Unless it were very simple to make. However, I do know quite a few affordable and creative craftsmen around here who are always looking for work. My Amish contractor likes to joke that the way his people catch deer is to sneak up behind and build a barn around them.
Unfortunately economy often comes tied to less desirable aspects as well, such as what to me was a completely alien culture. After almost 8 years the locals seem to be getting a little more used to me and vice verse. You can't move to such a place as this looking to make a living either unless you have a high tech telecommuting situation. But for a retiree on a budget, possessed of more stubborness than $, it sure beats the hell out of a studio apartment in the grandest city on earth. What good are city amenities if you can't afford anything and have to live in a rabbit warren?
While you research places, I'd recommend podunk.com and Sperling's best places for all sorts of stats on every zip code in the country. Doesn't tell you much about the culture, of course. Some small towns are indeed friendly but I doubt any in the affordable areas are liberal meccas. This is pure RedNeckLand, and they don't cotton to furriners - meaning anyone not born and raised within 5 or 10 miles. My particular little flyspeck town in fact openly prides itself on vicious xenophobia, and there are 2 general factions still fighting amongst themselves like the Hatfields and McCoys. During the Civil War all the area churches shut down because gunfire didn't stop for worship services.
Seemed like half of them wanted to run me out of town on a rail the minute I got here, but I bite back when my Irish is up, which it frequently was then. I never saw a more ignorant, nosey bunch of people in my life! But I told them I didn't need their permission or blessing to live where I pleased and that they'd find me a tough nut to crack if they ever tried. Considering that I came here with 2 giant chows that scared the hell out of most people just by staring at them, I managed to settle in eventually and now there are several people who can be counted on to be rather nice when they see me coming. You'd think none of them had ever seen a real live damnYankee before. Especially not one who went where and did what she pleased without asking permission, so long as it was legal.
What I'm trying to say is that it's worth doing, but don't walk into it blind. You might find Mayberry or you might find a version of hell on earth, so you'd better be tough as nails. But if you are, you can carve out your own little pocket of paradise come rain or shine. I was an Army brat, and let me assure you half these 'hawks' around here would wash out of boot camp the first day. That's why they're such gun humpers playing soldier in the woods on weekends.
Other than such matters, I like it fine.
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