As I said in the above post, no winds today. I'll work up to some winds in time, but doubt I'll fly in the winds we had Friday and Saturday.

A sight for sore eyes, almost emptied out late afternoon Friday.

Cool place! It's a long haul from NE Alabama, but if I'm in the area I'll shoot you a note for sure!

Sleeping in a hangar is surely an OK consolation prize, hahaha. Could be worse!

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The more time I'm here, the more I like it. Of the 4 days, 2 were too windy, the last two 10 mph. Temps range from 50~79 but since the home is insulated and inside an insulated hangar, room temps are 65~70 using no heat or cooling.

I'm settling in, been to the title company for closing, got my PO Box, changed to Verizon for cell because they are the only ones with a signal here, opened a local bank account, changed electric billing, got a new tire to replace the one blown out under load E of Phoenix, well everyone knows the hoops for a move. I'm still on Dick's wi-fi, the phone company will be out on Wednesday to hook up DSL.

This is a poor pilot's heaven. The cost of living is so low (like property tax at $282 per year, no HOA fees, or runway maintenance fees) that it will insure a carefree retirement on a budget.

Here is my neighbor Steve's place, so you folks that are looking for the pristine and manicured, high social standing air park, this isn't your place.

I hadn't looked you up before. You're really right on the border there aren't you!

I'm thinking about going to Colorado in June. Maybe I'll look you up on my way north.

I would also be interested in your research. I'm kind of a cheap skate, so bang for my buck is always first on the list. I do enjoy fishing from the canoe, so a nearby area that allows that would be great, and finally (just to be picky), I was wondering what you may have found further north?

rw2 wrote:I hadn't looked you up before. You're really right on the border there aren't you!

I'm thinking about going to Colorado in June. Maybe I'll look you up on my way north.

By all means stop by. If you want to lay over, I have a spare bedroom.

Joewcasey wrote:I would also be interested in your research. I'm kind of a cheap skate, so bang for my buck is always first on the list. I do enjoy fishing from the canoe, so a nearby area that allows that would be great, and finally (just to be picky), I was wondering what you may have found further north?

Well Joe, your first on the list for bang for the buck is right here, but no nearby water recreation. You can get a 2 1/2 acre lot for $3500. A 60' X 40' hangar/home and lot for $47K~$80K, and nothing over $200K and that would be a 5 acre lot, 80' X 60' hangar with through and through electric doors on both ends plus a 2 car electric door on the side. Modern and tasteful 2 story home built inside the hangar.

As to nearby or right on the water that still meets your frugal tastes, my first choice would be Sunrise Airpark fronting the Snake River near Melba, Idaho. It has a community park on the river next to a cement boat ramp. Does get a bit cold in the winter, but keeping with the "Air Park Living on the Cheap" theme, there is abundant geo thermal activity that everyone has a well for this hot median and heat their homes and hangars for just the cost of electricity to pump and circulate the hot water. Also a nice resort for soaking in the hot spring water in the center of the air park setting.

http://www.sunriseskypark.com/

I have 3 other picks if you desire, all near or on water and in rain shadows of Pacific storms.

Thanks for the info. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, kinda had enough rain to suit me for the rest of my life. Thanks for the tips, I'll check out sunrise airpark and Zillow. Don't think I could convince my wife to do the southern border again.

Joewcasey wrote:Thanks for the info. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, kinda had enough rain to suit me for the rest of my life. Thanks for the tips, I'll check out sunrise airpark and Zillow. Don't think I could convince my wife to do the southern border again.

When using Zillow use both "hangar" and the common misspelling "hanger" as your search filter.

If you haven't read this entire thread, it was mentioned that some of the best airpark finds never get listed, just a referral. That was the case for me. I would have never found a 2 1/2 lot, 60'X40' hangar with concrete and full insulation, large apron in front of hangar door and 850 sq ft home for $47,500 on Zillow.

deckofficer wrote:....there is a element to our weather patterns that I should have researched....WIND and a lot. The locals in Deming when asked say it is normal for two months. Our strip is aligned with the prevailing winds, and even without a X wind, they are too high for me.

deckofficer wrote:..... Winds today 20 mph gusting to 40 mph. Just passing that along because it wasn't passed to me. ....

This may be why there's such affordable airpark properties there.

hotrod180 wrote:

deckofficer wrote:....there is a element to our weather patterns that I should have researched....WIND and a lot. The locals in Deming when asked say it is normal for two months. Our strip is aligned with the prevailing winds, and even without a X wind, they are too high for me.

deckofficer wrote:..... Winds today 20 mph gusting to 40 mph. Just passing that along because it wasn't passed to me. ....

This may be why there's such affordable airpark properties there.

Turns out only had the high winds for 2 days out of 5 days I've been here, not counting 2 more days of no winds when I first came down in February. The last 3 days winds less than 15 mph.

deckofficer wrote:

Joewcasey wrote:Thanks for the info. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, kinda had enough rain to suit me for the rest of my life. Thanks for the tips, I'll check out sunrise airpark and Zillow. Don't think I could convince my wife to do the southern border again.

