new hampshire bound.
I've been sitting on some news for a while. Until today, I couldn't make it public, but Robin finally gave her notice at work today, so now I can blab.
In a few weeks, we'll load up a moving truck, and drive about a thousand miles north. Robin accepted a position in New Hampshire, and we purchased a new house there.
There are many reasons for the move--much better pay for Robin, more agreeable climate (yes, we both like our winters cold and snowy), and a much more convenient location for trips to and from Germany. The main reason, however, is our living situation.
We have a little two-bedroom starter home in the 'burbs of K-town. When I moved into this place with Robin five years ago, it was just the two of us and two dachsies, and the space was sufficient--not opulent, but workable. Since then, the family has grown in size by 100%, and the same two bedrooms and 1300 square feet are shared by two adults, two kids, and four dachshunds. Add all the stuff a couple accumulates over the years, consider the room required for kids to play, and the little brick house in the 'burbs is popping at the seams. We're at least one bedroom short, and that extra bedroom would just cover the adults and kids, with no room for guests or an office.
In addition, we're on a street where the houses are built elbow-to-elbow, with just enough space between the units for a tall guy to stretch his arms and just barely miss touching brick with his fingertips. The backyard is fenced, but with the neighbors right on top of us, there's really no privacy to speak of, unless we have the doors closed and the blinds drawn.
So, when Robin got a job offer in New Hampshire, we went house shopping, and she took a few days to see some places in person. We found a house we really liked, and made an offer on it. They accepted, the bank gave us the thumbs-up, and everything's signed. Barring any last-minute issues, we'll be taking possession of our new house shortly after Thanksgiving.
The new house has more than twice the square footage of our current one, close to 3,000 square feet, and it comes with over ten acres of land, on the outskirts of a village of 4,000 or so. It's close enough to work for Robin (a thirty-minute commute), and far enough away from everything else for us to not bother (or be bothered by) anyone. We'll have enough space for kids, dogs, and guests, and I can finally set up my own backyard shooting range. There's even a trail and a little campsite on the property, which will be nice in the summer and fall. Robin can finally have her vegetable patch, and we may even start keeping a chicken coop.
I'm not looking forward to the move. Hauling furniture is not my favorite thing in the world, and the two kids and four dogs will require numerous potty and feeding breaks along the way. We're both looking forward to the new place, however, and that'll serve as a good motivator for the journey. In addition, Robin's mom and my brother will be riding with us to help with the move, which will make things easier on us.
So, yeah, we're excited. The best thing about the place--other than the whole backyard range thing--is the fact that I'll be able to step out onto the front porch in my boxer briefs with a gun in one hand, and a glass of bourbon in the other, and nobody will be around to care...or call the SWAT team on me.
Not that I would ever do such thing, mind you. (Well, maybe once, just to celebrate our new solitude.)
Congratulations.
I've always wanted my own shooting range.
Sounds like the new place will be great for you folks.
Mr Fixit
Mr. Fixit said...
8:07 PM
That sounds PERFECT. When I transferred in September I traded in the cookie cutter McMansion on the tiny lot in surburbia for a home out in the country with waterfront on my backside and some land around me, not neighbors 3 feet away. And it's only 35 minutes from an airport so I can go to work if duty calls. Blissful.
Congratulations. .
skywriter said...
8:09 PM
I've always thought people gravitated towards regions that are similar in climate and geography to that of their ancestors. New Hampshire should remind you of Germany.
Now that the move is official, you might be more interested in the Free State Project.
Eric said...
8:25 PM
Aw, man...I'm really happy for you and Robin, Marko. OTOH, I'm less happy for me, because when I actually manage to make it to TN, I won't be able to visit y'all again.
I'll just have to start making more money soon.
J.R.Shirley said...
8:41 PM
Hope the move goes without problems, and that your new home is everything you could hope for.
BobG said...
9:06 PM
That's wonderful!!
CrankyProf said...
9:25 PM
Wow! That's awesome, Marko. Congratulations.
Don Gwinn said...
9:46 PM
Congratulations! :-D
Squeaky Wheel said...
9:51 PM
Welcome to the Nawth. :)
NH is one of the two new England states I've not lived in; Maine being the other. When I lived in VT, I had a backyard range and I have to tell you, that is a nice deal.
The Earth Bound Misfit said...
10:23 PM
I better try to visit with you before you move away...
Oleg said...
11:03 PM
Once you get settled in, start looking at the adjoining properties with the intension of acquiring them for an expansion of the homestead. You DO want a 1000 yard range, right?
Also, it helps if you don't have to worry about errant falling shot, or waking up the neighbors. Would be annoying to have someone move or build near you and then start raising hell about your activities, in the coming years. Prevention is always better (and cheaper).
Will said...
11:04 PM
Good for all of you!
Congratulations, and here's hoping that your move goes smoothly.
Christina said...
11:55 PM
Congrats! Hope the move goes well and the new home works out for you!
Yuri Orlov said...
6:08 AM
Congratulations Marko, it's a beautiful state.
I'll be speaking at a conference in northern New Hampshire next October. Maybe we can visit. ;)
Ambulance Driver said...
6:44 AM
Good for you. Nice state, and it's gun friendly.
Stephen said...
8:18 AM
Congratulations. Sounds like an ideal place. Hopefully the move will go smoothly for you.
