Location location location.

[70staged]

The new wife and I are looking into finding a place to live. I have never owned a house or actually rented an apartment either for that matter. I have been traveling with my job now for the last 7.5 years and my job is 100% travel. I am looking to get off the road and settle down and find something new.
The wife is from Chile and I am from Missouri. Did a few projects in South America( Chile and Brazil).
I have been thinking about Kansas City, Des Moines, the Carolinas or possibly something back home. (Maybe even Canada.)Only problem with back home is it is a very small town 2,000 people and very few jobs.
Places that are completely out are California, New York City, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and D.C.
For my work was construction. Installing wind turbines, and doing fiberglass repairs. Along with trouble shooting electrical problems with the wind turbine.
So I want some opinions from you all seeming we are world wide.

 

[lilredex]

So. Ontario has lots of wind turbines, with more on the way. Housing not too bad as long as you are away from the Toronto area.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

Oklahoma has a wind turbines, so you could likely stay in your field. I joke a lot about Oklahoma, but it really isn't a bad place to live. Centrally located, decent economy (no wild fluctuations like the two coasts), relatively low crime and not a bad cost of living.

The downsides:
weather can be extreme
almost always windy (but you need that for the turbines, right?)
OKC has a higher average wind speed than Chicago.
roads **** (have never figured out why we can't build average roads in OK)

 

[turbowoodworker]

Half way between Chile and Missouri is about Venezuela. I think they have cheap gas...LOL.
I'm liking NC after my recent cross country move. NC was recently found to be #4 on the "net immigration" list, meaning more people coming to the state than leaving (compare to CA). That is a fair measure of the environment.

 

[xyster101]

Depends what type of life style you want. My wife and I did upstate NY for the Adirondacks, 4 seasons, skiing, Lake Placid. But cost of living is more in NY.
You want beach? Mountains? Woods? What kind of weather? Cost of living?
Ohio was cheap to live in, but nothing to do outdoors. No mountains or lakes.
Colorado has great outdoors stuff. Arizona has great weather if you like it dry. Carolina's are mild weather and little snow, but lots to do outside and super nice people. Never been to Kansas City, but the mid west is very flat and lots of farms with lots of "mudding" things to do if you like off road.

 

[crab]

I'd do the Carolinas as long as it was close to the ocean because of the very mild winters. If that wasn't a concern then Mo. is as good as any and better than most. They get hurricanes but everywhere has something.

 

[jimindm]

Des Moines tops many of the best of lists. It is a decent sized town, but you can get just about anywhere in a half hour. Even in rush hour. Many live in bedroom communities and commute into town, if you do not like living in a fair sized city.

There are many windfarms, and I think up near Waterloo-Dubuque area, they even have a manufacturing facility.

We do have four seasons. High nineties in the summer and single digits in the winter. You will find about all facets of weather here, and if you do not like it, give it five minutes and it will change.

I live in Des Moines, and have my whole life. I know many people that have left and come back, or relocated to the area, to start and raise a family.

 

[HoosierMark]

You mention a place to live but then you mention jobs. You may want to consider buying a large RV (good bargains can be found in used units) and trying full time RV living in several of the places you mentioned. It will allow you to experience living in a variety of locations before you decide. Just something to think about.

 

[70staged]

I am looking to get out of wind turbine thing kind of. After climbing these things 2 times a day for the last 6 years and working 6 days a week, Im ready to say good bye. My legs are not what they once were. I am only 29 now, and have traveled the USA even worked up in Ontario for a few summers. The places where the wind turbines are that I have been to are really not towns I would want to stay, more of a place to visit town, for example Dodge City Kansas, or The Dalles Oregon. I have 7.5 years of fiberglass experience repairing the blades as well. I am more wanting to live outside of the big city like 10 miles out so I can have at least 2 acres of land. More of looking at new jobs is a reason for asking where
We kind of like watching baseball live

 

[_Dock_]

Do you have any advanced education, or were you trained on the job (like me)? The reason I ask is certain areas are better suited for jobs based on the line of work you are looking for....

 

[70staged]

Went to a community college. AS in auto collision and a diploma in mechanics

 

[_Dock_]

What exactly did you do in the wind turbine industry? What are your interests now?

 

[70staged]

What exactly did you do in the wind turbine industry? What are your interests now?