When using Zillow use both "hangar" and the common misspelling "hanger" as your search filter.

If you haven't read this entire thread, it was mentioned that some of the best airpark finds never get listed, just a referral. That was the case for me. I would have never found a 2 1/2 lot, 60'X40' hangar with concrete and full insulation, large apron in front of hangar door and 850 sq ft home for $47,500 on Zillow.

Yep, went through the entire thing. Gold mine of information here.

deckofficer wrote:.....I have 3 other picks if you desire, all near or on water and in rain shadows of Pacific storms.

Do tell

Doug

DRLpatrol wrote:

deckofficer wrote:.....I have 3 other picks if you desire, all near or on water and in rain shadows of Pacific storms.

Do tell

Doug

Doug,

I did tell in the first page of this thread, so a quick copy and paste below.....


Starting from the furthest north, 7 Bays had the lowest prices but I was there earlier this month and daytime and night time temps were a bit too cold at that latitude. It has a plus though of being right on Lake Roosevelt.

Next would be Diamond Point overlooking the Straits of Juan de Fuca and is in the the same rain shadow of Sequim, Washington so only get 12"~14" of rain per year. Prices also low for what you get.

Then inland by a lot is Desert Aire, and as the name implies pretty arid, still the same low price range of mid 100's to 200's plus has water recreation and a golf course.

Also inland, Lake Billy Chinook State Airport (in Oregon) with homes along the length, and rather remote.

Deckofficer,

I may take you up on the open offer for people to visit. I am hoping to get down that way sometime towards the end of next month to look at the area. I will be stopping at the airpark that mjwings is at and possibly a couple others in the state. Mostly looking for a 'cheap' place to rent/buy. My thoughts are to rent next winter to get a feel for the area before I make a firm commitement of purchasing a winter get-a-way. Yep, I' wanting to be a snowbird!!

WWhunter wrote:Deckofficer,

I may take you up on the open offer for people to visit. I am hoping to get down that way sometime towards the end of next month to look at the area. I will be stopping at the airpark that mjwings is at and possibly a couple others in the state. Mostly looking for a 'cheap' place to rent/buy. My thoughts are to rent next winter to get a feel for the area before I make a firm commitement of purchasing a winter get-a-way. Yep, I' wanting to be a snowbird!!

That would be fine, all I ask is if you spend the night bring your own sleeping bag. After 6 years of changing sheets every day, I'm done with that. I use a sleeping bag unzipped as a comforter. I have a washer, but no dryer. I'll supply pillows and pillow cases.

Dick mentioned to me the other day that he might rent his place during the winter. Throughout this thread I have been misquoting the size of his hangar, instead of 80'X60' it is 80'X80', with the two story home being 20'X80' and hangar floor space being 80'X60'.

One of the few threads worthy of coming out of lurker mode!

deckofficer: Deming looks to be ~35minutes north of you with Columbus just south. Does Columbus have things that you might need (hardware, lumber, autoparts stores, etc) or are you thinking Deming is where you will be going on a regular basis?

Also have you found (or been told) of any interesting off-airport destinations down there?

motosix wrote:One of the few threads worthy of coming out of lurker mode!

deckofficer: Deming looks to be ~35minutes north of you with Columbus just south. Does Columbus have things that you might need (hardware, lumber, autoparts stores, etc) or are you thinking Deming is where you will be going on a regular basis?

Also have you found (or been told) of any interesting off-airport destinations down there?

Thank you but there are a lot of great threads on this forum.

Columbus is 3 miles north of the border and the (3) airparks are 3 miles north of Columbus. Not much in the way of businesses in Columbus but I opened an account with 1st New Mexico Bank and they have a branch and ATM in Columbus. Most all shopping will be that 60 mile round trip to Deming, or across the border.

As of yet don't know of any off-airport destinations but do know of a new dirt airstrip that Dick my neighbor will be putting in at Haywood Hot Springs. They have hot pools for both clothing and clothing optional. I'll probably be up there this weekend to relax after unpacking from the move.

WWhunter wrote:...Mostly looking for a 'cheap' place to rent/buy. My thoughts are to rent next winter to get a feel for the area before I make a firm commitement of purchasing a winter get-a-way. Yep, I' wanting to be a snowbird!!

WWhunter: If possible, I would really appreciate if you share your findings? I have been searching for exactly that same thing and the Zillow route is not providing much luck over the last year or two...

Thanks deckofficer for the info. I have been to Deming in the past a few times so I have a decent idea of the town and amenities, but not much else south of there.

deckofficer,
Sorry, didn't mean to sound like an uninvited guest, I should have been more specific. I only meant to say I would be in the area and do a 'meet and greet' and look over the area, no over nighting. I will be driving between Holoman AFB and Sierra Visata, AZ visiting kids.

motosix,
I will get some pics/info on the places I stop at for future refernce. I really have no idea where I want to spend winters but anyplace it doesn't snow continually, and have double digit below zero temps for days on end will be an improvement. I have lived in the southwest and really like that are much better than the humid Florida gulf coast. Headed down there in a couple of days to see about listing my property and cleaning up after the last renters destroyed the place.