Best place to live for woodworking???
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Where, in the USA, do you feel is the best place for a woodworking shop, all things considered, such as:
1. Weather environment: – temp range, humidity, precip., etc.
2. Availability of: raw materials – varied & quality hardwoods, plywood, laminates, etc.; hand & power tools, etc.
3. Accessibility to: woodworking masters & classes of many disciplines, woodworking & builders groups, etc.
4. Wood parasites & pests, molds, bacteria, etc.
5. Cost of living & construction costs
6. Good medical care
7. Anything else pertinent that I’ve overlooked.
Thanks.
Replies
Are you thinking retirement/hobby or a commercial enterprise?
At this point, strictly hobby, definitely not a commercial production shop, but I might get into selling some high-end pieces.
Mr V,
Galagate, England! As you know, England is the 51st state of the USA, especially in the memetic sense, as we all watch your antics on out teles then copy them.
To anwer your specifics:
1. Weather: perfect, due to your Gulf Stream.
2. Availability of: raw materials: perfect, we have real (English) oak and lots of recycled timber from knocked down Victorian buildings.
3. Accessibility to woodworking masters & classes: perfect. For instance, my neighbout, Mr F was 40 years a Fench Polisher with Waring & Gillow. You wouldn't believe the fantastic stuff they hand-build in Staveley, 20 miles up the road (only about £20,000 for the avarage piece)!
4. Wood parasites & pests, molds, bacteria - we don't allow them in Galgate.
5. Cost of living & construction costs: I have a Magic Pension from HMG and would recommend one to you all. However, the Social Security still works here, if you fall on hard times.
6. Good medical care: this is Britain and we have the NHS. Cost of finger or other bodypart mending: $0.00 (as it is for any other mending of your person).
7. Anything else pertinent that I've overlooked: our culture is deep and interesting, in English that you can understand; also, we never shoot anyone in Galagate, even burglars (unlike Norfolk). Then there's the university over the road, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the [curtailed by the Taunton Boredom Police].
Lataxe, a Galgate Patriot
Edited 12/16/2006 4:20 pm ET by Lataxe
Lataxe,Did you see where SH is from ?
I would suggest Tahiti where the women wear no top !C.
Hawaii's not bad ! But they are plagued with termites though, and that could mean plenty of repeat business ;-)Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
C,
Sometimes I work in my driveway with nobbut a pair of shorts and me slippers on. It drives the wimmin mad with lust (or so I like to think).
Most times, you will catch a chill if you are a woman and wera no top in Galgate. Or the local plod will come to take you away for therapy (a friendly chat and a nice cup of tea, down the nick).
Lataxe, Arnold look-alike (using my Special Mirror).
8. how's the food?
G,
The ladywife has the garden but also now an allotment. In case you don't know, an allotment is a strip of land along side many others that is leased and tended by gardening-mad folk. Typically they grow veggies and have internicine wars concerning who will win the prizes at the annual veggie show.
But I digress.
The ladywife is also cooking-mad (it goes with the allotment thang) so I eats like a king (or one of them trenchermen barons).
However, no one coming to live in Galgate should expect to have the services of my ladywife unless they gives me a Very Big fee (and then you just get her soup). But you can always go to one of the many fine local pubs, who all seve wonderful food these days, as well as every kind of beer (warm, cold and in between) except American, as you really have no idea how to make it.
Lataxe, a gourmet
good call my friend! i'm not big drinker anyway, beer or otherwise, but sam adams does a fairly respectable job around here. course you'd probably have to pay a premium for it being an import and all. :)
my best to fine ladywife. i've done my share of gardening as well although i seemed to like growing stuff more than harvesting, go figure. now with woodwork i seem to enjoy both the process and the product as long as it's along the lines of shaker design.
greg
"as well as every kind of beer (warm, cold and in between) except American, as you really have no idea how to make it."So, Lucas finally got the refrigeration thing fixed? We know how to make good beer, we just keep the good stuff for ourselves.'Ello, guvna! 'Ow 'bout some bangers and mash?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
High,
It's them soft southerners who have bangers and mash. Geordies eat savaloys with peas puddin in a stotty kyeck. Then they gaan oot and drink broon ale whilst smoekin tabs. No matter if it be 10 degrees below zero, they only wear a T-shirt, as they are Very Hard (or maybe it's "stupid and insensitive", I forget). :-)
Also, only Londoners call each other "Guvnor". Geordies make do with, "How ye, man!"; "Hinny"; "pet(al)" or "petaldust"; and a variety of less friendly hails.
Anyway, Geordieland is nothing like Hawii, except the surf on South Shields foreshore is very good, as long as you have your 5mm wetsuit and don't mind Lions Mane jellyfish.
Lataxe, an adopted Lancastrian now.
