw of portland

some where between san francisco and san diego 200+ years ago

 

[Iggy]

Born in Minnesota. That's a good state to be FROM. Lived most of my life in Oregon. I've moved away several times (Alaska for 3 years, Mexico 2 years, Washington, California, Nevada) but Oregon has my number.
That said, I do like to travel and my arthritis acts up in the winter. So I head south for a warmer and dryer climate for a few months each year. I'm heading to Alaska for work this summer. The money is too good to turn down. Plus I want to explore more of Alaska this time, but before the snow falls hopefully.

 

[highdesertranger]

I am from Kalifonia, where would I like to go? anyplace but here. highdesertranger

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Born in Minnesota. That's a good state to be FROM. Lived most of my life in Oregon. I've moved away several times (Alaska for 3 years, Mexico 2 years, Washington, California, Nevada) but Oregon has my number.
That said, I do like to travel and my arthritis acts up in the winter. So I head south for a warmer and dryer climate for a few months each year. I'm heading to Alaska for work this summer. The money is too good to turn down. Plus I want to explore more of Alaska this time, but before the snow falls hopefully.

My Uncle moved to Alaska in the 70's.  His nearest neighbor is still over a mile away (and he's  not happy about it).  Prior to this person moving in I think he had a ten mile buffer zone.  I've thought about moving up there a lot, i'd probably chose the more populated areas in SE Alaska.  What are you doing for work up there, always interested in hearing ways to make money there.  

My brother moved to Oregon a few years back, a few years before that I planned on moving there and had to head back after about a month for my grandmother who got sick.  May try a take two very soon though!

 

[Suanne]

Seems like such a strange question for a forum where many of us are nomads.

That said, I'm a part-timer; so ... I grew up in So. California, but never felt like I belonged. Moved to Western Washington State in '79 in my mid 20's which is a much better fit. For the last several years I've enjoyed winters in the warmer and dryer desert southwest. But, I really do like exploring many other places. So, I would enjoy hanging out most any place where the weather is pleasant, for a season. I like experiencing new areas, especially the backcountry and small-town cultures. Off the top of my head, some of my favorite locations so far include any and all National Parks, southwest Louisiana, North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway areas, western South Dakota ... those are what stand out right now.

 

[Iggy]

My Uncle moved to Alaska in the 70's.  His nearest neighbor is still over a mile away (and he's  not happy about it).  Prior to this person moving in I think he had a ten mile buffer zone.  I've thought about moving up there a lot, i'd probably chose the more populated areas in SE Alaska.  What are you doing for work up there, always interested in hearing ways to make money there.  

My brother moved to Oregon a few years back, a few years before that I planned on moving there and had to head back after about a month for my grandmother who got sick.  May try a take two very soon though!

I have a job, building houses in the Fairbanks area. I have relatives up there, that got me the work. With 25 years experience, the only concern I have is if I'm in good enough physical condition to do it. Hope so!
Alaska is still the wild frontier in many places. It attracts the rugged and adventurous type. I knew one guy that froze to death, walking from North Pole to Fairbanks. Knew another that was attacked by a grizzly but lived. I only expect to be fighting mosquitoes though.

 

[masterplumber]

Born and raised in So California. Moved to Colorado 24 years ago and never looked back. I love it here, but also love to travel anyplace remote. I also need to be in warmer climates in the winter due to old injuries and arthritis. So current plan is to keep home base here, and explore the mountains in the summer. And travel as much as possible in the winter to places like AZ desert and Baja. Every year I'm trying to spend more and more time on the road.

 

[LeeRevell]

I am that rare critter.....   a genuine Native Floridian.  A scion of the Olde South.  Dad's family is scattered around the four county area including the Gulf Coast, and were originally farmers and fishermen.  The hot humid summers don't really bother me, and the mild winters are nice.  Mom's family is from Indiana, so I do have some Hoosier genes.
I have traveled the US, mostly while in the Navy and Airforce (two itches).  Saw the west coast and the southwest - nice, but the southeast coast is HOME. 
I have lately been thinking when I am free of family obligations, I might spend some time in Wyoming.  Maybe also Idaho.  But unless the political climate really changes here, Florida will remain my home state.

 

[Cheli]

I'm from Massachusetts also, about 20 mins south of Boston. I can't say where I'd want to move to because I haven't lived anywhere but here and I want to travel and visit the entire country.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I grew up on a working cattle ranch in West Texas. After the Navy I traveled a bit and then settled in Dallas to raise my son. In '88, I shut down my business and struck out on my motorcycle. Over the years, I have traveled by about every mode, including bike and 5 years on my sailboat out of Florida. Arizona is the one place I kept returning to and have adopted it as my home state. I love the fact that Az has such a diverse landscape and weather for all seasons.
Yet, the open road and new, interesting things and cultures continue to call me.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I have a job, building houses in the Fairbanks area. I have relatives up there, that got me the work. With 25 years experience, the only concern I have is if I'm in good enough physical condition to do it. Hope so!
Alaska is still the wild frontier in many places. It attracts the rugged and adventurous type. I knew one guy that froze to death, walking from North Pole to Fairbanks. Knew another that was attacked by a grizzly but lived. I only expect to be fighting mosquitoes though.

