Moving (Birmingham, Montgomery, Dothan: relocating, realty, house)

[THOROBRED105]

My husband just received word that he is about to get this awesome job somewhere close to Dothan, AL and I am nervous. We currently live in California and moving that far south would be a change for me. For one, I have this great job working in for a family law attorney and see no reason to have to give up my job (where I make good money) to move somewhere where I know nothing about. Will I find the job I want that fits me? Will I like it in down there because my husband is white and I am black? I don't know the outcome of our decision. Is it a good place to raise a family? SOMEONE PLEASE HELLLPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sarah smile]

My husband and I are moving from Florida to Dothan. My daughter lives there. It's relatively small, great folks, lots of things to do, and really reasonable cost of living. Hope you love it! We're moving there Saturday

Sarah Smith

[Rocky Shoals]

I have lived in Dothan for nearly a year and find it to be a typical southern town. Your particular circumstances of mixed race marriage is not generally appreciated nor accepted by the 40 and older generation of residents here. I have also heard of racial incidents by the Dothan police force because of their inherent prejudices. This area is a "Bible Belt" and conservative with support for conservative GOP and the Bush administration.
Dothan also suffers from being on a direct route from Montgomery where the interstate ends and US 231, thru Dothan, is picked up in order to get to Florida and Panama City a very popular resort area. As such, the semis, RV's and traffic make a mess of the traffic circle that surrounds Dothan creating delays and road rage.
The Army has a major installation approximately 20 miles west of Dothan, Fort Rucker, and the military towns servicing Rucker are Enterprize and Ozark. If I had it to do over I would probably live in Enterprize. I strongly recommend that you rent before you buy. In Dothan the best apartments are Highlands Trail, rural but developing, and Sweetwater both owned by the same realty group. A 3 bdrm is about $700.00 per month. Other apartments are renting for $600.00 or so. Another nice community is Ashford which is south east of Dothan along US 84. There are some townhouse there that are stand alone units for rent that are very nice. Can't remember the names but they advertise in the back of the Apartment Guide. Shadow Creek???
I guess you might say I don't like Dothan and so I am relocating to NE Alabama at the end of this month. I'm a retired curmudgeon and an outdoor guy and NE AL is ideal for me. Hope this helps.

[Twostep]

Rocky Shoals - you must have had a terrible year in Dothan. Moderator cut: personal - off topic
There are those who move in and become part of the community. I am not a religious person but learned to respect my neighbors believes. I am not very particular about corn breat and greens. Fast food meals are worse. I love good wine. Freinds who do not drink go out of their way to have some for me. It all goes both ways.
You will find a job in Dothan. Is your issue the move or your job? I made the decision to stick with the husband and an unexpected career crept up on me in a small town. I would never have had the nerve to even try my luck at it. Now it is work from home, good pay, a great boss and most of all fun.
This is a good place to start your research.
http://martindale.com/
Look at it with an open mind and give it a try. You are a mixed couple. Ok, just because someone you do not even know has an opinion about a place you do not want to move to in the first place does not mean he/she represents the views of the area.

[Normajo]

Originally Posted by THOROBRED105

My husband just received word that he is about to get this awesome job somewhere close to Dothan, AL and I am nervous. We currently live in California and moving that far south would be a change for me. For one, I have this great job working in for a family law attorney and see no reason to have to give up my job (where I make good money) to move somewhere where I know nothing about. Will I find the job I want that fits me? Will I like it in down there because my husband is white and I am black? I don't know the outcome of our decision. Is it a good place to raise a family? SOMEONE PLEASE HELLLPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would be very uncomfortable living so near a carcinogneic nuclear power plant. I would never move to Dothan!

[Twostep]

Originally Posted by Normajo

I would be very uncomfortable living so near a carcinogneic nuclear power plant. I would never move to Dothan!

What does the power plant have to do with her issues?

Yes, you have explained before that you do not consider a move to AL. In Sylacauga it was the property tax, in Dothan it is the power plant - you never elaborated about Birmingham.

OK - I am in trouble with admin now :>) Sometimes my was-shipped-to-The-South-and-fell-in-love-with-it gets the upper hand when it comes to unexplained comments. by all means not everything is rosy here. Forgiven?

Back to the original question - a good source may be Southern Living Magazine's archives on line. Dothan has a great dinner theater. Remember - GRITS - girls raised in The South? Give it a try!

[Decaturbabe]

Originally Posted by THOROBRED105

My husband just received word that he is about to get this awesome job somewhere close to Dothan, AL and I am nervous. We currently live in California and moving that far south would be a change for me. For one, I have this great job working in for a family law attorney and see no reason to have to give up my job (where I make good money) to move somewhere where I know nothing about. Will I find the job I want that fits me? Will I like it in down there because my husband is white and I am black? I don't know the outcome of our decision. Is it a good place to raise a family? SOMEONE PLEASE HELLLPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whether you find a job or not (you probably would - there's a need), you will NOT make the money you do in California. However, the cost of living is much less than Cali.