Relocating out of DC
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
YMMV. We moved to Charleston, SC. Love it, love it, love it. Love the South overall. I guess I am not to hung up on "draconian laws" as a PP put it. In fact, I have no idea what he or she is talking about... I am as foreign as they get (1st generation immigrant), and expected a fair degree of alienation. I got nothing but acceptance though. (This place is full of transplants anyway, maybe that's why.) |
Anonymous
| We’re in the same boat. From this area but tired of the COL, traffic, and fast pace. We started looking at the RTP but I think we’ve ultimately decided on the FL panhandle. Specifically a town called Gulf Breeze outside of Pensacola. Is anyone else familiar with that area? Thanks |
Anonymous
| I visited Crestview, FL and fell in love with the beaches. I am a big beach buff, so if I had an employment opportunity in the Pensacola area, I'd move in a heartbeat. The area seemed like a bunch of very typical coastal communities. |
Anonymous
| The southern bashers are morins who have no idea what they are talking about. |
Anonymous
| If these other places are so great, why are they on Dcum to discuss? They probably are unable to support blog like this. That's a telling sign. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Yes, the ability "to support a blog" will be the deciding factor in where I will live LOL |
Anonymous
this is what we are trying to do but having a difficult time with my husband breaking into the job market there. I can do EA work from anywhere, but him....it's much harder. We want to move to Philly to be closer to family. the job thing seems daunting though |
Anonymous
| Yes, I left with a job that paiys more than I was making in DC. Housing is 50% less per SF, daycare is half the price. Schools are good and private/parochial schools are reasonably affordable for mere mortals. Spouse works PT for his old employer and travels back 1x/month; is also doing consulting on the side in the new location. It's been the best decision we ever made and everyone is happier. Grateful for my time in DC and the opportunities and friendships it afforded me, but I don't miss it for one second. |
Anonymous
Don't give up the dream. . .just made it back after 10 years in exile and it's great! |
Anonymous
Which is precisely why I chose to live in the Midwest at the top of a hill. 
|
Anonymous
|
Charlotte is a nice town, but it is true that a lot of it is suburb. If you want to live in the core area it will be expensive. Myers Park, and Dilworth and Uptown are just as expensive as the close in DC areas, albeit you will get more square footage for your million bucks. The difference is that in DC the suburbs with nice schools are still crazy expensive, where they are not as expensive in Charlotte. The traffic is terrible there and there is No Public transportation to speak of.
We almost took a job there and heavily researched the real estate market. The city was fun and we would have loved living there, but it's not as exciting as DC. We lived in Charleston, SC for 9 years. Great city, but the schools are not so hot. The cost of living is better than DC, but not terrific if you want to live close to all of the cool things it has to offer. The proximity to the beach was nice. It's getting better, but most of the jobs are in tourism/medicine. It won't have nearly the opportunities. I'm a southerner, and while I don't bash the South, I will say that the general demeanor is tiring. It's very conservative, even in Charleston, which is the most liberal part of the state. While, the social implications of this can be annoying, the really bad part is that people don't want to pay taxes for services like good schools. We lived in Ann Arbor, MI for four years. This was awesome. Growing in terms of tech jobs. Affordable living even close to downtown, vibrant city center. Close to activities and pro sports in Detroit. U of M there for activities and employment. Just awesome college town. Awesome Schools. Winters not terrible since you are on the eastern part of the state, and summer were glorious. I'd move back in a heartbeat. We currently live in Madison, WI. This is very similar to Ann Arbor. The things to add are lakes and proximity to Chicago. The Winters are bad though. The schools are very good. Even more of College town feel than Ann Arbor I like it here a lot. We are still looking to go to DC for job opportunities and because We want to try living in a real city with all the amenities while we are still young. I hope we don't regret the decision. |
Anonymous
Sorry, PP, but you do sound angry, or at least secretly envious of a place you would love to move to but for whatever reason think you won't fit in. A "toxic environment?" Please. |
Anonymous
| PP from Charleston here. It is true about local schools; they are not too hot. Mt. Pleasant area seems quite liberal though, at least in terms of taxes. I have not researched the schools, but medical care is excellent. I guess every place has a feel, and different people don't have to like the same things. I moved here from southern New Hampshire, and the place instantly surprised me with the number of people who can actually pronounce my name correctly. As far as taxes... Honestly, I'm tired of paying and not getting shit for it. I would gladly pay a much higher rate if we had some real safety nets to show for it. But as things stand now, I'm looking to move to a state without a state income tax. |
Anonymous
Where did you move to? |
gent.in.nwdc
Member Offline
Member Offline
| X |