[marysally]

I'm not sure where in Alabama that you live "Southern girl" but it must be south AL since you mentioned hurricanes. Here in N AL we don't get anything but welcomed rain from hurricanes. Also our utilities come from TVA and are very reasonable. My average utility bill on a 1950sq ft house average $100/month. That is less than half what I paid in Houston for a 200sq ft less house. Our economy in N AL is very healthy with an abundance of good paying jobs.

[MrMeisterMan]

Every one has an opinion and a set of experinces.....I find Huntsville head and shoulders over most places in AL....and I have spent time in places like Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills.....in my opinion if you have to live in Alabama, choose Huntsville or the Gulf coast (at least you can see the water and the beach ! )......other wise it's pretty primitive....

I must say however that the topography particularly around Birmingham, the settings for homes, etc is absolutely gorgeous......but the folks that get transferred in like the docs at the U of AL medical school or Baptist, or folks in banking, or retail, tend to stick amongst themselves in social enclaves way outside Birmingham, south of 459.....where it's truly 'another world' indeed.....but there is NO way would I live there........but Huntsville ??? yeah I'd do that without a lot of reservation !...it's a smart town

[southerngirl_for_now]

Originally Posted by IDVague

You say you are lucky to have a "good" job, but in another thread you say you are near the poverty level. How can it be both?

uh uh, I didn't say or mean to imply I was living near pverty level. I mean the majority of the people living here live from paycheck to paycheck. Employers think they are doing you a favor by paying you minumum wage. I was speaking in general terms based on what I see others going through. There is some reason Alabama ranks in the top 5 states that (1) people live at or below poverty level (2) education ranks worse than 45 other states (3) crime rate is, based on National Average at 8.5

[southerngirl_for_now]

Originally Posted by MrMeisterMan

Every one has an opinion and a set of experinces.....I find Huntsville head and shoulders over most places in AL....and I have spent time in places like Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills.....in my opinion if you have to live in Alabama, choose Huntsville or the Gulf coast (at least you can see the water and the beach ! )......other wise it's pretty primitive....

I must say however that the topography particularly around Birmingham, the settings for homes, etc is absolutely gorgeous......but the folks that get transferred in like the docs at the U of AL medical school or Baptist, or folks in banking, or retail, tend to stick amongst themselves in social enclaves way outside Birmingham, south of 459.....where it's truly 'another world' indeed.....but there is NO way would I live there........but Huntsville ??? yeah I'd do that without a lot of reservation !...it's a smart town

Mountain Brook is known for the wealthy living there

[sick of South Florida]

C'mon now. They can't be any bigger than Florida roaches, can they??? Hope not!!

[southerngirl_for_now]

Originally Posted by sick of South Florida

C'mon now. They can't be any bigger than Florida roaches, can they??? Hope not!!

the ones here look like bats when they fly

[mmelko]

Well I live in Montgomery and until we finally got rid of that right wing greedy nut job 22 year Mayor, you coasted along in Montgomery and tried to look for a way out. A lot of the Air Force folks will retire here for the lower property taxes, they don't care about schools as much because their kids are older or grown. Property taxes are low, retirement pay is not taxed, but our sales tax (remember that temporary tax hah!) is 10 percent and that hurts.

Thank goodness in the last few years we have had a lot of economic development, and we have finally gotten in some recreation.

Oh, but I am leaving after 35 years. It's hotter every year, the summer starts early and ends later. And those roaches - those big ones that can carry off your pet cat - ugh. But you can keep them down with chemicals.

It's like every day is just another day to get through. Montgomery is a clique-ish town - the people that ran it 30 years ago, still run it (they won't even pass on their legacy to their children - they just hang on to the "power" with a death grip and that has stymied a lot of growth and culture and entertainment that would keep young people here. The legislature is around, and if you are part of the political scene then you have something to do part of the year - with the new auto plant and the spin offs and the computer center at Gunter AFB, there are better paying jobs, but very little of the growth in our economy is translated into better pay for city and county services, like police and fire. I like being close to Atlanta - for shopping and Braves games though.

Alabama - if you can stand the heat, I have a professional job and it's hell in the summer when you have to wear pantyhose - and the fact that there's not a lot of forward thinking, diverse and plentiful entertainment - but you like knowing everybody in town - and you don't mind the escalating crime rate which is worse than L.A. per capita - then move to South AL but you might want to consider instead the beach - cause it's the beach - or Huntsville, because it is a city filled with a highly educated work force and that translates to a highly motivated city.

[mountain_time_Blues]

How's NE Alabama? Like Talledega, Calhoun, and Cherokee counties? What's the economy/housing like there? The heat and southern folk don't bother me as I'm a native Noth Carolinian.(a dying breed) Deffinitley not a yankee! Would yall recomend that area or are there better areas of Alabama?

Thanks!
MTB

[southerngirl_for_now]

Originally Posted by mountain_time_Blues

How's NE Alabama? Like Talledega, Calhoun, and Cherokee counties? What's the economy/housing like there? The heat and southern folk don't bother me as I'm a native Noth Carolinian.(a dying breed) Deffinitley not a yankee! Would yall recomend that area or are there better areas of Alabama?

Thanks!
MTB

ah North Carolina!! now there is a place I could retire to. I love the Asheville area. Would move there right now!!

[JWilliams]

What I like about it is that the cost of living is low. It's not so difficult to live on one income, while a parent stays at home with the kids. It's very affordable to get a new home. It's possible, in more cases than in many cities, to even get that home somewhat close to where one works.

The weather is awesome in the fall, winter, and spring.

The people are decent.

It's close to other cities like Atlanta.

I won't go into the cons, since you didn't ask for them.