I honestly don't know what this means but I don't have the energy to argue about it either.

He's looking for a white, conservative, idealistic Pleasantville to raise his family, without having to worry about "crime" and the "libs" corrupting the youth of America with their crazy ideas and socilaism!

I personally don't care where he wants to move it's just depressing to read why he wants to move there. Wild to me people still think this way in 2020.

So ignorant. Im surprised you didnt infer that the op was racist.

Well aside from that first issue you mention, the Austin area comes to mind. But as you mention Texas is BIG, Austin 'area' is BIG. Close enough to some fantastic outdoor type activities and close enough to big shopping. Likely to find some pockets where the politics suit your inclinations.
I personally love Tx hill country and plan to settle out there if ever I have some golden years.
Your budget should get a pretty nice spread in that area.

Next up if you want big city dwelling, investigate The Woodlands, the political leanings are in your wheelhouse and MOST of the other things your searching for are there. Not that close to nice outdoor activities, humidity is a killer though. It's NOT quite as bad in the hill country.

FWIW, that's my 2 pennies.

Many would disagree with your suggestion that what we all learned in the classroom back in the day was the “real history” that’s now being perverted and hidden, but then we’d essentially be debating politics (school board politics, but still). Which isn’t where OP was going with this. He did a bit of editorializing in his first post, of course, but it was mainly in service of explaining what he’s looking for in a new hometown, which seems fair enough. I don’t have to agree with him or what he says he wants out of life to respect his right to go out and try to find it.

I don’t think anyone would deny that, though this thread underlines that those are both highly subjective judgments.

About a decade ago my parents were thinking about moving to Texas. I havent lived with them for decades, but Austin was the most appealing to me, although they're far more conservative then I am.

They ended up moving to Nova Scotia

This is what I am trying to figure out.... This describes every state in the country. Is California the exception?

Reading through the post, I think the OP is basically looking for an upper-middle class, white suburb, with taxes/property values high enough to keep out everything else. You can find those everywhere. I have never been to California, maybe those places don't exist there.

Good luck with your move!

New Branfuels area....access to San Antonio and Austin

History books are being edited, I don't know what to tell you. It's all debatable. Some things are removed simply because other things are being taught and you can not go over everything in history in one course. I have kids and seen what they are being taught. Whatever. Is it that hard to understand wanting to move away from a community that has high taxes, bad politics, bad performing schools, and high costs of living?

Pretty much. People seem to have this stereotypical view of people in Texas like the guy who thinks we are all redneck cowboys riding around on horses.

I'm sure the irony of this will be lost on you, but calling me ignorant for not wanting to live in a bubble is some impressive mental gymnastics. Only eclipsed by your second statement using "infer" incorrectly in a way that when read actually implies that YOU think the op is racist. Very well played.

Well, in this case it sounds like he is preparing for high taxes, is concerned with the patriotism of the school more than the quality of the education, and is looking at a house over half a million dollars, so it sounds like none of those are his concern.

Bad politics is completely subjective but if your politics and beliefs are compromised by where you live they probably weren't that important to you anyway.

Absolutely no idea what you are saying now. You seem to have a problem with patriotism and amount of money op has to spend on a home. If the entire community where the OP lives is like that, I can see why he wants to move.

That's very obvious.

All the things you are saying he wants to leave behind are things he included in is first post that he will be looking for or taking on in his new location. He is not running from any of these things you mention, but rather moving to them.

I have neither. I think its super weird that the pledge of allegiance is what makes his (or anyone's) list as a good school. I don't recall anyone tallying up the number of times I had to recite it when applying to college or before I got a promotion at work.

I only mentioned money because you brought it up (twice - taxes and cost of living). I don't care how much money he has or how he spends it. My point was if you're spending alot of money on a house and acknowledge you're going to have a large tax bill, "cost of living" probably isn't a large factor in your decision.

Anyway, I'll leave you to it before I get moderated ha since it's not going to matter anyway.

Lots of good options would fit the bill (native Texan, have lived in several places in the state):

D/FW has been covered pretty well, personally I'd go for the Richardson/Plano area (maybe even up to Frisco or even further north toward Little Elm to get a bit more house/$$$). Close proximity to "big city" stuff AND a large lake.

