What is wrong with Charleston? (how much, live, safer)

[Mad Ox]

Good to hear. I'm going to try and hunt down those pictures, but if you folks have any, I'd be grateful if you posted them....

[wordzgirl]

We're moving to Summerville in six (!!!) days. It IS gorgeous, and I can't wait to be there. We'll be in town Thursday, but the movers aren't coming until Sunday. According to the weather forecasts, the temp in Charleston on Saturday is going to be 76 degrees!!! I'm hoping we can go to the beach, if only for a few hours since it's only a half hour from Summerville. I don't think the novelty of living by the ocean will ever wear off for me.

Besides that, as I've posted on here before, the sun always seems to be shining. Such a huge change from gray, dreary Pittsburgh.

[Careful]

You have lots of competition for work and now more than 50 percent of the population is not from here. Aa a native it has been sad to see so many people move here because they like it and then try to make it like where they left. We are now a little New York. that may be your problem, it is a combination of north and south, no west coast tree hugging, progresives here.

[OrangeCountyGirl]

No but it sure seems there are a lot of people stuck in another time with their North, South, West coast crap.

[melindaw]

To the chatter with the name "Careful",

WHAT? yes there are LOADS of West Coasters in Charleston, I just moved here from LA and shocked to meet others who made the leap as well, or planning to in the near future.

When anybody from another place moves, they ALWAYS try to bring along a few creature comforts.

It's not a bad thing to advance, if Ford hadn't created a car we probably still be living like the Amish driving wagon wheeled carts, making our own clothes, and living off the land (which isn't a bad thing). There isn't anything wrong with branching out and moving forward in life, standing still gathering dusk is like giving up (strictly opinion).

BTW... This is land is my land, this land is your land, do you remember that song.... We live in a united country.

ps. Charleston is by no means a NYC no matter how hard you try to shake the tree, you aren't going to get the same fruit...

Melinda

[hapscat]

why do they call it the "land of fruits and nuts" ?

[CBChapman]

Karenina,

My girlfriend and I moved here 2 years ago, me from Dahlonega Ga and her from Atlanta, and it has been 2 years of financial frustration and at times despair! We both had good jobs in Ga, both in the Social Services field, with degrees, but neither of us could find a livable paying job in the field here in Charleston. It's been a joke! From Employers not returning phone calls, to changing criteria through the hiring process. We've both had to go work outside of our chosen fields to barely make it. Crime is horrible in North Charleston, as bad or worse than Atlanta and so many people carry a better than you sort of attitude. I have found people that absolutely love Charleston, and those that hate it, and in most of my findings the people that really like Charleston are the people who are very, very secure financially.

We can't wait to leave, and go back to Atlanta and we will be, in about year.....it's been 2 years of giving it a chance in this place, and I am done with it.....so I know your frustration, we moved here because it had been a good place to visit and we thought that we'd like it living here, we were very wrong!

[cwilloughby78]

My wife and I are looking to move out of Dayton Ohio in the next couple of years and we have Charleston SC on our short list of places we are interested in. We've never lived anywhere other than Ohio, and we're both sick of the cold winters and depressing atmosphere. We're in our late twenties and I'm finishing my masters in education. Schools are very important because we have two young children, and I'll be looking for a teaching job in the area. From what I've read on here the folks in Charleston are similar to all southerners I've knowed and are related to, just great southern hospitality. A big draw for us. We'll be making trips to our top three choices next year, and any insight as to places to see, kid friendly places, and great neighborhoods to live in would be much appreciated. Any info on cost of living would be useful too. Thanks for any input.

[favre4ever]

Well, i hate to say it but public schools in the charleston area are abysmal. You will want to check out private institutions like Bishop England or mayhaps Porter Gaud. Living downtown will be fun, but the cost is skyrocketing. Park circle in the north area will be a great place to live, with new housing and better planned living. (people will actually have yards to play).
Jobs in charleston can be hit or miss. It helps out tremendously if you know someone in the field you are applying. Friends in Charleston are worth their weight in gold. If you can hold off for 10-15 months there are plans to build a new residential-commercial development called Magnolia in what is now the old industrial west of downtown charleston. Im not sure what prices will be like, but keep in mind that charleston is a peninsula, and land really will only be going up in value as more people keep moving here.

Cheers, and good luck.
-adam

[skitosea]

I have read another forum, and the post about what you hate most about Chas. Some people really have a bad opinion about the place. It seems like everywhere else in this country and not just isolated to Chas, that the cost of living is going up, but not necessarily the wages, and people are moving there from somewhere else.
I know where I am now the housing has doubled (although it is leveling now), and the "snobby" people have found their way here. The schools are mediocre to good, but the taxes are low and the cost of living is still relative low compared to the quality of life I currently enjoy. I am just looking to relocate closer to the Grandparents. So if I can get the same amenities and quality of life without having to get caught up in the Rat Race....
Can one find a job with a decent wage?
Are the schools good...not just the best in the state, but good schools, or if you can afford it are private schools really the way to go?
How long do the summers really last? It seems if 4 months out of 12 are hard to live with then that leaves 3/4 of the year very enjoyable.
(I wont ask the bug question again because it seems bad, but manageable)
What about the cost of goods in general?