Mainly doing repair of the fiberglass blades. Most of my knowledge is doing this. But have also done trouble shooting of electrical and maintance on them, basically auto maintance but you have to climb to get to your job, and dealing with a little more volts

Interests, I like to work on my 70 Skylark when I am at my parents house.

 

[_Dock_]

I don't think I would recommend being an auto mechanic but that's mainly only because I have zero experience with that trade.

You would probably fit well in an advanced manufacturing role. Many cites have manufacturing hubs.. I live in Northern Kentucky, I live on 10 acres, cost of living is reasonable, jobs are easy to find if you are willing to work and learn, lots of advanced manufacturing companies. Cincinnati is about 20 to 30 minutes away where we have the Bengals, the Reds, and any other major attractions a major city usually offers. We also have the Florence Freedom which is a independent minor league baseball team, tickets and food/beer are cheap the atmosphere is nice.

Of course I'm biased because I live here but I have traveled the Midwest a good bit and I think this area tops a lot of places I've been.

PM me if you would like more info on the area and Ill try and answer your questions.

 

[wrnchtwstr]

Check out Texas. In north Texas there is a wind turbine factory. Texas has no state income tax as stated in one post. The plant is not that far from Dallas/Fort Worth to check out ball games or Nascar. Texas has fair weather as well. Something to think about.

 

[CNGsaves]

Siemens has wind turbine factory in Hutchinson, KS . . . smaller town about 50 miles from larger Wichita, KS. Maybe you could be consultant ??

Lots of smaller towns in between that you could buy land and have nice house and oversize shop.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Siemens has wind turbine factory in Hutchinson, KS . . . smaller town about 50 miles from larger Wichita, KS. Maybe you could be consultant ??

Lots of smaller towns in between that you could buy land and have nice house and oversize shop.

They only build nacelles in Hutch, I wouldn't suggest this place for a young couple. The opportunities here are quite limited.

KC is a great town and I would suggest looking there, vibrant city with open spaces close by.

Steve

 

[brian1]

There is a facility in Newton, IA (near Des Moines) which makes new wind blades. My BIL works there and they are always hiring.

 

[W_KY]

I'd recommend central kentucky outside of Louisville. Kentucky is a beautiful state. The Kentucky ford truck plant is expanding so a lot of jobs there. The bourbon industry is also booming.

 

[rburke65]

I have been on a mission trying to boost the Kentucky Bourbon business!

 

[Bib Overalls]

Find a job and you will have found your place.

 

[SchuLace]

Check out South Dakota. Low cost of living, no income tax. Marmon Energy just built a huge plant in Brandon in the SE part of the state. With your background in wind towers, it may be an easy place to get into.

 

[Steevo]

South East Idaho and northern Utah are lousy with wind farms, and they just keep expanding.

 

[yeldogt]

Hay ... I have lived in most of the places you don't like ..

 

[vette66bob]

To bad you ruled out New Jersey, we have everything -high taxes,sales taxes, income taxes, high insurance, high cost of living, expensive housing, many toll roads. What more could you want?

 

[Kevin54]

Where we live is a nice small town n Ohio and only about 45 minutes away from larger towns. The bad thing is, it gets cold in the winter time. But where we live there is very rarely any trouble at all. And we have quite a few lots for sale around us out in the country

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Well my state is completely out....which hurts. Just kidding. My state is very small, has two large employers, and used to lead the country in unemployment. I think when people lose their jobs here they just leave the state. I love it here, but I was born and raised in CT....another state on the no live list.

 

[70staged]

Find a job and you will have found your place.

That's my problem right now. Figuring out what job and where.

 

[sublimate]

Vestas is always running ads around here. Colorado ain't too shabby a place to live.
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/mnu/4838497291.html
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/mnu/4776340861.html
http://boulder.craigslist.org/mnu/4824544357.html

That said, the wind business will have some downs before any ups.

 

[Rogue Status]

Charleston, SC should be on the list of possibles. Boeing has been here for a few years now, I am sure you could find work there with your previous experience. Beaches are nice, housing is reasonable, and there are hundreds of awesome restaurants. Downtown can be a drag in season with tourists but if you time things right you can get in and out with minimal struggle.

 

[Toymeister]

Prioritize. Look at Family proximity if it is important; Taxation, Cost of living and healthcare. Answer those four things and you choices will be far fewer but also bring the best options into focus.

