Greetings from Northwest Arkansas,
I have grew up in Cazenovia, NY, then 10 years in Concord, NH; seven years in Washington DC area (Sterling, VA), two years in Lexington, KY two years in Fort Wayne IN, 8 yeas in Dallas/Fort Worth area (Grapevine, TX) and the last 4 years in Fayetteville, AR. So here's my vote for best place to live... Arkansas. The economic engine for NWA is Wal-Mart. Their corporate head quarters is in Bentonville. Many vendors have a presence here (jobs). Support industries, mainly trucking have a presence here. Where there is income there are banks. Compared to NH you will find housing here very affordable. Country living is very very affordable. You can live in OK or MO if you want and still be in "NWA"
Fayetteville is the home for the University of Arkansas. So you have a party town. You the cultural opportunities that exist around a university, plays, art shows musical entertainment, etc.
There is Dixon street. A section of Fayetteville that is five blocks long. It is lined with bars that cater to college students and bikers.
Fayetteville is the home for the annual Bikes, Blues and BBQ rally. They claim it is the four largest rally in the country. We can't say we agree but they are a LOT of bikers in town that week. Eureka Springs (location of the SFO rally) is 45 minutes away on the direct route.. It is a tourist town. Bikers love going there. We never seem to go there the same route. We'll ride where ever and get up there and shoot home. There are two big bike night locations, one in Springdale on Tuesday night and one on Dixon Street Thursday night. There poker runs almost all year round. There are rallies all around the area (200 mi radius).
The population has settled along the I 540 corridor. Let's say this is 15 miles wide. Once you get outside of this area you are in the country. Cell phones often don't work. Gas stations are once every 10 miles. The roads wind through the Ozark mountains. The Hills are covered with green trees. The other economic engine here is chicken and turkey farms, Tyson Foods is headquartered in Springdale, just north of Fayetteville. So guess what ... as you cruise the beautiful country side you encounter the aroma of these farms. Kind of a smelling salt effect so you don't get too dreamy taking in the roads and the sights
There is the semi famous Pig Trail road, lots of twisties over 15 miles or so. There is the Buffalo River National Park for straight up camping and canoing. There are many other parks and rivers in the state/area.
Riding... The weather is not CA but you can ride freely. Right now we are having an ice storm (that is why I can do this now ). January 10th it was 65 and I rode. Last Thursday it was 68 and got to ride. Basically the season runs from late March till mid November. Which is OK with me. I find it good for the soul to be denied riding time, it makes me appreciate the rest of the year! It doesn't get too hot nor too cold here. We can ride with any number of "groups" on Saturday and Sunday. You only need to go out and make your own"Meet and greet" events at gas stations or bars. There is a wide range of biker "types", hard core (colors), ride it like you stole it, poke alongers, mix styles (fast and slow), etc. In AR helmets are optional (eye protection is mandatory). We both wear helmets (wife rides a V-Star 1100 Custom). However there are times when it is nice not to wear helmets and we can do so.
I love my new home but it does have some negatives. Some crime, some drugs but overall very little violent crime. The state is not a wealthy state so roads are not always smooth and biker friendly, think frost heaves.
I met my wife in TX ( a TX native) and she has lived around the country also, CA,, CO, MO and HI. She too loves it here.
I have rambled on and if you have an interest to learn more PM me.
Rick
