Would Charleston be good for me? (North Charleston, Myrtle Beach: relocation, house, rent)

[Northman]

I am a single, 38 year old heterosexual male, currently living in Northern Michigan. I am from Michigan originally, but lived in Texas for 7 years and Georgia for 20 years prior to moving back here last year.

I love it up here, always have, but it is a tough place to be a single person in the prime of your life. Winter is fun during the holidays, but I have to admit I am getting sick of not being able to do anything outside. 27 years in the south may have been too many to be able to reaclimate myself back up here weather-wise.

I have always loved Charleston, and considered moving there before deciding to give the ol' home state one more try.

I am a CT tech and can work anywhere I choose.

I am an amateur musician and love good restaraunts, beer and wine.

The only time I ever lived near a coast was in southeast Texas, and with the exception of South Padre, was not impressed at all. Galveston struck me as a yukky place.

What is living in Charleston like? Do major acts tour there much? I am not looking to be in another town like Atlanta - what a mess that place is! Charleston would put me 5 hours from my family instead of 15 (driving) like now.

Sound like I should reconsider Charleston? I want to find a spot I can settle in for good, I am sick of moving.

[goosecreeker]

OK, let's answer the "do the major acts tour there?" first.....the North Charleston Collesium host acts like Billy Joel, Carrie Underwood, Eagles, Trace Adkins, Kid Rock, Larry the Cable Guy. America. Jackson Browne, etc.
Charleston is home to a wide variety of culture and arts, everything from the classical at Spoleto, to the guy who plays the sax down at the open air market. Many night spots have live music, and Charleston is noted for it's cuisine. Lot's of transplants have brought their regional cuisines with them, so the variety is remarkable.
If you actually get bored, Myrtle Beach, with all it's glitz, is an easy day trip, as is Hilton Head or Savannah. Charlotte, about 3 hours away, is a fun weekend with it's amusement parks, race track and sports teams.
If you want to get outside, parasailling, wind surfing, hiking, surfing, kayaking, and boating.

[imperieux]

Last night I asked my husband if he was really, truly happy with his relocation from the north to here in Charleston because I have some family relocating to Palm Beach in Florida and they are pushing us to join them. He replied he was very happy here and would not move to Palm Beach or anywhere else, for that matter. He stated it was because he loved the "lifestyle" here.

I agreed with him. We have no plans to ever leave.There is so much to see and do and the great weather here promotes it. The restaurants are fantastic and there is great music and art downtown. You've got the beaches and water all around for fishing and water sports. And if a smaller act isn't coming directly to the North Charleston Coliseum, some musicians appear in Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head which are not too far away. Pete Yorn recently appeared at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, for instance.

I would definitely give Charleston a try if I were you. I think you might flourish here and never want to leave, like myself and my husband.

[OrangeCountyGirl]

Having moved here about a month ago, I have a little different opinion.

Charleston has a darling section of downtown lots of shops, old homes, beautiful parks and surrounding islands. However, it's small and rather limited. Once you get out of the shopping area, it's residential or marsh or corporate. It's not the kind of city that you can drive 15 minutes and have a nightlife in any direction.

I didn't realize it until I explored the city in greater detail.....

I guess it depends on what you like to do....we are not 'outdoorsy' really. We like art, We are also HEAVILY into music (he's a drummer and an audio engineer) and coming from Los Angeles/Orange County...we are really surprised at the lack of recording studios and venues or clubs.

A lot of the 'older' folks around think there is tons to do, if you like to go out to dinner, walk around and head home. But, we like a slightly more intense version of a night out.

But, that is my very early opinion of the area having only been here for a short time.

It is BEAUTIFUL and most of the people are nice and helpful, but....

[Jim3310]

Not even the Blues Week filled some of the gap?
The smaller venues, late at night. Or the 7 groups out at Kiawah?
jim

[OrangeCountyGirl]

See Jim, we are still learning the area. I didn't even know there was a Blues Week.

[Luvsdabeach]

Here's a couple of links that may help you find live music in the area. The first one is for the city paper, they have a music section. The second is for the Music Farm that is downtown. The third is for the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms.

