Charlotte-Give me no bull (buy, living, cost of living)

[cheesehead1]

As a former Wisconsinite myself, it IS very different down here. Different in some really nice ways, though. People are very nice overall. And Charlotte is a real city. There are people from all over the world. It's much more cosmopolitan than I had anticipated. I love it so far!
Permanently storing my parka and never hearing "exposed flesh warning" on the weather is wonderful. And you'd be surprised how quickly "y'all" creeps into your vocabulary.
If you have an open mind, you'll love it down here.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by condorito

We are a couple from the Midwest. We love Minnesota and everything about our state, however, the cold weather is really a problem, today it was -14 F.
My wife has considered a move to a warmer climate. Right now, we are thinking about San Diego, CA but the cost of living is very high.

I have talked to her about Charlotte, after all I am a financial guy and I know there are good jobs in Charlotte, however, she is a very picky person and I do not know if I could sell her the idea of going to NC. I guess, our concerns are:

-We live in a very cosmopolitan city, we have plenty of co-ops, people are very health conscious, liberal and progressive. I would assume Charlotte is much more conservative and religious. Is this true?

-We would love to meet people that are like minded. We are not really big fans of "Y'all" and "Sir, Ma'am" kind of thing. Are locals nice to outsiders even though we are not "Y'all/Yes ma'am" kind of folks?

-I heard people here say that the Charlotte area is very cookie cutter, a bit lacking in culture and sometimes "boring". What do you think?


I think a move to Charlotte would be a total culture shock. I am just trying to see if that is something that may work for us. Thanks!

So you are examples of "liberal and progressive?" In that case, thank god we aren't like you. Stay in Minnesota and you will be happier. I might add that I lived in Minnesota for several years. If you are not from Minneapolis, you are not from a city with culture and/or class.

[Nola2212]

Does it really matter whether you are religious, conservative, or liberal.
Politeness and manners should be something every person can embrace. Whether you say ya'll or any other words that might not be in Webster's, everyone should be polite. I am from New Orleans, La and I love my neighbors like they were family. We do favors and invite each other to parties. That is what makes the south great! I can't walk past someone without saying something, even if it is a head nod.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by nkjaws

Okay being that we moved here from the midwest I do understand what the OP is getting at. IT is a lot different here. I think that the terms he was referring to means that he isn't big on the redneck culture, but living here for a year and a half I can honestly say the only time I really saw true redneck culture was on a recent trip to the mountains. I don't mind that aspect but granted it's not for everyone. Charlotte is different, maybe unique to some. Where we came from in the midwest everything was different but then again every place is different and you won't truely know if you like it until you try it out, as in rent here for around 3 months and see if you can call it home.

I'm sorry, I just don't get it - you think saying "ya'll" and "yes or no ma'am" is redneck? I KNOW other areas of the country are different, but aren't good manners valued no matter what part of the country you live in?

[eccentricbeethoven]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

I'm sorry, I just don't get it - you think saying "ya'll" and "yes or no ma'am" is redneck? I KNOW other areas of the country are different, but aren't good manners valued no matter what part of the country you live in?

Home training never goes out of style

[jp03]

Originally Posted by eccentricbeethoven

Home training never goes out of style

She is going to HATE the summer...trust me

[nkjaws]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

I'm sorry, I just don't get it - you think saying "ya'll" and "yes or no ma'am" is redneck? I KNOW other areas of the country are different, but aren't good manners valued no matter what part of the country you live in?

Oh for heavens sake, no I am not saying that it is pure redneck. I was merely pointing out what I gathered the OP thought of Charlotte. Meaning it really isn't like that in the city. Sure there are some but much less then in the mountains that still hold true to their native tounge. Here is the thing: If you come from an area where they don't speak that way some see it that these people are rednecks and unintelligent. I do NOT feel that way. Like I said that does not bother me. But coming origianlly from the north it was a major change of pace. Sure living in TX I heard that every now and again, but not in the city. I was pointing out that it isn't really like that in Charlotte and the OP should come try it out before making any preconcieved notions. Yes these are "good manner" words, but these are southern manners and are different from other areas. Again, that was all I was trying to point out.

