A Concept - Conservative Community & Co-Housing

[maxparrish]

I've been thinking about a concept, one that might be most appealing to urban and transplanted conservatives, i.e.; an intentional community of conservatives.

Of course, many conservatives already live in home towns and other conservative communities of their liking but a number of us live in high tax and/or blue states...suffering under social and cultural systems that stifle conservative values and comradeship. While leftists have felt free to re-invent the wheel (make an ersatz geen communities), most conservatives not so fortunate to have extended families and hometowns simply suffer in frustration.

Many on this board might ask why we (like Cali-Girl did) don't move to a more conservative area - my answer would be that such moves may only partially solve the problem, not necessarily providing community support and often disadvantageous in other ways. In short:

We (I) don't want live with deep snow, hot and humid summers, scorpions, biting bugs and flies, tornado's, or in areas of remote farm folk. Moreover we can't afford hyper-priced bucolic liberal enclaves of nature and mild climate (California, Santa Fe, Boulder, Jackson Hole, etc.) - we are literate, semi-urban, but modestly funded conservatives seeking a better life of mild climate, natural beauty, extended family, and shared values.

So my proposal is simple: how about an intentional conservative community? Why not 5 to 25 individuals and families buying nice chunk of land - one that provides access to a nearby urban area, jobs, nature, and a decent climate? Why not a community that shares values and facilities (workshop, swimming pools or pond, gardening, library, talk radio, home schooling, etc.)?

I am, presently, seeking land from the Rockies to the West Coast. I am looking in micro-climate zones that meet these needs, avoids liberals, and offers a chance at fair prices. I don't have a problem in funding several acres (up to 250K), and then building on my own. However, that won't necessarily provide a haven of shared conservative values.

Si if anyone is interested in pooling resources, and knocking the idea about - let me know.

Right now, I need a name....hmmmm "Burke Estates"..."Conservative Haven"..."ReaganVille"?

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Believe it or not, I like your idea a lot! My Bubba is going to be retiring within the next 4-6 years (depending upon if he can ever get a straight answer out of the school board retirement department). We have already been talking about moving ... he wants Georgia, and I've wanted Texas, but the POINT to our move is to get as far away from liberals as we possibly can, but still live within a good community, with employment opportunities, and citizens with likeminded goals, values, and principles. I would be interested in knowing what you find (location, plans, etc.).

Of course, we're probably not the sort of conservatives you had in mind, :smirky: , since we're of the redneck (and financially underadvantaged) variety, :D . Perhaps we could be the token poor conservatives ... that or we could do the hunting, fishing, and animal cleaning, http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biglaugh.gif.

[Rhino]

Can we declare independence?

[heikediguoren]

This information may interest you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Principles

[maxparrish]

Believe it or not, I like your idea a lot! My Bubba is going to be retiring within the next 4-6 years (depending upon if he can ever get a straight answer out of the school board retirement department). We have already been talking about moving ... he wants Georgia, and I've wanted Texas, but the POINT to our move is to get as far away from liberals as we possibly can, but still live within a good community, with employment opportunities, and citizens with like minded goals, values, and principles. I would be interested in knowing what you find (location, plans, etc.).

Of course, we're probably not the sort of conservatives you had in mind, :smirky: , since we're of the redneck (and financially underadvantaged) variety, :D . Perhaps we could be the token poor conservatives ... that or we could do the hunting, fishing, and animal cleaning, http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biglaugh.gif.

Actually HomeSchool you are very much the kind of conservative I'd value as a part of any community or as my nieghbor. After our first meeting and run-in over evolution (which I still feel bad over) I have noted that you are very honest, caring, firmly in gripe of moral issues, and that (smile) we otherwise almost always agree. I have lived in "red-neck" small towns (Oklahoma) and loved it...but I also found that most of these nice small towns live in horrible climate zones (I am kind of a houseplant).

This idea actually came to me after I noted the libertarian free state project on the Internet and that a few of them wanted an intentional community - although my conservative/libertarian blend does not really mesh with their world-view, my real problem is that they want to live in New Hampshire...a pretty state with deep snow and nasty biting bugs in humid summers.

