I'm thinking of moving to North Carolina - Should I?

Hello...
Nationwide wanderer looking for final place to roost. I thought it was here, but life has proven otherwise. North Carolina appeared on my radar a few months ago, hints started going into my brain last winter, thanks to certain members.

Tell me please, would an upstate NY wanderer who just wants a quiet place to be part of a community, teach, garden, have my dogs, do good work, make a minimal negative impact on the planet be happy in North Carolina?

Where should I go? Where would you fly into to explore the area in January on a budget? I want to visit in winter because I need to see it at its worst. Winter is a rough time for me here because of the lack of sun. I need to be rural, but within an hour or two of a metropolitan area for those times I need some different stimulation. I want to have a college around, too.

Thoughts, please? Thank you very much!
Laura

Come visit the Triangle, my like minded friend :-) I am originally from Ohio, lived 4 years in a suburb of Atlanta, and now have been here 2 years and refuse to ever move again. I LOVE it here. Reminds me of Ohio quite a bit, but with much milder winters (snow is rare). If you like Autumn, you are in luck, because instead of 3 intense weeks, it stretches from late September into early November!

The Triangle are of North Carolina is the general zone between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. I live in Apex, a small town suburb of Raleigh. The joke here is that I'm really a suburb of Cary, the next town over, as it's growth has pretty much outpaced our capital. Locals say that Cary stands for Corral All Relocated Yankees, and given the number of yankee transplants, the joke is rather appropriate.

There are something like a dozen colleges in the Triangle (including Duke, UNC, and NC State, I think). There are more PHD's here per capital than anywhere else in the country. It really gives the place a cool vibe. Very small town friendly, but also the perks and diversity you get from having colleges nearby. Nice mix.

I am 3 hours from the mountains, two hours from the beach, and there is plenty to do right here in my own neck of the woods!

Rural knooks to visit - Pittsboro, Johnston County, Fuquay-Varina. Chaham county has large rural areas, but the colleges lend it an arty and conservationist flavor. That is probably your best place to look - unfortunately I don't know the area as well, we had to live near C.A.R.Y. , as that's where my husband works.

Good luck in your search!! Feel free to D-Mail me questions. All the towns here have websites, some even have webcams.

Tresa

Oooo, Tresa-yes, I remember lots of IBMers relocating to NC years ago from upstate NY.

Pittsboro and Chatham - they came up on the radar- needing teachers. What got me so excited was the fact that I could buy a couple of acres with a liveable home on it for a FRACTION of what it costs to buy in here. SOunds perfect where you are!

I've been checking animal ordinances, since I will have 6 dogs, no less than 5 if one stays with the property (not all that likely).

What's the scoop on tobacco use in public places?
Then Raleigh is the place to fly into, eh?
What's the price of gasoline now?
How do most people heat their homes?
How long is winter generally, not in the mountains? I don't want deep freeze that can burst water pipes if I can avoid it.

Teacher pay is low, but it matches the real estate prices. I didn't go into teaching for the money, anyway. I just need to teach and have my basic needs taken care of (dogs first).

I've been dreading and avoiding this decision, but now I'm feeling excited (and looking beyond the work it'll take to get there.)

LOL :-)

I don't know of any ordinances that limit the number of animals, but there are definitely ordinaces in some towns that keep you from keeping them outside, if that makes a dif. Cary is a NO for you, very restrictive everythings there. If you drive 5 minutes from my house by retail heaven/hell, you will pass chickens and cows, so I'm sure there is something doable for ya. There is a lot of unincoporated land here too, which my chicken, pea fowl, goat loving friends all live in - lol. (pea fowls are popular cause they eat ticks)

As for tobacco use....uh...North Carolina is a *tobacco state*. It's probably more allowing than the (cough, wink) socialist state of california - (joke).

Gas - about 3.75 a gal, I think.