[BarbJ]

Being a native Minneapolitan - from the Kenwood/Cedar/Isles area - I too love Minneapolis and return frequently. I have to say that there is a different "culture" here in Charlotte where I've lived for the past 34 years. Charlotte is more formal - children are taught to say "Yes, sir" and "No ma'am" - and a greater percentage of the population does attend church. Church plays a greater role in the social life of most people than it does in Minneapolis. There is perhaps a greater emphasis on class distinction here than in Minneapolis, but people are kind to others no matter what their lineage. I'm reluctant to say too much about this because having been born and raised in Mpls, I never felt like a stranger - I, of course, fit in. I don't know how a newcomer would feel in Mpls. I feel that Minneapolis is (as in the song) a place where everybody knows my name. But I have to repeat people here are incredibly friendly. I think that in Minneapolis people are more aware of ethnic background than here - is someone Swedish, German or Irish, for instance.

Now about how cosmopolitan Charlotte is. I think there is a lot going on here. I'm never bored. We have an NBA team and an NFL team, the Motor Speedway, Broadway plays, a decent symphony orchestra and the same Metropolitan Opera Movies that you have at the Brooklyn Center Cinema. Our Stowe Botanical Garden is as lovely as the McNeely Consrvatory at Como Park and the Minnesota Arboretum. Our Mint Museum is not as good as the Mpls Institute whose traveling exhibits are better. On the other hand, our Mint Craft Museum has no equal in Mpls. The lakes: Minnetonka is lovely, but Lake Norman, Lake Wylie and Mount Island Lake are just as lovely. We have no Mississippi here, but we do have a wonderful year round white water rafting center. Outdoor sports such as tennis and bicycling are pretty much year round here - no cross country skiing or ice skating, of course. Don't forget that Charlotte is only hours from both mountains and seashore.

Shopping is not as good here as it is in Mpls - nowhere near as many privately owned boutiques such as you see around Lake & Hennepin, Linden Hills, 5oth & France or on Grand Avenue in St.Paul. But our (uptown) downtown restaurant scene is much richer here than in Mpls. In general, I think we have a better ethnic restaurant mix than does Mpls.

You mentioned the cookie cutter houses in Charlotte. I'm not sure where you are talking about. Sure, in the new suburbs you find subdivisions where there are maybe six or seven models, but they are quite nice looking. In the established neighborhoods which would be more like Kenwood, Edina or Lake Harriet you will not find cookie cutter houses. What we do not have here are the extensive older and good neighborhoods such as you have off of 50th street , Minnehaha Parkway, Highland Park or in Southwest or Washburn High neighborhoods. But when you talk about cookie cutter houses you must be forgetting all of the post WWII construction in St. Louis Park, Bloomington and Richfield.


Probably most important, we do not have the gorgeous city lakes which bring people outdoors on fine days. There is probably no equal to these in any American city.

In the end, what keeps me in Charlotte is our lovely weather. I now have daffodils and crocus blooming in my front yard and Lenten roses in my backyard. Whenever I talk to my friends and family (every day actually) we often comment on the fact that you'all have five+ months of winter to our three or fewer months. We eat outside on our deck starting in March or April and don't move back inside until the beginning of November. It's the same with restaurants - we can eat on their terraces for the same months. Wonderful!!!


If you want to hear more, DM me. Right now I want to read my novel for awhile. In general I should say, that the two cities have a different atmosphere. I don't know how to put a name to it. By this time, I feel very comfortable here, but when I go back to Minneapolis, I feel a certain warmth that I miss. Maybe it's just because there everybody knows who I am and where I'm coming from. This might be the same if I were returning to Seattle, Chicago or Houston.

[BarbJ]

BTW, summer can be just as bad in Mpls!

Forgot to say that I had a hard time teaching my kids to say "sir" and "ma'am," but their teachers soon taught them. That is not to say that my kids didn't have good maners. These words are not the gold standard for manners here or any place else.

[anifani821]

You are considering San Diego, CA but you don't want to forget Charlotte, NC b/c our weather is nice, our cost of living is good and you can find a job, right?

But you are concerned that our predominate redneck culture, a phenomenon that utterly boggles your liberal, progressive, sophisticated brain - coupled w/ the fact that we are all religious zealouts who shuffle and jive to "Yes sir and No Ma'am" - might be so offensive to your highly developed upper class mindset that your head might explode?

And this from someone who lives in a state that elected Jesse Ventura Governor?

Well, Yes Sir, bless your heart. I can just imagine your confusion.