looking into moving... (1 Viewer)

[sweet trav]

Well, we currently live in norcal (crescent city) and we are VERY eager to get out of ca.

We've been looking in the area (from verde to fernley to dayton to gardnerville, etc) and we'll be out that way in may for a couple days on our way to az and back for a family reunion.

I'd love to get some insight on the different areas/towns from people who live there if possible. I've called some gun shops to get the scoop on nv gun laws since we enjoy our firearms.

We currently have an 08 tt fj and a built 97 lc on 35s (just sold the built 3rd gen 4runner).

basically I'd love to get some feedback on shooting, fishing, offroading, camping...work (I guess), housing, areas to avoid and nice places. I do not want to live in a large city (reno or even carson city), smaller towns are fine. We have two little boys and a third on the way.

I've noticed that nv voted for obama, does that mean that liberals are taking over and nv will follow ca?

Thanks for any info!

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Historically, Washoe County (Reno) along with the rest of the state excluding Clark County (Las Vegas) has always been a very conservative state. That changed recently. The rest of the counties don't have the population densities to compete with Washoe and Clark to off set the balance.

That being said, NV still enjoys very liberal gun laws. It's legal to buy, own and sell class III weapons such as silencers and full auto machine guns. I don't know of any Sheriff in the state that does not support Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW's) permits (They are issued by the Sheriff of the county you reside in). In fact, they just recently passed legislation that allows one to carry any semi-auto or revolver as long as you have qualified with that type of pistol. Prior to this, one would have to individually list each make, model and type of pistol and then qualify with each one and have it listed specifically on their permit.

As far as towns to live in, that's a tough one without knowing your vocations. I've lived in NV since '78 and have witnessed growth and changes throughout the state that I would have never imagined. If I could relocate my family anywhere in the state regardless of careers, I'd move to Lamiolle. It's close to Elko (Safe bet Elko County will never lose its conservative values) for medical, shopping etc. but it still has a small town feel to it. Elko has the Ruby Mtns that offer excellent Heli-skiing along with beautiful hiking with abundant wild life. Elko County is by far the prettiest county in the state with fauna that ranges from Mtn. Goats, bighorn sheep, Mtn lions and even the occasional lost moose.

NV also has the most mountain ranges of any state in the union at 314.

After Lamiolle, it would be a toss up between Austin and Ely. I like them both, but they really are small towns. NV has been great to my family, but with the way it's changing I don't know if I'll stay in the state after I retire which could be as soon as six years. Montana looks good so does Texas and Alaska. I just don't know if I could handle the Texas heat and lack of mountains.


If you guys come into town (Reno) send me a p.m. And we can talk at length.

 

[sweet trav]

Thanks for the info!

I've been reading up about the gun laws and noticed the points that you stated (currently going through ccw process here).

As far as work goes, I'm finishing up my mts (masters of theological studies) and the wife is a physical therapist. I've done all kinds of work and so I'd probably take anything that helped pay the bills and the wife would work minimally just to keep up with her licenses in the field.

The cost of living (ie houses) seems pretty good (particualarly in dayton through fernley and maybe north of reno) but I really don't want to deal with the libs over regulations anymore. I've looked into utah, montana, and arizona (where I grew up but just too hot to move back!). I am very fond of mountains and open spaces to offroad, explore, camp, etc. Montana winters might be too much for me but I'd probably take it if the libs are scarce.

We'll be driving through there on the 4/5 of may and then back through around the 10/11/12 of may. I'm trying to adjust our travel plans so that we can really see the different areas and see what we think.

How's the temps in the summer (ie high temps)?

I really appreciate your time and the info, thanks again!

 

[chicago]

I'm an escapee from Chicago and have lived here since 98!
I LOVE IT HERE!!
WORLD CLASS wheeling and overall great outdoor life. I too am a firearms advocate and am very happy w/ our representation in this state.
However, there had been an influx of Californians that haven't EMBRACED the "wild west" culture here and in my years... I've seen a change, sort of a dilution of the more conservative nature of the area as a result.
We live in south Reno and love it, but I too feel that Reno is feeling a bit big for my tastes.
If we were to move somewhere else in the area... I LOVE the gardenerville area. You can be remote, but close enough to Carson for shopping and work and you're really close to some great wheeling (rubicon).
We thought about moving to AZ, but... It would be SO HARD to leave the wheeling here!!!
Only thing we don't care for are the winters!! If I NEVER saw snow again... I'd be PERFECTLY HAPPY!!
Fishing... Truckee river (though an finicky river) is beautiful, close and challenging.
Tons of lake fishing, too. Not my thing, but lots of folks are very productive on the lakes.
We were also considering Texas for the "likeminded" conservative climate, but the wheeling, from all I've checked, just sucks in comparison to here.

