It really is just luck and timing. We're a bunch of close friends all in our late 30s and 40s who have known each other for most of a decade. Some of us already live within a few blocks of each other and some of us have already been (or currently are) roommates. After a decade or more in SF & Oakland, we all are feeling the desire to work less and live somewhere more rural, but not so far away that we lose our established friend group.

While no openings, I do plan to write up what I have learned when it is safe to do so. It would be great to have neighbor communities. Talk to your friends now and plant the seed; it may take years to germinate, but you can use that time to save money.