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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
   
Location: Montana | But I don't know where! LOL. I've lived in Montana my whole life...I hate the winters and want to get away for a while from some things around here.
So where can a person relocate that has barrel racing, with decent or dare I even say good jobs, and decent housing that isn't over the top expensive (which for country/horse places in Montana, they are to either buy or rent). Preferably a warmer climate! I have relatives in Kansas, so I thought about there, but am open to places in the west (no further east than Kansas). I like some places in Nevada (like Elko), but not sure the climate would be warm enough, LOL.
I know this is a very open ended question, but I don't know where to start looking. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 432
| I live in west TN and am kinda looking to relocate too.
I feel like there's no good season here! I hate the cold and its already below freezing and calling for snow (this is probably normal for Montana but I don't like it lol). We really didn't have much of a fall and its already cold and wet. Plus the summers are so hot and crazy humid! My house is terrible with horseflies and then mosquitos
But the cost of living is pretty low here. There are a lot of barrel races and arena within an hour drive, usually 2 or 3 to choose from each weekend, which is very nice.
We're looking at maybe AZ or CO, interested to what other people have to say! | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 357
| mtcanchazer - 2018-11-13 10:02 PM
But I don't know where! LOL. I've lived in Montana my whole life...I hate the winters and want to get away for a while from some things around here.
So where can a person relocate that has barrel racing, with decent or dare I even say good jobs, and decent housing that isn't over the top expensive (which for country/horse places in Montana, they are to either buy or rent). Preferably a warmer climate! I have relatives in Kansas, so I thought about there, but am open to places in the west (no further east than Kansas). I like some places in Nevada (like Elko), but not sure the climate would be warm enough, LOL.Â
I know this is a very open ended question, but I don't know where to start looking.
We recently relocated for my husband’s work to south east Ohio. We have no family here and don’t know a single person. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. We live in a rural grain farmering community and the land is flat as far as you can see. Also there are separate schools for the inner city kids and the out of town kids. I think the housing cost are about average here but things sell very quick since it is only 40 minutes from the capital. We bought our house without even seeing it. Being that close to the capital there are tons of jobs in the big city but several in our smaller town too. My husband works for the railroad so they are always looking for good help but seems to be hard to find these days.
What don’t you like about the winters there? It’s still very cold here but don’t think we get the amount of snow.
If you are relocating for a work position I would be happy to share the tips we learned along the way
Edited to add several big shows 40 mins away including AQHA Congress, Panty RAID Futurity, and etc. Several nice indoor arenas close.
Edited by bbennington 2018-11-14 8:46 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| In case you change your mind about no further east than KS, I LOVE living in Georgia! I grew up in Canada where enclosed areas are a must. I could never go back to a colder climate. Georgia is perfect to me! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| Its going to be a beautiful 82 degrees in Sunny southern CA today but its a B**** to live here. I vote Arizona winter, Montana Summers | |
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boon
Posts: 2
| Since I live in good old Elko, NV I figured I'd fill you in. If you are looking for barrel racing in the area, there is only 1 producer that puts on small races, all other barrel racing is over 2 hours away. Winters are hit or miss, we can get some really bad snow or we can get absolutely no snow (but BEYOND freezing temps). There is 1 indoor arena that is shared throughout multiple disciplines. This is not an issue ONLY if your horse is used to the occasional horse and buggy being used in there while you are trying to ride  Plus, in the winter time its colder inside that arena than it is outside since they do not turn the heat on. For jobs around here, they are amazing and pay very well it's a great place to live as long as you don't mind traveling.  | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | Last winter we had 4 foot snow drifts that didn't melt for 3 months...I couldn't go anywhere or do anything, the ice was awful, we had several weeks that didn't get above 0, etc. I was trying to get my horses in shape starting in April because of this! So frustrating. Plus I don't know how much longer my shoulders can take shoveling snow (and I'm only 27!).
I was in Elko last winter and I REALLY liked the town. Things were really going, even though it was a smaller town than I live in, it had WAY more going on. However, as with most places in Nevada, it seems to be pretty isolated (which I'm okay with for the most part, LOL). As long as there is a barrel series, I'm happy. Does Nevada have a amature rodeo association?
Kansas is okay in my book...really flat compared to what I'm used to, but cost of living is much less expensive.
I've grown up without humidity, so I don't think I could take a super humid place.
Whoever said Arizona in the winter and Montana in the summer, I wish I could but tell me what kind of job you can get that you could do from both places, LOL. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| I am glad you posted this....because I have seriously been considering MT/WY in my 5 year plan! I currently live in North Texas.
Just curious what part of MT you live in now? And what you don't like (other than the winters).
