I would rent a place in the area prior to setting down roots in a new area. Get a feel for the area, the people, the political leanings, what passes for local entertainment and ease of getting the kinds of groceries that you prefer. Get a good feel for what the area, does it fit your lifestyle when not canoeing. Easier to drive a few thousand miles with a canoe on the roof of your car for a vacation than to move there permanently.
In some of the smaller towns the local inhabitants will be suspicious of new comers for one-two generations (they ain’t from around these parts).
Find out how much snow that you can expect to shovel or blow and how often.
My first new neighbors were from a totally different places. The first meetings were also last meetings. One wanted to know what we were going to do about the road, their little car was getting stuck. Had no idea about four wheel drive or chaining up. Another came over to get me to sign up for a neighborhood watch program, I didn’t have a lock on my door, had never given a thought to burglary. After the first winter of -50° weather that lasted long enough, that the Governor of Alaska declared a state of emergency, these totally unprepared people moved back to where they came from.
If you are one color of political party don’t move to an area that votes overwhelmingly for another other color.