There are a number of factors to consider: Do you want to live in a city, a
small town, a newly built development or out in a rural area by yourself?
Do you require reasonable access to an airport? Do you need cultural
outlets, either as audience member or as a participant? Coffee shop? What
is great skiing by your definition, lift served or earn-your-turns,
technically challenging or bottomless powder, friendly for the whole family
or dedicated to one hard man? Is this to be a full time place that needs
good summer alternatives or just a ski pad for week-ends? Are you USA
based? Is Canada an option?

I'm in this quest myself and have considered (but not yet settled on) at
least the following:

North Central New Mexico -- areas include: Taos, Angelfire and Wolf Creek --
culture and transportation at Santa Fe -- great outdoor ops year round --
quite cheap outside of Santa Fe itself.

Lake Tahoe -- 22 lift served areas within 2 1/2 hours of Reno airport
including Squaw, Alpine, Kirkwood -- virtually unlimited backcountry -- good
summer and winter -- reasonably cheap on Nevada side down east of the
mountains proper.


Oregon-Washington border area one hour east of Portland -- principal area
is Hood, Baker is within reach -- live in Washington (no income tax) and
shop in Oregon (so sales tax) -- a little more expensive than the above but
with more job opportunities if you need work and access to Portland for
culture -- good year round -- backcountry is there but seems to me to be
more difficult to take advantage of than at Tahoe.

Bozeman, MT -- Bridger Ski Bowl and Big Sky -- college town with college
culture, coffee shops and brew pubs -- summer access to Yellowstone
region -- realtively inexpensive -- regional airport with decent
connections.

Jackson Hole within an hour is pretty well bought up but the Idaho side of
Teton Pass might be of interest with access to Grand Targhee and Jackson as
well as backcountry that rivals Tahoe. Towns like Driggs are going to take
a particular attitude to love, however. Nevada due east of Mammoth and
Yosemite is sort of in the same category.

Most of Colorado is way too expensive, both for property values and for
shopping. Salt Lake City realisitically means living in the City but
especially if you are into backcountry you get the Wasatch. Salt Lake City
is no longer a cheap place to live--Park City is very expensive.

If Canada is an option, central BC is probably the sleeper in the best bet
list. Inexpensive, great but underutilized areas and good backcountry.
Poor access, no cultural ops and no coffee shops might be draw backs.

I've really looked at every possibility in North America in my own search,
from Whistler to Snowshoe, WV and from Ste. Anne to Ski Apache. If you want
my specific thoughts on any particular area as a relocation possibility, ask
for it by name and I'll give you an opinion.

Tommy T.