I like a lot about TX except for 6 weeks in the summer which as soo **** hot. And I really feel like the mountains are calling me....but the grass may be greener on the other side!
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 Star Padded Honey
Posts: 8890
Location: NW MT | lopnaround - 2018-11-14 12:34 PM I am glad you posted this....because I have seriously been considering MT/WY in my 5 year plan! I currently live in North Texas. Just curious what part of MT you live in now? And what you don't like (other than the winters). I like a lot about TX except for 6 weeks in the summer which as soo **** hot. And I really feel like the mountains are calling me....but the grass may be greener on the other side!
MT has very diverse areas. Eastern side is more flat, more ranches, more wind. Western side is more mountains, scattered ranches. We are pretty much in the NW corner & we have no where near the wind that other areas have (thank goodness!). We "normally" don't have the bitter cold other than about 1-2 weeks in the winter, and same with the 100+ heat in the summer. Lately our summers have gotten more brutal and unfortunately, due to the extreme environmentalists that have all entities locked into litigation, forest management does not exist & we now have a 5th season - fire season.  That is very frustrating. If you are in the Kalispell area, there are more jobs but not going to tell you they are high paying. But there are a good number of barrel races there & indoor ones in the winter. (lots of horse activities, period). Missoula area has lots of horse activities too but it's a university town, jobs are not good paying, and housing is expensive.
I don't think there is a perfect place anywhere. You do have to settle for something. I can't STAND humidity so no way would I live east at all. We are retired now so planning to do some traveling with the horses and more summer in MT, winter in AZ is the game plan.
What I suggest to anyone is do your research & then do a road trip OR do some vacationing in the areas that appeal to you. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| Rockyroad - 2018-11-14 2:32 PM
lopnaround - 2018-11-14 12:34 PM I am glad you posted this....because I have seriously been considering MT/WY in my 5 year plan! I currently live in North Texas. Just curious what part of MT you live in now? And what you don't like (other than the winters). I like a lot about TX except for 6 weeks in the summer which as soo **** hot. And I really feel like the mountains are calling me....but the grass may be greener on the other side!
MT has very diverse areas. Eastern side is more flat, more ranches, more wind. Western side is more mountains, scattered ranches. We are pretty much in the NW corner & we have no where near the wind that other areas have (thank goodness!). We "normally" don't have the bitter cold other than about 1-2 weeks in the winter, and same with the 100+ heat in the summer. Lately our summers have gotten more brutal and unfortunately, due to the extreme environmentalists that have all entities locked into litigation, forest management does not exist & we now have a 5th season - fire season.  That is very frustrating.  If you are in the Kalispell area, there are more jobs but not going to tell you they are high paying. But there are a good number of barrel races there & indoor ones in the winter. (lots of horse activities, period). Missoula area has lots of horse activities too but it's a university town, jobs are not good paying, and housing is expensive. Â
I don't think there is a perfect place anywhere. You do have to settle for something. I can't STAND humidity so no way would I live east at all. We are retired now so planning to do some traveling with the horses and more summer in MT, winter in AZ is the game plan.
What I suggest to anyone is do your research & then do a road trip OR do some vacationing in the areas that appeal to you. Â
This is really good, thank you! And interesting (frustrating!) about the forest management politics!
And the summers too. A lot to consider anywhere you want to move. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | lopnaround - 2018-11-14 12:34 PM I am glad you posted this....because I have seriously been considering MT/WY in my 5 year plan! I currently live in North Texas. Just curious what part of MT you live in now? And what you don't like (other than the winters). I like a lot about TX except for 6 weeks in the summer which as soo **** hot. And I really feel like the mountains are calling me....but the grass may be greener on the other side!
I'm north central Montana, so plains but mountains less than 100 miles away. Our town is kind of stagnant as far as economy goes, but we make a living. No real high highs or low lows, but not a lot of industry either. We had a bad, bad winter last year and I'm so over it. We just got 3 to 4 inches of snow, and it reminded me of what I hate. And we do unfortunately have TONS of wind. I can live with the wind...mostly. LOL. Places like Billings, Bozeman, Helena are more populous and have more industry (Helena is our Capital and it has the money there and lots going on because of that, but I like it).
Mostly the other things causing me to want to relocate are personal things (recent relationship breakup, wanting a change of direction/scenery in my life, etc.). | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Kansas would be a bit better I would think but they still get fairly extreme weather in parts. Have you considered Oklahoma? Cost of living there isn't terrible. And you definitely would have lots of barrel racing action within a short haul. Still fairly close to Kansas and family too. The northern part of the state also does not have quite as much heat as like Texas. I have some friends in the Tulsa area. They like it alright.