These same choices brought me to Huntsville, Alabama where the second largest US research park is (read as educated population) and the taxes are very, very low. YMWV.

Edit: educated population equates to Univerisities for kids, higher wages and more choices otherwise.

 

[Oldb]

Five wind farms near here. Great place to raise a family. http://www.wallawalla.org/

B

 

[hackwelder]

I'm only familiar with California (like it a lot but the cost of living is very high anywhere that jobs are not really hard to find)...but FWIW citydata is a good resource for info on an area you are considering and in the forums you can get a sense of what is like to actually live in a given town day to day.

http://www.city-data.com/

 

[HoosierMark]

I just saw heard on our local radio station that our town of 7,000 people (Batesville) was named one of the top 10 cities for young families in Indiana. We are in SE Indiana and less then an hour from Cincinnati and Indianapolis and 2 hours from Louisville. Lots of jobs for skilled people in the larger area. Did you note that two outer posters mentioned something about Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio area. Must indicate something about the region. This area does not seem to boom or bust, we just keep plodding along when the economy goes south or grows rapidly.

 

[Fast914]

Just a quick reply and remember I am Canadian...so this from a Visitors perspective....I love New England but it sounds like that is largely out....I will tell you both Colorado and Utah are fantastic....Visitor's viewpoint...in the end I would recommend you think about lifestyle and activities that you and your spouse enjoy (and it goes without saying, career opportunities as well)...if you are the least bit outdoor minded both of those states are amazing...Yes, I really want to go back to both....skiing in Colorado and Dirt Biking in both...holy MOG!!!

Really cool thing about the USA is that you have an amazing country with incredible diversity all across the Nation....what a great opportunity!

We are increasingly relying on Wind Energy in Nova Scotia as well so I will put in a smile for our province....decent population, lots of Universities and by virtue of that....more diverse than you would expect for a smaller province...small swings in the economy (reduced boom and echo), One of the things I like most about living in Halifax / Dartmouth is that I can literally be off on the trails running / cycling in 10 minutes....very difficult to do in larger cities....be they Canadian or US.

Good luck on the Search and Congratulations on your marriage as well.

Grant

 

[70staged]

Five wind farms near here. Great place to raise a family. http://www.wallawalla.org/

B

I just left Walla Walla in the middle of December. Was up there for 4 months

 

[70staged]

I have been to a lot of places over the years. Most were more of a nice place to visit not want to stay. I would prefer not to look at Wind Turbine after I leave this job if I can help it.
Below is a few places I have worked at and been there for more than 3 months at a time
Windsor, Ont
Chatham, Ont
Ponce, Puerto Rico
San Angelo, Tx
Abilene, Tx
Amarillo, Tx
Woodward, Ok
Ponca City, Ok
Rochester, Mn
Fort Dodge, Ia
Dodge City, Ks
Casper, Wy
El Centro, Ca
Fairfield, Ca
Redding, Ca
The Dalles, Or
Walla Walla, Wa
Lewiston, Id
I have a sister and brother in KC and been to Des Moines many times

 

[ryanedoyle]

How about you don't settle down anywhere and just explore. I would love to be in your shoes. Hell buy a nice RV and just travel the states. Work some where long enough to live the rest of the year and move on.

 

[70staged]

How about you don't settle down anywhere and just explore. I would love to be in your shoes. Hell buy a nice RV and just travel the states. Work some where long enough to live the rest of the year and move on.

I would be nice to travel in an RV but this is "GarageJournal". I would like to build a shop sometime soon so I can work on my old car sitting in my parents garage. Been looking at the Greenville SC area for the last few days now, and the south west Ohio area as well. Along with Kansas City and Des Moines.

 

[AnthonyJ124]

I've lived in Upstate, NY, Charlotte, NC, and Mass. If I had to move somewhere tomorrow, I'd look at Denver or Colorado Springs first, then Raleigh, NC. NC was a great place to live. Cost of living was very reasonable and you're at a mid point for everything on the east coast, but still with access to the mountains.

Look into field service jobs. LOTS of medical equipment in out there and it all needs service. The company I work for hired two people in just Raleigh last year to keep up. We're also looking to bring on a couple dozen more service engineers nationwide in the next year. Same for most of our competitors.