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Old 08-13-2019, 05:25 PM
 
9 posts, read 10,123 times
Reputation: 11

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Hello!! I am looking for a place to move to, and would value an honest opinion. I've lived in Nebraska most of my life, but do not want to deal with bad winters anymore. I just went thru a divorce, have nothing holding me back, and want to experience some different culture before I'm too old to know anything.

Am looking to move to the south, and would like to know what general or specific area to move to in Alabama? I've been thru the state once before, years ago, but do not know the area very well. Is there places I should avoid?
I'm just a middle class person, no high degree jobs, no fancy neighborhoods required. Just a decent job, small house, and prefer a small town.

So, give me some ideas!

Thank you!!
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Old 08-13-2019, 05:58 PM
 
Location: Madison, Alabama
12,960 posts, read 9,473,611 times
Reputation: 8944
Quote:
Originally Posted by PbinNebr72 View Post
Hello!! I am looking for a place to move to, and would value an honest opinion. I've lived in Nebraska most of my life, but do not want to deal with bad winters anymore. I just went thru a divorce, have nothing holding me back, and want to experience some different culture before I'm too old to know anything.

Am looking to move to the south, and would like to know what general or specific area to move to in Alabama? I've been thru the state once before, years ago, but do not know the area very well. Is there places I should avoid?
I'm just a middle class person, no high degree jobs, no fancy neighborhoods required. Just a decent job, small house, and prefer a small town.

So, give me some ideas!

Thank you!!
Cullman is nice and very accessible. It's on I-65. Guntersville and Arab are good towns, but not as easily accessible. There are a multitude of smaller towns in the state to choose from. It just depends on how near to a reasonable sized city you'd like to be.
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Old 08-13-2019, 06:04 PM
 
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Thank you for the suggestion of Cullman, Guntersville and Arab. I am not a city person, hate driving in them, and just prefer not be a urbanite. Lol! However, I do need access to one for healthcare, but if I have to drive 2 hours to see a specialist, that's fine with me.

I will look into those towns, and welcome any other info that a northern transplant should know!

Thank you!!
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Old 08-13-2019, 06:09 PM
 
Location: The South
7,480 posts, read 6,253,222 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PbinNebr72 View Post
Thank you for the suggestion of Cullman, Guntersville and Arab. I am not a city person, hate driving in them, and just prefer not be a urbanite. Lol! However, I do need access to one for healthcare, but if I have to drive 2 hours to see a specialist, that's fine with me.

I will look into those towns, and welcome any other info that a northern transplant should know!

Thank you!!
Guntersville is a beautiful town especially if you enjoy boating and fishing.
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Old 08-13-2019, 06:57 PM
 
Location: Floribama
18,949 posts, read 43,571,506 times
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If you want to be near the gulf I recommend Loxley, Stapleton, or Bay Minette. Small town living yet only 30 minutes to Mobile and 40 minutes to Pensacola. Between those two cities you have 7 larger hospitals to choose from for your healthcare needs.
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Old 08-13-2019, 06:58 PM
 
23,587 posts, read 70,358,767 times
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There are a few "cultures" in Alabama, so it would help to understand what attracts you. No winter here is truly "hard," but if you want to avoid any snow you may trade more storms and heat and humidity for that. I hate to ask, but male or female? The experience of good ol boy with a pickup is different based on sex and interests. Religion? Important or no? If yes, what kind? Were you small town before? Or are you going from a city to a town? That is a different culture shock. What, if any, kind of farms are you used to? Small towns often have an ag base.

As an exercise, you might want to make a list of ten things you most want and ten that you want to avoid. It can help clarify your goals and what fits.
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Old 08-13-2019, 07:17 PM
 
9 posts, read 10,123 times
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Harry Chickpea,
You brought up a lot of good points!! Let me clarify a few things...

I am a female, in her 40's, moving with my 21 year old daughter.
Religion : I'm a diversied individual on that. Baptised as a Methodist, Confirmed Catholic, but was married in a Luthern church. Lol! It's not super important to me, I may not make it to church very often, but I do believe in God Almighty.

I've always been a small town/country girl. Love the excitement of the city, but do not want to live there.

Been around farms my whole life, and sold my 'mini' farm when I got divorced. Raised mini pigs, mini cows, pygmy goats, and puppies. Worked on cattle ranches for years.
I live in a town with a population of 200 right now, and I would like to find something similar, perhaps bigger tho. A town with a grocery store, a bar, and a gas station, if possible. Not a drinker, but I do like to go talk to people once in a while.

As far as the want/don't want. I'll keep it to 3 things.

Want:
Small town, quiet life
My daughter loves to fish
Able to find jobs that pay the bills, anything from retail work all the way to law enforcement. Working with animals, or medical field. I don't require a triple digit income, would like to enjoy work and a life outside of the job.
Don't want:
Fast paced anything
Crime or violence, cuz we own guns and will shoot back. Lol!
Total isolation. Been there, done that, don't like it.

Hope this helps, and look forward to more info!!
Thank you!!
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Old 08-13-2019, 07:33 PM
 
10,501 posts, read 7,028,320 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by southernnaturelover View Post
If you want to be near the gulf I recommend Loxley, Stapleton, or Bay Minette. Small town living yet only 30 minutes to Mobile and 40 minutes to Pensacola. Between those two cities you have 7 larger hospitals to choose from for your healthcare needs.

If the OP doesn't like winter, this would be my choice.
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Old 08-13-2019, 08:17 PM
 
9,694 posts, read 7,386,107 times
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one thing about mobile, they are building a toll bridge where its going be $6 each way, baldwin county nice, Pensacola nicer than mobile plus pensacola has no income tax
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Old 08-13-2019, 08:46 PM
 
23,587 posts, read 70,358,767 times
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That info helps a lot. Fishing - Tennessee River or the Gulf Coast are prominent, middle and lower Alabama otherwise may not be great.

Crime - a lot of us know how to shoot back and when. Crime is more about who you associate with than anything else.

Church - You are a mutt, aren't you? Prepare to be asked, prepare to be asked if you want to join a church "family." Some are more intense than others. Along those lines, total isolation is impossible if you do join a church family. To further that, bars and church might not be on the same hymnal page. Choose wisely.

Size of town. That is small, like... Geraldine? Those towns suffer from loss of business and of course nepotism is going to be rampant. I would suggest a small bedroom community near a growing area that would allow greater work opportunities and secure income. First in - first out is the mantra for many jobs.

Be aware that wages in AL are minimal unless the job is outside of the sectors you are interested in. However, COL is less as well.

I'll let others chime in. Those are just off the cuff remarks.
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