Winter - giggling - it would take a freak of nature occurence for it to get cold enough here for pipes to burst. It rarely gets below freezing, and not for long at that. Deeply amusing, if they get so much as a dust of snow - it all shuts down. They do get the occasional ice storm here - I have not ever seen one though. There was one famous one a few years ago where kids got stuck at school and whatnot - but that's a rare thing. Still wasn't pipe bursting cold tho. Mind you, the natives think it's cold here :-) People from upstate NY and NE Ohio do not :-)

There is a dramatic difference here between the cost of real estate intown, and in the country - although the distance between the two is minimal. The cost of living here is very low, so it might not be the salary hit you think it is. Add to that you will be living out in the sticks, and you might just be sitting pretty!

Giggling,

Tresa

Tresa, surely you had a typo in the cost of gasoline?

oh gosh, yes! TWO.75 a gallon

thanks for catching that!

LOL, you forgot to tell her about August. Frozen pipes would be a piece of cake compared to August. (Only kidding, it only lasts a few weeks) :-)))))

Edited to add you might also want to look at the Greensboro area. Lots of colleges there too. The metro area is much smaller than the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area but not too small and it is also easier to navigate and the real estate prices should be better still.

This message was edited Sep 28, 2007 1:21 PM

I thought so about the smoking, but some tobacco states have passed laws. Forgot which one most recently - Tennessee? (uhm, are you talking about a different tobacco? giggle)

Yes, I know how people not from the north react to snow. It's pretty funny, especially on the roads! (not accidents, but the timidness).

I don't mind heat. I can always get wet. Now, I'd consider it cold, 'cause I'm always cold. In Wisconsin I wore sundresses under my corduroy winter dresses and thigh -high (in theory, but my thighs are 'way high, and not narrow enough to handle the elastic at the top of a sock!) snowboard socks...lol. I was teased a little, but then I gave a pair to every staff person who did outside duty and they never went out without them after that. :-)

I wear full silk long underwear here in the winter. The damp cold is the coldest cold, especially if you get wet and never get to dry.

Any thoughts on Robeson County at that area?

I have lived here for 22 years, but I don't think that I can even say a weather pattern for here! lol Every year is different-no matter what season. A lot of extremes too-from heat (our hottest summer was this summer) to snow (in the last 7 (?) years, one year we got 20" one night-and that is alot-for almost any state-but here esp, and it closed down the schools for about 10 days-mostly because there was a layer of 2-3" of ice beneath the snow and that kept freezing every night for awhile after the rds got plowed. Another winter, we got 14" (after the 20" year). So we do get it sometimes.
Ice storms are much more feasible-and they will take the electricity out for days because of the broken limbs. We had a hurricane hit us (Fran) pretty strong in 96 (over 100 mile winds all night), a near miss with Floyd and another very near miss with another -all within the past 11 yrs. Trees falling is the main thing there. We had a catagory 4 tornado back in late 80's-that was memorable! lol trying to think of all the major weather occurances. I will say that most people that have been here awhile know that sooner or later (mostly sooner) they will lose electricity for a few days at a time due to weather, and have a generator etc

As I said-there is no consistency to the seasons, except that most of the time-if you have a mild Nov/Dec, then probably Jan/Feb will be colder than usual and vice versa. Same thing with summer. But sprinkled throughout the warm/ cold periods are days of the opposite-

and there are no finer springs and falls anywhere.......

lol Ardesia-when I just read what you wrote, I was thinking water springs and waterfalls at first, and was thinking-are we known for that ? Then I figured it out-I must be more tired than I thought tonight! and a day older-that ain't helping either...

:-)
We lose power here regularly, didn't even count last winter. I have a generator, but also wood and propane, so losing the grid for a few days is ok as long as I can get online. I was very displeased when power came back after three or four days one winter, but the phone stayed out because a tree had fallen on the line and it wasn't priority....:-)

Ten days is a long time out of school. I think ours was closed for an extra week after Christmas vacation because the road washed out. Lots of roads did.

Trees also fall. I've got black locust, not a native to here, but to there - they fall and break often. They make great fence posts and firewood, though.

I hear the gardening there is fabulous - :-)
Gas is cheaper than here - it's $3/gallon.

