Have lived in the deep south my entire life. Things went really badly during 2020 and we realized we needed to get out. Started saving and preparing, our plan was to move before the next election.

We have bought a 1920’s farmhouse that still has 9 acres. 100 year old apple trees, blueberries, vineyard. It’s amazing. Part of the land is industrial zoned with power and I’m going to build my machine shop there. We got a steal of a deal, it would be a $500k house and land here.

I bought a '98 Chevy box truck. The boy and I will be making our second trip tomorrow.

  • l_b_i@yiffit.net
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    5 months ago

    Other than the weather, rural Appalachia and the south have a lot in common.

    • Machinist@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 months ago

      Yeah, the politics aren’t great there either, but it’s no where near as bad as what we’ve been dealing with.

      I’m really looking forward to actually having seasons. First time we were there, people were talking about how bad a heat wave they were having and it was still better than Alabama.

      I’m a redneck, and from what I’ve seen so far, I’ll mostly be at home with the people there.

      • neidu2@feddit.nlM
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        5 months ago

        I’m a European who was actually pleasantly surprised by the little of Alabama I’ve seen. Probably because I avoid discussing politics in my travels. Spent a week or thereabouts in Mobile. I’m not sure how representative that is for the rest of the state.

        Oh, and I drove west for a while for a meeting in this tiny and cozy place called Gulfport. I think that was in the next state over, though.

        • Machinist@lemmy.worldOP
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          5 months ago

          Mobile is pretty different from the rest of the state. We’re from the northern end. Gulfport is in Mississippi, IIRC.

          It’s a beautiful state, I’m really going to miss the land. Have a jar of the red clay dirt to take with me.

      • l_b_i@yiffit.net
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        5 months ago

        yea, 90 in pitt is HOT. I miss seasons. I need some cold to reset my year.

        The people are nice, but the politics are probably about the same, just more cities factor into the representation.

        • Machinist@lemmy.worldOP
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          5 months ago

          It’s so much quieter there. The muffler laws seem to actually be enforced. In Alabama, the penis trucks have become so loud they interrupt conversations inside.

          At the voting booth, politics are about the same, however, our neighbors have become scary here. There have been major fascist changes in the state and it has gotten real spooky.

          While rural is very much red in Pennsylvania, the cities are blue and that influences lots of things in rural areas. The schools are also way better, my son has been doing online school for a while due to how bad they are here. It will be good for him to actually go back to a physical school.

          • l_b_i@yiffit.net
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            5 months ago

            Doesn’t Pennsylvania have annual inspections? I bet that helps.

            Georgia has Atlanta and lots of big companies, so that helps keep things a little more sane. Blue cities in the south have a very different feel from blue cities elsewhere.

            • Machinist@lemmy.worldOP
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              5 months ago

              Yeah, they do have inspections and that is probably what does it.

              Atlanta is great, culture wise, but fuck driving in that abomination. Peach Tree!

              Huntsville was our more progressive city, but it has really changed, and not in a good way.

              • l_b_i@yiffit.net
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                5 months ago

                With all the companies and people moving to Atlanta, if anything it keeps getting more progressive while staying almost as religious as the rest of the state.

                Take MARTA its smarta