I've lived in North Orange County, CA for my entire life, and I'm seriously considering a move to Bismarck, ND. I want to live in a isolated, small town like Bismarck for the rest of my life so that I can find inner peace and not have to live under constant financial stress like my parents have for their entire lives. I've only had a few friends in my entire life, and all of them betrayed me, so I'm used to not having any friends at this point. When it comes to dating, I don’t have any experiences with that and don't care about it at this point. Long story short, I don’t care if a town doesn’t have a "social scene." And when it comes to California, I have nothing but bad memories here, and want a fresh start somewhere else. I don’t mind the extreme weather that North Dakota would bring; I actually find extreme weather to be a thrill as long as it doesn’t cause casualties.
Living somewhere like Bismarck where there's a solid job market, an extremely affordable cost of living even without frugalness, and a calm and safe environment where I can feel closer in my religion is all I really need in life.
Am I crazy for thinking about making this move, or is this a reasonable type of lifestyle to desire as an introvert?
Moving from North Orange County, CA to Bismarck, ND as a 23 year old man seeking a simple life and a LCOL
byu/HalosFan26 inFrugal
Posted by HalosFan26
3 Comments
Are you introverted, or do you have social anxiety?
Most online posts conflate the two, so be specific.
Small town life can be okay for introverts who are able to be social contributors, but it can be very stressful for people with social anxiety.
How are you preparing for the winters? Do you know how to walk and drive in snow and ice? Do you have enough budget for winter clothes and supplies?
see also: https://www.reddit.com/r/howislivingthere/comments/1no58x4/how_is_living_in_bismark_nd/
Before you move from SoCal to ND please for your own sake, visit during the winter.
ND is bleak during Winter. Just a warning.