4Paws,
I'm in Brunswick County right on the coast -- about 40 minutes to Myrtle Beach and 40 minutes to Wilmington. This area is much more rural than the Raleigh/Apex/Cary area. Certainly not as sophisticated are the Triangle area with the colleges, etc., but a great place and about 8 degrees (or more) warmer in the winter and 8 degrees (or more) cooler in the summer. That's the difference of the coast and makes it possible to grow more warm weather plants -- I even push some tropicals.

Robeson County is a little more inland and a little north of me. Both Brunswick and Roberson County are "rural" enough that you won't feel closed in and you can find real estate at a decent price. Comparing apples to apples, you should find the real estate prices a little more affordable (just a little) here than the Raleigh area. My house has an assessed value of $274,000 and my tax notice I just got is $983. Tigerlily and tresariver, how does that compare to your area? Now the negative -- most of this part of NC does now require wind storm insurance if you live near the coast. My total homeowner's insurance for fire, theft, etc. AND wind storm was $1125 this year so that should give you an idea.

Most of the state has about the same cost for groceries, gas, etc.

I'm orginally from Columbia, SC and I really don't care for the center of the state even though it has U of SC. Columbia is HOT in the summer since it's stuck in the middle of the state. However, the coast and mountain part of the SC are very nice. There are tax differences in the 2 so be sure to check all that if considering SC.

We have LOTS of retired northerners all over the Carolinas so there must be reasons why. LOL! Climate - cost of living - quality of life, etc.

You might want to check out the Wilmington area if you have a deisre to be near the coast. It's a pleasant town and larger than my area is.

Anywhere from Wilmington, NC down to the Georgetown, SC is an area to check out if you want to be coastal. Both states still allow smoking, but restaurants are starting to get on the band wagon even though laws have yet to be passed. Raleigh probably has many more non-smoking areas than the more rural areas closer to the beach.

Yes, check local ordinances regarding pets. I have 2 dogs and will always have animals so I understand the importance.

Raleigh can get snow, but more likely gets ice storms, whereas we don't get ice and did have 1/2" snow in 1999, but we thought it was exciting.

Just keep checking websites and you'll get a feel. I always try to think about what's NOT being seen in the town info or photos that they're trying to downplay.

But come on down (or over, in your case)! We'd all love to have you here and the old Southern hospitality still runs rampant all over NC and SC so I know you'd like it.

Best wishes for your future,
Barbara

Barbara, thank you for that important information! I want more rural and warm than not, I'd like to be within an hour or 90 minutes of the ocean, but prefer rivers for my water fix.

One thing is for certain, the welcoming attitude is not one that's found in the west coast overly much that I've found.

Taxes on property accessed at $72K were almost $700 last year here, with insurance on $165K being about $600, and this is rural!

You all are giving me things to think about...keep it coming. :-)
Thank you!
Laura

Hmmm. "more rural and warm than hot"........ I guess "hot" is a relative word. What do you consider hot for the summer?

I think anywhere in the South/Southeast the summers are considered hot. August should be totally removed from almost anywhere in the Carolinas except the mountains! In NC and SC, inland temps in the summer can be 90 degrees plus with heat waves hitting close to 100 degrees -- and it's not a "dry" heat. LOL! What's a dry heat??? My oven is a dry heat, but HOT!

As an example, Thursday and Friday here were about 86 with fair amount of humdity (felt hot) and by this evening it's starting to cool a little. The next few days will be about low 80's and about 60-62 at night so that's considered beautiful weather as the cooler temps will help with the humidity. Here, by the 3rd week or so in October we'll probably start to feel like "fall" with cooler temps requiring a sweater or jacket in evenings. Then we start to consider our "cold" weather" from December to about middle or end of March. We can get freezes occasionally.

Again, good luck, Laura.

Barbara

oops, that h should have been an n...more warm than not...lol
I like heat. Not excited about humidity, but no problem with heat. Does it cool off at night?

Well, that is the problem. I am way far south of where you are considering (down here in the bottom of SC.) But, even in NC the nights can be pretty hot and humid but we learn to just stay in the AC during the worst weeks - and it is only weeks really. Much better than months of ice and snow.

