Summerville, Here We Come (Columbia, Charleston: transplants, rental, new home)

[wordzgirl]

We just got home from Summerville/Isle of Palms. I remember reading something here about someone not seeing a downtown Summerville, and I find that kind of hard to believe. Granted, it's not big, but it's there, and it's very very nice and quaint. We spent about three days in town, opened up bank accounts, my husband interviewed for a couple of jobs, and we rented a house in White Gables. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful, even though it seems like everyone is from somewhere else!! We had a great meal at the Mustard Seed, and I've got to say the Happy Hour at Margarita's is fabulous. My husband got a 32 oz. imported beer for $2.50!!! Plus, the staff/owners are all from Mexico, so very authentic and very nice. My kids take spanish here in school and had lots of fun conversing with everybody. We just loved the town.

One of the best things about it is that we drove to the beach in a half an hour, left S'ville at 4:15 and got to Isle of Palms half an hour later. Awesome. The only complaint I have is that there really aren't any signs leading to the airport. We got really turned around trying to fly home today and missed our flight, had to pay $200 for seats on the next plane
But all in all, I think we're really going to like the Charlestown area. Now life would be perfect if I could get all my friends to move with me. When I think about leaving my girlfriends here, I get kinda teary-eyed. I suppose I could distract myself by packing about 7,000 more boxes though.

[ronja]

Hallo, wir ziehen auch ende Januar nach Summerville.Ich war fuer 3 Wochen in Summerville.und wir haben auch Häuser in White Gables angeschaut.Haben uns aber dann fuer ein anderes in der Nähe entschieden, und es gekauft.wann zieht ihr denn nach Summerville..........Gruss Ronja Sorry, kann leider noch nicht genug Englisch.......

[meks]

next time you head to the airport go through S'Ville downtown and hit I-26 east... hit exit I-526 to Savannah... take your first exit, follow it to the light and take a right - it'll lead you straight into the airport

and yepp White Gables is new and full of foreigners

the people from the Charleston area really aren't that friendly, but they are the minority these days so you'd never realize that... it's all the foreigners here that are so nice, I guess cause they believe we are all so nice cause it said so in the pamplet... lol

anyway, welcome here

[wordzgirl]

No, we really never believed that you were so nice, just very tolerant of all us Yankees moving in which we mistake for niceness since we're foreign But thanks for the airport directions. Since we were coming from IOP we got kinda confused with all the Savannah and Columbia signs and NOTHING that said airport. Plus, it was about 6:30 a.m. and we were on vaca time so it was a bit confusing.

Thanks for the welcome, Meks. We're really looking forward to getting to know the area.

[imperieux]

Looking forward to a new White Gables neighbor and good luck with your move!

-Stephanie

[wordzgirl]

Thank you, Stephanie, for the welcome! If I can get through the next three weeks with the packing/unpacking, driving 600 plus miles with two kids, starting a new job, blah blah blah, I'll be home free. When the dust settles, we'll have to meet up for coffee or maybe a walk around the pretty lakes I saw in the neighborhood.

What I really noticed about SC is that the sun seems to shine almost every day. That may sound strange, but here in Pittsburgh, we have LOTS of days (today included) where the sun never shines. It doesn't rain or snow, but there's just a big, gray, cloudy sky overhead. I wouldn't even mind the winter here half as much if the sun would just come out, just for an hour or so. So it may sound kinda silly, but one of the things I'm really looking forward to is seeing the sun, if only for a little bit every day. Of course, I'll make sure to wear my sunscreen every day.

[CharlestonMommyTo1]

Sorry to jump in on the conversation here. I hope you folks don't mind. But, I just had to comment on the "sunshine" here. I, too, am in Summerville (am a Charleston Native and love it here!) and I agree on our sunshine level.

There aren't too many days it isn't shining. Sometimes that's bad, because we do NEED the rain a lot, but in pure sunshine terms...it's wonderful!

