I've posted here a little but I thought I'd formally introduce myself.
Short version: (if you're in a hurry)
My wife and I are visiting this weekend and I would like to meet some of the locals. I said I couldn't make it to Vendetta, but I think we are going to try to make it (if we leave at a reasonable hour we can still get back to NYC in a reasonable amount of time). How many of you guys think you can make it to the Sunday Social December 7?
Long version:
I find out about the Free State Project only after deciding that I liked NH and wanted to live there, so I'm not sure if I qualify as a Free Stater or not.
A little about myself… I'm originally from Tennessee. I lived in a small town and met occasionally with the local Libertarian group (which was a remarkably effective handful of people on a local level) while I was in high school and college (I was a home school student). My wife and I moved to NYC in 2006 so we could save up to buy a home. We knew even then that the housing prices were not sustainable, so we scrimped and saved, and now we're ready to settle down somewhere. (Unfortunately the Feds look out for the spenders, not the spendthrift.)
Anyway, I like the Keene area for several reasons:
- Free staters seem to be active.
- Lots of outdoor activities (I am an avid backpacker, and hopefully will fully embrace cross-country skiing).
- Land is reasonably priced.
- It's close enough to NYC and Boston that I can occasionally drive in to see clients.
Whoever did the "108 reasons" list should also add that the area has exceptionally clean air. More information on this is here:
http://lungaction.org/reports/sota05_county.html?fcc=33005
It also has no superfund sites. Not as significant, but hey, it's a reason! (The NE in particular has a lot of land contamination, as far as I can tell.)
http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/land/county.tcl?fips_county_code=33005#rankings
I probably will not end up in Keene proper, because I want usable land for a small farm. I am looking in the surrounding region, probably east of Keene so I can have a drivable commute (if necessary) to Nashua or Manchester.
Anyway, I hope that I can find land and seal a deal in the coming months!
You'll love Mt. Monadnock as a backpacker!
I'll be there Sunday.
Yes, you qualify for the FSP, please sign both of yourselves up at http://freestateproject.org
KF, welcome to NH!
I love x-c skiing, I go out my door and go for miles.
I suggest that you think strategically about where you want to settle down. If you live in a town with a part-time government, as I do, there is less chance of paid couch enforcers and such. But some towns are populated with snooty people with time on their hands who want to use government to enforce their image of what life should be. I don't know enough about the towns around Keene as I live near the coast. I would also look at real estate development trends in the towns. Especially if you are going to pursue agricultural activities, you should try to avoid a situation where a subdivision of McMansions goes up next to your property and everybody is calling up the town to complain about the stink of manure or whatever. There is a program called current use where you pay taxes based on the agricultural or forest use of your property, not on its full value as potential residential development land. You generally have to have at least 10 acres in addition to the land occupied by your house and land to qualify for this.
You might get some good advice from the county extension service. A government entity, yes, but it exists to help people use their land for productive agriculture and forestry. I have 46 acres of forest land besides my house lot, all family land owned since the 19th century.
I take it back. Probably can't make it this Sunday due to my needing to attend a holiday party with my lady. There are always people there for Social Sundays, though!
"holiday party", surprisingly PC!!! :) Which "holiday", Kwanzaa? 
Jaffrey and Harrisburg have always struck me as "snooty", but I base that solely on the fact that neither one would allow a Route 101 bypass to be built within their respective town boundaries. Eventually the state gave up, which is why 101 still goes smack through the middle of Jaffrey.
Definitely want to avoid the McMansion areas if I can, but of course I hope to get in an area where zoning is minimal.
I'm looking at properties with more than 10 acres (the more usable land, the better, but I'm attempting to stay below 200k), so that's a good tip, Curt. Thanks!
Bummer you can't make it, Ian! I'm sure I'll be back in the neighborhood again in January or February.
Did not have much luck yesterday. One of the houses I wanted to see in Winchester was taken off the market on Friday, which is sort of disappointing since I drove nearly five hours to get here. 
Looking at some more houses this morning. If the weather holds out I should still make it to Vendetta's, although I probably won't be able to stay too long.
If Tim will be there, I'll probably drop by early on.
I was there shortly after 4pm so I'm guessing you didn't make it. It was a small turn-out compared to usual, but still a lot of fun. We had about 7 people I think.
Nope, sorry guys, I couldn't make it. I was all over the place looking at houses and ended up an hour from Keene and staying later than I would have wished.
I'm hoping next time I can make it. I'll probably be up again in January after the holidays.
Just curious, what town were you looking in?
BTW, noting that you are from Tennessee, don' t worry if you talk funny. Most prominent people in the state came from somewhere else. Gov. Meldrim Thomson had a pronounced Southern accent.
I do indeed still have an accent. Both real estate agents noticed it and commented on it, but they were friendly. I've noticed most people in the New England area don't really seem to count it against me (despite the media's portrayal of Southerners as back-country hicks).
I think last weekend we stopped in Winchester, Richmond, Fitzwilliam, Marlow, and Sullivan. I spent about 95% of the weekend in my car.
I'm really looking anywhere that's within an hour's drive or less of Keene, preferably in the southwest corner of the state. I've been looking specifically in Hinsdale or Winchester, because they are closer to I-91. I need fairly quick access to NYC and Boston.
And, wow, reading the Wikipedia page on Thomson is interesting. Amazing that one guy had such a positive fiscal impact on the state.
Hinsdale is likely a better choice. They have a Super Walmart. Winchester's bureaucrats probably wouldn't allow a store like that in their oppressive regime.