Sad to say this but I want to leave the place that my family has called home since the 1800's.  My relatives came here before all the rest of the idiots showed up and it just breaks my heart realizing we are such a lost cause out here.  I could spend the rest of my life and not end up seeing any changes.  My thinking is I could move to another state and work my hardest to help keep what happened in Cali from happening there.  I don't have any close family anywhere except California so I'm wide open on where to move to.  I mean I have a freakin concealed carry permit and I can't even buy a gun anywhere without a 10 day wait. Gun shows have turned into jerky sales and cleaning supply shows.  Starting Jan 1 not even c&r can be bought without having to do $35 background check at a dealer.  They have tried to pass a bill 4 years in a row now banning online ammo sales and requiring background checks and registration of ammo. Its bound to get through eventually. A judge stopped the mailorder ban back in 09 but they will try again.  The state is absolutely criminal in what they put gun owners through just to get more money.

Fiancee wouldn't be happy anywhere too cold so I'm thinking Oregon,  Texas, Az, GA, NC, SC, TN

I work in the electric industry so I'd have to live in a city with a large utility company.  The only 2 things keeping me here are my carry permit and very well paying job.   we really like old houses and dislike modern subdivision living.  Ranch or urban victorian type houses.

What do you guys think???

I live in Washington. Lot's of jobs, good money to be made. Lots of liberals but mostly a gun friendly state. Carry permits are "shall issue." Practically everyone I know has one here. Even liberals here carry guns.

Quote from: Grim Reaper on December 15 2013 10:59:42 PM MST
I live in Washington. Lot's of jobs, good money to be made. Lots of liberals but mostly a gun friendly state. Carry permits are "shall issue." Practically everyone I know has one here. Even liberals here carry guns.

And the middle part of the state has wide open areas for shooting with hardly any snow to speak of.

This state has always confused me over its gun laws.  As liberal as it is, it has had shall issue for longer than Florida, along with a no training requirement.

I have little in the way of advice.  You lost me at large city.

I will say this.  What you endeavor to do can be done.  I left my home, Indiana and Illinois, in 1987 and went west to Utah for college.  Eventually married a local girl and have made a new life for myself here.  There are times it is hard...This time of year especially.  My parents have since moved out hear to be near the 6 grandchildren their only child has.  But my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are all still back there.  When I visit now, after 26 years away, I definitely feel like the outsider.

It is definitely a little bitter-sweet.  I love the life I have, and clearly am not willing to move back.  I have gained more than I lost.  But I also am aware that there has been loss.

Good luck...And if you can find enough work, I personally think St. George, UT is a wonderful place.

I left NY for NC about eleven years ago and don't miss anything about NY, just my friends and family that are still there.
  NC is quite gun friendly, no permit to purchase handguns or open carry but an eight hour coarse is required to obtain a permit for concealed carry.
   Duke energy is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and is the largest electric power holding company in the United States so there should be some opportunities in your field.
There are plenty of old Victorian homes in and around Charlotte and the surrounding cities. We live about an hour from Charlotte in a small town of 1500 and are about three hours from the beach or the mountains.

Best of luck on your decision.