IronMike | 31 Mar 2014 5:10 p.m. PST |
Earlier this year the wisest person in the world (aka my mother) shed this mortal coil. While this is tragic, it has the benefit of providing me with a rather handsome inheritance. I won't say the exact amount here, but let's say that it's enough to keep the bills covered for several years. This has given me the idea to move away from my current location, which is the hinterlands of southern Wisconsin. where I have lived for most of my life. this leads to an interesting question: In terms of availablity of fellow gamers, shops, etc. What's the best town for a moderately well-off wargamer to move to? Any suggestions? |
Rich Bliss | 31 Mar 2014 5:23 p.m. PST |
You might be there already. Easy access to Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee? The only place better might be Harrisburg/ Baltimore. |
nnascati | 31 Mar 2014 5:33 p.m. PST |
There seem to be quite a lot of gamers in Texas. |
Chris Palmer | 31 Mar 2014 5:36 p.m. PST |
Yes, like Rich Bliss said, I would say somewhere between Harrisburg and Washington DC. Lots of gamers, shops, access to the big three HMGS-East cons, regional cons, and tons of Historic sites and battlefields within a day-trip's distance. |
epturner | 31 Mar 2014 5:37 p.m. PST |
Gettysburg. In range of the three big HMGS cons. Residence near one iconic battlefield and within striking range of many, many more. And home to The Gettysburg Area Gamers
Once a week, lots of periods, and a bunch of good mates. Eric |
epturner | 31 Mar 2014 5:39 p.m. PST |
And, Iron Mike, having been to The Foxhole Pub, in Sparta, WI, I can only say that we have hot wings and multiple sauces for your fried whatever here in Pennsy that they did not have there
Eric |
Dan Wideman II | 31 Mar 2014 5:54 p.m. PST |
Mike, we have a core group of 6-8 guys with another 20 or so on my "occasionally attend" list. We get together at my place in Neenah. South central WI might be a bit remote, but we have contact with some of the guys in Milwaukee as well. Let's just say that unless you desire In Store gaming at a huge facility, there's little more you'd need than what we have. Almost every period is covered between us, and you can get a game just about any time. |
Striker | 31 Mar 2014 6:02 p.m. PST |
Not sure on the other elements of life but there is activity in the eastern part of the state (border north through Green Bay). There's also Chicago and then west. |
Caesar | 31 Mar 2014 6:22 p.m. PST |
I still think we need to open a gaming community. |
chuck05 | 31 Mar 2014 6:26 p.m. PST |
You'd be surprised at the number of gamers in the Southeast WI area. Im part of a group like Dan Wideman's. We have a core of about 4 or five that meet semi weekly just north of Milwaukee. There are about 20 or so others that show up for large weekend games. |
Ed the Two Hour Wargames guy | 31 Mar 2014 6:49 p.m. PST |
Sorry for your loss. As for the question, Austin Texas, Great Hall Games and the tons of friendly gamers. Weather's not bad either. |
Desert Fox | 31 Mar 2014 7:14 p.m. PST |
Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota |
vtsaogames | 31 Mar 2014 7:31 p.m. PST |
My advice: go visit some of these places mentioned above and see how you like the folks, the games, the climate, etc. |
Dan Wideman II | 31 Mar 2014 8:35 p.m. PST |
vtsao has a good idea. You'd be welcome to visit for a game anytime. Will you be at Little Wars by chance? |
Perris0707 | 31 Mar 2014 8:55 p.m. PST |
I am pretty sure that if you are from Southern Wisconsin you probably do not want to move to Northern Wisconsin. ;-) But man, how can you leave Packerland??? And with the Badgers poised to go for a national championship. Come on man!!! |
Perris0707 | 31 Mar 2014 8:58 p.m. PST |
On a serious note. I am from northern Wisconsin and visited the Shenandoah Valley after Historicon last summer. It was beautiful, close to everything historical, great food, great folks, AND it is usually in the 40's and 50's in the winter. |
IronMike | 31 Mar 2014 9:27 p.m. PST |
