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Guest Article: Strategic Relocation: Are You Missing Out? by Kit Perez

This article originally appeared in the American Partisan [1].

The concept of strategic relocation is not new, but it’s recently become more popular, as more and more liberty-loving folks get tired of being crammed into crowded public transportation or spending hours on the road in the daily snail-pace commute. For many, the thought of leaving everything can be a bit terrifying, and if you have a family who doesn’t want to leave, you might be thinking that your Big Move is more of a pipe dream than a real possibility, even though you see the death grip on your everyday freedoms tightening by the day. Here’s the truth: it can be done. And yes, you can be amazingly happy in a new location that is more conducive to the type of life you want to live.

Just like changing your physical condition requires time, discipline, and effort, so does changing your permanent residence. Add to that a lot of planning, and you’ll see yet another reason why a lot of people don’t do it. Before we get into how to effectively and efficiently plan such a move, however, let’s look at why you might choose that path — or at least, why you’re probably interested in the idea. Over the next few days we’ll go through the process of aligning your thought process, getting down to brass tacks, and even what you should be doing when you get to your new location.

Why Move?

Maybe you live in a high-crime neighborhood. Contrary to what society will tell you these days, moving because you don’t want to deal with crime, homeless camps, drug addicts, or other social problems and vices does not make you a racist. If you want a safer environment for your family, then moving might be your best bet. When I first purchased my home in a quiet lake community north of Seattle, it was a great environment for my kid to grow up, with lots of opportunities. A few short years later, within a five block radius, there was a convicted rapist, a chop shop, a meth house, two shootings, and a hotbed of criminal activity on the next corner. That’s not counting the commute, which more than doubled in time due to exploding population. It was time to go, and I don’t regret making that move one bit. It was hard — and it continues to be. For us, it’s worth it, and we would never even consider leaving our little farm.

There is a long list of reasons why moving out of the city is an excellent choice; if you’re already considering it, then you’ve probably already thought of at least some of these:

Another thing you might be dealing with in your area is the locale’s natural disaster type. Everything is a trade, and while preparing for natural disaster is somewhat the same regardless of where you live, each area has its own specific challenges that you might not be okay with.

If you live in an urban or even suburban area, you might also find that you’re having a hard time finding people who believe as you do, whether that be your worldview, politics, or religious belief. Like it or not, harassment is a very real thing—and not in the ways the media would have you believe. Being liberty-minded, religious, or even just the wrong color in certain areas can get you in big trouble—and that goes for anyone. Regardless of what race you are, there are places you aren’t welcome.

The reasons to move are many, and the bottom line is that you don’t need to justify those reasons to anyone. What matters is what’s best for you and your family, and if that means pulling stakes, then so be it. If you’re set on moving, let’s talk about how to make it happen.

Choosing a Location

Once you’ve outlined your reasons for moving (thereby outlining what you’d need in a new location), you’ll need to figure out where to go. Do you just move to a different neighborhood? Out of the city into a nearby suburb? Do you stay in the same state but move to a rural locale? Or do you go all out and move to a different part of the country?

A lot of this will depend on what your reasons for moving are. If state gun laws are an issue for you, for instance, then you’ll probably need to move out of state. If you just want to be able to see your kids go to a less violent or better school, you may be able to get away with just moving to a different neighborhood. If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at homesteading, you’ll be looking at states where that’s being done successfully.

If you use social media, you can look at groups that are local to the area you’re interested in moving to, to get a feel for the culture. Read their local paper, maybe even pull up the radio frequencies for their local police and fire and listen to the type of calls they’re dealing with on a daily basis. Are they getting a lot of overdoses? Shootings? What area of the town or county are the calls coming from? Are they places you can avoid? Is the crime location-based (such as a specific block or business) or is it widespread all over the county? If you notice over the course of a few weeks of paying attention that a specific street gets a lot of calls, or maybe the cops get called to a certain bar for fights, you can avoid that problem by simply not going to that location.

Look up the laws in your proposed new locale and see what’s considered legal and what’s not. You may very well choose to ignore certain laws in your quest for more freedom, but you should at least be able to make an informed decision about what you’re choosing, and what the potential consequences are so you can mitigate any potential fallout.

Check the county zoning laws and building permit requirements, too. One person I know found the perfect off-grid home—only to find that it was sitting just on the wrong side of the county line, in a location where the county wanted permits for everything and lots of taxes and fees. They chose to pass on that house and went to a county where there are no building permits, and no one cares what they do on their land.

Before choosing a location, you can also pull up all manner of data on everything from average income and education level to demographics, home prices, economic growth, and anything else you’d like to know. It all depends on what kinds of information you seek, and whether you’re willing to do the research. You’re never going to find the perfect place; you can, however, find something that fits the non-negotiables. Check out the local weather too, and keep in mind what will be expected in that area. Are you choosing a place with hard winters? Super-hot summers? Higher altitude? Before you throw out the idea of living in a place with rough winter, for instance, keep in mind that there are positives to everything. Snow runoff, for instance, can help you water your garden months later during a drought if you’ve thought ahead in terms of collection. And after the busyness of spring and summer, you’ll look forward to winter, when you have a freezer full of meat, shelves and root cellar packed with food, enough firewood to keep the house warm, and lots of time to work on indoor projects or study new skills in preparation for spring thaw.

