In online forums people sometimes ask “What’s the best place for a chemically sensitive person to live?”
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Chemically sensitive people are all different; what we react to depends upon what we have been exposed to.
In addition, chemically sensitive people almost always have other medical issues — Lupus, diabetes, MS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, mold sensitivity, etc. Those conditions have to be taken into account. For example, people with MS are often very sensitive to cold, and people who have Lupus often overheat. The hot desert climate that works for someone with MS would not work for someone with Lupus.
And, we are all different genetically. For example, people react differently to barometric pressure changes, which is why some of us are depressed by rain and others of us become euphoric in the rain. Most of my DNA is from regions that look very much like the Pacific Northwest, and my body feels at home here.
Instead of looking for an MCS Shangri-La, take stock of how your body reacts to different climates, then focus on locations in that climate zone. Once you have identified a likely climate, you can look at other factors that are important to you personally. Here is a link to a climate zone map that was developed to guide builders: https://atlas.eia.gov/datasets/eia::climate-zones-doe-building-america-program/about
And, here is a link to a climate change map, so you can see what to expect in the coming decades: https://impactlab.org/map/#usmeas=absolute&usyear=1986-2005&gyear=1986-2005
Once you have settled on a general region, a good deal of investigation and sorting can be done without leaving your current home. That will save time and expense when you are ready to begin a physical search for your new home.
Cities, towns, and counties often have websites and Wikipedia pages that contain helpful information, such as census data showing demographics for race, income, age, educational level, etc.
Local newspapers often have online editions that give a sense of community issues and resources.
You can monitor the weather in likely locations by adding those places to the weather app on a smart phone or by checking the weather channel online.
Clean air and water are a particular concern for chemically sensitive people, and there are more resources for researching those factors today than there were when I began looking for property in 2016. When I was planning my move iPhones did not yet have AQI scores in the weather app. I had to look for regional air quality websites and apps, which was tedious. After I moved Purple Air launched an app that is more precise than the AQI score in the iPhone weather app, which often draws its information from weather stations miles away. The Purple Air app gives air quality readings locally from anyone with a Purple Air monitor who is willing to share their readings. Here is the link: https://www2.purpleair.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop3OGzNOTBy8IZJWVLavzfDzqWJDgMUO1xzXz1jYMRwajqdCmov
In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency’s website (www.epa.gov) has improved significantly in the past few years and it now gives current air quality information. Under “environmental topics” you can research “environmental information by location.” You can find both current and historical air quality and water quality values. You can also find information about Superfund clean-up sites, which should, of course, be avoided.
Another resource to check is the Southern Poverty Law Center’s map of hate groups. That is a scary map, and it prompted me to dig deeper. I discovered that the Proud Boys tried to establish a chapter in this area but it failed and the organizer moved on. I checked the 2016 election results and confirmed that I was moving to an area in which Democrats out vote Republicans, which is where I feel comfortable as a disabled, bi, genderqueer woman. Here is the link: https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map/
After narrowing your search to a handful of possible locations, you can use Google Maps or a similar app to check for the things that are important to you personally, such as schools, bookstores, museums, universities, libraries, hospitals, specialized urgent care centers, bike paths, parks, hiking trails, religious denominations, political groups, etc.
In that process you will no doubt discover other helpful bits of information. For example, I discovered that in 2011, 2012 and 2016 (and later in 2018 and 2019) Washington State declared May to be Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month. That suggested that people might be more aware of chemical sensitivity in Washington than they are in other places, which was encouraging. However, I also discovered that there are five active volcanoes in Washington. In addition, there is the Cascadia subduction zone to worry about. It is located in the Pacific Ocean along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, is capable of a 9.0 earthquake, and is overdue. An earthquake of that magnitude would destroy infrastructure and disrupt supply chains for months or years afterward. Finally, I discovered that Naval Base Kitsap, which is located in this area, is home to the nuclear submarines that carry Trident missiles, making the area a likely target in the event of a military crisis. However, after living for decades in southern California with the San Andreas earthquake fault, the San Onofre nuclear power plant, the threat of a terrorist attack on Hollywood, and seven active volcanoes, I decided I could live with those features.
You are then ready for a road trip, and it is helpful if you can spend a day or two (or more) in each location you are considering. If you find a location where you are physically comfortable, you can use a smart phone to check for things like “farms near me,” “cell towers near me,” etc. You can decide if you want vacant land or an existing house, whether you want to live in town or whether you need lots of open space between you and your neighbors. I thought I wanted a wooded property in a very rural area, but after looking at properties I realized that (1) I could not manage the work involved in clearing a wooded property, and (2) although I could not handle the fumes from the smokers and scented dryer sheets that I would encounter in town, I needed to be closer to other people and resources. I settled on a partially cleared property in a rural area zoned for preservation, which is a 15 minute drive into town.
I think a physical visit is critical before making a commitment. There may be troublesome circumstances that come and go, such as pesticide drift, dryer sheet drift, cigarette smoke drift, overhead planes, dogs barking at night, etc, that might affect your decision. And, if you find a property you like, it will give you a chance to meet your potential new neighbors. I was shy and skipped that step, and as a result I inadvertently stepped into a real estate dispute when I arrived. It all worked out, but it would have been smarter to talk to the neighbors.
Take your time, even if your circumstances feel urgent, and consider carefully any compromises you decide to make. You will probably be living with your choices for a while. In the long run, does it make sense to compromise now or to continue to search for a better option?