ETA: I would suggest North Texas as a barrel racing mecca (it pretty much is) but we get fairly humid here and are **** hot in the summer.
Edited by oija 2018-11-15 11:20 AM
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Star Padded Honey
Posts: 8890
Location: NW MT | lopnaround - 2018-11-14 2:56 PM Rockyroad - 2018-11-14 2:32 PM lopnaround - 2018-11-14 12:34 PM I am glad you posted this....because I have seriously been considering MT/WY in my 5 year plan! I currently live in North Texas. Just curious what part of MT you live in now? And what you don't like (other than the winters). I like a lot about TX except for 6 weeks in the summer which as soo **** hot. And I really feel like the mountains are calling me....but the grass may be greener on the other side! MT has very diverse areas. Eastern side is more flat, more ranches, more wind. Western side is more mountains, scattered ranches. We are pretty much in the NW corner & we have no where near the wind that other areas have (thank goodness!). We "normally" don't have the bitter cold other than about 1-2 weeks in the winter, and same with the 100+ heat in the summer. Lately our summers have gotten more brutal and unfortunately, due to the extreme environmentalists that have all entities locked into litigation, forest management does not exist & we now have a 5th season - fire season. That is very frustrating. If you are in the Kalispell area, there are more jobs but not going to tell you they are high paying. But there are a good number of barrel races there & indoor ones in the winter. (lots of horse activities, period). Missoula area has lots of horse activities too but it's a university town, jobs are not good paying, and housing is expensive.
I don't think there is a perfect place anywhere. You do have to settle for something. I can't STAND humidity so no way would I live east at all. We are retired now so planning to do some traveling with the horses and more summer in MT, winter in AZ is the game plan.
What I suggest to anyone is do your research & then do a road trip OR do some vacationing in the areas that appeal to you. This is really good, thank you! And interesting (frustrating! ) about the forest management politics! And the summers too. A lot to consider anywhere you want to move.
I know the feeling about the mountains calling you! Was that way for me too. I was born & raised in southern MI and HATED winters. When I lived in AZ (Phoenix Valley), I could not tolerate the summer heat, but winters were great. Moved north to Prescott area & that was more "moderate" in temps but where we were, it was windy & I got so I really hated wind. Jobs sucked there too - very low paying and hard to find. (now - if you are an RN, Doctor, etc, you can go anywhere & get a good paying job.) We did a bunch of research & then a road trip & this is where we landed. This area used to be more thriving, but the lumber mill was shut down shortly after we got here (who employed MANY) and people started leaving. Mines have been shut down & so much red tape to even reopen any. Many have had to "reinvent" themselves or have their own business. I still love the area & consider it "home". I can deal with the winters since they are not anywhere near as "bad" as MI, but I want to be able to ride more in the winter, and that's AZ. One of my best friends up here (Bull Lake Ranch) has bought property down there & opening up a "winter horseman's campground" so we'll have the place to go too! | |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Â We either hide in the house as much as possible in the winter, or move south and hide in the house in summer. Lol. You can't beat the winter weather in Arizona and it is by far the best playground for horse people all winter long. There is a jackpot barrel race every day of the week and every weekend is filled with huge mega races and futurities. Toppings on every street corner. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
| Eastern and south Central Washington is decent. I live in Central WA, grew up here, moved to Bozeman and was there for 9 years until just this last November. I don’t miss the snow and winters in Bozeman. I do miss having real grass in pastures that doesn’t require a sprinkler 24/7 and the scenery here does not compare to Montana (IMO). It gets hott (100+) here every summer but it’s bearable and the winters are so far and away easier to deal with than Montana. Very little snow, not much in the way of ice either. We have good barrel racing here, lots of little jackpots and what not throughout the year and a couple pretty good winter series. Montana does have, by far, more “good money” added jackpots. $500-$1000+ added. They do lots of club stuff here that’s either no money added or less than $250 and it’s not my favorite thing. Cheap fees but no money to be won. But you can go to a bunch of them so that’s good. Cost of living on this side of the state is still decent too. Way more affordable for me than SW Montana. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | oija - 2018-11-15 10:19 AM Kansas would be a bit better I would think but they still get fairly extreme weather in parts. Have you considered Oklahoma? Cost of living there isn't terrible. And you definitely would have lots of barrel racing action within a short haul. Still fairly close to Kansas and family too. The northern part of the state also does not have quite as much heat as like Texas. I have some friends in the Tulsa area. They like it alright. ETA: I would suggest North Texas as a barrel racing mecca (it pretty much is) but we get fairly humid here and are **** hot in the summer.
I hadn't really thought about Okalahoma as I've heard it is tornado alley. I did almost relocate to TX for a job, but had some personal stuff come up at the time that prevented me from moving (in retrospect it shouldn't have, but only hindsight is 20/20) but I understand it is HOT there. But I'll do some searching in OK.