Wow, 21 responses, but very few that actually answered the questions with real & honest answers. I surely didn't intend for this thread to be high-jacked about booze & such, even though those may be remote side parameters. :-) I was hoping for some good insight from real woodworkers. Pro & con feedback about your neck of the woods and with hopefully some compare & contrast to other areas that you've lived. Any others out there with insightful woodworking answers?Guess that I'll have to research this elsewhere, & revert to lurking for feedback on other topics. Thanks.ps: Thanks to those who did honestly answer my Q's!
Edited 12/17/2006 1:58 pm ET by SH Ventus
Mr V,
Threads can't be hijacked as they are conversations that may wander here and there (this is their nature).
Anyone who wished to answer your question could have (and still can). There is no limit to the number of posts that can be made to a thread.
I still recommend Galgate, where you will be made welcome and given a warm duffle coat until you acclimatise.
Lataxe, a cyberhighwayman.
Nut Brown Ale? Good stuff.10 below your zero or our zero? I went out at 0ºK and just stood there. Good thing for Global Warming."Pizz off, ya bloody wanker!" Is that one of the less friendly hails?"pet(al)" or "petaldust"? What do those mean? Calling someone less than masculine?I'll pass on the lion's mane.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
High,
"Pet" and its derivatives are hails of a friendly sort, but usually employed between different sexes. Were you to address a rough Geordie stood at some bar in the Bigg Market as "petaldust" he might show you his dentistry techiques; or introduce you to a gay friend (a better option, in the circumstances).
Culture, its a dangerous minefield.
Lataxe
"America and England-two countries separated by a common language".I kind of thought Petaldust sounded like something I wouldn't want to be called.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
I don't want to cast any aspersions on England, but I was in the food business for a long time and consider myself a little bit of a gourmand and a pretty good cook and I never go anyplace unless they have good food and wine.Italy and France in that order are my choice, not necessarily for woodworking.The old expression was: "If the Brits didn't have roast beef they'd starve to death!"John (1/2 Irish, 1/4 Scot and 1/4 English)
Pins,
Come to Galgate and I will take you to The Stork at Conder Green or The Bay Horse Inn at Forton. You will be pleased, with the beef and all the other luscious viands.
Perhaps you have been forced to eat sandwiches in London or a fried Mars bar in Scotland. These places are as yet uncvilised, as you know. Galgate is, in contrast, a metropolis of great sophistication.
Just this very evening I was eating chcolate-filled cheese from Inglewhite, up the road. Could any Frenchman match that!? As to the ladywife's rhubarb crumble - well, it is ambrosia!!
Lataxe, a trencherman.
Lataxe,Actually I only passed thru London one night on the way from France to NY and I only had Scot's whiskey, no food.But if I ever get the chance to come to that side of the pond I'll let you know.John
that lot's all very well, but ya missed a couple o vital down sides....
ya drink warm beer.... an ya speak queer... poor lad's already sufferin a big enough handicap as it is... ya wanna traumatise him too....???
;PMike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Mike,
I am a foreigner in Galgate (only lived around here for 40 years) but they manage to understand my geordie patter, although I have ceased to use the more esoteric slang.
They are Lancastrians here, so speak and think at a slower pace than other folk. This means that you have plenty time to understand them, despite them missing the "t" out of their diction and saying "ummm" lot.
As to the beer, what would one of you colonists know about such a high matter? That "beer" you drink over there is like coca-cola with the taste taken out. And you can't make proper bacon either, so there!
Lataxe, one time home-brewer.
ummmm.... I'm Scots.... (no profile check??)... need I say more...???
colonial... sheeshh.....Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Lataxe, Midnight, and others who know not of ice in drinks!
I'm retired in north central Arkansas, USA. However I recently spent a month traveling the British Isles. Fell in love with Scotland! Also thoroughly enjoyed England. Even ate haggis in Scotland and drank some hot tea in London. If I retire again, I might consider your little island! <grin>
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
Mike,
Well, Scotland is one of our English colonies still, as I remember. :-) Of course, you do have proper beer there as well as that water of life, the buying of which introduced me to the geography of Scotland. (I did visit on a number of occassions but could see little for the rain and the clouds of midgies).
As to living there, you forgot to mention the disadvantages, which are serious:
1 The Scotsmen - who are friendly but do enjoy a brawl, especially if one is not Scots (although I have been spared due to being a Geordie, during one or two close-calls in Blackpool during Glasgow fortnight - they assumed I was like them, the wullies).
2 The sheep - which are ugly, unlike the lovely ladies of The Lake District.
3 The midgies - which are a foot long and carry knives, forks, salt and pepper to enhance their enjoyment of your flesh.
4 The accent - which is indecipherable, especially if it's Glaswegian (as they speak 10 times as fast as they need to and miss off the second half of every word in order to speak even faster than that - which one could adapt to, if only the words meant something in the first place).
