Letter Re: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Retreat Locale

James,
I have been looking for 1-to-200 acres in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Ouch!!! I think that they think there is gold in them mountains. Right now I sit on 47 acres north of Dallas, Texas. Since land is so high I have moved my sights to other areas. Currently I have looked at land in Upper Peninsula (“U.P.”) of Michigan. It is very remote, very few people, gets up to 100″ of snow, has good forest, has water and just a good out of then way place. I have also been told they are firearms friendly. Land is cheap. I have both US and Canadian citizenship, a mechanic at a major airline and since 9/11 been going to school, being excepted to nursing school. I have one more year and I will be an RN, allowing me to work anywhere. Can you give me any plusses or minuses on the U.P. of Michigan? Thanks, – FJ

JWR Replies: If you can stand the severe climate, then yes, the U.P. is about as good as it gets for retreat locales east of the Dakotas. For a move to the U.P., plan to budget to build a big greenhouse (with a steep-pitched roof), and big woodshed. You are going to need both! Oh yes. Don’t forget to lay in a large supply of mosquito repellent.