I will keep you in mind and let you (and others) know of my travels and findings. Naturally I have no idea how much raw land I can get for 250K (in New Hampshire I could purchase 50 acres, in the bay area a small suburban lot on a steep, nearly unbuildable hillside). But I will be looking. And per the chance I could buy 5 or 10 acres, I wouldn't care if others built on my land under some mutual contract or co-op agreement (that way if all they could buy/build was a small house it would be cheaper for them). I hope your hubby can retire soon...

Also, if you do go somewhere, I would think Texas might be a bitter better weather wise. I'd check out areas in the Texas hill country and San Antonio...dryer air than Georgia. (and BTW, I visited Lousiville and was very impressed).

Course, I will probably settle in the West, and right now my most intensive searchs/interests have been in Calif, Oregon, and a little of Washington, Idaho, and Ariz...

[maxparrish]

Can we declare independence? Well, the northern counties of California and the southern counties of Oregon have always wanted to form their own united free state, they called it "Jefferson". At one time (up to 1960) it was a serious movement...but even today most of their residents will tell you how much they hate liberals and how they resent their own states politics. Which is why I am looking in the "Jefferson" counties of the state border.

[maxparrish]

This information may interest you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Principles thanks, I'll have to invent some Milton Friedman/Ayn Rand/Jesus Christ social compact...a first I'm sure...:)

[Beowulf]

If this plan enables me to finally buy a house that is reasonably priced and not taxed into oblivion then I'd be for it. Problem is, Liberals have a way to make sure that EVERYONE gets soaked in property tax. Hey, it's the only way they know how to make ends meet.

[Jag Wife]

Well, the northern counties of California and the southern counties of Oregon have always wanted to form their own united free state, they called it "Jefferson". At one time (up to 1960) it was a serious movement...but even today most of their residents will tell you how much they hate liberals and how they resent their own states politics. Which is why I am looking in the "Jefferson" counties of the state border.

That's a beautiful area. I'd certainly be for it.
I think there's a place called Sandy Cove, GA (couldn't find much about it on a search engine) that is TOTALLY privatized except for the police, fire and government officials themselves. Even the schools themselves. Of course you can bet a dollar to a donut that businesses will want to flock anywhere they won't get the snot taxed and regulated out of them.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Actually HomeSchool you are very much the kind of conservative I'd value as a part of any community or as my nieghbor. After our first meeting and run-in over evolution (which I still feel bad over) I have noted that you are very honest, caring, firmly in gripe of moral issues, and that (smile) we otherwise almost always agree.

You mean I'm NOT irrational, illogical, and unreasonable??? WOW!! Don't tell anybody, k? http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biglaugh.gif

Seriously though, yes, I do regret our "run-in," and have come to respect and value your opinions too -- seems politically, we are quite in-tune, and I expect that would make compromise, agreement, and (boy I hate this word, but it's the best one I could think of) tolerance more easily achievable. :smirky: BTW, what's "in-gripe"? http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biggrin0.gif (Hope that made you smile, it did me http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/icon7.gif)

I have lived in "red-neck" small towns (Oklahoma) and loved it...but I also found that most of these nice small towns live in horrible climate zones (I am kind of a houseplant).

To be honest, our little slice of Americana USED to be absolutely perfect, save for one tiny flaw -- being in the wrong FL county. The weather is pretty fab here, except for the occasional hurricane -- but only the past two years have I ever even felt jittery about being in the path of them. In all my time in FL, the "big year" was the only one we even had to pack for. Up until then, we have been too far north to be in the line of fire. Taxes, will kill you here (as compared to the cost of living). Our county sucks the tax dollars out of you. But NOW, this city has grown so big (and still expanding), I don't like it anymore, it's totally changed. Too many liberals have seeped out from Gatorville, come North from little Cuba (i.e. South Florida), and flew down (snowbirds) from the North ... the personality of the place lacks much to be desired.

