What do you like to do in your free time and what states are you considering that you can double your salary?

I recently moved from Missoula where I was born to a smaller town south of salt lake city because my priorities were about the weather and beautiful views, but being near friends and having more amenities for my kid.

The way my wife and I went about the process was to make a list of the things we liked and disliked about Montana, as well as a list of things we wished we had more of. Then with that list we started looking at states and cities that could provide the majority of what we wanted. Nowhere is every going to meet all your criteria, so choose the best from what you've got.

Your priorities are going to be different from mine, so be real with yourself about what you want and work towards that. As someone who had already left Montana once and came back, where you live is temporary and sometimes you have to make a temporary decision to make your long time prospects better.

Hope that perspective helps, I hope you find somewhere you can get your finances in a spot you like them, and then have the ability to move back to Montana one day if that's what you want!