Thank you all for the great suggestions. Lilsis...you gave me some great towns to explore. The harbor towns that you mentioned...are they good places to live or just visit. I am looking for a place that is close....20 minutes or so from a marina. My boat is always in the water during boating season as it is too big to trailer.
Also, schools are very important to me. My son will be starting high school next year...at 12 years old(picture me running screaming!!!!)...and this is a major consideration.
I would like to be in a place where I can get a decent piece of ground...yet still allow for him to have a neighborhood feel so that there are friends around. Where I am at now is beautiful...but we are very rural and the majority of his interactions with other kids are at school.
Thanks for the help....

PS...Lilsis...things will get better. I know the your exwh buying that house shook you. As much as you don't buy it right now, but you will be a very, very happy woman one day soon. God will bless your life more so than He already has.

Something to consider

Lake Michigan is awesome but it's a BIG lake. You need a big boat to be comfortable out there many days.

Many, but not all, of these harbor towns have inlets connecting the big lake with interior sheltored lakes. Often you'll get a lot more use out of the interior lake as conditions will be more stable for all boats...but enjoy the adventure of journeying out to the big lake from time to time. Plus...real estate is a lot cheaper on interior lakes than near these towns on the big lake.

Is your house on the market now???

Mr. Wondering

Edited: why waste my time on such a rude individual. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

If his boat is not trailerable than it must be big enough to handle Lake Michigan; at least for short cruises when the weather is fair. It's really no big deal to make a run from one safe harbor to the next. We went from Muskegon to Pentwater and Ludington in our 22 ft. walkaround several times, and just quick trips to Grand Haven to have dinner or just hang out. You just need to pay attention to the weather.

Lots of people use their boats like floating cottages; they rent a slip for the season and hang out on their boats all weekend. We did in/out service.

All of the marinas (I think with the exception of one marina in Grand Haven that is within the channel) are located beyond the channel on the inland lake/river.
So anyway, you don't have to have a house right on the lake (either the big lake or inland) to truly enjoy the boating season.

Rich DeVos is selling their family "compound" on Lk MI for tens of millions. It has 8.5 baths. Perfect!

From medc's description, I'd think suburban would be what you are looking for. It's hard to get both a big chunk of land and still have the neighborhood feel. I guess it depends on what "big" means.

Hudsonville and Jenison are both excellent school districts and easily accessible to Holland or Grand Haven. I'm not too familiar with other districts, but I think Mona Shores, Grand Haven, Traverse City, and West Ottawa are also very good.

It's easy to get education report cards online.

I live on Lake Superior in Michigans Upper Peninsula, and although it is beautiful on the lake, the economy is so distressed and depressed it is not a good place to be moving to.

Marquette is an awesome, beautiful town on the big Lake Superior, and the only place in the U.P. I would consider, were we going to keep a place here.

We're moving to Savannah, MEDC, but will spend part of our summers in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan.

Check out Green Bay and Appleton...both awesome places, low taxes, incredible people, lots of boating, absolutely beautiful countryside and good schools. I love it more than Michigan, for several reasons.

Weaver,

Put the crack pipe down and back away slowly!!!

Are you high?? The taxe base in Appleton and Green are outragious!!!

Much higher than down south. But that it what you get from living in a welfare state.

IHO <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My boat, Baydog, is 32 ft in length. It's not so large as to be a problem...but it does weigh in at about 13,000 lbs with a 12 ft beam, making it not trailer-able.

So, the areas that you have mentioned Mr. W...do you have any towns in mind? Is the whole area there depressed? is recovery on the horizon? I am semi retired...although I do work from home doing some grant writing...so, a robust economy is not that important to me.

I'm going to have to give up the big chunk of land...I want a neighborhood for my son. But I still need some ground because I have three very active labs. Are any of these areas older established places with big old stone homes and such?

Weaver, I will check out those areas...although I refuse to wear cheddar on my head!

All the help is much appreciated.

Mr. W...you asked if my house is on the market...not officially, but it is being shown tonight by my friend/neighbor that I bought it from. He is the builder...she is the real estate agent.

My sons mom is a bit anxious over my looking so far from "home." She always has the option to move if she so chooses. He is excited about the idea.

Thanks everybody.

LTK,

My husband's houses in Green Bay are worth almost twice as much as my houses in MI, and he pays substantially less than me in property taxes. PLUS, they have FREE garbage pickup and removal. The cities are so clean it blinds my eyes...compared to the garbage around my area. We can't even afford garbage removal here.

P.S. Hot off the wave wire, Southern KY (near the VA border) boast for the low cost of living, low taxes, beautiful atmosphere and has been voted one of the safest places to live in America....

I have a house for sale in Virginia Beach that you really should buy then. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Personally, I think property taxes throughout the state of Wisconsin are high. That's why I'm going to the other side of the river.

No way, weaver. I had no idea we had a closet Yooper. I agree completely; if I could live anywhere it would be back in MQT. Small town charm, tons of character, stunning land and waterscapes, recreational opportunities, and the benefits of a university.

The marina there is right on the water (sheltered by a breakwater) and the whole area by the marina has been revitalized. Lake Superior isn't one you want to mess with, although two summers ago we took a run out to Granite Island.

My sister hasn't had great things to say about the schools lately, though, but that is more in regard to her middle school aged daughter. I think when you have a university around, there are more opportunities to take advantage of.

Weaver, should I think of you every time I step on my rag rug in front of my kitchen sink....?

LOL, lil sis. I prefer you think of me everytime you are out on the boat having a glass of wine and admiring the sunset...or NOT. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Your funny.

Just driving into Marquette makes me happy. It has that kind of effect... And it's the only place I have ever seen the Northern Lights.

MEDC,

One word of advice...if you do happen to Upper Michigan, find yourself a woman BEFORE you come here. LOL slim pickens up here in that dept.

My DD's dad moved last year and I let her go with him for the school year this year. I waited 13 years for him to move, so that I could move (joint custody and I wanted desperately for her to grow up around her dad)...she is soooo happy in his new town. And I get her for summers and holidays, so I get the majical times with her. It can work.

I LOVE to see people follow their dreams and not be afraid....so good for you.

Minnesota?

My boy lives up in Traverse City and the economy is so dismal that he and his fiance are moving here to Texas to get jobs. The state of Michigan is running radio ads down here in Texas advertising for our businesses to move to Michigan. It really makes me sad because it is such a beautiful state and it can't keep up with the rest of the nations economic boom.

Weaver,

We'll be just downriver of Minnesota in Iowa.

Marquette has tons of beautiful stone houses, but they are in town, and the yards are small. Of course you could take them on walks along Lakeshore Drive and out to Presque Isle.

Can you tell I'm missing it?

Dob, I spent some time in Cedar Rapids, IA. BEAUTIFUL!

Mel, I know. Don't even get me started on our Governor. And it's not all her to blame. But it is scary, what is happening.

what is MQT?

Western Montana is really nice.

Eastern Montana is more remote, but also much cheaper, for what you get.