5 The roads - there are only two and these are 6 foot wide tracks that go around the many, many lochs between any point A and point B, leading to 6 hour drives to see auntie who lives only 5 miles away via crow. And we know why you have a landrover, with the winch on the front, the spade, the helicopter rescue service and so forth.
Well, I could mention other things, like the burning of victims in wicker cages to appease John Barleycorn; and so forth - but I am an Geordie Gentleman, so will refrain from describing the really horrific stuff.
Lataxe, The Scotsmans Bane and Worrie
Well, Scotland is one of our English colonies still, as I remember. :-)
It's good t see that ya can always rely on a hinglishman to fluff his history...
here... some history for ya....
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Scotland-History/ActofUnion.htm
You'll no doubt note that nowhere does it mention Scotland being a colony of anyones... and I can assure you, nothing's changed... Technically, because a Scots king accepted the Hinglish crown, Hingland is a Scots colony..
(I did visit on a number of occassions but could see little for the rain and the clouds of midgies).
and yer complainin...?? if the weather was even remotely reliable ye'd never be able to move for bloody tourists milling around lookin for the nearest McDonuts.. and it's THEM that bring on the midgies... foot long.....sheeshh.. they're a crosss between a mosquito and bengal tiger wi a particular fondness for "southern softies".. Ahem.. ;)
As for our roads... I'll take our navigable cart tracks anyday over your car parks... most of which are numbered with an M prefix... M1, M4, M6, M6 toll, M25 et al... You often travel by crow huh...?? When I canna take the Landrover (which fortunately isn't very often) I prefer the bus meself.. ;P
Winch...?? nuh uh.. don't got one... yet... but my brother-in-law had on his... but then he was part of a Coastguard cliff rescue team... should hear some o his stories about the things tourists get up to... btw the shovel would scratch my 2 week old paintwork...
As for choppers... this time o year they're normally on standby to ferry feed to stranded sheep in yer southern fells.. (that's like mountains but lower.....right.. ??with training wheels too...?? ) queer how ya never hear o the same need o the servise here where the winters are a good bit longer and harsher... Makes ya wonder fa's born we more sense... ;)Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Geordie? I thought you were from the other umber -- cumberland, not northumberland. My PhD advisor was a Newcastle boy; after several beers, you could no longer understand him, his accent was so strong. Or maybe he was just drunk.Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
P,
Well, I consider myself a citizen of the world at large.
However, take off that layer and you find a Briton, with the usual attributes of tamed violence and an inclination to take the mick (mostly out of oneself).
After another layer is gone, there is the Northerner, who tends to sneer at the soft ways and dissembling of The Southerners (ie anyone from south of Yorkshire).
The next layer reveals The Borderer, a person imbued with an innate desire to steal sheep and cows from those living a few miles away in Scotland. (They are themselves a bunch of cow-stealers, of course; and can't even taalk propa). The Borders on the English side include Northumbria and Cumbria (as they are now known).
Below this layer is "The Sand Dancer" - a person raised in South Shields at the mouth of the river Tyne. This fine port used to be in County Durham (Land of the Prince Bishops, no less) but is now in a new Bureaupolis known as "Tyne & Wear".
Sand Dancers are, as you will know, the cream of The Geordies and will one day rule the world, when we have made ourselves understood and got out of the pub.
Below this layer is "me" a mysterious quantity that even "I" don't fully understand.
Lataxe, now King of Galgate (despite what the other residents might say).
"but they manage to understand my geordie patter, although I have ceased to use the more esoteric slang."You mean, like what's in this link?http://www.geordie.org.uk/One of my ancestors came here from Wiltshire during the English Civil War.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
As to the beer, what would one of you colonists know about such a high matter? That "beer" you drink over there is like coca-cola with the taste taken out.
Not true. A little education is in order: first off, there is only one part of the USA where beer is widely available, the Pacific Northwest. 'every bit as good as the ale in the UK (in fact, types from here often win gold medals in competitions in your parts of the world).
Alas, beer is not available in much of the USA. They do sell this stuff that the locals call "beer"for some inexplicable reason, but it's basically this diluted, cheap wheat- and corn-adjunct-based swill that's consumed by those poor saps that don't know any better. Forgive them their ignorance, but don't confuse that gawd-awful stuff with the "real" beer (yes, as in live, unpasteurized, 100% barley malt, no injected CO2) that is available in the USA.
Mike,
<<ya drink warm beer....>>
Good call!!....it's them Lucas refrigerators.....
(Although he does 'ave a point about that swill "brewed" 'ere that us real colonists humourously refer to as "beer"..... (well....technically, it is: hops, water, malt, yeast, rice, artificial colour, sugar and spice and everything nice, etc.)
<<... an ya speak queer... >>
He just grew up on the wrong side o' the border: if he'd growed up on t'other side, he'd be a proper Scots-speakin' gentleman, then wouldn't he?!!