This idea actually came to me after I noted the libertarian free state project on the Internet and that a few of them wanted an intentional community - although my conservative/libertarian blend does not really mesh with their world-view, my real problem is that they want to live in New Hampshire...a pretty state with deep snow and nasty biting bugs in humid summers.

'Fraid if the snow is more than a typical rainfall here in FL, you can count us out for the move, cause Bubba'd never go for it, and I wouldn't survive in the cold weather. I visited Milwaukee, Wisconsin once at Thanksgiving with a friend (my only REAL foray into the "outer world" -- I had so many clothes/jackets/coats on I looked like the Micheline Tire Man and STILL thought I was going to freeze to death ... you think YOU'RE a houseplant? LOL

I will keep you in mind and let you (and others) know of my travels and findings.

Please do!

Naturally I have no idea how much raw land I can get for 250K (in New Hampshire I could purchase 50 acres, in the bay area a small suburban lot on a steep, nearly unbuildable hillside). But I will be looking. And per the chance I could buy 5 or 10 acres, I wouldn't care if others built on my land under some mutual contract or co-op agreement (that way if all they could buy/build was a small house it would be cheaper for them). I hope your hubby can retire soon...

Me too! In the meantime, there's a great possibility that come the beginning of next year we are going to get a sizeable (that's according to redneck standards now) chunk of change ... if that pans out, we are going to look into some investments that will help us grow it as quick as we can, so we will have $$ enough to start seriously finding our new home.

Also, if you do go somewhere, I would think Texas might be a bitter better weather wise. I'd check out areas in the Texas hill country and San Antonio...dryer air than Georgia. (and BTW, I visited Lousiville and was very impressed).

Yeah, YOU tell Bubba that! You just can't imagine what kind of a GA fan this man is ... bet you'll never guess where we went for our honeymoon? He tried to give me a GA Bulldog toilet seat for a wedding present. When we found out we were pregnant, he began praying for twin girls so we could name them Savannah & Georgia (I KID you NOT). Getting the picture now? http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/biglaugh.gif I'm thinking Texas will be a hard sell, LOL.

Course, I will probably settle in the West, and right now my most intensive searchs/interests have been in Calif, Oregon, and a little of Washington, Idaho, and Ariz...

Actually, my son is dog-goned and determined to move to California (my husband's uncle owns a very successful ironworks near Santa Barbara), and if that comes to fruition (of course, we're praying NOT), then more than likely it's California here we come ... don't think I could stand my baby living so far away from me, :smirky: .

[Republican_Legion]

I've been to santa barbara before.....very liberal area imo. Same area that produced jurors for Michael Jackson trial.

[maxparrish]

This information may interest you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Principles

Sticking my neck out: the equation ... that would not be for 'thrust' would it (I assume G is the Gravitational Constant, m for mass, etc.).

[maxparrish]

I'll keep all of you in mind. A couple of quick comments:

1) I don't mind liberal areas, I just want a conservative enclave (that ways we would have lots of others to make fun of.).

2) "Old" California was heaven - I grew up here before illegal immigrants, massive foriegn migration, high taxes, the Calif. Coastal Commission, and when a house in Marin cost $33,000 (that is now a $1,000,000 min.). A pretty climate and state of only 17,000,000 (now 38 million). I grew up when Big Sur was wilderness and a bunch of poor hippies could build a dome in a heaven on earth forest next to the ocean.

3) Santa Barbara is one of the prettiest areas, best climate (I think) anywhere in the world. However, its so pricey that I am sure that most would find it impossible to buy in. I guessing, but a 3 Bed/2 Bath home is probably around 750,000, so with a 1.5% tax rate one is looking at $11,000 a year in taxs... That being said, if your (HS) son does go to S.B. and has a good job, he should not leave for a while. The sun, sea, and climate is ideal.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT PLACE? HERE'S HOW I AM DOING IT.

1) Climate: Can't be super hot, muggy and humid...not Florida, Georgia, and most places east of Mississippi. Average summertime temp must be at or below 86 degrees, not more than 34 days a year should be above 90.

2) It can snow, but not a lot.