Okay, a little background on yours truly: While I currently live in SOUTHERN wisconsin, I spent my growing-up years in NORTHERN Wisconsin, in a little dinky town called Lake Holcombe (for those who know their Wisconsin geography, it's about sixty miles northeast of Eau Claire,) a town so small you could literally rob the bank by picking it up and putting it on the back of a flatbed truck. While I am amazed and honored by so many local folks inviting me to share a table with them, the truth of the matter is that I have lived in Wisconsin almost all my life and it's time for a change
. |
Dan Wideman II | 31 Mar 2014 9:39 p.m. PST |
Hey, this winter was enough to make anyone think about somewhere else. |
Parzival | 31 Mar 2014 10:23 p.m. PST |
Maximize your wealth and move to a state with no income tax. That leaves you the choices of Florida, Texas and my own little slice of heaven, Tennessee. I wish I could tell you that Middle Tennessee has the greatest gaming scene ever, but let's be honest, we're not Chicago, New York, or the host city for Fall In, Historicon, etc.. Still, it's a lovely state, real estate is cheap, there are some great gamers here, and we have Nashcon. And since there's no income tax and the cost of living is low, you can use more of that extra cash to buy what you want and travel to the big cons whenever the fancy strikes you. Hop a jet, rent a car (or get a shuttle) and you're there
or, for some cons, just jump in the car and drive. Mild winters, reasonable summers, and good ol' Southern cooking. But be careful— if you're not already hitched, some Southern cutie might offer to help you spend that extra cash. Them gals is dangerous! |
IronMike | 31 Mar 2014 10:31 p.m. PST |
Dan Wideman II sez:
Hey, this winter was enough to make anyone think about somewhere else. grin Tell me about it. There were points when it was close to -70, and seeing as I rely on mass transit in s city where a common question at a job interview is 'Do you have reliable transportation?' I got to experience a lot of that firsthand. A roommate owns some property near Douglas, Arizona. In the past I've joked that I would buy it off him
not I'm not sure i'm joking. |
Cerdic | 01 Apr 2014 2:23 a.m. PST |
Come to Britain! Loads of wargames clubs and shows and historic sites. We speak the same language so it is not too hard to settle in. Lovely countryside and some nice property. Close to Euroland for visiting places on the Continent. Can be quite rainy but you can't have everything can you! Oh, and unless you are as wealthy as a Russian oligarch or an Arab oil sheik, avoid London! |
Guinny | 01 Apr 2014 3:16 a.m. PST |
Can you get anywhere better for gaming than Nottingham? There might not be all that many clubs, but you have so many manufacturers on your doorstep, and getting around the country is so easy, you could go to a couple of wargaming shows a month! |
OSchmidt | 01 Apr 2014 4:30 a.m. PST |
Dear Iron Mike Think long and hard and choose wisely my friend. Wargaming should be at the bottom of the list of reasons to move to a place. You will only be gaming at most once or twice a week and you have to live wherever you move the rest of the time, which can be awful. Further, although a place may have a going war game population, many of those will be nothing less than nasty little swine who you won't want to game with. You will then have disrupted your life for nothing. Get personal references of people elsewhere from people you know. As far as I can tell Wisconsin is a great place for gaming. I know of several people out there chief of which is Gary Richards, a great gamer and a great guy. if you're serious about this madness then the next place I'd recommend is the Gettysburg area. There are several clubs, but I also know that Bill Molyneux, Mic McGoldrick, Bob and Cleo Liebl, Ed Dowgiallo, and a dozen really great guys go to them or are in the Lancaster to Gettysburg area, and I've gamed with them all and they are wonderful people. I live in Northwestern New Jersey and it's very expensive to live here, there are few war gamers, and many of them are the NLS' I spoke about. Don't move here! |
Cadian 7th | 01 Apr 2014 9:27 a.m. PST |
