How's the human factor? (Charleston: fit in, real estate, renting)

[krh6609]

I'm currenty living in Fort Collins Colorado and have found that a citys livability rating means nothing. Great views, uptight people. In looking at Charleston, I see a lot of nice places, but would love some insight on the community scene. Can you feel included in Charleston?

[OleTomCat]

You can feel included any where you go if you make a concerted effort to fit in and not bring negativity with you from where every you are coming from.....

Like I like to say, if you act like a D@#N Yankee you will get treated like one.....

[Chromekitty]

You should plan a vacation there. It would help you alot with these questions. It is a great place but you aren't clear what it is you are looking for or for that matter what you are fearing, so visiting may help you with that.

[Maryjane55us]

As a tourist for the past 7 yrs, I have to say that our experiences in downtown Charleston have been always been the best. Everyone we've ever met has gone out of their way to be just as friendly and charming as you've read about in all the brochures.

As far as feeling "included" if you lived here, I don't know. I would imagine like any move to a new area, it just takes time to make real friends and feel included in some sort of group. I doubt that you could ever be a part of the upscale downtown homies, but the surrounding areas are full of newcomer people and in my experiences, the people who've lived somewhere the shortest amount of time tend to try to make friends faster than people who have lived in one place all their lives and already have their network of friends set up.

Just my opinion..

[mrpeatie]

I generally think the areas people pick from real estate description or Chamber of Commerce blurbs don't necessarily match their personalities. I think you should visit and if you move consider renting for six months or a year to get to know the area, what activities you like and the people better. I have found people in most parts of the area to be nice but sometimes you'll just click better with certain groups.

And to be honest- most of the old downtown crowd is scattering since you need either a major inheritence or big salary to support the purchase/upkeep/furnishings of a lot of the homes. And even the poeple who don't invite you into their inner circle are typically very friendly and inclusive in other ways. The know who they are- the people who matter to them know who they are- and they don't have the need to flaunt or bludgeon other people with their status in the way I have noticed in some other cities.