Charleston City Paper - Charleston - Restaurants and Food | Music and Bands | Events | Arts | News | Movies

Music Farm | 32 Ann Street | Charleston SC 29403

MySpace.com - The Windjammer - Isle of Palms / Charleston, South Carolina - Rock / Acoustic / Alternative - www.myspace.com/jammercam

[Fishbite]

No, Charleston would not be good for you. If you lived in the south for over 20 years and still love living in Michigan you should stay in Michigan or move to a more diverse climate than Charleston.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by OrangeCountyGirl

Having moved here about a month ago, I have a little different opinion.

Charleston has a darling section of downtown lots of shops, old homes, beautiful parks and surrounding islands. However, it's small and rather limited....

I guess it depends on what you like to do....we are not 'outdoorsy' really. We like art, We are also HEAVILY into music (he's a drummer and an audio engineer) and coming from Los Angeles/Orange County...we are really surprised at the lack of recording studios and venues or clubs.

A lot of the 'older' folks around think there is tons to do, if you like to go out to dinner, walk around and head home. But, we like a slightly more intense version of a night out...

This is the "large city to small town syndrome". Most likely you'll never get used to it, unless your own view alters and you adapt to and like living in a smaller and slower paced environment. There's nothing wrong with that - some folks are simply geared to being "big city people" and will always stay that way, others are small town folks by nature and will stay that way, and some adapt and change with a new environment, or, as they get older.

I live in Atlanta (some say the "L.A. of the East - at least traffic wise), and I've been to Charleston close to a dozen times. Personally, I would probably do ok living there, because I grew up in the "other" Charleston (West Virginia) which is smaller, and has MUCH less to do than ChasSC does. Here in Atlanta, the traffic is so incredibly bad that after a while some people tend to stop driving very far to do things and try to stick close to home. I'm in the burbs, so 95% of the time I stick to places that are within 8 miles of my house, which isn't nearly as interesting as Charleston. If I lived in Charleston I'd consider the traffic there very "light" and would go to the historic district regularly and have more to do than I have now.

That being said, at 42, I'm winding down and am not a heavy partier, nor am I always looking for a new venue and new bands to go see, nor am I heavy into stage theatre performances, etc. In that regard if you're into all of that, yeah, Charleston might get a bit boring after a while and the much slower pace of life might get on your nerves. I'll have to admit, a couple of times when there I'd talk to local natives and 10 minutes into the conversation I'd think to myself, "OMG come on ... get to the point... OMG...".

My opinion is that Charleston is for people who want to "relax" and destress from bigger city living, yet still have things to do like shopping, touristy restaurants, a beach, etc. But if someone is looking for a smaller version of NYC or L.A., it aint gonna happen, because as neat at Charleston is compared to some other smaller southern cities, that's all it is really, just a smaller southern city (with lots of tourists).

So the OP has to decide if he wants more of an L.A. night time scene, or, a slower southern yet touristy/semi-cool nighttime scene. If you want "action", head to L.A. or Miami or if you can handle the crime, New Orleans. If you want "laid back action", Charleston might be ok.

[fisher33]

My husband and I have lived here for a few years while he's attending school downtown and when I first moved here, I loved it. We got married here, I wanted to live here, etc., but the longer I stayed - the worse the traffic got, the more bored I have gotten, and I'm so ready to leave now! We have actually lived in West Ashley for a while, Mt. P for a while, and JI for about a year now. One problem is that everything is so spread out. Some things are in Mt. P, some downtown, some in West Ashley (like shopping for example). I am from the upstate where everything is built off the interstate and Lake Hartwell...haha, so I guess I'm used to everything being in about a 5 minute drive from everything else. I'm pretty laid back for a 23 year old. I don't like to go out at night and do the rooftop bar or dance or any of that. My husband and I consider ourself cheap foodies, but we've already run out of good reasonably priced restaurants. We always go to Mustard Seed b/c it's one of the best for the price. And - everything for fun is expensive. Golf is expensive unless you're at the Muni and it's awful. The SEWE is the most fun thing we do all year and I love visiting the aquarium and I like the art walks - but that's about the extent of it. The beach is fun of course, but it's so crowded (at least here on Folly). Short story - I think Charleston is good to visit when you have a good bit of money set aside to enjoy yourself (fish, carriage ride, etc.), but to live here all the time is expensive and if you're not into night life or don't have a boat - then you're pretty much stuck at home.
I'm sorry if I've offended anyone; I don't mean to!