I often debate in my mind how important mountains are to me when I finally settle down on my own land. How much do big hills really inspire me?

I grew up in the hills and hollows of the Heldebergs. I like hill and hollow country, this is why I like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Appalachia so much. On those grounds I should check out more of Pennsylvania and Southern Ohio. I like Pennsylvania but it’s expensive and as an urban state it could quickly flip blue and very anti-rural like New York has become in recent years. Ohio if anything is really trending in the other direction.

But what about the Midwest? From a cost and freedom perspective the Midwest ranks highly though one would have to trade in the big mountains for rolling country with much fewer trees. It’s not all flat and boring but it’s not like the Adirondack Wilderness I spend so much time in – or even the Appalachians.

Yet, how much do I crave the mountains and the scenic views or just the freedom they represent, shooting guns, having big fires, playing music and drinking beer with nobody around besides the wildlife. Would a place out in the country that is off-grid, a long ways from neighbors where I heat with wood, have a big fire pit, burn barrels and a place where I can shoot guns but enough for my soul? Do I need the views or just the freedom?