3) Must be above 32 degrees as a low by April. Lots of high desert (e.g. Bend Oregon) is ideal except that nights freeze late into the spring such that gardening is limited (and I need to grow roses)...also Bend is now too pricey.

4) Must make financial sense - reasonable land prices and taxes. Must have medical care (a helicopter ride is okay). Cannot have too many people with three eyes (indicates toxic waste problem). Locals cannot name their male children "bam-bam", or be hostile to strangers, or have lesbian communes and eco-villiages.

5) Would like a nearby small town with a little night life. I would like nice folk around, a coffee shop, a glass of decent wine.

How and where I have looked:

a) Climate Zones - Using Sunset Magazine climate zones I have looked at their "Intermountain Zones of Mild Climate (3A/3B)". Such areas are usually around the 5000' elevation in the West, and often have vineyards such as:

Grand Junction (now too pricey).
Reno (too ugly, dry and pricey for what one gets - a disappointment)
Carson City Nev. (has some potential)
Prescott Arizona (Kinda nice, but has gotten too crowded with retirees).
Sedona Arizonia (Very pretty, very crowded, real pricey).
Santa Fe (liberal and super expensive)

Areas that might work, has reasonable real estate:

Salt Lake City (some say an undiscovered gem).
Raton New Mexico (Poor area, but pretty nature).
Farmington New Mexico (blah nature wise, cheap land, but climate is mild).
Silver City New Mexico (very pretty, small town, in mountains).
Durango Col (perhaps a little too cold, but said to be pretty and nice).
Hood River, White Salmon Oregon (just out of the rain belt)
Walla Walla Washington and Lewiston ID. According to my charts WW is a potential gem, near mountains and CHEAP real estate. However, both of the towns do have extra hot summers and cold winters - but not a lot of snow.

The following areas have greater potential, based on unique Western climate zones with mildish summers and little or no snow:

Southern Oregon: Roseburg, Ashland, Grant's Pass, Illinois River Valley. Some great micro-climates buried in valleys. A wine grape growing region. Can be rainey, but careful micro climate selection helps.

Northern California: For me, there is a "perfect" climate belt that runs from SF Bay area, near (but not on) the coastline, up to Eureka (near Oregon). The "right" areas are where the coastal redwoods grow. Lots of micro-climates. Places like: Willits, Legget, Laytonville. Must be north of Santa Rosa (prices then drop).

Interior California: Sierra Nevada foothills up to Chico California. Places like Paradise, Grass Valley, Placerville, etc. Prices vary widely...but further north the prices drop...but too far north and the nights are too cold.

North Central California: Dunsmuir, near Mt. Shasta. Very pretty small town in mountains - sometimes modest snowfall, but very pretty and warms up in spring early. Supports rose growing.

Far NE Corner: a hidden Gem is there. While winters are cold, other seasons are nice and warm. A place called Cedarville is a pretty little town isolated from liberals.

Also the States vary by people, here are my impressions:

Oregonians - Natives are great. Transplants from east coast and California are rude and nasty. The urban folk are white starbuck's liberal types, but the country folk (south Oregon) are diehard conservatives. All Oregonians have a conservative bent, they just don't always vote that way.

Idaho - People are the best looking I've ever seen (except for some areas of Chicago). Has real nice folk in small towns. Too bad climate is too cold.

Nevada - Ugliest people I've ever seen. As if the "trash" of every state migrated here during the old mining days. Also they are none too bright, they seem nice enough. I love the open spaces though.

Arizona - Don't like the people. Edgy, almost like Arkies. They don't have a easy going or up-beat view of life. Don't care for them.

Texans - one is fun, a whole State full of em is a bit much.

[Republican_Legion]

You seriously have never been to Orange County california or Riverside County california ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County%2C_California
Orange County is a county (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_%28United_States%29) in Southern (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_California) California (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California), United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States). Its county seat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_seat) is Santa Ana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana%2C_California). Its population of 3,056,865 (2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005) estimate [1] (http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/e-1press.pdf)), is larger than that of 20 states. It is the second most populous county (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_counties) in the state of California (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California), and the fifth most populous in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States). The county is known for its wealth and political conservatism, although it is in reality neither as uniformly wealthy nor as homogeneously conservative as its stereotypical image suggests. In fact, the wealthiest areas in the county; Anaheim Hills (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaheim_Hills), Corona del Mar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_del_Mar), Newport Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Beach), Laguna Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Beach), and Villa Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Park) only account for 15% of Orange County's total population.

