Small Town Feel w/ in 45 mins. of Children's Hospital? (Charleston: middle-class, apartment)

[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!

[Barbara]

I can't answer your question but I truly wish you good luck in your search!

[scjj]

Ding Ding Ding - you hit the buzz word "the town goes to the high school football games". Summerville has what you are looking for and all the rest of the stuff you want too.

[moneill]

'the town goes to the high school football games' -- welcome to the south. Even in suburban ATlanta (not really small town) -- folks go to the high school football game.

[beachme]

I think you would be comfortable in any area around Charleston. Check out Mount Pleasant. There is lots to do for kids and you are close to the beaches and downtown (MUSC). Like 15 minutes.

Good Luck on your search. I was born in CA (Daly City) and grew up around Hayward until my parents divorced and I moved East with my Dad. I love it here but miss CA so much and would love to move back to the west coast some day!

[scjj]

Ummm yeah, well this isn't Atlanta, she asked about the lowcountry and I told her where she could find it. It's obvious you are unfamiliar with the high school football games around here. 10,000+ crowds are normal. Once again, Summerville has some of the best schools and housing options you will find in the area while giving you that small town atmosphere you are looking for. Good luck!

[moneill]

Oh goodness people are so defensive.

Guess what -- those kinds of crowds attend high school football games all over the south.

Summerville is a great area. You don't have to get all defensive. I was just making a comment about the importance of high school football in the south.

[scjj]

Defensive? Ha, that's rich coming from you. Considering that Summerville is a town of around 40-50k people, 10,000 people at a game is a good portion of the town. That is what the OP is interested in. Why is this such an issue with you? Why do think you have to have a say in everything? You don't even live here so why are you making worthless comments?

[pvjd]

I think you are both correct, and have words of value to the OP. Thanks for the insight.

[moneill]

Oh dear -- I'm so sorry you were so offended by my defensive comment.. It was just a silly comment -- lighthearted. And I am rich thank you -- in so many ways.

Did you know that Summerville high school is as big as many big city high schools. When you take the size of your school into consideration, the interest in high school football in the south -- it isn't that unusual or impressive.

First -- my comment was made in fun about high school football it wasn't a dig at Summerville. Second, I do know Summerville. We had an apartment there for some time. I've spent time in Summerville, we explored it extensively. Our home in the Atlanta area is in an area similar to Summerville. It's not that uncommon to have a 'town' outside of city limits. HEre in Atlanta you have one every 5-10 miles. They all have main streets with great shopping and great food. Our high school here is a bit smaller but high school football is still the rage. I've spent hours driving to play off games across the city. I don't have kids in football -- we are more of a hockey crowd in our house.

High school football is so big here in the south that booster clubs have taken out million dollar loans to get the astro turf, club house for the players, etc. It's crazy.