Watching the fires in California is a challenge for everyone. I have evacuated multiple times in some of the large fires in California. I am currently relocated in another state because I didn't want to experience it any more. I feel lucky because not everyone is able to leave even if they want to. I became so fearful I didn't want to leave my pets in my home or go too far from my house because sometimes we had no warnings. The anxiety became overwhelming and I feel for everyone going through it during these times.
I am curious to learn about future places that have some kind of positive outlook to live peacefully during the upheaval that is going to continue. I understand the coastlines everywhere are vulnerable. I am wondering if there are peaceful areas in the U.S. that people will be looking to move to for safety or some relief.
Are there any calmer areas that may thrive during some of these changes. I understand nothing will stay the same forever, but for those of us already starting to migrate and looking to relocate it is a challenge. I am wondering if some desert areas are safe even though they are hot? Maybe as long as they are not near a forest.
Arizona has so many Californians moving in and I am wondering if they will just have to leave there too? Some of the climate predictions on here discuss the water issues coming up in the Midwest and it seems like people could be leaving from the middle of the country as well. Are there certain areas where people form the northeast will be migrating due to increased storm activity in those areas?
I don't know about "peaceful" but I saw a vision back in 2014 that the Great Lakes will become a prized location. I posted it and a few months later I saw a posting on a geo-political site that they were recommending the Great Lakes for their business clients.
I had received in meditation an image of the area with bright lights around it. I then thought about why this would be so. Water will become an issue as the world heats up. The Great Lakes are the largest body of fresh water in the world. This area is also northerly so will be survivable in terms of heat. But no place will be a perfect escape from climate change.
Hawaii is thought to have less impact from temperature change because it is surrounded by deep water. But it has volcanos, and there will be more volcanos from climate change.
I am staying put for now, but for years I've felt that buying some farmland in Vermont close to Lake Champlain would be the best place for my family other than being on the other side of the border. I might prefer the Canadian side since a large part of my family is Canadian and I love that country. But I love the U.S. too.
I spoke to an immigration lawyer in Canada a year ago today. If you want the skinny on immigrating, let me know and I'll email you. Spoiler alert: if you're over 55, it's unlikely, but not impossible. The only reason I chose not to pursue it is because my husband and daughter are not interested at all, and it would mean leaving them and being poor and alone, which would bar the path anyway.
Wow this is all fascinating to hear. I had not envisioned myself leaving California when I was younger because I never imagined I would see the things I've seen and I'm still just in my 30's. I had not considered places like Canada, the Great Lakes, or Vermont. They all sound like beautiful places to live. For now I am hoping to keep renting until I find a place that feels somewhat safer to stay in for a while.
My stepson went to New Hampshire and loves it, and my stepdaughter and her husband are staying put in western New York. Both have acreage they can grow food and have some livestock. I'm tempted to stay in Boise, but lately I'm having semi-rural dreams, and where ever the place is it looks like the northeast, outside of Philadelphia. Or maybe that's just because I used to live in that region.
Boise is a nice place and again I've heard of a lot of Californians moving there too. It's interesting seeing where people from different regions are drawn to live as the environment changes. There are many beautiful places to live but I have struggled with leaving the coast. It was difficult to let go of the people, nature, and the lifestyle. Some of the places I have visited in the inland western areas have felt like I was not in the right place. Many of the rural areas that I've visited feel very lonely as well. Especially if I have to hide who I am to fit in with the local community. It is interesting what Jeanne said about Hawaii. It is such an amazing place but it does feel like it will go undergo major changes from such intense volcanic activity underneath it.
Thanks, Laura, good advice and I hope others will be able to use it. I also spoke to an immigration lawyer right after T won the election -- actually one in Quebec and one in Ottawa. Citizenship seems out of range for us. My father was Canadian and I have a cottage in Quebec, but the only option it seemed for over 55 year olds was to bring sizable money in and invest it in Canadian business. The amount you have to pay and the rules are different for Quebec than the rest of Canada. Quebec is almost like a separate country and at the time, the amount of money Quebec required was more. But essentially if you are retired, the amount of money you need to bring a sizable amount of money -- there's a range but my recollection was that it was $1.5-$2 million-- to invest in Canadian business over an above whatever you bring for your own use.
In 2003 when we were under 55, we were serious about moving to Canada when Bush went to war in Iraq and the rules were that we could immigrate to Canada and get citizenship in about four years. But we didn't and now the rules are much more difficult due to age. I don't know if I would have left my country any way, but now it is much more challenging to meet their requirements. The Burlington Vermont area is very appealing to me and it is much closer to my Quebec place.
Thank you Laura and Jeanne for sharing this information about Canada. I had no idea it was so expensive. I have had friends from New York recommend Vermont. I think it is a place I would really like to visit to consider with other areas I am looking into in the northwest.