Joel Moved

We Made the Move! – "Joel"

Date of move: March 2004

Are you scared of taking that leap into the unknown? Of moving and living in freedom in the Free State? So are lots of others!

But you need not fear. A steady stream of Porcupines is making the migration into New Hampshire right now. Here's the story of one of them (who wishes to remain anonymous; let's call him "Joel" for the purpose of telling his story). – Tim Condon, FSP Participant Services Director

My name is Joel, and I made the move from Tallahassee, Florida last year, arriving in the Free State of New Hampshire in March 2004.

Because I was convinced by the Free State Project plan, and committed to moving to NH from the time it was chosen, the only real research I did on the state beforehand was to look over a map to see where the big cities were. I chose to live in Manchester, the largest city and close to Concord and Nashua.

I arrived on a Thursday morning, found a newspaper, and started looking for a place to live. By that afternoon I'd found a room to rent. Nothing fancy, but it was clean and convenient.

On Friday morning I went through the newspaper looking for work. I'm a carpenter, and I was surprised to find that there were lots of opportunities. The very first person I talked to set up an interview for me that afternoon, and I was hired on the spot, for more money than I had been making in Florida!

So within approximately 36 hours of arriving in the Free State, I easily found both a place to live and a good job.

Not long after I arrived in New Hampshire, I had an opportunity to meet another FSP member named Patrick who was visiting from Nevada. He was doing his own research, and wanted to meet and talk to people who had already moved here, so we got together for dinner. I was a little nervous. Up to that time I'd never actually met another FSP Porcupine. I knew I wasn't crazy to have moved across the country in search of liberty...but I wondered if other people contemplating such a move would be.

I needn't have worried. Patrick turned out to be a normal guy, and our meeting was the beginning of a great friendship. Later that same week, I attended a Free State Project "Meet and Greet" party where I had the opportunity to meet all sorts of Porcupines, from FSP President Amanda Phillips to Michael Badnarik, who later became the national Libertarian Party presidential candidate. It was a great event, and by the time it ended I knew I'd made the right decision in moving to New Hampshire "ahead of the rush."

I've been in the Free State almost a year now, and I'm amazed at the frequency of new arrivals. Every week I hear of someone new moving here, and all are ready to get involved as soon as they arrive. We're putting together a great team here, consisting of both new movers and long-time Granite State residents, and we're going to make a difference.

For anyone and everyone considering "making the move," I say "do it now." You won't be sorry. The reward is Liberty in your own Lifetime!

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