Grand Junction Colorado

[deathsled]

Currently working on another short story, this one with a venue in Grand Junction Colorado.  Since I like to research what I write for accuracy, I took the liberty of finding a couple of YouTube videos showing the city.  Wow!  What an idyllic little spot.  Dreamy and has a quaint and safe feeling about it.  I could imagine living there.  What a diametric contrast to Chicagoland.  Friendly people versus the nasty, vile sourpusses we have in Chicago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH7u648AR0c

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Idyllic but not safe. It's only safer than 4% of other cities. Of course it does look like Eden compared to Chicago.

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/grand-junction/crime

[deathsled]

Idyllic but not safe. It's only safer than 4% of other cities. Of course it does look like Eden compared to Chicago.

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/grand-junction/crime

LOL!  Maybe I better stay put.  Bartlett rates an 87 out of 100 for crime (100 being the safest) whereas Grand Junction, CO is a 4.  Wow!
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/il/bartlett/crime

[crossboss]

The crime rates quoted sometimes are inaccurate. As an example, here in Vegas, Sun City Summerlin 'shows' a bad crime 'rate'. This could be further from the truth. Summerlin IS the safest community in Las Vegas. That said, where ever you decide to move, I suggest to actually go there and rent a place for 6 months. Its a hell of a lot cheaper than moving there....IF it turns out to be bad.

[deathsled]

The crime rates quoted sometimes are inaccurate. As an example, here in Vegas, Sun City Summerlin 'shows' a bad crime 'rate'. This could be further from the truth. Summerlin IS the safest community in Las Vegas. That said, where ever you decide to move, I suggest to actually go there and rent a place for 6 months. Its a hell of a lot cheaper than moving there....IF it turns out to be bad.

Sage advice.  But I think I've run out of rocket fuel to escape the gravitational pull of where I am presently.  But one never knows what one's future self might do. 

[crossboss]

The crime rates quoted sometimes are inaccurate. As an example, here in Vegas, Sun City Summerlin 'shows' a bad crime 'rate'. This could be further from the truth. Summerlin IS the safest community in Las Vegas. That said, where ever you decide to move, I suggest to actually go there and rent a place for 6 months. Its a hell of a lot cheaper than moving there....IF it turns out to be bad.

Sage advice.  But I think I've run out of rocket fuel to escape the gravitational pull of where I am presently.  But one never knows what one's future self might do.

Move here to Las Vegas! At least you'll have another Ford/Shelby/car nut (me) to hand around with. lol
Seriously, consider Vegas. You may like it. It's not all casinos.

[deathsled]

I did get married in Vegas. Once.  At the Little White Chapel.  It never lasted.  Nothing ever does.  But it was fun while it lasted.  I loved Red Rock.  We headed there and then to Death Valley.  It was great.  I remember swimming in an open air pool on February 14th.  I have thought about Vegas from time to time.  I won't rule anything out. 

[98SVT - was 06GT]

We don't need 4 bedrooms and a giant yard anymore. Plus I'd like to sell before the market takes a dump. One on the next street went for $930,000 a couple weeks ago and even fixers are bringing 750-800. I'm going to have to figure all the angles to minimize the capital gains on my $45,000 investment.

[crossboss]

Boulder City (near Las Vegas) was on my retirement list for a couple reasons. LADWP had a presence there so my 100% healthcare is good there. We have friends in the area - all Shelby guys. Then the downside hit in - annual smog check (CA is every other year) - They smog anything newer than 1967 (CA is 1975) - Their politics and gun laws are getting to be clones of CA.
Now we're looking in AZ - Lake Havasu. It's also where our daughter would like to inherit. They have friends with a vacation home there and they go there often. The health insurance price may kill that one. If it's out we'll downsize in CA and take our prop 13 with us. I sold our land in Tehachapi before they changed the law in 2021 so we can now take it to any county.
Bottom line I want this place to go. We don't need 4 bedrooms and a giant yard anymore. Plus I'd like to sell before the market takes a dump. One on the next street went for $930,000 a couple weeks ago and even fixers are bringing 750-800. I'm going to have to figure all the angles to minimize the capital gains on my $45,000 investment.

I believe you received the wrong info on Nevada smog and gun laws. Smog tests are every year, correct. HOWEVER, any car older than 20 years can apply for a 'Collector' Hot Rod' or 'Classic' plate and NEVER smog your car again. Nevada has no state income tax. Property taxes are very low. Now, about the gun laws: Nevada is a machine gun state...one of few. Nevada is an open carry state. Buy a gun, pass the background check and walk out the door the same day with your firearm(s). No restriction on how many you can buy. High cap gun magazines has no restrictions either. Boulder City is a very quaint little town. A bit far from Vegas proper. Now, IF you do decide to move here, Henderson (east), or Summerlin (west) are your best bets. I'm in Summerlin. It's just like Westlake Village, however nicer in my opinion.
Btw, prop 13 is on its way out. The Donkey Party has made moves to eliminate it. It will happen.
Also, Lake Havasu has its down points: very hot, and currently really has no infrastructure to speak of. Its a seasonal town and quite boring otherwise. No real medical hospitals (if you need that). Just some things to consider.

[TOBKOB]

Lake Havasu has its down points: very hot, and currently really has no infrastructure to speak of.

But... it does have the London Bridge...

TOB

[FL SAAC]

Write about the triangle in opalocka

[deathsled]

Write about the triangle in opalocka

I looked it up.  A triangle known for drugs and violence.  If I get creative, I might tease out a horror story from it.

[crossboss]

Guys,
Where you are potentially moving to, try a website called City Data. Read the comments on the various topics about the city/town, crime, employment, things to do, etc. You will learn a lot. Btw, don't just look at the pretty chamber of commerce pictures on a Google search. It can be misleading.