I was thinking around the Great Bend, KS, area because I found an awesome horse property near there and a job in my field there.
Washington would be doable...I'll look into it too. | |
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Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | mtcanchazer - 2018-11-16 8:25 AM
oija - 2018-11-15 10:19 AM Kansas would be a bit better I would think but they still get fairly extreme weather in parts. Have you considered Oklahoma? Cost of living there isn't terrible. And you definitely would have lots of barrel racing action within a short haul. Still fairly close to Kansas and family too. The northern part of the state also does not have quite as much heat as like Texas. I have some friends in the Tulsa area. They like it alright. ETA: I would suggest North Texas as a barrel racing mecca (it pretty much is) but we get fairly humid here and are **** hot in the summer.
I hadn't really thought about Okalahoma as I've heard it is tornado alley. I did almost relocate to TX for a job, but had some personal stuff come up at the time that prevented me from moving (in retrospect it shouldn't have, but only hindsight is 20/20) but I understand it is HOT there. But I'll do some searching in OK.
I was thinking around the Great Bend, KS, area because I found an awesome horse property near there and a job in my field there.Â
Washington would be doable...I'll look into it too.Â
KS is also in tornado alley technically. A bit further north in Tulsa I think they get a few less tornadoes than they do right on the Red River. I live right next to Tornado Alley and grew up in Amarillo where they are really bad too. But we have had relatively few issues. So pretty much anything from KS south you are going to have to worry a little about them. But most people have little trouble with them. Just don't live in a trailer house. If you are uber worried, you can always get a storm shelter or buy a property with one. There are even a few government grants to help with them I think. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | I know you said no further east than KS....but. I really do love living in MO. It gets pretty darn humid and hot in the summer, but in all honesty, not for too long. It's not a dry heat like TX. Honestly, it's not bad heat-wise, it's the humidity that makes it miserable but honestly as long as we get rain, I don't think it's bad. We have all 4 seasons, but winter is a cake walk compared to what you're used to I'm sure. It rarely gets below 0. And we're all complaining when it does....LOL! Depending on the year we may even see minimal snow and ice. This year we're due to get quite a lot for us....you'd probably think it was great though lol! Spring and fall are quite nice. Except....it rains a LOT in the spring.
As far as tornados, we are considered to be in tornado alley, BUT....if you move to an area of MO that is hillier (Ozarks, STL and surrounding areas) tornados don't tend to rip through and cause insane amounts of destruction like they do in KS, OK, and SW/NW MO.
I'm not a fan of a lot that goes on in STL city and STL county, but it is possible to find decent/good jobs in the surrounding counties and we're far enough removed from all the bull that goes on in STL. KC is a really nice area, as is Columbia from my understanding, but I feel like the housing market is more expensive in those areas. Cape Girardeau/Jackson is super nice and country-ish, removed from the political bull of the major cities, but it may be harder to find a good job there, depending what field you are in. Not sure on Springfield area. I don't know many people in that area.
As far as barrel racing, it's not hard to find several nice arenas to go to around here!
Good luck with your search! | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | I've been to Missouri and Arkansas a few times...not ultra fond of the Ozarks and the rain...how do you all ride in the rain? It rains so much compared to here! LOL. Just asking, not discounting. I have a hard time with humidity, I grew up without it, so whether hot or cold and humid, I don't do humid well.
As far as tornado alley...I would need a basement or storm shelter. I have nightmares (literally) about tornadoes....also about volcanoes, so that rules out Hawaii, LOL. I'll look into some more areas.
I know I don't want a real populated place (the town I grew up in is about 55k, and I don't want to go bigger than that, a bit smaller is better). I've traveled quite a little through Utah, Nevada, Idaho (I've never seen so much snow as along the Snake River!), Washington, Oregon, Arizona and a little in New Mexico. I'm pretty familiar with parts of Kansas. I considered Wyoming and South Dakota, but they get quite a lot of snow and cold too. Nebraska (no offense to those who live there) doesn't really do it for me.
Oklahoma is sounding pretty great right now with barrel racing and all that. I'll look a little there. My mom grew up on the Kansas/Oklahoma border, and some of my cousins have lived in Oklahoma (and some still do!). | |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | I live in North Texas (DFW). Plenty of jobs, but houses and land are getting expensive. It's flat, terribly hot and humid in the summer, every other year or so, we have a drought in the summer so nobody has hay, then it rains all of fall (like this year). I don't know if Oklahoma has as much trouble with drought. The southeastern part has pretty mountains. I don't care about barrel racing anymore - I'd like a place with a nicer climate. | |
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