During the heat of the summer (mid July thru August) most days it is comfortable enough, for me, to go back outside around 6 and get some more work done. I try to get out there at daybreak to water and work also-sometimes by 9:30 in the am, you start to sweat from the humidity.
Overall, it really is bearable-you just adjust. I learned a long time ago to take long afternoon breaks! Everything grows so fast here in the summer-
If you have never really experienced humidity though, it might make as much or more sense to come in early Aug. Winters can be hit or miss in terms of cold temps/gray days. It very well could be in the 60's and sunny as well as in the 30's during the day. But the humidity is a factor. I remember once taking the redeye from California and at 8am walking out of the airport doors and just hitting this wall of humidity!

Hi 4paws,
Since this is a forum that includes both Carolinas, let me put in a plug for Upstate South Carolina. After losing my Florida home to three hurricanes, in the late fall of 2005, I decided to do what I'd been wanting to do for 20+ years, and move to NC. I found the prices higher than I'd hoped (I wanted significant land) and that there seemed to be more restrictions than I was happy with. Like you, I was concerned about the animal situation. I needed to bring an entire animal rescue with me. Cats, dogs, and cows. I started to look in NE Georgia, SE TN, NW NC and NW SC. I found the most in Tn and SC in my price range, with 10 agres or more. When I started really checking things out, I found that the TN area was probably colder than I wanted for the critters, and that there wasn;t much access to high end vet care in a reasonable proximity. I liked NC best, but decided that it would be best to check the alternatives, I could always fall back on smaller properties in NC, if I wasn't happy with SC.

I found a real estate agent who'd answer my email, told her what houses I'd found on the web I wanted to see in her area, and made a trip. I'd planned on just looking here for three days, to see what was what. I came here in December, like you, I wanted to see the "worst". I loved it. I didn't even need the sweaters and jacket I'd brought for the "cold". I looked at the houses I'd chosen, and some she'd found. I put in an offer on the second house (One I'd really dsiliked from the web pictures, but it had the most land of all). It's perfect. The pictures did it no justice. I closed on the house in February, and it was a bit colder, but not bad, at all.
Long story not so short:

4paws asks;

"What's the scoop on tobacco use in public places?"
Also a "Tobacco State", but it's getting better, quickly. My SO can't stand the smell ( of "that" tobaccy), and he's found restaurants that have banned it. Greenville is trying to ban smoking in public places, so I believe it's only a matter of time.

"Then Raleigh is the place to fly into, eh?"
I'd say Charlotte. Access to both North and South, and a great area in itself.

"What's the price of gasoline now?"
$2.68 last time I filled up

"How do most people heat their homes?"
I have oil. Cost me $69+$28 for fills and it's still almost full. But, I'm a polar bear. My SO has a space heater for his office.

"How long is winter generally, not in the mountains? I don't want deep freeze that can burst water pipes if I can avoid it."
The worst of last winter was actually Easter weekend. It got into the 'teens, but no frozen pipes, and the critters all survived easily. The flowers/plants were a different story:(. The cats and dogs water bowls (deep plastic buckets) would have ice once in a while, a couple of times as much as 1/2-3/4", but seldom more than two nights in a row, and even left alone would melt by noon. We had snow once (3-4"), and everyone loved it. It's true though, everyone panicked, there were empty shelves on the bread, milk and peanut butter aisles at the supermarket.
Have to say that the day after my offer on the house was accepted, I left. The next day was the big "Ice Storm" of that winter (Dec 16th, I think). It apparently knocked out power for a while, up to three days, I think. I haven't seen that, but won't be surprised.

Coming from Florida, the humidity is nothing. We got to 99-106 for a couple of weeks this summer, but there was no humidity. I was able to work in the garden (veggies) until noon with no problem. The critters didn't seem at all phased. Only the last couple of weeks have occasionally been kind of uncomfortable. It's gone today, and it's gorgeous.

Farther from the ocean than you wanted (not sure how far) but the rivers are spectacular The Reedy and the Saluda are two that are well known. I'm less than 1/2 mile from the Saluda, maybe 3 from the Reedy.

