Top 10 Worst States to Retire In. All but 1 are Southern conservative states.

[bvar22]

51. Reasons WHY we moved to the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas for early retirement:

Last edited Tue Jul 17, 2012, 06:38 PM - Edit history (1)

*Inexpensive, pristine, fertile land
Hilltop locations with views readily available and inexpensive to buy ($2000/acre)

*Abundant clean water,
On Property springs not difficult to find
The water most people buy in plastic bottles bubbles up out of the ground in our back yard.
We drink straight from the spring.
It is cold & clear, and tastes wonderful.

*Surrounded by extensive hardwood National Forest and protected Wilderness
Abundant wild game, fish, and unspoiled natural beauty

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x5178

*low, LOW, LOW property taxes
(8 acres with house less than $300/year)

*Low Cost of Living in general

*Low Winter energy overhead
We heat with a wood stove,
burn Oak and Hickory which we cut, haul, and split ourselves.
Total Heating cost last Winter about $50

*LONG Growing Season
We produce about 1/2 our food, and could do more if need be.
We have never eaten better or healthier in our lives.
Two crops/year possible for some veggies

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x2601

*Long way from Industrial/Agricultural/Urban/SubUrban pollution
Fish caught in local rivers are not hazardous to your health.
Our HoneyBees are happy here with no CCD.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1182412
All the Coal Mine Canaries still thriving here
Plenty of healthy frogs, butterflies, hummingbirds, lightening bugs, worms, ...
AND, you can see the stars at night!

*No Zoning, HOAs, Inspections, or Building Permits
If we want to build something, we build it.

There are some downsides.
Mid-Summer Heat & Humidity are tough.
Poverty & Ignorance are a problem,
but that is improving.
Thanks to Sat TV and the Internet, all the kids are connected.
More "organic" and "sustainable" people are moving into the area every day looking for the things we found here.


But Shhh!
Keep it quiet.
We don't want the Yuppies moving in and ruining it.



---bvar22 & Starkraven
Living Well in the Arkansas woods
on a low "taxable" income,
and stuff we learned inn the '60s