[FromMichigan]

That would be great - thanks! We are going to be down there the weekend of Feb. 8th to check out different areas, and will most likely be needing to contact real estate agents in the near future.

Thanks again!

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by FromMichigan

That would be great - thanks! We are going to be down there the weekend of Feb. 8th to check out different areas, and will most likely be needing to contact real estate agents in the near future.

Thanks again!

I think you need to come here with an understanding that Mid-westerners and Southerners share a set of values that are virtually identical. Honesty, integrity, hard work, friendliness, dedication to family. In this regard, you will not find much of a social adjustment. Just be friendly and you will get it returned in multiples.

An exec who works with me in my office grew up and graduated from college in Chicago and moved here after living in Salt Lake city for several years. Her husband is from Michigan and did many stops in his career in the mid-west.

They both love living here (Birmingham), say "this is by far the best place I have ever lived". Neither has school age children. Their grown son who is an American Culinary Institute-trained chef has just moved here to work in a high end restaurant...from upstate New York.

The weather differences are going to be fairly profound. You are going to experience four seasons....a stunningly beautiful spring, a hot, humid and rainy summer, a beautiful fall and a brief, mild winter.

Mid-westerners, when comparison "whole year weather - to whole year weather" tend to like this climate much much more than what they came from. The biggest adjustment is going to be summer. Make sure your home and cars have good AC. Get used to wearing T shirts and shorts constantly when away from work. (I don't wear long pants during the summer at ANY time except to work).

And of course, living in Mobile, you're going to have to get used to having no snow whatsoever...

Slooooow down and get used to a slower lifestyle, despite tht you will be living in a rapidly growing medium-sized city. Also know that Mobile is older than the United States, was settled by the same French who settled New Orleans and has been under the flags of France, Spain, the UK, the Confederacy and the US.

Because it is such an old city, there is a lot of old money there, that has been there for 7-8 generations. When you encounter these people, understand how old money people think. Frankly, I have met many old money people in Philadelphia and New York and they all think the same....

Mobile is a very Catholic city unlike the rest of the state...this goes back to the French settlers.

You are moving there at an excellent time. It is a boomtown with many new industries coming in. It is one of the largest ports in the U.S. and has some characteristics of a port city.

Mobile is the home of several successful Carnival Cruises and is the original American home of Mardi Gras.

Settle in and LEARN. Inquire about your new city and its centuries old culture....EASE into it and enjoy it.

Also know, you are an hour away from one of the most beautitul beaches in the world.

tough duty but somebody's gotta do it.

[Keeper]

You also should try some fried crab claws, if they have them. West Indies salad is to die for and it is something you have to try if you like Blue crabs.

OK.. that does it, time for me to make a trip down there for some good seafood.

[capt_dalton]

New here, (at the website, not the state), but, glad to see someone speak of the area as I feel. See, I grew up here.

I've lived from Dauphin Island Parkway, (now considered Rednecks Paradise), to Spanish Fort, back to the Parkway and now finally settled on Dauphin Island.

I've also lived in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia. I moved back here. Everywhere else is just too far away from, well, everything I like to do: hunting, fishing, boating, scuba diving, and not having to deal with cold weather. OK, we have winter from January through February, (not kidding, check an Almanac). But other than that, it varies between summer and a fall/springtime mix.

Taxes are low. Living expenses are the lowest in any place civilized folks live. If you like/love/crave water activities, you're looking in the right direction. Waterski-ing, air boating, freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, beach combing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, bird watching, sun bathing, American history trekking ......... heck we got it.

Now granted, you "may" have to deal with an occasional hurricane, but, the news will not let that slide past you. You get like three weeks of planning for it. It is ridiculous. I have lived through Hurricane Fredrick and everyone since then. Heck my wife, who I imported from Minnesota, rode out Hurricane Katrina with me on the charter boat I run.

Lots of really good musicians around here, Mardi Gras, the Blue Angels are close by, historical sites to explore, shoot who'd want to live anywhere else? Do you like oysters, shrimp, fresh fish, crabs and heck for that matter crabbing, cast nets, beach bonfires, jubilees, floundering, mud riding, horse back riding, polo, tennis, fire works, minor league baseball, college football (two bowl games in Mobile every year), Bay Fest (music venue), the shrimp festival, casinos just a little ride top the west.......

Anyways, y'all, (that's a southern term for yoose guys) end up settling here, drop a line. My sweetie helps run the golf course on Dauphin Island, (dooh, forgot to mention anything about all of the great golf courses we have in the area), and, well, me, I work at a chemical plant and when I ain't, (another southern word for "am not" or "are not"), doing that I run a charter boat from the island.

Ya'll just let us know if you have any questions. Be more than happy to give you a straight up answer.

[Reactionary]

capt_dalton - great post - Ft Gaines ("damn the torpedoes"), Sea Lab, Audubon Bird Sanctuary, on & on...

Last time I was at DI (2 yrs ago - 'Battle of Mobile Bay') the damage from the hurricane was still evident, but 'downtown' seemed to weather the hurricane pretty well. All the disposable beach houses out west were 'disposed'.

How's the rebuilding? Did many people sell their property to the Govt for 'preservation' - IIRC the Feds and the State were offering to buy property to 1) limit future insurance / emergency liability 2) preserve environmental infrastructure.

[kevin_1975]

Y'all have made some great post.

I to moved to Mobile not knowing what to expect in 1999. We took west Mobile on as our home. I would not move to the eastern shore for anything. We have EVERYTHING we need here in Mobile.