[Keeper]

Folks.. let's get back on topic.. Thanks

[Threestep2]

I have worked (on the phone) mostly with professionals of the NY and NY City area. A different breed! Small formalities such as good morning or how are you are not included in their vocabulary, are they? In eight years of working the SE as sourcer I learned to appreciate being turned down with a plain no thank you or send me your contact. It saves both parties face and burns no bridges. But ditch it b... That was a new one! No wonder in the Huntsville Forum a poster complained about cashiers being slow and friendly. Could it be the long winter? Some who ventured South did actually thaw.

[rnc76]

I've been living in HSV for 5 years now. I'm an engineer, so I like bulleted lists. The things I like most:

-People: we've found everyone to be so warm and inviting. It has been easy to make friends. When you are in need, people help out. It is just the culture. For example, when someone you know is sick or has a baby, you make them a casserole and take it to them. And it isn't just your best friends that will do things like this. There is a sense that people care about each other here that I think is special. Every time someone has a baby at my work, we have a sign up sheet for meals. Between my work and our other friends, we didn't have to think about meals for 2 weeks after having our first baby.

-Pace of life: this goes hand in hand with the people. Things are just laid back and relatively stress free. Traffic is not an issue. All of our friends live within 20 minutes of us, so it isn't a big deal to get together. I think the laid back atmosphere helps with the "caring" aspect. People here aren't so wrapped up the "rat race" that they can't take time out to help one another.

-Proximity to nature: I like that I can leave my house in the middle of HSV, drive 10 minutes to Monte Sano and do a 4 hour hike and see maybe 5 people.

-Family friendly: we are in the stage of life where we are raising kids. The focus of life here is about the family. People generally seem to be very welcoming of children. For young single people, this is probably a negative, but for this stage of our life it is really nice. Employers seem to be more flexible here with women employees who are trying to balance work and family. We have many friends who have gone to part time after children and their employers were very supportive.

-Spring flowers: I am blown away every year as to how beautiful the cherry blossoms, pear blossoms, dogwoods, magnolias... are in late March/early April. Although, I've started getting allergies for the first time in my life the last couple years. But I think it is worth popping a Claritin for a month or so.

[Deelo]

Alabama has some beautiful places to live, from north to the Little River Canyon and Cheaha Mts. to the beautiful white sand beaches, the prettiest in the world! Enjoy the beach without the high cost of living in Florida! Alabama the Beautiful ! The Montgomery area is less pretty, but if you like ART and Shakespeare, you will like Montgomery, they offer little else there LOL

[Deelo]

If you don't believe Alabama has mountains, try Ft. Payne, AL and Cheaha Mountain, Even parts of Birmingham are visually deceiving, it doesn't look so high when you are looking up, BUT when you get to the top and look down, the views are gorgeous!

[french paris]

Any opinions ?

[julian17033]

I've lived many places from Montana to Florida but I have never lived in Alabama.

I think Alabama is incredibly beautiful with many diverse ecological and geographical areas in which to choose from.

The recent tornado outbreak has shown just how much the citizens of Alabama care for one another in the ongoing rebuilding efforts shown in the media and elsewhere.

The citizens of Alabama have much to be proud of concerning their state.