;-)~
Beste Wünschen auf eine Fröhlichen Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
Edited 12/18/2006 1:39 pm by pzgren
Good call!!....it's them Lucas refrigerators.....
<shudderin at the mere mention of the Prince of Darkness's name...
I thought I'd just finished doing battle with some of the (pitiful excuse that passes for) wiring in my Land rover, only to finddddd..... fully half (i.e. 1 of the 2) of the bits o electronickery in the friggin thing have gone titzup on me... I got him worried tho... reduced the original wiring in the engine bay down to just one temporary connector...
He just grew up on the wrong side o' the border: if he'd growed up on t'other side, he'd be a proper Scots-speakin' gentleman, then wouldn't he?!!
EXACTL...ummm... maybe gentleman's pushing things a wee bit far... but there was a time back when God was a boy when Geordies were Scots... could be he's one o the few auld enough t remember the land grab.. ;)
<duckin...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Mike,
<< thought I'd just finished doing battle with some of the (pitiful excuse that passes for) wiring in my Land rover, only to finddddd..... fully half (i.e. 1 of the 2) of the bits o electronickery in the friggin thing have gone titzup on me... I got him worried tho... reduced the original wiring in the engine bay down to just one temporary connector... >>
Good thing you know about wiring and such!!
A friend of mine once owned -- back in the late 70s -- a TR-7. Nice car, accelerated like a rocket sled, mechanically reliable, nice rag top, fun car, except that it was in the shop at least once a month for electrical problems; wanna take a guess who made the electrics???
<<EXACTL...ummm... maybe gentleman's pushing things a wee bit far... but there was a time back when God was a boy when Geordies were Scots... could be he's one o the few auld enough t remember the land grab.. ;) >>
Perhaps you're right, but he is a right decent chap nonetheless; after all, he is a Scotsman -- just one that's been livin' on the wrong side of the Border for far too long........ ;-)~Beste Wünschen auf eine Fröhlichen Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
just one that's been livin' on the wrong side of the Border for far too long........ ;-)~
Aye.... but still.. ye ken fit they say about them lowlanders... it's no coincidence they're never too far away from their wellies when there's sheep around....
Ahem...Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
England is the worst place. Everything cost twice as much, and they tax you for everything. You even have to pay a yearly tax for a television. I am not saying I live in the best place by any means, but it is a heck of a lot better than England.
Ladies & Gentlemen (and Lataxe, too),
As y'all know, there is a certain, ahhh, "character" that frequents our very own Knots forum. This particular chap hails from one of them yet-to-be-completely-civilised parts of formerly Anglo-Saxon/Viking Englandshire (although to hear him tell it, it is the centre of all civilisation), often referred to as the Borderlands (aye, in and around them parts where Hadrian's or one-o'-them-Romanesque-on-the-throne-for-three-and-a-half-days-wannabe-rulers-of-the-known-world's wall was built using low-wage Pictish labour....). This, of course, is an area notorious for cross-border raids on civilised folk, cattle rustlin', connisseurs of lanolin (a crime which they libelously accuse their fine, up-standing Bretheren to the North of committing....), the selling of watered-down ale and short-weighted loaves, and numerous other disreputable activities....
As many of you well know, he's a nice-enough guy, but he does tend to, shall we say, "exaggerate" a wee bit, and while that is normally well and good -- as it provides for unending mirth and laughter -- I noticed that there are a couple of grossly misleading and down-right devious statements in his previous post that should be corrected -- for the benefit of the young and gullible, of course ...
<<As you know, England is the 51st state of the USA,...>>
Sorry, mate: everyone -- except, obviously, you -- knows that Canada is the 51st state. Youse guys in Englandshire have to take a number. We'll see if we can get you in at 54 or 55, OK?
<<1. Weather: perfect, due to your Gulf Stream.>>
You're talking about the gulf stream from the Gulf of Finland, right? Ya know: Iceberg City?? Sure it's perfect....if your idea of "perfect" includes swimming in water cold enough to store beer in (notice that nowhere does it say "Lucas" on the the ocean....) and your conception of the ideal swim partner is a jelly fish.....along with Arctic winds and.....
<<6. Good medical care: this is Britain and we have the NHS. Cost of finger or other bodypart mending: $0.00 (as it is for any other mending of your person).>>
Of course it costs $0.00. In Englandshire, medical care is priced in Pounds Sterling!!!! Ya know: furrinner dinero....
<<7. Anything else pertinent that I've overlooked: ....>>
Notice that he didn't mention anything about the food...I hear tell that they eat stuff up there that......well, let's just not go there......
[All written with tongue crammed in cheek....and with apologies to all my friends to the North, eh?]
Beste Wünschen auf eine Fröhlichen Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
Edited 12/18/2006 5:50 pm by pzgren
Edited 12/18/2006 7:25 pm by pzgren
How ye, Jimmie!
