Help me decide where to live
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Anonymous
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Due to a confluence of events, landed in an Appalachian college town four years ago and have not taken a liking to it despite my best efforts: its homogenous, dull, ugly, the people are kind of boring/cliquey - this is a really difficult point for me, as I’ve never had trouble making friends (have lived in multiple US states and overseas) - and I’m in a state that’s much maligned, and I’ve come to understand why.
I’m in a new remote role, with the understanding I’ll be on site a couple of times a year. My husband is also fully remote and just secured a five-year contract continuing his remote status. Our options: 1-Stay. Obviously the easiest, but I really can’t see it. I *hate* it here and get depressed if I don’t get out of town at least once a month. It has had no redeeming qualities in my eyes. 2 - Move to Pittsburgh. This is the closest “large” city to us and is kinda sorta midway between DHs family and mine (2h 40m drive to his, 4 h drive to mine). I’ve identified a few neighborhoods I like and would enjoy the proximity to culture (again, finally, thank goodness) but it’s still a very snowy, cloudy, grey place, which is one of the things I don’t like about where we are now. 3 - Move to Baltimore County. I’m a DC native but for a variety of reasons do not want to live in DC again, not least of which is cost. BC will provide me/us proximity to my family with enough distance. IF my husband were ever to go back into an office, it would be in DC and I think Baltimore County would be manageable for this. Like I said though; they’ve been remote since Covid and are assured to be remote for the next five years. My company is fully remote and has employees across the country. 4 - Move somewhere we really want to live, likely a coastal town in the south. I’m sure this will get no votes but every time we travel to the beach we fantasize about moving there. Three kids, 10, 8, and 2. HHI $330k. Love to hear your recommendations/thoughts/if you’ve BTDT. |
Anonymous
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Just keep in mind that if you choose 4, which is where I live, you will have to deal with " its homogenous, dull, ugly, the people are kind of boring/cliquey - this is a really difficult point for me, as I’ve never had trouble making friends," except for the ugly part of course.
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Anonymous
This is a consideration. Along with the other components of the south that I know all too well (I lived in Raleigh - which compared to other areas isn’t “that bad”). But being near the beach and having plenty of sunshine is a real draw. Choices choices |
Anonymous
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Hands down 4. I don’t know where that coastal town in the south is but we can’t wait to move out of DC and find one!
What about somewhere in the Carolinas? I don’t have any personal experience but I keep hearing people move there and be happy. |
Anonymous
| Come to Greenville, SC. We love it here |
Anonymous
| The social dynamic you describe is common in lots of places outside of large metro areas. It also may be due to your age. You may very well encounter it anywhere you go outside of a transient city so be careful moving somewhere with good schools, low cost housing etc. |
Anonymous
| 3 young kids? Bury the lede. Definitely Pittsburgh. Close to family, lots of varied experiences to share with the kids |
Anonymous
I don't like any of OP's choices and Pittsburgh has horrible air quality. OP keep looking. |
Anonymous
Gah I know. Even talking through it with my husband I realize I don't want to live in a small town, which is essentially where I'd be moving if I moved to a coastal town. What we're looking for (some are more "me" than "we" but this covers the big things): 1. Sunshine/warmth 2. Walkability - this is so overused but I grew up in DC proper walking everywhere, and I always get a little squirrelly if I don't have the option to walk, at least 3. Culture/restaurants 4. Proximity to a major airport 5. Good schools, public or private, which seems doable pretty much anywhere for the right $$$ Maybe Atlanta? At this point I don't know. |
Anonymous
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Coastal towns flood and hurricanes come by.
Do you really want an urban life or would you be in a suburb if you went to Pittsburgh? I suggest a smaller inland city that won't get storm surge but is close to beaches. Savannah? |
Anonymous
we’re in st pete, florida, and if you can stand the summers this might be a good place to check out. we traveled through greenville a few years ago and really liked it too. also enjoy atlanta when we’re there - but it’s def not the smaller coastal experience you’re describing. |
Anonymous
| I’m one of the PP and we have relatives that live in Myrtle Beach and raised their family there. They love it. They stay away from the tourist part but said it’s been a nice place if you don’t go near the ocean and the strip. It’s getting more expensive in recent years and more from the north come to retire there. |
Anonymous
Shhhhhhh |
Anonymous
NP. One of our good friends just moved into a new home on Myrtle Beach. They love it and say the people have been great. They are now retired without kids so haven't heard about the school system. They were pretty close to the recent wildfire but haven't been impacted by a hurricane yet. |
Anonymous
That’s great! What church do you go to? |