+1 to OSchmidt! Although I have several net- friends I'd like to live near due to gaming and conventions; I would move to a new location purely based on the following factors. 1- Cost, taxes and expenses.- get that dollar stretched. 2- Jobs, I hate being idle and since I like to eat and buy new minions, a job I'd like would be preferable
at least until I'm retired or approaching Gate's wealth! 3- Location, a home ties you down and if you hate the view it becomes a miserable anchor. I need wilderness and trees, fishing and mountains are sheer bonus as is gaming locations. A thriving gaming community and agreeable climate would make it better, but shouldn't be driving factor. I myself like it cool not hot and thus Denver would seem to be a good fit with social, view, job, ect; yet politics, cost, and urban would make it an ill fit. Pick 4-5 potential locations and find out the pros and cons of each, also don't forget the small towns located near. As a small town fellow, a 20-30 min drive shouldn't be much a quibble for ya! ;) |
Cardinal Ximenez | 01 Apr 2014 2:26 p.m. PST |
Gettysburg or Nottingham. DM |
IronMike | 01 Apr 2014 3:40 p.m. PST |
Trust me, I'm not so crazy that I would pull up stakes and move someplace halfway across the country (or around the world, as some have suggested) just for my hobby
it's just that for the first time in my life, I have an actual choice about where I can live. So I'm looking for options. |
Howler | 01 Apr 2014 6:09 p.m. PST |
I was born and raised in the deep south but married a gal from Oshkosh. Been here over 20 years and am a regular at Brother Wideman's. This area is great for gaming. However, if I could, I'd move to Gettysburg in a heartbeat with my second choice being Tennessee. Gaming, climate, history, all around you. Not bad I'd say. However, Nottingham is also worth considering. |
tuscaloosa | 01 Apr 2014 6:32 p.m. PST |
Washington DC suburbs: Pro's: Lots of gamers. Regular meetings almost every night of the week, including miniatures, board games, whatever. Con's: Expensive area, housing prices high, traffic third worst in the country. |
The G Dog | 01 Apr 2014 7:51 p.m. PST |
Ohio. Close enough to East to do the East shows. Plus Origins, Gencon is in Indy and a plethora of local shows and shops. Pro's: Cost of living is lower. Good road net and lots of 'cultural' stuff. Con's: If you don't drive, your options drop to three or four of the big cities. |
YogiBearMinis | 01 Apr 2014 8:51 p.m. PST |
Louisville, KY. Gamers there and across the river in New Albany, IN, area. Decent cost of living. |
OSchmidt | 02 Apr 2014 4:19 a.m. PST |
Dear Cadian 7th Why I'm moving to Maine. Good climate, the town I am moving to has a guaranteed good economy forever (campus of the University of Maine in it) other industry. Huzzah, a convention of Maine Gamers, half a dozen gamers in the immediate area, good land, nice climate, way out in the woods, lots of fishing, hunting etc., though I do neither any more I do like the great out of doors, and good business opportunities for a game or hobby store or even to transfer my rental business. Relatively low taxes and no population growth. Otto |
Extra Crispy | 02 Apr 2014 10:33 a.m. PST |
Iron Mike: Chicago is a good gaming town. I am in 3 good gaming groups. I can game every Monday, Friday and weekend if I want. We have Games plus and Scale Creep (that's me) for shops. Cons we have Little Wars, Rock-Con 90 minutes away, Legends in the Fall, Decepticon and close to GenCon in Indy. Plus Chicago is a great city. |
coolyork | 17 Apr 2014 9:12 p.m. PST |
Mike , Move to Florida ! No income tax,lots of gamers, couple good cons,oldest continously occupied city in the U.S.( St.Augustine) ,one of the most violent CW battles fought during the war ( Battle of Olustee) ,tons of historic sights ,forts,battlefields, Oh yea the only state that didnt have any snow this past winter ( and yes Hawaii had snow ) Cheers, Mark |
IronMike | 17 Apr 2014 9:18 p.m. PST |
An interesting suggestion there Mark, seeing as I was actually BORN in Florida
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