4 ms·

> it's difficult to pull off when career and family can pull everyone to different regions I think it comes down to if you live to work, or work to live. I mo

by grecy 3y ago

> it's difficult to pull off when career and family can pull everyone to different regions I think it comes down to if you live to work, or work to live. I moved to a small mountain town (10k people) that is bursting with 30-somethings who don't want to live the city grind anymore. People live here because skiing, mountain biking, hiking, camping and paddling are the life priority. Of course also pot lucks, dinners, parties and social events. Everyone just finds whatever job that enables them to do those things, and the priority is life, not work. Working online is so common place now you can still earn a good salary if choose. Hardly anyone works five days a week. Tons of people only work six months a year (ski the rest of the year!) 25 minutes from a great ski hill (that has no cell service), 5 minute ride to world-class mountain biking, 5 minute walk to a stunning lake for swimming/paddling. Houses here cost 1/3 or 1/4 of what they do in a big city. Think about the kind of life you want to live, and make it a priority.

lobsterslive 3y ago
Is this in Utah? I ask because most ski towns are really expensive to live in but the SLC/Ogden area is a bit of an exception. I'd love to only work 6 months out of the year and ski the rest, but that sounds like something only a wealthy person could do.
- grecy 3y ago
  > that sounds like something only a wealthy person could do My whole point is to seek out places where non-wealthy people can do it. Think smaller, think out of the way, think less development. No cell service at the ski hill, dirt road to drive up there, etc. etc. Season pass is less than $1000, everyone has duct tape on their ski gear, etc.
  - lobsterslive 3y ago
    I'll buy that, there are certainly small local mountains out there you can find. I don't know that I'd say the skiing is "great" (or even worth moving for) but they do exist. It may not be popular to say on this site, but there is an issue with living in places like that though... if you're not white, it's going to be really rough going for you, even in "blue" states. I say this as a non-white person who grew up in rural America. The racism is off the charts, you will experience it in every facet of your life, which is really unfortunate because there are a lot of beautiful rural locations in this country that would otherwise be inhabitable if it weren't for that major issue.
    - grecy 3y ago
      Go North of the border. People are extremely welcoming up here. (I'm an immigrant)
ericmay 3y ago
Where is this town with all of these amenities? Any ski resort town I’ve seen usually has home prices well above $1mm for 2br/1.5ba or so. Unless you’re just saying “well it’s cheaper than NYC” or something. Also, cool blog!
- grecy 3y ago
  I would try to avoid ones that are actually on a list like this, but this is a good start and the kind of place you're looking for. Heck, there are a TON of incredible ski resorts that are in a town of less than 10k just North of the border https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/best-small-ski-resorts-no-crowds https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/best-small-ski-resorts...
  - ericmay 3y ago
    Thanks!
- cableshaft 3y ago
  Upper Peninsula in Michigan is pretty cheap (I've seen nice home listings for under $300k on Zillow), has some ski resorts (not sure how good they are, I've been in the area but not to ski, but there's several up there) They're no Rocky Mountains, but the Porcupine Mountains are up there and still pretty nice. And Lake Superior is right there also, as well as a bunch of waterfalls. And at night you can see the Milky Way. Some places to ski up there: https://localfreshies.com/upper-peninsula-skiing/ https://localfreshies.com/upper-peninsula-skiing/ Not a lot of jobs up there though, that I could tell. If I moved up there I'd have to work remote for sure.
  - ericmay 3y ago
    The UP is pretty great but I wouldn’t characterize it in the same way the OP did with the ski towns. More of a hunting and fishing vibe. A bit insular as well which is fine if that’s what you’re aiming for.
    - 3y ago
carlosjobim 3y ago
> Houses here cost 1/3 or 1/4 of what they do in a big city. And salaries are also lower. People don't move to the big city because they want to live there. They go there to study and then to make money so that they can afford any kind of real estate in their home town. > Everyone just finds whatever job that enables them to do those things, and the priority is life, not work. The condition of your quote above is that you already own real estate, which isn't true for but a few from the younger generations. Or that you live with your parents until you're 60 years old. Other than that, the deal is "get the hell out" and you're only welcome back if you can purchase some real estate. It's true what you say about working online though, but then suddenly the whole world is open to you.
- addaon 3y ago
  > People don't move to the big city because they want to live there. A significant number certainly do.
- grecy 3y ago
  > And salaries are also lower Yes, they are. But it's fine because we've all stepped out of the rat race, and the goal of our lives is not simply to earn more money, or as much as possible. The goal of our lives is to live more, so that's what we do. None of my friends has a new car, or phone, or even a TV. We all have used skis and duct tape on our clothes. We are not "rich" in the money sense. We also don't work much, and ski and mountain bike a lot. > The condition of your quote above is that you already own real estate Not at all. Of all the 30-somethings I know that live here, none of them lived here more than 5 years ago, they all bought in the last 5 years. Houses here cost a lot less than bigger cities, and it is completely possible to buy a house on a single income. My partner works 4 days a week and bought a 4 bed/2 bath house less than 5 minutes walk from the main street. She saved for the deposit herself, and met the mortgage requirements on her single income. > suddenly the whole world is open to you Well, yes. That's why we choose to live in a quaint little mountain town where we can ski for half the year and work as little as possible.
  - carlosjobim 3y ago