 

[spressomon]

The minus side of living in one of the western metro areas including Reno/Sparks, Carson City, Minden/Garderville:

Clean air, when the wind isn't blowing strongly, is an issue.

The roads were and continue not to be designed to handle the potential and real likely hood of substantial increases in traffic/motor vehicles. There are some tough decisions the community will have to make downstream with regard to this. Obviously we're not the only metro locations with traffic issues...but just like other growing communities this will effect quality of life on either side of the argument.

You better like living in a very arid environment: Several years since we moved here in '96 we've only received <5" of total precip with a couple ~2" total precip years in there...although the 100 year average is about 8". Ditto for your tolerance to dust.

Ditto for wind: Although less windy, comparing average wind speed days, than Omaha where we're from, Chicago, etc. we do get big wind events every year. Its the nature of living on the leeward side of a big mass of rock

If you're from the land of clouds you'll be begging for clouds come about September

And we are a full four season climate. As Chicago mentioned...each year older I get comes with less interest in snow and cold and I used to be a big time winter sports lover. Why can't it always be 75*?

This past summer season was the hottest with the most 90*+ days on record. Typically from about July 1 to early September day time highs will be 95-100* with a few low 100's once in a while. But with virtually no moisture in the air we get a 35* temp delta so mornings, evenings and night-time temps, especially farther away from city core, are very sweet.

And don't expect California type DMV here...its worse.

And lets effing hope fracking, apart of the new shale development in/around Elko, doesn't wreak havoc on their ground water...

Other than that I love it here

 

[sweet trav]

Thanks for the info guys!

I was hoping for a bit cooler weather in summer but it's still better than southern az (which I lived in for 20+ yrs!).

I would be able to deal with a limited amount (travel into city for work, shopping, etc) of traffic, we lived in socal for almost 10 yrs and drove routes through sd, rs, oc, la counties so I'm use to traffic...although I'm not a fan.

So, do any of you have any specific thoughts on fernley, fallon (maybe too far out?), ss, dayton areas?

I was looking in gardnerville but housing seems to be a bit more.

how is icy conditions on the highways/freeways in winter?

we lived on the western slope of the rocky mountains in colorado for almost a year so we've had a little experience with icy roads.

Do you guys do most of your offroading/exploring in nv or ca(west of tahoe area primarily)?

We're hoping to stay in fernley and dayton in may when we come through the area.

Thanks again guys for the input. It's a big help in picking up the tone of the area.

 

[sweet trav]

...I've been watching youtube videos of reno 4x4 to see the geography, trails, etc.

 

[spressomon]

Generally the closer to the range the more 'banana-belt' the weather. Fernley definitely gets more wind and colder temps in the winter...ditto the farther east/away from the Sierra shadow you get.

Minden/Gardnerville area does command higher real estate prices due to the influx of $$$ namely from Calis relocating and retiring there. And its the most quaint of all the communities here. Nice area indeed.

Nevada DOT does an incredible job IMO of not only keeping roads clear of snow and ice but also the quality of the roads statewide is something other states lust for. Huge kudos in this department! We ALWAYS know when we cross the border into another state from Nevada...just by the quality (more aptly: "Lack of") of the roads.

Until I lived here Death Valley only represented a place I didn't want to visit. But its just one of literally hundreds and hundreds if not thousands of places to explore here. That's about the extent of my off-road exploring in CA along with Mojave Preserve/Trail (USAL Road/Trail along the NorCal/Lost Coast is one other). So most of my time is spent exploring Nevada and of course Utah.

If you had a lifetime to travel Nevada's back-roads/trails and byways I don't think you could get it done...


Check out some of the Explore Nevada trip postings here.

 

[sweet trav]

 

[sweet trav]

...a few pics of some of our rigs and travels...

 

[gregnash]

Well I don't think that I could have put it much better than the other guys. Much like you I decided that I wanted to leave the Republic of California about 12yrs ago and really the only things I miss is the green of the central valley (I grew up in Escalon). Other than that life has been much better here.

If you are looking for "outdoors" based fun then you have come to one of the states that is considered a Mecca for that as we have world class of just about everything, whatever be your poison.

The housing market and job market are something that is a bit different though, not to mention one of the most atrocious education systems within the US.