Ah've been doon the yard and polished up me best cudgel (with the 6 inch nail innit). Ah'll be ower there fer yer sheep and coos any day.
Lataxe, a savage heathen,
Laddae,
I'll be a waitin' fer ya.
I got me best spit out, and when yas arrives, we'll gie us oon o' dem sheeps an' put it o'er a nice peat fire, gie it a turn or six, and then have us a nice shank o' lamb and a wee dram.
'Ow's that sound, me friend?Beste Wünschen auf eine Fröhlichen Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
Not Bermuda - termites, hurricanes, everything rusts and plywood is at least $80 a sheet!
Do you have a nice place in Hawaii? Maybe trade scenes for a while? I think I could learn to deal with termites if I had to. I live in N. New Mexico, I got addicted to green chile, It happens to the best of us. Would have to figure out how to get my green chile fix if I relocated though. Oh I forgot , you were the one who wanted to relocate. Have you considered counsiling. Just jking.
Well its not the US but its not all that far.
I'll be there this coming Friday for a week.
I wrote each one of these guys and asked to spend a day in the mtns with one of them working and sharing the vibe. I did it the last time I was there too.
Very cool experiance!!! I figure out of the three of them at least one will come through...lol.
The picture of the couple are jewlers that make incredable pieces!!!
The other two pic are obviously carps.
Its Negril, Jamaica...my favorite place on the planet : )
If I moved there one day with the Jamaican dollar I'd be a multi billionaire... LOL.
Be well
andy...
HAPPY HOLIDAYS:)http://http://www.woodstockanddeadseascrolls.net/files/track09c.mp3<
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Well I'll try to give you a civilized answer. First, the best place to live in the USA is where your family and friends live everything else can be adapted. With that said, even though I live in Michigan, the best place for a woodworker to access all the criteria you specified is in the North Carolina area. I guess that is why most of the major furniture manufacturers moved out of Grand Rapids MI to locate in the Carolina area. They have a lot of lumber suppliers in the area, used machinery dealers and woodworking schools as well. They even have a good climate. There is no ideal place, but that is a place to start.
Thank you. I have many friends in NC (Wilmington, Raleigh).
i will agree with terry on NC. First let me say that i am no woodworker, merely a lifelong construction worker, secondly let me say that i am not the most traveled man in the country, my experiences are limited but....
when my wife and i decided to leave california where we were both born raised and lived all of our lives in the summer of 2005 we did a search of where to live besides california.
several factors were considered, and we spoke with both friends and family about their experiences. one of the most profound was an uncle of mine who was a 30 year man in the army and retired young - early 50's, to Kansas of all places. when i asked my aunt and uncle why kansas, you have lived in every state in the union, why not hawaii or some other resort type area. their response was the community of people in that area made them feel most at home, they liked the climate and it was very affordable. they did not like how they were treated by the locals in hawaii at all when they lived there for a couple years.
kansas and missouri were on our short list, arkansas, tennesee, kentucky are all nice for many of the same reasons, we looked at the gulf coast areas as well, and while i like the desert my wife does not. after much interogation i finally determined it was lack of trees and general landscape she didn't like about the desert, and when we looked at prettier areas of arizona and new mexico she had to admit those were nice areas as well. I had one friend who picked north dakota because of the incredible views from the back roads, he is retired and a motorcycle enthusiast, and for him it is the rolling hills and lack of trees.
we finally decided on brunswick county north carolina because for us NC was close to or better than all the previous states for community of people, climate, landscape, affordability, etc, but it is close to the ocean and a beautiful beach. this area is growing by leaps and bounds, which is good for some things and bad for others, traffic is getting worse all the time and roads are not keeping up with population growth. we think it is as close as you can get to coastal california in the lower 48, and its like going back in time for us as we both grew up in coastal areas of cali. the crowds are nothing here like they are cali!
having lived through it before we expect to see similar things happen here, and if history repeats itself it will eventually be too crowded and too expensive here as well. but until then we are enjoying it, if money were no object we would probably live in the hills of santa barbara or santa cruz. the temperate climate of the coast is hard to beat even if you don't love the beach. Florida is too hot in summer, as is the wilmington area at times, but it isnt as bad if you are walking distance from the ocean.
Thanks Segundo,Great post. Thank you.
Well - this question is very difficult to answer and I have lived in 12 different states over my career. I have lived in Kentucky, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Carolina. Realize that my thoughts are based on where I lived in a particular state and not necessarily reflective of the whole state:
1. Weather environment: - temp range, humidity, precip., etc.
2. Availability of: raw materials - varied & quality hardwoods, plywood, laminates, etc.; hand & power tools, etc.
3. Accessibility to: woodworking masters & classes of many disciplines, woodworking & builders groups, etc.
4. Wood parasites & pests, molds, bacteria, etc.
5. Cost of living & construction costs
6. Good medical care
7. Anything else pertinent that I've overlooked.
Steve50,Thanks, that's the best response yet!