Even when it's all cloudy and gloomy with rain it, as a rule, it is out of here within a day. Very seldom does it drag on and on. This is sans a Hurricane of course Sept.'89 (Hugo) wasn't too sunny!

Anyway, WELCOME! You're sure to get lots of meets and greets upon your arrival here as well. Be prepared for your cheeks to be a little sore from smiling...

Just as an example. When we bought our house that we are currently in 2 years ago it was a new construction town house. What that meant for us, was that our row of houses (5) were all complete at the same time. We are 2nd in from the end unit. Our "end" neighbor, right next to us, was moving in at the same time. Our U-Haul pulled in directly behind hers. We saw her jump out and open the front door to her house. Well, as she was doing that, I went and opened our door while hubby opened the back of the truck. What turned out to be her brother, was opening the back of her truck.

I'll try to make this shorter, lol.

You know how men are. By the time I got back outside after a few minutes of "looking" around, my husband and her brother were steadily unloading. I quietly asked my husband (who is also a Native and should know better, lol) if he talked to the new neighbors first. He said "No honey, they are busy, let's give them more than 30 seconds!) No way Jose, I just couldn't stand it. lol.

I walked over to the back of the truck (about 5 steps) and extended my hand to introduce our family to him. As soon as I did, he turned around to the open door of the house and yelled "Debbie, Come meet your new neighbors!" She came out with a big smile on her face and within 5 minutes we learned about each others short history. She was new here from California, single, worked from home owning her own business and always wanted to move here from her travels here, no children. We, husband and wife, 13 years, a baby who was almost a year old, our jobs, etc.

Longer story, kinda short. That's a lot of info from hello! But, that's how I like it. With precautions of course.

Within 10 minutes, we both disclosed that none of us had eaten all day with the moving. It was 2pm by now and that wasn't gonna cut it. We all discovered we loved Mexican food. My husband recommended a good place a few miles up the road and within 30 minutes we were all sitting down at lunch together! Now how is that for "getting to know someone"?

Ever since the 1st day we've been very close neighbors. Our baby, who is now 2 1/2 adores her and vice versa. She never had children because of her busy career and the fact it keeps her on the road a lot, but she absolutely adores kids and is head over heels over ours. Within a week she had a room full of toys for him! lol.

So sorry to babble. I tend to do that online, so just a warning.

We have a new neighbor that just got all of her things moved in a couple of days ago. It's all I can do not run down there and say hi! Have to be patient...have to be patient...hehe

In closing...a big welcome again. You're gonna love it here I'm sure. We have a huge group of people here from everywhere on the map. I know in speaking for myself, and everyone I choose to associate with, it doesn't matter a "hill of beans" where you're from. Once you are here...you are HOME

[Jim3310]

It IS sunnier here.
MUSC has one of the most advanced skin cancer units in the country for good reason!

[wordzgirl]

That's good to know, Jim, about the skin cancer clinic, especially since I'm the prime candidate: Red hair, fair freckled skin, blue eyes, the whole nine. Luckily, I'm pretty religious about sunscreen use and wearing hats, long sleeves, etc, but I'll have to get in the habit of using it every day, especially while driving. As I said, we go weeks up here without seeing sun, so it's kinda shocking to see a clear, cloudless blue sky.

[imperieux]

One of my previous posts speaks just about that; the big beautiful sunny sky that we are grateful to gaze upon each day here. Waking up this morning it was especially beautiful and I commented to my husband how lucky I felt I was. My family and I are transplants from the Philadelphia area (we still have family near Pittsburgh actually) and we had tired of the dreary gray sky as well. I think you will feel just as grateful as I do and you will love the weather here!

I would love to show you around the neighborhood areas (the new tennis courts have just been completed, etc). My husband and I are also very willing to come by and move some furniture, as many of the White Gables neighbors helped us when moving into our beginning rental property and when we decided to buy our new home here.

If you need ANY help at all, even before the big move, please PM me. I would love to show you the hospitality that my neighbors and all South Carolinians have shown us since moving here a year ago.