Small Town Feel w/ in 45 mins. of Children's Hospital?

[moneill]

We have moved from Summerville only because of the commute to the city. We liked the area just fine -- other than the fact that it was filled with transplants. JUST KIDDING......<G>

[stephz1008]

I think you would be happy in either Summerville or Mount Pleasant. Both are very sports oriented and have a small community feel. We chose Mount Pleasant over Summerville simply due to the proximity to the beach. I like to be able to pick up and be at the beach in 10 minutes if we want.

[SCBeaches]

Originally Posted by marchesefam

Hi all!

Hoping you can help... We currently live in the greater Phoenix,
Arizona area and we are looking to relocate.

A little about us:
We are in our early 30's, the parents of a special needs (heart
defect) daughter who is adopted. We are looking for the idyllic
"quaint" area. I grew up outside of San Francisco but went to high
school in Sheboygan, WI and my husband grew up in Jackson Hole,
Wyoming. We like the smaller communities and we're looking for a small
town feel with some amenities. I'd like a community where one can get
involved, one with good schools, a middle-class cost of living, and
very safe. My daughter will require numerous heart surgeries over the
course of her life, so we're looking at the top 25 pediatric
cardiology facilities and searching a 45 mile radius around the area.

In Arizona, kids can't do sports in the summer because of the heat. No
kids play outside, and after 5 years in my current home, I still don't
know most of my neighbors. I'd like a town where kids play outside,
the neighbors know one another, the town goes to the high school
football games.

My husband is a claims adjuster for a large insurance company and
works from home, so we're very flexible. I am a stay-at-home mother,
so being able to do things with my child is important.

I enjoy a milder climate, but I'm flexible.

I appreciate your help!

Since you are posting this on the Charleston, SC forum, I'll assume you are interested in this area. MUSC has one of the best children's hospitals in the country and there are many small towns within a 45-mile radius from it. Choosing a town would largely depend on your price range for housing. I would not consider Mt. Pleasant, James Island (which also has a large support base for its high school football team), or Summerville "small towns" if you are looking for the kind of town where you get to know everyone in town very soon. You would have friendly neighbors in any of these towns though. As I said, there are numerous small towns within a 45-mile proximity from MUSC Children's Hospital, but I can't think of any of them being noted for good schools (many parents in these communities opt for private schools). You would have the small-town feel, friendly neighbors, and less expensive housing but you would be losing good schools and your closeness to the beach. I guess there is a trade-off whereever you move, though.
One thing you would not like about the Charleston/Summerville area, though, is the summer heat. You said that the children in AZ don't play outside due to the summer heat and it is much the same here. Children go to the beach, pool, or waterpark in the summer but also do a lot of inside things during the heat of the day....many days it's just too hot to play outside. Our humidity is very high, especially in the summer, too.....it is very hard on people with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. So, in the summer, we do not have a mild climate. We do have mild Falls, Winters, and Springs though.
Just giving you something to think about....

Best of luck in your decision making.

[moneill]

Oh definitely suburban Atlanta -- which is surrounded by many small towns or communities. Life in our community is just like Summerville -- great main street with great restaurants, great access to all the 'conveniences' and high school football <G>. Our team one their region -- off to the playoffs -- GO TEAM GO.

[SCBeaches]

My mom's side of the family all live in the many, quaint, small towns surrounding Atlanta proper. We have family in Cartersville, Rome, Lindale, and some others that I can't think of right now. Now, those are true "small" Southern towns, known for thier friendliness and warmth....and their loyalty to their local high school football teams! They don't have the high humidity nor quite as scorching hot summers as we do here. Prices there are much more reasonable there too than here...you can get a lot more house and property for your money.

The Atlanta suburbs and small towns might give you another area to focus your search on as well as the area surrounding Charlotte, NC.