One more thing—be aware of any tourist attractions, natural wonders, or other curiosities in your area. They draw crowds and everything that goes with them. You might have your heart set on living in the mountains of Wyoming—only to later realize that you moved too close to Yellowstone National Park and now have tens of thousands of people clogging your local area for half the year.

Taking the Next Step

Once you’ve decided on a location (or at least narrowed it down to 2), it’s time to talk funding. Look at average rents/mortgage payment amounts. You may need to rent a smaller place until you can buy. You may want a bit of land to raise animals. You may choose to live remotely or in a small town near a larger area. If your ultimate goal is to get as off-grid as possible, understand that you’re not going to want to go directly from an urban or suburban environment directly to a place where you have no electricity and have to haul water. You and your family will get frustrated very fast, and you’ll be tempted to move back. Start small; rent a place with a well and power.

Above all, be realistic about how it’ll be. The first year is really, really hard. The second year is a bit easier but it’s still difficult. Don’t be tempted to show up and assume you’ll be able to be fully sustainable within a year. You’ll learn some hard lessons; those lessons, however, will not only make you stronger, but you’ll find that you’re able to adapt better for the next situation. You’ll learn to use what you have instead of running to the store for everything. Depending on where you end up, you may find that certain times of the year require you to prepare, or forego certain activities in favor of making your life easier later. You’ll learn that at least part of each season is spent preparing for the next one, or getting done various tasks that need doing. There’s a routine to it, however, and over time you’ll also find that you are emotionally attached and invested in your homestead. It’s something you’ve worked on and sweated over, and it helps you survive. If you can find your spot in a state or area that is also more liberty-minded than where you are, you’re doubly blessed.

If you’ve read this far and aren’t interested in taking the leap of faith, that’s fine too — there are those who believe that freedom can be found anywhere. Ultimately, it’s your choice, and you don’t have to defend that to anyone either. For those who can smell the fresh air and imagine a different life for yourself and your family, however, stay tuned. In the next  part of this article series we’ll talk about where you’ll find the money to make it happen.

Note: This article originally appeared in the highly recommended American Partisan [1]. The author, Kit Perez [2], is the co-author of Basics of Resistance: The Practical Freedomista, Book I [3]a primer on resistance methods. (It was co-authored by Claire Wolfe.) Perez is also a counterintelligence and statement analyst, as well as a longtime political writer on national security, intelligence and privacy/tech topics. She holds a BA in Counterintelligence and a Masters in Intelligence Studies. She specializes in deception detection, HUMINT, and digital surveillance issues.

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Comments Disabled To "Guest Article: Strategic Relocation: Are You Missing Out? by Kit Perez"

#1 Comment By Brooksy On September 16, 2018 @ 1:29 pm

Did this 8 years ago. Glad I did it at that age, it would be more difficult now.

#2 Comment By VT On September 16, 2018 @ 3:42 pm

There is a big world out there,a state to state move may mininize some problems but you are still in the same “basket” (just moved your eggs a little),consider another “basket” at least financially if not full multinationalism(second passport) to escape a full breakdown.

#3 Comment By 2bob On September 16, 2018 @ 5:07 pm

We moved to Idaho County in the late November of 2013. We had purchased bare land and brought a camp trailer for our first home intending to start and finish a house the next spring through fall. Our goal was to do the building ourselves, dad was a carpenter and I know the trade. Midway into the summer I took a tumble off a ladder about 10 foot fall. Nothing broke but it was weeks and weeks before I was going strong again. Then as it does life gets in the way with other set backs etc. So that now 5 years in we’re just getting comfortable with the rhythms of the seasons and knowing and understanding the lay and needs of the land. What it can do for us and what we can do for it to provide for us. And I grew up rural, on 265 acre dairy farm, 100×200 garden, helping mom can every kind of fruit and harvest from the garden. 250 ton of hay cut ,raked, baled and put into the barn every year. Expect the unexpected to happen and the learning curve to be steeper than you think. Give yourself as much time as you can, it will make a huge difference. And the payoff has been well worth our efforts and setbacks, which is where we learn the most.

#4 Comment By Dan N. On September 16, 2018 @ 6:48 pm

I’m currently in North Idaho looking for property with a creek, but everything here is so darned expensive or far from being able to make an honest living. Having a limited budget and not wanting to finance makes it even more frustrating especially when so many are fleeing Kommiefornia buying up everything and driving up the land prices. My time here is limited and soon I’ll have to go back to an extremely liberal area in western NC . I pray I can find something before I have to leave. I’d settle for a good caretakers position if I could find one but the only national publication the ‘Caretakers Gazette has some poor reviews and I’m wary to subscribe….praying heavily for guidance!