Every place on the surface of this has its beauty. It is in the eye of the beholder. You may like a mountain scene of the ocean, warm climate of desert. No place has it all. Do you want accessibility to woods or is nearness to family the more valuable. Steve gave you a lot of the advantages of different areas he has been in but you, my friend, will have to evaluate the plusses and minuses. I have at least visited many areas of the US and I am content to be in West Virginia although, from childhood, I have thought Kentucky might be a good choice.
As earlier said, the cost of living in Ark is among the lowest. Very friendly people. Most food is fried. :-)
Oak is the most available hardwood, pine for softwood. Both are relatively cheap. Lots of different hardwoods grow here but they are not used much -- but cheap. If you know woods, many of the sawmills will custom saw them. You need to dry it yourself. Otherwise, buy from dealers in Little Rock or Memphis! Big lack of fancy schools and suppliers of equipment. I mostly travel to shows or use internet. Lots of woodworkers doing typical cabinets, etc. Not much commisioned work that I know of.
We are happy here and plan to stay! Weather is mild but there are four true seasons.
If you want to know how laid back the locals are, I almost had to postpone my mother's funeral because the day we wanted the funeral was the opening day of deer season and no one was available to dig the grave!!!! True story!!
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
Sh Ventus,
A couple of facts:
For the best statistical balance wheather wise(all four seasons, rain, snow, sun)60 miles west of NYC. That would be between the Poconos and the Catskills...near the Delaware Water Gap.
Best place to stretch a dollar...New London, CT.
I'm not advocating just sharing...
If you really love your tools...come here to MA...soon you'll probably be able to marry them...
Ventus
Northern Wisconsin
Lots of wood resources
Weather will encourage you to stay in the shop
Packers won't interfere with Sunday afternoon work
Bill
New Mexico:
1) Nice and warm in the summer (85° to 100° F, with about 10% RH, so it's comfortable), long temperate fall and spring, short not-too-cold winters. RH averages 10%-15%. 6 - 10 inches of rain per year.
2) Raw materials readily available. Wood is somewhat more expensive than in other places, but not outrageously so. Woodworker's Supply is based out of Albuquerque, so power tools are easily available locally, there is a also a local Woodcraft, both Borgs, and the internet takes care of the rest.....
3) Several woodworking clubs (including several carving and turning clubs), instruction available at the Woodcraft, through the WW clubs, at the local community college, and at a couple of community colleges in Santa Fe and near Española. Large artist community throughout the state (all types -- from woodworking, to carving, to pottery, to cloth arts, to painting, to sculpture, to metal-working to.....)
4) Some pests, but mold, etc., are not a big problem...too dry...
5) Cost of living is very reasonable -- much less than in places like CA, NYC, Chicago, south FL, etc., cost of construction ranges from very reasonable to very pricey (as in megabucks), depending on how fancy you want to get.... Taxes are not too bad, and there are a minimum of useless, silly laws.....
6) Good medical care available in Albuquerque, variable elsewhere in the state. Univ of NM hospital is a teaching/research hospital, so there is state-of-the-art medical care available in many specialty areas. Higher education is good quality and readily available -- surprising number of Ph.D.s per capita; public schools suck (they're adequate, but marginally so IMO.....), but private schools are pretty good and tuition is not too outrageously priced.
7) Mixture of four cultures, superb food, views to die for, lots of art-related things going on, outdoors activities, relaxed pace of life, well-educated population, etc.
I'm a bit biased, but I think it's a great place to live.
Beste Wünschen auf eine Fröhlichen Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
Let me put in a word for New Hampshire--see my article in FWW #147, "A Breeding Ground for Furniture Makers." Great support network for everyone from beginners to masters. Plenty of timber. Beautiful outdoors. Get to pick the next president. I'd retire there if my wife wasn't so dead-set on escaping the snow.
--Asa Christiana, editor
If you have the time (and money), I would suggest a tour. Spend a few weeks in the three or four areas to which you've narrowed down your search. Do it again six months later when the weather has changed.
I've lived in North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, California and Indiana and have done some woodworking in all of these states except North Dakota. Of these places, San Diego, California has the most pleasant weather environment. Michigan has the best accessiblity to raw materials, tools and training. North Dakota has the fewest pests. Iowa and Indiana have the lowest cost of housing. Medical care is good in all of these places.
Since you indicated that you might also want a high end market for your work, you may want to check out the galleries in the areas that you tour.
Thanks to all that have responded! I greatly appreciate each & every different insight from everyone. Thank you.
Getting serious...