Orange County has long been known as a Republican stronghold and has consistently sent Republican representatives to the state and federal legislatures. Republican majorities in Orange County helped deliver California's electoral votes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Electoral_College) to Republican presidential candidates Richard Nixon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon) (1960 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960), 1968 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968) and 1972 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972)), Gerald Ford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford) (1976 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976)), Ronald Reagan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan) (1980 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980) and 1984 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984)), and George H. W. Bush (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush) (1988 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988)). Orange County has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1936 landslide re-election. Although Democrats have made inroads in the northern end of the county since the mid-1980s, Orange County politics are still dominated by Republicans. Five of the County's six U.S. Representatives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives), four of its five State Senators (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Senate) and seven of its nine State Assembly members (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Assembly) are Republicans, as are four of the five members of the County Board of Supervisors.

Actor John Wayne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne), who lived in Newport Beach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Beach), is the namesake for Orange County's John Wayne Airport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Airport). Orange County has also produced many homegrown celebrities, including golfer Tiger Woods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Woods), actor Kevin Costner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Costner), comedian/actors Steve Martin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Martin) and Will Ferrell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Ferrell), actresses Michelle Pfeiffer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Pfeiffer) and Diane Keaton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Keaton), and singers Bonnie Raitt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Raitt), Gwen Stefani (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwen_Stefani), and Jeff Buckley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Buckley).
The county's most famous resident was perhaps Richard Nixon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon), the 37th President of the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States), who was born in Yorba Linda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorba_Linda) and lived in San Clemente (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Clemente) following his resignation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resignation).

I strongly Recomend looking at Irvine California.

Irvine is an incorporated city in Orange County (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County%2C_California), California (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California), United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States). It is a planned city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_city), mainly developed by the Irvine Company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irvine_Company) since the 1960s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s). Formally incorporated in 1971 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971), the 46-square mile city has a population of 199,755 (as of 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_of_2006)). It currently has plans to annex an undeveloped area to the north, and has already annexed the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Toro_Marine_Corps_Air_Station), most of which is to be made into a park called the Orange County Great Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County_Great_Park).
The city is notable for its well-regarded public elementary and high schools and exceptionally low crime rate (as of 2005, the FBI considers Irvine the safest city in the US).


The only Liberal citys in Orange County is : Laguna Beach(Uber Rich Homosexuals), Santa Ana(Illegal Alien Heaven) and Laguna Wood(Old AARP Liberals).

Orange County is perhaps the only conservative coastal area in the USA.

[maxparrish]

I have written off Southern California, perhaps unfairly. However, my impression is that it is only a matter of time before it is fully overfun by foriegn borne and 1st generation legal/illegals, more democratic politics, etc. Orange County may remain an enclave, but its property prices and density don't sound alluring to me. I'm looking for a smaller town feel, real nieghborhoods (not suburbs), at least a 1/2 acre of land, and some nature.

Naturally, if I though the days of buying a house on the beach were affordable (say $400K), I'd think about it. Although I will take a second look - Irvine heh?

[Republican_Legion]

You are right about the prices. Depends though since some places in OC are cheaper then others. Irvine is just an example of our safe community.
However crime in Santa Ana isnt pretty but most of the crime does stay isolated to the santa ana area.

Not that most of OCs conservatives are millionares but most of the areas here are at least 450,000 and the highest being 4 million.

Politicians here are actually afraid to say there a democrat, last years congressional special election the democrat candidate had alot of signs that didnt mention his party affiliation.:thumb:

We have people here that seem to come from all over the place.
We got Vietnamese conservatives in Westminster which has perhaps the largest Vietnamese population in the country. We got a big growing mormon population coming from Utah and Idaho. Different folks from the midwest and south also have been immigrating here for a long time.