#5 Comment By lineman On September 17, 2018 @ 2:29 am

Is it just you or do you have a family also? You really should check out the Bitterroot Valley of MT Brother…If you can’t find work in the Valley which there is plenty of jobs right now you can always commute up to Missoula while you make connections…Let me know if you need any help…

#6 Comment By Kroneborge On September 17, 2018 @ 8:11 pm

In today’s world unless you are very well off it’s almost impossible not to finance. Granted there can be valid reasons (for example, close to retirement and income will be going down soon). But If you don’t have one of those reasons, I wouldn’t let that stop you. Of course you should still make sure it’s a place you can afford.

#7 Comment By mike On September 18, 2018 @ 5:31 am

Look around Bonners Ferry, land is a little less expensive and more water is available and a good micro climate for growing. Many people do not realize that the inland NW does not have a lot of year round rivers or streams. Also it takes about 5 years to get totally acclimated to a new area if you are from somewhere totally different.

#8 Comment By Jason On September 16, 2018 @ 7:11 pm

Made the move 2 years ago in November. Best decision I ever made. I really wanted the American redoubt, but finding employment in my field was nigh on impossible. So found a very rural county in Middle tennessee. Rented for 6 months before finding and buying our land. First full summer this year was rough, garden just started with marginal harvest, chickens planned for next year. More important that anything else though, I am surrounded by conservative Christian neighbors in a liberty minded state. If you can make the move, do it. You won’t regret it.

#9 Comment By DD On September 16, 2018 @ 11:03 pm

Wished I could make the move out of upstate new yorkistan but too many irons in the fire better to dig in here. 4th generation family farm its hard to leave and with my aging parents they must be looked after to enjoy their retirement years to the fullest. Good luck all hope to join you someday soon

#10 Comment By lraude On September 17, 2018 @ 1:21 pm

Being as I am formerly from Pa, I know how the city or cities (Philly &Pitts. in Pa) can run a state. That being said why not start a movement to make NYC their own state? I have often wondered why California hasn’t tried the same thing. That would allow the rest of the state then to be as Liberty minded or not as they want. And I know how most of the agricultural areas of a state are much more conservative then the urban areas this just might work. Or at the worst you may have to throw out Albany as well. Hey nothing ventured nothing gained.

#11 Comment By camp doubt On September 16, 2018 @ 11:17 pm

We left a commie state when the people were tired of a movie actor for Governor and re-elected the “moonbeam” and have not looked back! found our way to the redoubt and have embraced every minute of it. We each had our skills which we can use here and although the money is not the same, that was not our motivation for coming here it was for the freedom and lifestyle. Now let me be clear it is a lot of work, wish i had made the move earlier in life. Every year brings new challenges esp. with the garden but it’s a great ride.

#12 Comment By Not So Free On September 16, 2018 @ 11:59 pm

I read this article on American Partisan. Unfortunately I couldn’t copy and paste it to my laptop from their site to reread later.
Thanks for posting it here. I think it’s worth saving to my files.

#13 Comment By Dan On September 17, 2018 @ 3:03 pm

MOved to SW Idaho 3 years ago…best decision of my life. Not being used to snow took me until the second winter to be fully prepared for it, though.

#14 Comment By gitrdoneprepper On September 17, 2018 @ 5:33 pm

I’m an early 20s guy currently living in the communist state of IL.. want nothing more than to move to a redoubt state but cannot find ANY jobs that pay anything close to a living wage. Aside from waiting till retirement, what are employment options in the mountain states that have worked for anyone else? (I do have a bachelor’s degree as well as 3 years full time work history)

#15 Comment By lineman On September 17, 2018 @ 8:19 pm

What do you do? Also its cheaper to live out this way so you don’t need to make as much as living in IL…

#16 Comment By LO On September 18, 2018 @ 3:27 am

Latah county here.. Bovill, Avon, Princeton, Potlatch, Helmer, Deary, Troy, Kendrick and we cant forget Moscow for the city slickers….( Any of this sound familiar? ) I have to say, Life is great here! JWR sure can pick the places for a great book. but be careful driving, the Whitetail are thick as flies! Many a front bumper has been introduced to the whitetail… Elk season starts Oct 10th. for rifle… Most of us are primed and ready to go… You wont find any towel warmers in these parts, But you will find people with big, sincere, hearts .. Make the move to where ever your heart is calling you.. Your quality of life goes up, even if your big city income goes down… I love the people I know here.. and if the brown stink ever hit the fan, i can’t think of a safer place to be.. we take care of our own..

#17 Comment By Jeff H On September 21, 2018 @ 12:28 pm

God opened some doors for us to relocate from a liberal urban area in the SE to a rural area in a more liberty minded state (still in the SE), including leading us to a great property with some already established fruit bushes, trees, and vines. We’re still learning, adapting, and upgrading, but I wish I’d done this years ago.