Allen...sounds like a wonderful trip and a great opportunity to scope out possible areas to settle down. If you get to coastal Calif. I've got lots of parking space for your travel trailer and a spare room, to boot. I live half way btwn LA and SF, about 35 miles from the coast, a little south of Big Sur country (South coast, the wild coast is lonely...). Since this is a rural area, not much in the way of festivals, but I can promise lots of opportunity for making porch music.

It is beautiful here, but your need for 4 seasons would probably not be met, and land is rediculously expensive. I lived in NOW Ark. for many years and agree with Mark that it has everything you are looking for. I still have many friends there so know that land is still reasonable. Winters are less extreme than farther north, and east, and shorter. Lots of rivers and creeks, some very beautiful, like the Buffalo, the Boston mountains are varied, rich with dogwood, wild cherry and black walnut. The area around Fayetteville, a med sized university town with enough sophistication to provide good book stores and bagels, is nice...also close to Eureka Springs, another beautiful and musically active place.

I hope you keep us posted, so I can vicariously enjoy your travels.

Nancy