My uncle lives about an hour from Fairbanks towards Delta Jct.  He worked as a biologist for the Fish and Game Dept but retired about 15 years ago.  I remember when i graduated High School he wanted me to move out and had me a job on one of the crab fishing boats, long before I knew what Deadliest Catch was!  However at the time I had got a job at a Cabinet Shop and was happy where I was so didn't take him up on the offer.  I worked my way through all the trades, framed homes for a few winters, finish work for about 5 or 6 years then ran my own company for another 5 years doing frame to finish work, before getting into project management behind a desk.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

oreegone,sw of portland

some where between san francisco and san diego 200+ years ago

Oh man, if we are going to add an ideal time frame to this then it could get real interesting!  It's a tough one but I'd either want to go right back to the beginning in the mid 1700's and thru the war or late 1800's and follow the gold rush into the Klondike.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I'm from Massachusetts also, about 20 mins south of Boston.  I can't say where I'd want to move to because I haven't lived anywhere but here and I want to travel and visit the entire country.

Hi, looks like we're neighbors!  I'm in Weymouth to be exact but spend much of my time in Plymouth as we have a family summer home there, soon to be on the market.  That's really the last thing that's been holding me here.  Once that's sold, it's off to my home in Maine to do a little remodeling, then on the market she goes and it's where ever the wind takes me from there!

 

[akrvbob]

I live on wheels, so wherever they are parked right now--that's home.

But, before doing that I lived in Alaska for 45 years.

Where would I go? ANYWHERE i WANT!! That's why I live on wheels!!

Turn the key and away we go.
Bob

 

[ilovemyvan]

I was born in a very quiet town in Quebec, Canada. There was so little to do, it drove me crazy. All I wanted was to go and found out what else this little planet of ours had to offer. I finally moved to Toronto in my 20's. Now that was a city with a lot to do.

For some silly reason I wanted to skydive since age 9 or 10. I started jumping when I moved to Toronto. I was going every weekends. Some of the guys had vans instead of tents to camp. I never thought one could take a van and make it a comfortable place to sleep in. That was like someone turned a light on. I just fell in love with vandwelling. As soon as I could I bought my first van. That was in the 80's. Years later I married this real cool guy. We bought a one way ticket around the world. After the one year back packing, we bought and converted a school bus. We traveled and worked around the country at different skydiving centers for 8 years.

Florida was and still is a magnet for winter skydiving. That's how we ended up in Central Florida. We decided to settle down here. We physically build our house, took regular jobs. I stopped jumping 18 years ago, my husband 15 years ago. He retired this January. At 65 he returned to his favorite sport...you got it. He's back in the air. I think it shaded 10 years off his step when he walks.

So I guess we are at the second part of your question. We are now living where we wanted to end up, and loving it. We still enjoy vandwelling but now 3 weeks at a time is pretty much our limit.

Wow, I hope your eyes are not sore after reading such a long answer.

Nicole

 

[Cheli]

Hi, looks like we're neighbors!  I'm in Weymouth to be exact but spend much of my time in Plymouth as we have a family summer home there, soon to be on the market.  That's really the last thing that's been holding me here.  Once that's sold, it's off to my home in Maine to do a little remodeling, then on the market she goes and it's where ever the wind takes me from there!

That's funny, I'm in Weymouth too......we sure are neighbors.  I grew up in Weymouth and just moved back four years ago after living in Plymouth (on Bourne Bridge side) for twelve years.  Since my divorce four years ago, I feel like there just has to be more to life than work day in and day out to pay for crazy rent and never enjoying life like I want.  During my endless nights of looking for something more, I stumbled across van dwelling and had an ah ha moment.  So here I am, planning my adventure to travel the country in a van.  I'm hoping I will 'find myself' and my true purpose for my life.

 

[LeeRevell]

For some silly reason I wanted to skydive since age 9 or 10. I started jumping when I moved to Toronto. I was going every weekends. Some of the guys had vans instead of tents to camp. I never thought one could take a van and make it a comfortable place to sleep in. That was like someone turned a light on. I just fell in love with vandwelling. As soon as I could I bought my first van. That was in the 80's. Years later I married this real cool guy. We bought a one way ticket around the world. After the one year back packing, we bought and converted a school bus.  We traveled and worked around the country at different skydiving centers for 8 years.
Nicole

In my Navy Daze in the early 80's, while doing a couple Tech Schools in Mare Island, Calif. I attended a great airshow in Vacaville.  Some buddies got the skydiving bug, and I would drive them to Yolo Drop Zone.  I found I was a very popular guy, being one of the few students there with a car.  The guys tried to get me to jump, but I never liked the idea of bailing out of a perfectly good airplane!  I did do some sailplane flying, and would have gotten my license for it had I had more time.
When I and a buddy got back to our ships in NorVa, we heard through the grapevine that the guy who owned and ran Yolo Drop Zone had augered in.  Darned shame, he was a nice feller.
A Navy buddy had a nice Conversion Van, and that got me interested in one day doing one myself.  Took me nearly thirty years though......  

 

[Gigi]

Well...I was born and raised in Wyoming and in my early 40's I wanted to go somewhere completely different so I packed up my son and we move to the Oregon Coast and I LOVE living here. BUT-- After living here 12 years, I'm restless again. So I guess if I could go/live some place it would be anywhere & everywhere. I'm gonna sound like Suanne and Bob- I want to feel that my van is "home" and where ever I'm parked--- "my backyard". I've got Wanderlust and I've got it bad!

Gigi

 

[Bast]

I currently live in Wisconsin. I truly do not think I want to live anywhere or maybe I want to live everywhere. Bast