Houston also covered well; the north suburbs are a little less flood prone, but personally I prefer the suburbs closer to the Gulf (Friendswood, Clear Lake, League City, Pearland, Kemah area) for things to do; access to downtown, galleria, medical center from this area takes roughly the same time as access from the north/west areas. Sugarland (SW) is also nice.

However, if natural beauty and outdoor activities are strong needs you should also consider places like San Marcos (one of my favorite areas in the state) and El Paso (Chihuahuan desert splendor + southern Rockies, good crime stats, great food, and close proximity to some of the most desirable areas of NM which offer several ski areas, unique natural wonders, and even better food).

I'd assume that you'd need to get a new realtor license in any state you'd move to. Does Texas have a booming market, or is there another reason to pick Texas?

Lol, but encouraging 8 year olds to question their sexuality is what quality public schooling should be doing....Too funny... No need talking about history(much less with any perspective) because history is either ever evolving or being wiped from the hard drive....

I live in Clovis, CA with my 3 kids and wife. It has some of the best schools in the state (when they are open). And a great sports program. Very conservative. Low crime. Real Estate is booming too. Houses sell within a few days. 35 minutes from the mountains. 2 hours from the Beach (Cayuous). Lots of pinheads around here. However, the surrounding areas outside the central valley are becoming very liberal. I share your same views. Often thought of relocating back to Scottsdale, AZ. or check out Nashville, TN area someday. But I'm too vested in Clovis. Not going anywhere anytime soon.
WE need to get our Governor recalled asap!

Is it hard as an independent realtor to move to a new location with established realtors? Are they territorial or welcoming?

If you're looking to keep your Pinside name, here are 3 cities you could look into their North sides:

Caldwell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldwell_County,_Texas

Callisburg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callisburg,_Texas

Calvert
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvert,_Texas

If keeping your Pinside username isn't important, just move to Rogan's neighborhood.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/inside-joe-rogans-new-lake-austin-estate/ss-BB19oUjH

Good for you! Smart move on your part. Outside of Nashville you can get a 4000 sq ft custom brand new house for $600k all day long. Look up MT. juliet TN. VERY CONSERVATIVE

Yeah, outside of weird alt-right imaginations you know this isn't a real thing...right?

Are you looking for a state where you can bank on the other party having full control? If so take a close look at more recent voting trends and demographics in Texas, it may be trending toward a purple future that you wouldn’t enjoy. If you can tolerate a purple state so long as your hometown is red that gives you a lot more flexibility. But if statewide politics are a bigger concern than local politics, you might be better off picking a more rural red state where it’s harder to imagine much changing politically in the next 10-20 years.

If you want the amenities, you are going to have to live in an area that is blue, purple, or moving purple. There is plenty of super red real estate to be had in the in-between places, but you'll be driving two hours+ to Target. We have a ton of land up in Red River County/Bowie County area in my family, that is in as red of an area politically as it gets. Of course it's also dirt-ass poor, methed up and there isn't a store that isn't a metal building and basically a $1 store within 100 miles. Enjoy.

Go to Idaho or Oklahoma. You'll be happier.

By definition; any urban area is going to be blue. This isn't different in Texas.
Austin, Houston, and DFW area is blue. Just a fact.
If I were op; I'd stay away from these areas.

That said; Waco or SA might be more purple. and Property values are going to be lower. That said; it's going to feel a lot less like CA.
If employment isn't an issue - then those areas might be good.

Montgomery County is often noted as the most conservative county in Texas. The Woodlands that I mentioned earlier is part of Motco.
But again, very high humidity from pretty much March - October. So if you like outdoor activities, prepare to sweat.

Texas also has NO state income tax...

Yeah, but we get buttfucked pretty good on proerty taxes. It all comes out in the wash.

Isn't purple what we should strive for as a country? There is no possible way for all of us to see eye to eye on everything, but with purple, doesn't that show that we are listening to both sides equally?

I know, politics, but that seems to be a large driving factor for you. I think it is going to be tough to find a state that is just completely shifted one direction, and yet offer all of the amenities you are looking for.

Exactly.... Or do like other states do, and call stuff fees (vehicles inspection, emissions, etc.) so you can tell everyone you aren't charging taxes.

not really. Do you realize what the tax rates are in CA and NY? TX is still WAY better off.