I'm 15 miles from Greenville, SC, a fast growing urban center, 15 miles from Anderson, which is smaller, but I like it batter, and 97 miles from Charlotte, NC.

University of NC is less than two hours, and has great Veterinary facilities.

There's a house down the street from me for sale, 4/2 house, 6 acres, $164,000, I think. Lots of double wides, two right now on 2 acres under $50,000.

Can you tell I'm happy?

*VBG* I'll stop now......

Margo


This message was edited Sep 29, 2007 10:55 AM

Hey, watch it, Margo:-) !! That vet facility is at NC STATE University! Not that other place down the road in CH...WITH (Wolfpack in the House!!!). No offense to the TH, but wanted to set the record straight;->
See, 4paws...Lots of universities, lots of spirit!!!
Bev

Don't mean to jump back in here, but I have to, also, comment on the Greenville area. My son and his wife are there and I think i'ts one of the most beuatiful parts of both North and South Carolina. My DIL is from Anderson and they both went to Clemson (go Tigers!) and now live in Greenville. It's beautiful there! It is about 4 1/2 hours to the coast and that's why I didn't mention it that much, but as far as a great place I love it!! My business is here on the coast and if it weren't for that I might consider getting up there. Probably when I'm older (yikes! Like 58 isn't enough) I may go up there by the kids.

Pelzer and surrounding areas is truly great. The land is not all flat (like the coastal areas) and they have a true "change of seasons".

All in all, knowing both states pretty well, I would suggest you check the Greenville area and Raleigh and Charlotte if you're willing to give up the coast. I love all 3. Raleigh is closer to the coast, Charlotte gets a little hotter in the summer (no offense, tggfisk), but I think the Greenville area is the prettiest of all you mention and does offer access to many lakes and several rivers.

Well, I've "mouthed" off wa-a-ay too much so I'll not jump back in again. LOL!

All in all, let's say a big hooray for both the Carolinas!! You can't do better than either of these!

Best,
Barbara

Wow - lots to consider. Catmad, SC is also on the radar. I need at least an acre, but I'd prefer more. I don't have the variety of critters you do, but I can't imagine that I'd stop rescue no matter where I am, so if I have the room and facilities, who knows what would come live with me. Last year I was offered two horses and a colt. My husband (now disappeared, leaving me holding the bag...which I can't pay for...grrr) wouldn't let me and I also realized my back might not cooperate.

I'm not sure which way to approach - get a job first, or get the land first (of course, I have to get control of what I have here from the absentee dr. husband and sell it first).

I don't think the humidity will be a problem, though I'm not fond of it. Here it gets very hot in the afternoons, and the dogs and I made it a habit of siesta-ing in the bedroom, which is very cool, until evening beginning around 2 pm. I used my down comforter all summer this year. I'm no polar bear! I can do it, but don't want to.

I'll look at Charlotte to fly into. From Arcata/Eureka flights to Raleigh are $500+, $200 from Sacramento, but that's a five hour drive from here. I don't live in a place that is easy to travel from, which was a major strike against it when we first moved here in 2003, but it wasn't, at that point, my call.

Thank you! This is so helpful.

Barbara, don't jump out, stay in, please!
I've got no great attachment to the coast. I'd like to have some source of natural water for the dogs, but I also have my "water features" for them (two wine barrels and a kiddie pool - even makes soothing sounds when be filled as water from a barrel flows into the pool...lol.

If I packed up and left here before Thanksgiving, how likely do you think it would be that I could land somewhere with a barn with utilities to pull my 22' travel trailer into?

I'm trying to creatively visualize how this is going to play out and not get greedy. I won't have much money - I don't know how fast the whole property mess will resolve.

Downscalebabe has been a big influence also in looking into the Carolinas. Need to contact her, too.