I'll toss a pitch in for my neck of the woods... if variety of challenge is what you're after I doubt there's any of the former colonies that can hold a finger to Scotland... the North East corner in particular. There's a ready market for all types of woodworking, from boat building (an I do mean classic wooden hulled working boats designed to survive the worst that the North Sea and North Atlantic can throw at them) through furniture in all shapes and styles to suit (practically) every budget, to restoration of some of the stately homes and castles that dot that landscape regularly.
Materials are readily available with minimal hassle for moderate cost (ya don't need t sell yer first born to buy Baltic birch ply for example), while the range of locally harvested hardwoods provide material that reflect the landscape it grew in, generally rewarding the effort you put into it by revealing a wealth of character that's easy on the eye.
For tool availability, that depends on how you prefer to buy... near as I can tell the nearest annual tool fest is in Glasgow, but with darkest Hinglandshire a mere 2 hour flight away, all the major tool fares are available to you. Alternatively, thanks to the web, the globe is your market place... they'll deliver to your door too as part of the service ;)
Housing costs are a bit pricey thanks to the dominance of oil as an employer here, but if ye ken far t look, there's still some out of the way places needing some TLC that can be had for a reasonable sum... General cost of living by American standards would be thought of as expensive, but that's reflected in the earnings to be had if ya put some effort and a bit o common sense into it... Quality of living is a different ballgame though... our crime rate is negligible compared to some areas both here and overseas...
Weatherwise, we don't do extremes of anything here... the North Sea acts as a big thermal regulator.. never too hot, never too cold... seldom too much rain... seldom a drought... humidity can range from 40 - hi 90% but I've yet to see any ill effect from that in my boards... Global warming's playing silly burgers with em, but there's still (just) 4 recognizable seasons here... We probably get more than our share of storms here, but it's rare that they'll cause any physical property damage.
For master-classes, you'd need to expand your horizons to include darkest Hinglandshire... But they're available, tailored to suit all needs and ran by world class tutors...
Parasites, pests n moulds.... hmmmm.. we got some o that.. I gotta be honest... but again, nothing to the extreme... with the exception of Dutch Elm disease of course... but then it's largely thanks to that that there's the wealth of Elm available that we have.. (none o yon foul smellin north murrican mess neither ;) ). Woodworm... the spore that causes spalting (the name escapes me) are about the only ones that I've come across so far... Both easily dealt with...
Medicare as Lat pointed at is mainly provided by the National Health system... you're gonna struggle to find better emergency treatment... where it struggles to cope with demand is with serious but non emergency care. That however can be bypassed by venturing into private health care...
Your post doesn't mention if kids need to come into the equation, locally we've a wide range of excellent pre school to high school facilities, while our universities rank among the best available...
As for anything else.... ya don't say what other stuff you're into, but with a decent mountain range little more than an hour away along with dozens of places to check out along the way, "bored" should have no place in your vocabulary... likewise if you're into water sports or something a bit more adventurous (fancy going nuts for a day in a main battle tank for example?? Honestly... and its legal too).
Alternatively, if you prefer a more sedate way to wind down after a days graft, you're never too far from a suitable hostelry... the place might turn deathly quiet the first time you grace it with your presence, but don't let that put ya off.... once yer on first name terms wi the locals, trust me. you're one o the lads... There's enough variety of the local beverage to keep you rosy cheek'd an bleary eyed for ummmmmm... a lifetime or two.. ;)
As for sports... you name it, we got it... even surfing (provided you're a fully fledged and certified masochist however)... the art of skelpin a wee baw wi a stick repeatedly was invented here, rugby (like football but with 15 players per side on the park at any one time, played without shoulder pads n helmets, clock stoppages and sadly.... no cheer-leaders)... Which comes close to fever pitch when the 6 nations series is on-going (remember.. we dinna care who gubs the Hinglish... so long as it's everybody... ) or if you're so inclined, there's always <cough>soccer<cough>
scuse me.. frog in me throat... ;)Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
SH, I've asked myself the same question a couple times as well ... best place to retire and be able to woodwork (with that said, i'm 34).
My conclusion of what's needed:
1.) Weather that would allow me to have an "open air" shop for at least 1/2 the year.
2.) A location that's reasonable enough that I could afford a nice home and a nicer stand alone shop w/ land (10+ acres)
3.) A location that's reasonably close to a respected mill
4.) A location that's close enough to a city w/ character where I could get a "culture fix" when needed ... and more importantly when my wife needs it
5.) Close to family or close to an airport to get me quickly to family ... southwest airlines access?
I haven't figured it out yet, but I'm interested in what others say.
Brad
Thanks,I've been thinking about & battling the same Q's for my life too. That's why I'm seeking some further insight here.I love our temp range here, but the humidity can get high & we ave. 130+ inches of rain/year. We don't have a great mill near by & we don't have any "usual" hardwoods here. All tools need to be crated & flown in at great expense & the high humidity increases rust. Honolulu is the only city for a culture fix & it pales in comparison to NYC (I was spoiled when I lived here for 4 years), LA, etc.