- For the housing market, well things are just starting to pick back up for most of the areas within the state. So it really is still a buyers market with about another 2-5yrs before we get back to the national standard (according to my MIL). Depending on what you are looking for, and it seems more of a small town feel, you are looking in the right areas. As stated, Gardnerville is probably one of the better areas for what you are looking into however I would not discount Dayton, Carson, Fernley, Fallon ad they all have their appeal. The wife and I live in Carson City, on the west side (if you like older, developed neighborhoods this is where you want to look) and love it here. She is a native, born and raised, and really we have not complaints. The good thing is that if you can get in with one of the major industrial companies, the state, or the hospital, well the town is not very large and you can ride you bike to work if you so choose (I do about 8 months out of the year).

- For the job market, well we have been the bottom of the barrel for quite some time and are slowly working our way back up. There is not a whole lot in the way of jobs here unless you have multiple years of very specialized experience and are looking for such a job. Again, we are working back up and we will hopefully be able to offer many more jobs with the technology influx that we are starting to see. With you wife being a PT she probably could easily get on with one of the hospitals as a part-time therapist. If you want more information shoot me a PM and I can talk with my brother who is the supervisor for Carson Tahoe Outpatient PT.

- Schools, oh the schools... My information on this is quite lacking that I will admit but from what I have gathered our education system is one of the lowest in the US. Working with multiple people that have worked in the education industry in NV it is quite amazing to hear such things as "curriculum has changed, math they no longer use numbers but use shapes to determine a numeric value." and other such oddities. However, to offset that we do have UNR and UNLV which are two of the top universities as well as a number of private high schools that have earned more than their fair share of top marks. You can do some research on it and you will find that NV has ranked in the rock bottom for a few years now in public education. Seeing that you have a little on in the photos that may/would be a consideration.

As the others have said, summers are hot, winters are cold and we get wind, lots and lots of wind. Do some exploring when you get out here and see what you find. There is lots and lots around here and tons to do so have some fun while you are at it.

 

[rmblaire]

I have lived in Gardnerville on and off my whole life. It is a great place to live and raise kids. It is a small town that still acts like a small town. Full of cattle ranches and cowboy hats. Don't lock the cars or the doors kind of neighborhoods. Being a small town, jobs can be tricky so many people that live here commute to Carson City, Lake Tahoe or even Reno. We do like our guns and between Minden and Gardnerville (basically one town) we have I think 5 gun stores. It gets plenty cold but snow on the valley floor is far less than 15 minutes up the road in Tahoe.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Now you're the kind of Californian we want!

 

[sweet trav]

Again, I want to thank you guys for the info on the area. I'm excited to see the area in may.

gregnash, I will let you know if we move out there and thanks for the ot/pt info.

I've watched a few vids from reno 4x4 and exploring nevada and it looks very interesting.

google earth is awesome for exploring prior to going to an area.

 

[sweet trav]

...if any of you have links to good vids or pics threads I'd enjoy checking them out.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Heres a bunch of my pictures, they're on page 2. I'll share since you seem like a cool guy.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/off-roading-trails/255506-nevada-life-tacoma.html

 

[sweet trav]

Thanks! I enjoyed them!

 

[rusty_tlc]

Nevada Sucks stay away.



JK I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I've spent the majority of my life in Nevada, mostly in Reno. I've spent just enough time living other places to know how good it is here. I lived in Gold Beach and Brookings at different times in my life, I know Cresent City well. When I start to miss the ocean we spend a long weekend in Fort Bragg or Bodega Bay, both less than a full days drive away. Once or twice a year usually cures me of wanting to live there again.

 

[RAYJON]

Nevada is great, love it here and the gun laws are great... compared to Komiefornia..

on the school thing, you didn't say you had kids but saw the little guy in the pix, they are bad, we located in south reno just so my kids could go to Lenz Elementary. There are some good schools but you have to be involved, the books and what they work from is just bad. My wife has a degree in math and finance and she had a hard time with my daughters math book,

If kids arn't an issue Mindon/Gardnerville would be my choice for close to major city.

I work between here and Elko, anywhere there is a mine right now good luck on housing. The mines are hiring in both Elko and Winnemucca. Newmont is trying to open an older closed mine and hire 1200 people right now. Elko has more people than I have ever seen. As long as the price of gold and silver is up these will be boom towns,

Good luck..

 

[rusty_tlc]

If they start increasing taxes on mining they will turn into ghost towns.

Don't get me started.