Alternatively, something cosmic could happen, and Phoenix could become the place to be in the next few years:https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1010638/cold-weather-forecast-big-freeze-solar-minimum-maximum-space-news

It's a topic that I find deeply fascinating and while I'll be traveling all of 2018 I want to get into house hacking once I am all set at my new location.Thank you so much!

Unfortunately our rural towns have been dying since the 50s/60s - which is sad as there are lots of cool and fascinating places - but it all happens slowly - first a large employer leaves, or maybe there's a farming crisis, tax revenue decreases, then folks with younger kids move away or the younger kids grow up then they immediately leave then never come back, then the schools start to die, then the schools close, then no one wants to live there, then the local hospitals or clinics lose fed or state funds then they close, their workers leave etc. 

If I were you,  I would research the different types and see what fascinates me the most and then do a deep dive into that topic.  

Always fascinating what happens when you artificially control supply and demand, it leaks out somewhere because people will always find a way to optimize their situation, whether the landlord or the tenant, as you point out.

True, although some of these non-related posts have been pretty fascinating.

Maybe this is just me, but I never understood people fascination with CoC when they are looking for a long term buy-and-hold.

In hindsight, one of the dumbest decisions I made in my life was giving up on a double major in computer science so I can "focus" on being a musician.

One guy I gave a ride to was a construction worker and he had fascinating info for me.

I am computer science major.