4Paws,
I'm an Orange County transplant. Been here a year and love it sooooo much I couldn't even tell you what streets were around me in Cali as I blocked it all out as a 10 year bad memory :-) I'm in Upstate SC in Spartanburg County, 5 miles from the NC border. 10 acres, 6 dogs (between ours and our Aunt's who moved with us), and we bought horses when we moved here. We are 80 miles from Charlotte, close to the mountains, close to lakes, not close to the ocean (but never used it when we lived 10 miles from it in Cali so we don't care). We picked this area as my grandparent's lived 12 miles from where I am now and I spent summers down here growing up and it always stuck with me how much I loved it. I love it even more now.
Can't help you with flights as I flew out of LAX, but I know that AA had good prices and that's what I flew out here every time I came to look and when we finally moved.

"Hey, watch it, Margo:-) !! That vet facility is at NC STATE University! Not that other place down the road in CH..."

OOOOPS!! My very BAD!! My abject apologies, I don't know HOW I could have done that. Probably because I (knocking madly on wood) haven't had to go there yet. Will do my homework next time. No offense intended, to anyone *G*.

Margo

With all the properties for sale right now you shouldn't have any trouble settling quickly and, because of the glut you can even make a ridiculuosly lowball offer. My son recently did that and it was accepted because it was the ONLY offer the seller received.

Not sure about the upstate area but, in general, there is a shortage of qualified teachers in South Carolina so that should not be a problem either.

Edited to add: No disrespect to the NC contingent but I believe the Vet school at the Univ. Of Georgia in Athens is a lot closer to upstate SC and they have worldclass facilities.

This message was edited Sep 29, 2007 10:04 AM

4paws wrote;'If I packed up and left here before Thanksgiving, how likely do you think it would be that I could land somewhere with a barn with utilities to pull my 22' travel trailer into?"

There's a lot available here, but some have drawbacks, and I'm not sure how quickly it could be done. If you want, I'll look around at some of my favorite MLS sites, and see what's listed. Post or Dmail me your requirements, and price range, and I'd be glad to look. I really enjoy doing the searches, so don't hesitate. It gives me an excuse to also hunt for my next wish, an old house to restore:).

Margo

ardesia wrote;"No disrespect to the NC contingent but I believe the Vet school at the Univ. Of Georgia in Athens is a lot closer to upstate SC and they have worldclass facilities."

_Smile_. I wasn't going there, but one of my closest friends graduated from their Vet school, and you're right, that's probably where I'd try first. I guess it's enough to say that the facilities are here, whatever direction you want to travel *G*.

Margo

Hey 4paws--not sure where Hoopa is--I'm assuming Central Valley?Maybe Northern CA?--but as someone who moved here from California, and loves it, let me put in my two cents worth.

First-- I'm sorry, lets just get this out of the way--compared with California, and I pretty much mean anywhere in California, with the exception of the hottest desert areas--the climate here just is ...well, it really sucks, at times. I've lived all over the US, and several locations in CA (Bay Area, Yuba City, Sacramento area, Northern CA) and, frankly, its just alot nicer to not have humidity and mosquitos (I think we can all agree on that, however many other virtues exist in NC!).

You will hate, detest, and curse June, all of July and, especially, August. And parts of September! Don't let anyone tell you its not so bad. If you are used to CA's climate, it is BAD!!! Having said that, and before all my DG Carolina Gardening friends kill me, let me add that you will love spring and fall, and most of winter, though, yes, indeed, winters can be quite variable, though the coldest extremes and snowy spells, except in the mountains, are generally brief. And don't forget, you still have humidity in the winter (though anyone from here doesn't think so). So the cold is colder and the warm is warmer, even in winter. None of that nice, dry California air except maybe some in late winter, early spring.

Second, climate aside, there is alot to love here, not the least of which is the real estate prices as compared with CA. Sounds like you don't want to be totally rural, but you want a small tract of land within driving distance to a job. My experience is in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area, and I think you could easily find that here, depending on your budget. Definitely, prices are high near downtown Raleigh, and in many parts of Durham/Chapel Hill, but as you go out, they do drop dramatically, especially if you are willing to consider "less desirable" properties--i..e those not old enough to have vintage charm, but also not new enough to have all the bells and whistles, or not in a "prime" area ("prime" being a subjective thing...). North Raleigh is growing subdivisions by leaps and bounds, so I don't recommend anything there, if you want land. Sounds like you would be happy in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area, based on your stated desires to garden, have minimal negative impact etc---those in the Carrboro or Hillsbourough area definitely fit that criteria--very environmentally aware, lots of organic gardening, farmers markets etc--but those cities themselves are fairly pricey.