The Captain said...
8:56 AM
Congrats on the move north and Welcome to New England! It sounds like a dream house to me! NH is nice, I wish I could get out of MA and move up there. . . ..
JD said...
9:03 AM
Marko,
Congrats on the move. Just be careful you don't venture south into the volksrepublik of MA... ;)
Best regards,
Jay
Jay G said...
9:28 AM
Jay,
I've lived in the People's Republic of MA before. Lived in North Andover and Haverhill before moving to Nashua, NH, so the area is not exactly new to me. I worked in Boston back then, so I'm a battle-hardened veteran of the Route 3 commute.
I lived in MA from 1996-'97, and in NH from '97-'98. That last year before moving to TN, I got the worst of both worlds...got to pay NH property taxes and MA income taxes.
Marko said...
9:35 AM
Haverhill is the town next to mine. Not only that, but I drive through North Andover twice a day. That's just wild.
Hey, I am loathe to invite myself along, but if you'd be up for a local gathering, I'd be in.
(And not just because you've got your own range, honest...) :)
Jay G said...
9:41 AM
Congrats! Drop me a line when you get settled in.
Bruce said...
9:43 AM
Welcome (back) to new England. I'm down in Mass, but if you need help hauling stuff give a shout.
AE
Arcticelf said...
9:52 AM
Congratulations!
And... "Backyard shooting range" is just about the finest phrase in the English language.
Forlorn Boater said...
9:54 AM
Big house on ten acres on the outskirts of a small town and STILL only a 30 minute commute? Fantastic! Congratulations sir!
Kevin said...
11:48 AM
Congratulations, old stick. Hopefully drop by 'round Yuletide.
Mark said...
12:53 PM
Congratulations on the new house!
And just when I was starting to think that Tennessee is hogging all the libertarians, you move out of state.
ibex said...
2:52 PM
Marko, we barely knew ya. Congrats all the same.
Les Jones said...
3:50 PM
Congratulations to you and your family. the kids and the pups will enjoy having all that room to run. And I'm quite sure you and Robin will enjoy the freedom to walk around in your bathrobe without having to worry about privacy....
Mark said...
5:28 PM
Congrats Lad!
I live in the southern part of the state, complete w/shootin' range in the side yard.
Funnny about your "briefs & bourbon" comment- before we came here, I told the wife to find a place where I could sit on the front steps nekkid, drink beer, throw the cans in the yard, & shoot them w/my pistol, & nobody would get excited.
AND, she did!
WELCOME!
doubletrouble said...
6:49 PM
Oh boy. Now you've done it.
Tam's gonna be ticked off for weeks!
jetfxr69 said...
10:42 PM
So let's get this straight, you're voluntarily choosing to leave the great state of TN in favor of NH, where there are ridiculously high property taxes and not to mention a personal income tax? In exchange a colder climate and 10 acres?
You've gone senile, Marko. Seriously.
Anonymous said...
10:53 PM
NH has higher property taxes in most counties, but they have no personal income tax, and no sales tax either.
In our current county of residence, the combined sales tax for state & county is 9.25%, which is one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation. And we pay it on every frakkin' thing, from groceries to cars to paper clips to food.
Over the course of a year, that adds up to way more than the increase in property taxes for us.
Marko said...
11:01 PM
If you're looking to make some quick range buddies when you reach the Granite State, check out the NES forum
http://northeastshooters.com/
Congrats on the Move!
Weer'd Beard said...
7:00 AM
New Hampshire has such beautiful scenery, where in the state are you going to be living?
Anonymous said...
10:03 AM
Did it in 93,just so I could have my own range, 7 houses on the entire 2 miles of road, I sit back off the road about 900 feet, I can walk out gun in hand sans the boxers & nobody's gonna call.
You will love it & trust never move back to subs
The Duck said...
3:28 PM
You must drop me a line when you get up here.
While I don't have the back yard shooting range, I do have the big lake within sight and a boat to go with it, so I'm willing to make the compromise.
On the other hand the local police chief was more than helpful, processing my application for CCW in record time (like 10 minutes!)
It took longer to drive to the police station than it took to get my permit.
Man, I love New Hampshire!!
DCE said...
9:00 PM
Welcome to New Hampshire!
I have not read your blog before. So many blogs, so little time, especially if one is to have a life away from the computer.
I came across it through the Instapundit link to "why the gun is civilization", an excellent article.
I then looked around a bit and noticed that you were moving to NH. I have been living here since 1980. Among other things I am a libertarian, a firearms instructor, a husband, father, grandfather, and a software egineer.
Are you a member of the free state project? http://www.freestateproject.org/ I am not, but I have been helping those moving into the state. Not only is it great to have more political allies I have also made a number of new friends as a result.
When you get a chance I would like to meet you. Contact me at tony @ lekas.org and I'll send you my phone number. I live in Hudson.
If you have any questions about NH, if I can help you in any way, or if you want to get involved in the libertarian community here, please let me know.
Tony Lekas said...
10:32 AM
Marko, congratulations, and impending welcome to New Hampshire :)
dce, by the sound of it we're near-neighbors ... my wife and I just bought a house in Gilford.
tony, Free Stater and First Thousander coming at ya :)
Unix Ronin said...
9:49 AM