Hey All,
I'm 20, a member of the FSP, a Rothbardian/Agorist market anarchist, and in between colleges - so I figure the time is ripe to establish myself in Keene with my girlfriend. I'm completely sold on the prospect of living in New Hampshire long-term (those 101 reasons are rather compelling), and a small town full of students and anarchists sounds ideal.
Tentatively, I'd work/live without going to school for a year so as to establish residency and qualify for in-state tuition at Keene State - where I'd study physics/mathematics the following year. No doubt there is some hypocrisy involved in attending a state-subsidized school for my undergrad, but to be honest, debt and wage slavery currently constitute a greater threat to my freedom and happiness than the State does. So given that such schools already exist, I'll happily compromise for the much cheaper tuition.
Question for you all: I'm very seriously considering spending time at a Zen monastery this summer, but am concerned about the timing of arriving in Keene. I'm in a relatively tight spot financially (I'm able to live at the monastery expense-free through a work exchange program) and my girlfriend and I will need to get jobs and find a place with reasonable rent (downtown, since we don't have a car) ASAP after we show up. Do you think the job/apartment situation will be easier in early June or September? Also, what could we potentially get involved in to meet people and make new friends?
Looking forward to meeting you all!
Gabriel
P.S. Mike Barskey: this is the Gabriel you know from LM.
EDIT: Should I also post this in the Moving to Keene forum?
Hello,
It's fine here as your introduction. Generally, more rentals are available in June than Sept, because the college is back in session at that time. Houses and apartments empty out for the summer.
Lots of opportunities to meet people: http:://calendar.freekeene.com
Welcome and congratulations on your decision!
Thanks Ian!
Welcome to the forum! And yay, a fellow agorist/anarchist!
Zen monastery, eh? I'd be interested in your thoughts from that experience.
Like Ian said, spring/summer is a better time for moving if you're looking for housing because the college students are clearing out. As far as social activities, there is Social Sundays every Sunday at 5pm, 4:20 Celebration every day at 4:20 (who'd have guessed?), Karaoke every saturday night (10pm?), and Movie Nights in Winchester (45 minutes south?) at 7pm (?). In addition, there are the various other civil disobedience events, jail visiting, trial events etc, as well as the big name events such as PorcFest in a month (once a year), Liberty Forum (once a year?), Free Keene Fest (twice a year, spring and fall), and one more I feel I'm forgetting. Finally, there are the miscellaneous meetings that can occur between two people at any given moment.
Welcome! 
Hello and welcome.
Since you are looking to establish residency and work for a year you may want to look at Manchester.
I have lived in other cites on the east coast for 11 years without a car so I know what your logistics will be like.
I know several people that have successfully lived here without a car for years.
While Keene is awesome and has a great downtown Manchester is easier to live in without a car.
We also have quite large group of activists and many who have started families.
Like Keene many porcupines share places to reduce living costs.
You can rent a place where you can walk to most places. It also has options for work being a larger area.
There are some buses and taxis are easy to find. Many people go to events in both areas.
Ideally try and line up some sort of work before you arrive.
Many people have landed jobs with big companies or transferred locations to NH till the found something better.
Kate,
I'm not sure why you think Manchester is better with no car. Keene is the most walkable place in NH according to walkable.org.
Ian.
The only reason I see Manchester being easier is more opportunities for work.
If they can't find jobs right away in Keene, Manchester is the next logical choice since they mentioned finaces being tight.
I would prefer to have them in NH than at a monastery not in NH.
Keene is much prettier than Manchester and I seriously considered moving there before I moved to NH.
Unfortunately for Keene It doesn't have work opportunities for either Alec or myself. Not ones that would pay us enough to adopt and raise a family.
One day we will get a place out in the country until then I find myself in Manchester, affordable but not ideal.
I understand there may be more economic opportunity in Manch - I was simply correcting the claim that it is more walkable. That is not the case according to walkable.org. They do not even include Manch in their list: Keene, Littleton, Portsmouth, Meredith and Exeter
Manchester is probably a bit less walkable than Keene. But it's also a bit better situated for intercity transportation. Depending on your priorities, this may be a good thing or a bad thing. It does, however, contribute to a larger economy.