I would encourage you to come out, stay in Raleigh, and investigate all the surrounding areas. The thing is, you have farmers markets, lots of gardening groups, and dog lovers etc everywhere--you just have to find them. I live near downtown Raleigh, and while I don't have land, I do have a large garden, chickens (allowed in Raleigh), access to a huge farmers market, access to many organic products via Whole Foods, Trader Joe's (our first one..in Cary, a suburb), and local organic growers, I attend a fantastic and welcoming church which tackles projects which run the gamut from social justice issues (death penalty, lesbian/gay rights etc) to environmental issues (pesticides, organic gardening, tree preservation etc) to everything in between.

I am convenient to museums, green spaces/parks/trails, and pretty much everywhere I want to go, with the caveat that this area has experienced huge growth, so traffic is worsening. Its definitely not bad, bad being like in the northeast, or LA or San Fran, but keep it in mind when you decide where to live and work. If you have children, the Wake County school system is great, and offers lots of diversity and schooling options, though it too, is experiencing dramatic growth and its inherent problems, so should be investigated thoroughly when you decide where to live.

I did notice the tobacco thing when I moved here--not that you are surrounded by it here (there's a no smoking ordinance in Raleigh), but that it was and is more prevalent than in CA. I'm assuming you are concerned because you are a non-smoker. What I noticed was not that I was around smoke more, but that a number of businesses (especially restuarants etc) had that lingering tobacco smell, as smoking was big here in the past. I don't think you will find it to be a problem for you now unless you are in a very rural area or consistently around older, native folks, who may still smoke. I don't tolerate smoke well, and have not found it to be a problem.

So, to summarize, I found everything here that I liked from CA (and a few other places I've lived)--like access to nature, climate inducive to gardening/growing food etc, friendly people, a population that is diverse enough to find your niche (be that conservative, liberal, whatever), animal lovers, great restuarants, a population educated enough to support bookstores/ museums/ historical sites etc. In addition, the cost of living is similar except that real estate and, possibly, taxes are lower than in CA. (Obviously, you have to know that, depending on where you go, real estate can be dramatically lower or only somewhat lower). You have access to both coastal and mountain areas, as in CA, with way less traffic on the way. And there are still many "real" areas--by that I mean, not suburbia, but real towns and places where oldtimers still exist. Again, the only real negative I see as compared with CA is the climate. California's can't be beat!

If you aren't sure where you want to live, I would investigate, the Raleigh/ Durham/ Chapel Hill area, Carrboro (right next to Chapel Hill), Hillsborough and Asheville. I am less familiar with other areas, so I hope others can comment on them. If you have any other questions, drop me a D-Mail and I'll try to answer or put you in touch with someone that can. Good Luck!

yotedog wrote;"frankly, its just alot nicer to not have humidity and mosquitos (I think we can all agree on that, however many other virtues exist in NC!)."

You've hit on something interesting. I have not, in the 1 1/2 years I've been here, seen a mosquito. I don't know why, and I hesitate to question it, but that's the way it's been. Could be because it's been so dry, but that usually wouldn't eliminate them completely. I'm surprised to hear that Raliegh is so humid, but I've only been there briefly, so can't really comment.

This has been an interesting thread, I'm pleased to see how many people really love this area. Count me in, after 53 years, I'm HOME!!

Margo

Trader Joe's? Oh, that cinches it. I'm 6+ hours away from the nearest TJ - I'm in an unknown part of CA...in the rugged land where Bigfoot lives, gold was sought, timber harvested (still), and the Emerald Triangle applies as a major source of revenue (which is one of the reasons it's a dysfunctional place). The winter here is soooo dismal. Rain in sheets, weeks on end, annual average of 57 inches and none in the summer.