by grecy 3y ago

lobsterslive 3y ago

Is this in Utah? I ask because most ski towns are really expensive to live in but the SLC/Ogden area is a bit of an exception. I'd love to only work 6 months out of the year and ski the rest, but that sounds like something only a wealthy person could do.

grecy 3y ago
> that sounds like something only a wealthy person could do My whole point is to seek out places where non-wealthy people can do it. Think smaller, think out of the way, think less development. No cell service at the ski hill, dirt road to drive up there, etc. etc. Season pass is less than $1000, everyone has duct tape on their ski gear, etc.
- lobsterslive 3y ago
  I'll buy that, there are certainly small local mountains out there you can find. I don't know that I'd say the skiing is "great" (or even worth moving for) but they do exist. It may not be popular to say on this site, but there is an issue with living in places like that though... if you're not white, it's going to be really rough going for you, even in "blue" states. I say this as a non-white person who grew up in rural America. The racism is off the charts, you will experience it in every facet of your life, which is really unfortunate because there are a lot of beautiful rural locations in this country that would otherwise be inhabitable if it weren't for that major issue.
  - grecy 3y ago
    Go North of the border. People are extremely welcoming up here. (I'm an immigrant)

ericmay 3y ago

Where is this town with all of these amenities? Any ski resort town I’ve seen usually has home prices well above $1mm for 2br/1.5ba or so. Unless you’re just saying “well it’s cheaper than NYC” or something. Also, cool blog!

grecy 3y ago
I would try to avoid ones that are actually on a list like this, but this is a good start and the kind of place you're looking for. Heck, there are a TON of incredible ski resorts that are in a town of less than 10k just North of the border https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/best-small-ski-resorts-no-crowds https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/best-small-ski-resorts...
- ericmay 3y ago
  Thanks!
cableshaft 3y ago
Upper Peninsula in Michigan is pretty cheap (I've seen nice home listings for under $300k on Zillow), has some ski resorts (not sure how good they are, I've been in the area but not to ski, but there's several up there) They're no Rocky Mountains, but the Porcupine Mountains are up there and still pretty nice. And Lake Superior is right there also, as well as a bunch of waterfalls. And at night you can see the Milky Way. Some places to ski up there: https://localfreshies.com/upper-peninsula-skiing/ https://localfreshies.com/upper-peninsula-skiing/ Not a lot of jobs up there though, that I could tell. If I moved up there I'd have to work remote for sure.
- ericmay 3y ago
  The UP is pretty great but I wouldn’t characterize it in the same way the OP did with the ski towns. More of a hunting and fishing vibe. A bit insular as well which is fine if that’s what you’re aiming for.
  - 3y ago

carlosjobim 3y ago

> Houses here cost 1/3 or 1/4 of what they do in a big city. And salaries are also lower. People don't move to the big city because they want to live there. They go there to study and then to make money so that they can afford any kind of real estate in their home town. > Everyone just finds whatever job that enables them to do those things, and the priority is life, not work. The condition of your quote above is that you already own real estate, which isn't true for but a few from the younger generations. Or that you live with your parents until you're 60 years old. Other than that, the deal is "get the hell out" and you're only welcome back if you can purchase some real estate. It's true what you say about working online though, but then suddenly the whole world is open to you.

addaon 3y ago
> People don't move to the big city because they want to live there. A significant number certainly do.
grecy 3y ago
> And salaries are also lower Yes, they are. But it's fine because we've all stepped out of the rat race, and the goal of our lives is not simply to earn more money, or as much as possible. The goal of our lives is to live more, so that's what we do. None of my friends has a new car, or phone, or even a TV. We all have used skis and duct tape on our clothes. We are not "rich" in the money sense. We also don't work much, and ski and mountain bike a lot. > The condition of your quote above is that you already own real estate Not at all. Of all the 30-somethings I know that live here, none of them lived here more than 5 years ago, they all bought in the last 5 years. Houses here cost a lot less than bigger cities, and it is completely possible to buy a house on a single income. My partner works 4 days a week and bought a 4 bed/2 bath house less than 5 minutes walk from the main street. She saved for the deposit herself, and met the mortgage requirements on her single income. > suddenly the whole world is open to you Well, yes. That's why we choose to live in a quaint little mountain town where we can ski for half the year and work as little as possible.
- carlosjobim 3y ago