I am a young and relatively new freedom recruit, becoming familiar with Keene (and Freedom in general) through Free Talk Live starting almost four years ago. I currently run a family business in Hawaii, though I am a member of the FSP and have every intention of moving in the less-than-distant future. There are more wealth accumulation opportunities for me out here and I intend to move to New Hampshire when I've saved enough money to buy my own property and hopefully start my own business. Through intense therapy and self-introspection inspired by Stefan Molyneux I've finally decided I need to start laying the long term groundwork for my move. The lack of mates now that I have embraced the liberty philosophy is also a very important factor in my decision to move out there. I have a number of questions and to be honest, though I will peruse the forums on the FSP site and here, I'm a little too lazy to sift through the ridiculous amount of forum content out there. Here are some questions, and perhaps I will repost them in a more appropriate area, or perhaps someone can simply point me in the right direction
1. Am I right in assuming there seems to be the largest concentration of activists and "visible" movers in the Keene area? I want to move to where the action is and where the heaviest concentration is and the highest possibilities of liberty associated business opportunities in the future.
2. Real Estate. I have not yet contacted the "porcupine realtor", which I suppose I should, but as far as buying real estate, any advice is welcome, general information about different neighborhoods/regions. What is commercial real estate like out there? Does anyone have experience with mini-storage, RV parks, or residential rental properties? What is the price range I'd be looking at for a home? A duplex? I'm from the West Coast and have next to no experience with that side o' the continent. I realize the market will shift dramatically in the next few years, but my real estate experience has shown me that I'll probably make a much wiser decision 2-3 years from now if I can follow the market over time and become acquainted with the ins and outs even if I can't visit regularly. My vision is to buy a house/duplex/apartment that I can rent out to cover the minimum living expenses. Is this feasible?
3. Businesses. If I were to move to Keene, what sort of freedom-oriented business opportunities could I start? What is missing. What needs to be developed? It seems to me that as the population of freedom-conscious individuals grows, business opportunities will also grow in new and unusual ways.
4. Farming/CSA: Is there much local grown food culture there? Farmers markets? CSAs? Is there room for that? Are there areas near Keene that would be good property for running a market produce operation? Are there farms/co-ops where I might even work/live when I first move as a way of acquainting myself with the area before I purchase property?
5. Given my questions above, would anyone recommend moving to a different area of New Hampshire?
Anyhow. That's a lot for an introduction. I plan on coming to PorcFest next year. Plane tix from Hawaii to the East Coast are expensive!
Oh yeah…my name is Jason and you can check out my current lifestyle: www.KauaiBotanicalGardens.com
If you come to Kauai, and like gardens, I will accept payment for tours in silver 
Hi gireesh,
Manch gets lots of movers but rarely attention due to the fact that they have no original media promoting the area, not even an active blog.
I'm convinced that owning and occupying a multifamily is a good strategy in Keene. It's really the best way to cover the insane property taxes here, and you create a porc house at the same time. There are lots of useful real estate links in the sticky at http://housing.freekeene.com
I'm not sure regarding businesses. Lots of people have neat ideas, but no capital to do it. I always thought an underground delivery service for food and drink would work in a college town, but what do I know about that?
I think the farmer's market is Tue and Sat, weekly.
Tour the state, see for yourself. I love Keene. It will be really great when the idea of the state is no longer with us.
[quote]Hello and welcome. I already know of 4 movers from HI, though, one did move back.[/quote]
Make that five. I've been on the sea coast for about five days now. 
Aloha Jason.
Being able to be part of the community here is well worth the investment in plane tickets and more.
I've just recently arrived and am thrilled with the free staters I have met thus far and that's only a few of the many.
There's way more work opportunities here than in the islands and the support of like minded, liberty oriented individuals is priceless.
Aloha nui loa.
Malama pono!
PS. bring woolly socks! ;D
[quote author=mauiguy link=topic=5216.msg53139#msg53139 date=1308291246]PS. bring woolly socks! ;D[/quote]
Bah. I've never seen the thermometer go more than 40 below zero. That's barely even chilly!
Joe
Thanks for the responses, folks. I'm not too worried about the cold. I did spend my first ten winters in Iowa. And to be honest, my bookish nature appreciates the seasons as an excuse to hunker down. Hawaii requires a lot of forced activity if that makes sense. However, I am sort of attached to the warm seas, born in San Diego…
The brief breakdown of mover populations is nice. The other basic information helps a lot too: Keene is in a valley, the potential for rentals. The basics are where I need to start before I visit.
Regarding businesses–I'm aware of the possibilities for prejudice towards conspicuously freedom-oriented businesses but I'm convinced the liberal contingent is the undiscovered wealth of manpower when it comes to liberty philosophy, which is another reason a college town is appealing. The indication that local produce is popular suggests to me there is a lot of potential for businesses concerned with sustainable lifestyles and ecological consciousness. I think, in general, this is an exciting worldwide trend that self-governing individuals should embrace and co-opt.
Where might I go to explore the business ideas of those with no capital?
[quote author=gireesh link=topic=5216.msg53168#msg53168 date=1308369694]However, I am sort of attached to the warm seas, born in San Diego…[/quote]
The ocean gets pretty warm, around here. It was actually 60F, once, when I went there. I was impressed.
Of course, it cools down a bit during the winter. Not all that much, though; only very-sheltered inlets ever freeze.
When the ocean gets too cold for swimming, that's why we have hot tubs. Nothing like sitting in a hot tub while it's snowing.
[quote author=gireesh link=topic=5216.msg53168#msg53168 date=1308369694]Where might I go to explore the business ideas of those with no capital?[/quote]
Do you mean "ideas that can be leveraged with no initial capital," or "ideas by folks who have no capital, in which I could invest my capital," when you ask that?
Joe
Sorry for my tardy responses…I avoid the internet most of the time…
Joe: I meant the latter: ideas by folks who have no capital…
Guess it depends upon how much you're looking to invest. There are folks looking for a few hundred bucks to advertise an existing business. There are folks looking for a quarter million to start a substantial undertaking. And many things in-between.
Joe