How many are planning to move & where to?

It's no secret that a lot of the folks in amateur astronomy have some gray hair, and more than a few will be looking at retirement in 5-10 years. How many of you have moved or are planning a move to a place with better skies? Would you consider emigrating to another country to pursue this hobby even if it meant a significant change in your lifestyle?

I retired almost 5 years ago and I have no plans to move from the house I've lived in for nearly 32 years. I've got access to a pretty good dark sky site only 45 minutes away, a better site 90 minutes away, and the best high-elevation observing I've ever had is about 4 hours away. I have no interest in living out in the middle of nowhere just to enjoy good seeing from my back yard. I'm a visual observer and a permanent observatory is not a necessity for me. I also have a couple friends with permanent observatories in rural areas that I can visit most any time. I would not move to another country for any reason.

My wife and I had long dreamed of moving to somewhere in the 4 corners area, buy the little house out in the country and move away to bliss. But we came to realize that we were going to live out our lives here in San Diego so that what we were really looking for a second home...

And then we realized that a second home, 600 miles away was impractical so we ended up buying a place on 4 acres in the back country. It's a little more than an hour's drive, the skies are reasonably dark and if we want darker skies, we take our old motor home...

Jon

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We've got a piece of land not that far from you Jim, and I can't wait to get out of California.
We'll be in Torrey, Utah, just west of Capitol Reef N.P.
The night sky is great there, but that's a small part of the big picture.
Check out the L.P. map though...
http://cleardarksky.com/lp/BldrUTlp.html?Mn=lenses
Photo is on our house site the morning after we commited.
Oh... If I had to emigrate it would be to Australia.
Linton

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Hi Jim,

I just finished a move to Texas from DC for a new job. (What a fun Christmas/New Year...... packing and unpacking.... driving a truck towing my car for 4 days..... ) Although the skies are not fantastic in the town, the uni observatory is only 15 minutes away and from the one visit I have had there so far, the skies are not too bad. Looks like a LM of around 6.7. First time I have seen the Milky Way from the northern hemisphere!!!!

I will be retiring in about 4 to 5 years. Once I do, it will be back to Aussie for me. I miss the southern skies too much! 8) Also all this snow and ice stuff....... yuck! Besides... it is not Christmas unless it is over 100F! Who ever heard of snow at Christmas! Free health care and a government pension are also good incentives!

The family treasurer and I have been looking at properties in rural West Aust where I can build an observatory. Good half-acra land can be found for as little as A$30,000 and houses for as little as A$100,000. Will probably get one shortly before I retire. The plan is to live rural and rent out our house in the city until health issues start to take their toll, then move back to the city house.

Cheers,

Maurice