I much appreciate that analysis! I similarly hope to be somewhere more politically moderate, between what will likely be a quasi-christian nationalist states in the south and neoliberal authoritarians on/near the oceanic coasts.

I wasn't aware of Montana's issues and thought Washington's fresh water in the cascades would be a significant enough plus to outweigh some other concerns. Thank you for those call outs, and the foray into Canada as well. In 20 to 30 years, I'm not sure how relevant the old map borders will be. I could easily see the great lakes on both sides unifying, Quebec going its own way and the western half of Canada the other.