Just wanted to add my thoughts to others. Birmingham, AL, is a beautiful place. But....there is only one quilt store that I know of. Two guilds that I know of. One quilt show every other year. The weather is HOT in the summer and humidity is horrendous. My son lives there, and I have stayed with him and his sons a good bit this last year while his wife was ill. Traffic is tough there also. Takes much too long to get anywhere. Alabama has low property taxes, but we have state income taxes. Most people send their children to private schools if they can afford it.
I live in a small town two hours south of Birmingham. No quilt shops, very few quilters. Low paying jobs. Under-funded schools. Low property taxes. Beautiful scenery. Nothing cultural to do at all. No quilt stores closer than a one hour drive and very clannish society in general. Can you tell that I would love to move somewhere with more to do? Just check an area carefully before you move. May not be what it seems. Wish I could travel or move.