I wasnt kidding about NH being the place for you. first of all southern NH is about 1 1/2 hrs to downtown Boston if you want your cultural fix on the Liberal side of the plate. Major airports?.....we have Manchester/Boston one hour from me ( a Southwest hub), Boston Logan airport if you have to go international, 1 1/2 hrs away and Portland (Maine) Jetport 1 Hr away. I have no idea what your pocket book will handle as far as housing , but you can get a place here with 10 acres ( no Taj Mahal mind you and depending how far north you want to go) for about $500- 600,000. Hard wood abounds here and there are many small saw mills and back yard guys with portable mills where you can get some unique stuff. All the cherry I get comes from here and I have a nice supply of walnut too from NH.... Penn. isnt so far away that you cant drive to get more if the Local supply doesnt suit you. My shop is heated with a forced hot air furnace and a wood stove but for the majority of the year flow thru ventelation is welcome. Oh, just one more point.........did I mention that we have no sales tax or income tax here? You couldnt blast me out of this State
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Edited 12/19/2006 1:38 pm ET by cherryjohn
cherryjohn,
I live in MD now, but lived in Boston (Hudson, MA) for 3 years (2001-2004). I really enjoyed Boston/New England and both myself and my wife have the itch to get back. And, being raised in Minnesota, I can handle the winters better than many. Just ~20 more yrs until retirement.
Brad
1.) Weather that would allow me to have an "open air" shop for at least 1/2 the year.
2.) A location that's reasonable enough that I could afford a nice home and a nicer stand alone shop w/ land (10+ acres)
3.) A location that's reasonably close to a respected mill
4.) A location that's close enough to a city w/ character where I could get a "culture fix" when needed ... and more importantly when my wife needs it
5.) Close to family or close to an airport to get me quickly to family ... southwest airlines access?
That's gonna be tough. if you find a locale meeting 1, 4, & 5, you usually find that it's so deisrable that #2 is out of the question.
I guess that it is all how you figure it.
I can leave my doors and windows open from May to September, but you better have good screens;
I own 20 acres and a 2 story 1800sq' house, standalone shop with less than $80,000.00 invested;
The nearest sawmill is 50 miles away;
I'm only 21/2 hours (150 miles) from a big city of 29,000 souls, that has an international air port;
so most of your requirements are fairly well met,but:
the wood is spruce, with a little poplar, and some hemlock;
The mosquitos can be a little annoying, but only in the summer;
some people think a city of 29,000 a little small to have a culture, but it does have the culture of a small city;
and it is a little far away from everywhere, except here;
but I wouldn't trade it for anywhere else, and I love wood working here.
I live in the Yukon Terr. Canada
I spent a couple of weeks in the Yukon in 72, It was a great experience.
I first thought the mosquitos were small birds!So what hard woods do you use? other than that it would be perfect there. The fishing was great except for a big male brown bear that enjoyed my salmon more than I did.Ron
Luckily the mosquitoes are big enough to shoot, and if you let the bears take what they want first, then you can get some fine salmon. I got some lovely birch from Alaska, that I used for the interior of our house, and I used fire-killed aspen that was local for my ceilings. Very light, very nice. I like working with the local white spruce, it is tight grained, and sometimes, the twist isn't to bad. It makes the work more interesting. The traffic is light, and stop lights are few ,the air is clean, and neighbors far away, but then, so is electricity. But We love it. (You really have to like winter).
NH.....'nough said
If I Have to explain...........you'd never understand.
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Pennsylvania
mark
Let's really beat this dead horse. Ferget that noise from the other side of the "pond". Provincial squabbling, that is. San Diego and north of there, first choice but not cheap. 2nd choice, and keep this to yourself, western Mass. It's pretty rural but a strong 2nd home market from NY and Boston. Good cultural scene. You have to like the distinctly four season climate.
Come to Berea, Ky. All the domestic hardwoods your little heart could desire within an hour's drive in any direction, perfect weather with minimal swings in humidity compared to other parts of the country, access to great masters(Warren May, Kelly Mehler, Brian Boggs, Doug and Wally Haley, Don Weber to mention a few right here in town), great educational opportunities with five great colleges and universities within a 50 mile radius, beautiful scenery, land that is still affordable (in places, but is going up), and fine medical care. Two fine hospitals in Madison county, and UK in Lexington is #3 or #4 in the nation in primary care hospitals. You could do worse. Plus I-75 and I-64 will get you anywhere else in the country you want to go. Come down and look around. Always willing to welcome another woodworker.
make sawdust, not war.
SHV, Fussy is correct except he is a little too north . Look at East TN. More hardwood than you know what to do with, low cost electric, shorter winter, no state income tax on wages, great hospitals and a VA hospital, East TN. university, Bristol motor speedway and real nice people. My future digs are in Rogersville on rt 11w. Paddy
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