So many people with critter names! :-)

I'm a teacher, no kids, no other two-leggeds, so the school issue has to do with me teaching, as that will be my job. I have been without a contract since moving here in 2003, only substituting at the high school level, so I'm concerned about the competition I'd face in the Triangle area as well as the higher cost of real estate. NC has a standard salary for all teachers, so I need be sure my living expenses are low to catch up again. I may have to start out substituting, but in some areas that really need teachers, I might slide in easily and get any credential shortages while employed. I've got to research more of SC, too.

I hope to find the last place I move to - and stay for the rest of my life. This long-haul moving thing is so over for me! :-) (I've done it often enough to know!)

catmad, we're in the same age group, too. Dread is starting to fall away. oh my....

Mosquitoes are nasty here, but they don't seem to bother me much or even swarm my place-perhaps because of swallows and toads. I'd though about spraying a garlic oil product.

This looks interesting
http://www.carolinanow.com/

Hey! I've been outside enjoying the cool air and breeze today. It has been a nice break from the humidity...I was born in Fla, but lived all my life in NC. The humidity and heat bother me, too! Much easier to deal with just the heat in CA when I was there years ago.
But...I'd never trade! Guess that's why so many people move here every year.

I work in the Wake Co. School System (Raleigh and surrounding cities) and love it. Working in a school is always subjective to what kind of environment one is used to, but I wouldn't trade that, either.

And hey, no problem with Greenville! I may have gone to NCSU, but now I'm a Pirate Mom:-)) DD started there this fall!

Bev

Here's another for you: www.sciway.net

I am ready to move to Pelzer if there are no mosquitos there. LOL

Also, there are 2 TJ's under construction in the Charlotte area. It will only be 5 hours for me. YAYYYYYY I used to go to the ones in VA but my kids have now moved to FL. DH has promised me a trip to the one in Raleigh if the Charlotte ones do not open soon.

edited to add another site of interest: http://www.cerra.org/

This message was edited Sep 29, 2007 12:48 PM

ardesia wrote;"I am ready to move to Pelzer if there are no mosquitos there. LOL"

I'm really at a loss to explain that. After Florida, where they're the State Bird, I expected more. Not that I'm complaining, I'm very happy, but if I knew why, maybe I could keep it going......

...state bird! You're killin' me here:-))

Thank you for the links...
I was just looking at a posting by Wake Co. School district...
sent off inquiry letters to schools in Salisbury, Pittsboro, Clinto, Windsor, Mooresville, Kannapolis (OMD! There's a 1966 3 br 4bath house on 17 acres with public utilities in Statesville for $60K-I wanna move last spring!), Fayetteville, Columbia, SC, Manning, SC...gotta move around outside for a while. :-)

Fayetteville, IMO, is not a pretty town -- very military oriented and businesses that come with it. Also, flat land, not known for rivers and not a very "sophisticated" town.

I'm originally from Columbia, SC and you couldn't get me to go back there if you paid me. The summers are so hot and humid and the sky stays hazy all summer, Yuk! I still have a brother that lives there and I go through there on my way to see my kids in Greenvile. I really don't like Columbia even if it is a college town -- sorry Gamecocks!

Manning is close to Santee so there's lots of water and a couple of hours to the beach. Small, pretty town, but that's about it.

Check and see how close you could get to catching an AirTran flight. AirTran is a cheaper airline (usually) and flies into Charlotte (1 1/2 hours from Greenville/Spartanburg) and also flies into Charleston, SC on the coast. You might have to do a flight that has you change airlines to get the best deal. The hub for USAir is Charlotte and the hub for American is Raleigh and Delta is Atlanta if that helps any.

I liked that sciway website.

This message was edited Sep 29, 2007 3:23 PM

I'm actually from Mooresville. Not a bad place to be. Home of NASCAR these days, though. Close to Charlotte, Statesville, and Lake Norman. My parents still live there. The school system is a city school system. Not many of those left around, but it has a good reputation. I can't actuall vouch for it, though. Graduated from it a lonnnng time ago:-)