Oh sure, government is gonna get it one way or another!

An apartment just opened up above me if you want to move in!

We could use some diversity around here.

You should move to Sioux Falls, SD. Sure it's cold as hell and there's no mountains or trees. But we have no income tax and the town is basically recession proof. And the real estate market is bonkers here.
You and your sweet pin collection are more than welcome to move here

I gave you a thumbs up for the good laugh.

Rewritten or corrected? That is the real question. For example, I do know that growing up in the suburbs of Richmond, VA in the 1970’s and 1980’s that the history taught to us of why the Civil War was fought was taught incorrectly. This incorrect history was biased based on, I presume, what a religious person would consider a deadly sin in pride.

Same thing in Florida. No state income tax usually means higher property and sales taxes.

I knew you couldn't leave it alone. You will not get moderated anyway. You must not have watched the town hall with Joe, he and the mother(?) of one such 8 year old were slobbering all over each other.

Leave what alone? I don't follow. You tuned into the "fake news" to watch someone you hate do things you hate? This thread is wild ha.

You see, I just got moderated. You are safe and sound. You are in the dream world, as the town hall last week, was in no way, shape or form a "fake news" item. You obviously did not watch it.

OP, do you have a license to carry? Our mosquitos get a little large. They are the 'unofficial' state bird.

My house has volume ceilings which require 2 hvac units to heat/cool...I cringe

When people who have normal ceilings come over and wonder how I change my light bulbs...I cringe

Come over and tell me “nice house”....I cringe

What lives up there in those volume ceilings? My ego?

My wife’s autonomous car...I cringe

Feeling like I need a commando secret room Arsenal just to go grocery shopping...cringe

Down on myself that I didn’t hit buy on that GNR CE in my basket at the JJP store only because it’s apparently worth double now...more cringe

Materialism as basically everyone’s way of life....yeah

Take her to Maui
Get a small place for sleeping n eating
Grow a garden year round...never wear pants again
Drive an old Toyota truck
Morning yoga on the beach
It’s blue...so what...nobody cares...people are nice...drink tap water...breathe life...Die old!

Wild to me in 2020 people can have views as long as they conform with everyone else’s views. Just doesn’t make sense to me but it is the new norm.

NorCal, don’t look back. Just keep moving forward and out of that state.
You’ll love the results.

When I moved from the greater Boston area to Signal Mountain Tennessee I couldn’t believe what happened to my life.
•my stress went way the fuck down.
•my family time skyrocketed as you’re not working so hard to pay the higher cost of living.
•my mailbox didn’t light up like a LED’d pin with insane bills from every direction like state income tax, excise tax, crazy waster/sewer bills, car inspectional nonsense, tolls, high local property tax, gas taxes or high insurance rates. My mailbox just went silent, just completely silent.
•my wife dropped her hours at work.
•our frick’n trash got taken away twice(!) a week.
•they’d send some type of “cat in the hat” creation that would suck the leaves and grass clippings if we just left them by the curb.
•the schools were nationally ranked blue ribbon winners.
•and most importantly, with all the bullshit demands imposed on me gone, I recommitted with Christ in a town where going to church on Sundays wasn’t good enough. Wednesdays were also mandatory

Overall we were seen as constituents and treated with grace and respect by the local government and not treated as targets for greedy politicians with inventive taxing schemes.

Whether you’re red or blue leaning, both sides are making the same move you are.
You’re just being honest about it and the remainers who are destined to play that empty game forever will hate you for it.

Your pinside location is still listed as Marblehead MA - quit living in the past!

To the handful of people that haven't yet recognized this isn't a thread about pinball -- it's actually a thread about an important matter in real life -- relocation:

If you are still pining to dump your subjective criticism or trolling remarks here -- please save it for an actual pinball thread that is dying to hear from you -- this isn't a NIB opinion thread. He didn't post here to be judged, scrutinized, or lectured. Think of this more like a restoration thread. Restoration threads don't welcome drama, trolling or criticism -- save your "everybody has an Ahole and a fking opinion" compulsions for the NIB threads, thanks.

Thank you to many socially-well-adapted people who actually had the courtesy and empathy to read and understand the title and give specific advice about Texas or Idaho (or TN).