Why South Dakota
For us at this moment, we intend on traveling a lot. Therefore, we probably won’t be in any one state more than a month. If we were to spend more time in one location, then it would be easier to pick that state as our domicile. It can be difficult to establish residency in many states. Many full time RVers have extensively reviewed this subject in their blogs (taxes, gun laws, health insurance, inspections, driver license requirements, etc.) and boiled it down to 3 states….Florida, Texas, or South Dakota.
Florida
This is an amazing state. There are so many great state parks. Florida has so much coastline, warm water, coral reefs, fishing…and the Keys. But, we love the west and its wide open space. The west has less mosquitoes (don’t forget less no see ums, horseflies, chiggers, ticks, blood suckers, fire ants, and what else did I miss?), relative lack of tornados and hurricanes, and the west has all that BLM land for wild camping. Florida would be a stretch to drive to every year when we need healthcare. But thinking we may become residents one day.
Texas
We imagined that we will travel to some part of Texas on a yearly basis. Texas requires a special non-commercial license to drive the RV and yearly inspections. Texas went off our list, and may be back on next year.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a beautiful state. Our concern was ease of healthcare access in the winter. We have lost all concept of a cold, snowy, black ice, winter after living in southern California for so many years. South Dakota has amazing pheasant hunting and gun laws. No special license to drive an RV. South Dakota requires a mail service contract (bring a copy of it), ID (birth certificate or passport), your old drivers license, Social Security Card, and 1 nights hotel stay receipt. Sioux Falls DMV had short lines, very friendly staff, and out of there in less than an hour….smiling. Try to do that at a San Diego DMV (you don’t even get a friendly hello…just “next”). We are anticipating spending most of our time in the northwest during the summers and southwest in the winter. South Dakota is still a stretch but closer than Florida. Escapees has an address in South Dakota.
California
We have enjoyed living in southern California for over 20 years. San Diego has incredible weather, beaches, restaurants, activities, wineries, and micro-breweries. But its time to move on. We are getting tired of California’s politics, San Diego’s traffic, cost of living, insanely high taxes, and crowds. San Diego’s new development is the king for master planned communities, strip malls with everything you could possibly need, and a Starbucks on every corner…with a line out the door. We have been in a serious water shortage for years with imposed restrictions and yet the developers are allowed to keep building new housing. Its all about the tax revenue. Rush hour now is all day. City planners and highways have not kept up with the growth.
Other States
We looked into Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming. They all had some additional obstacle compared to South Dakota. Nothing impossible. When we decide to travel less, it will be easier to pick a state.
In the end
We chose South Dakota. Pretty much just picked something because there were too many unknown variables at this time and we had to choose immediately. This will be our first year as RVers. As we meet more RVers, struggle with health insurance, see what happens with a new President, settle to a particular region of the USA, we will be open to changing domicile again.
Sioux Falls
Downtown
We really enjoyed our stay here. Expected a large metropolitan city, but more like a town with lots to do along Phillips avenue. There are fun restaurants, shops, and bars. Everyone was friendly and the city felt very safe. There are sculptures everywhere.
SculptureWalk
This is a year round event where artists display their work for a year.
Even Land O Lakes has a sculpture.
Falls Park
The falls are stunning. There is a nice clean park that wraps around them. Even though it was mid-November, there was still some fall foliage. In a few days, their first snow. There are several historic buildings, ruins, and a visitor center. This time of the year the buildings were only open on weekends. They were preparing all the holiday lights which would have been fun to see.
Washington Pavilion
The Pavilion offers performances, a science discovery center, and art galleries.
Visual Arts Center
This is a fun art gallery. There were works by:
Steve Bormes
T.L. Solien
David Paul Bradley
Butterfly House and Marine Cove
Wonderful attraction, especially in the winter when the skies are grey and weather is cold and dreary. This would be my Prozac.
Marine Cove
Amazing. There are volunteers to provide information and guidance on touching the sharks, stingrays, urchins, sea cucumber, and sea stars. There are fresh and salt water tanks. Fish from the Caribbean and Pacific oceans.
Butterfly House
Very peaceful. There were butterflies everywhere. There are places to sit and watch as they dance around.
