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Thanks, very responsive here. I forgot to add some of the details on here.... I am currently in Long Island, NY. I was just looking for peoples overview on what it is like living in Charlotte. There seems to be a lot of comparison to Atlanta;does Atlanta have something better going for it than Charlotte? I like to ski, but its not my number 1 thing to do. More importantly, good job opportunities in real estate and/or advertising, lower taxes, friendly/laid back people and singles scene as well are important. I do not like the grind, bad attitudes, expensive and rushed lifestyle were I am now. that's all.
"good job opportunities in real estate".....not so much anymore. There have been massive layoffs in the industry and we are now looking at a lot of well qualified folks on the streets without jobs...and, honestly, with no hope for a job in their field since so many of the companies have simply shut their doors.
There are a lot of people here who have moved down from Long Island. If you move into a new housing development, you may well run into others from Long Island.
There seems to be a lot of comparison to Atlanta;does Atlanta have something better going for it than Charlotte?
I grew up just east of Atlanta in the Stone Mountain area. I moved away as soon as I could (right after I graduated college) to live in DC. Let's put it this way -- I moved down to Charlotte by choice. I would never live in Atlanta by choice.
I like Charlotte much better than Atlanta. There is too much sprawl in Atlanta for my tastes. Charlotte in 20 years might be that way, but it's not that way right now.
I won't drive downtown in Atlanta, but I will happily drive uptown in Charlotte.
I hated having to go into Atlanta - the city was too big, too dirty and too dangerous. I actually had someone try to steal my purse on a crowded street there. But "uptown" Charlotte is easily walkable, clean and by comparison, much safer.
If you are used to the "big city" Charlotte might seem a little too sleepy for you. I miss going to the Mall in DC and walking through the museums. I miss living in a headliner concert venue. I miss the amazing ethnic restaurants (although Charlotte is improving here).
But there are other things I have fallen in love with: The winters are nice and mild. Public transportation is easy to use. Our home is massive compared to the shoebox we could afford up in DC. We love going out and boating on Lake Wylie.
As for being single -- I moved here married. My husband and I joke that Charlotte is a "giant day care center". It is crazily family-oriented, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. There are lots of great clubs in Uptown, there is a decent singles scene from what I've heard. We have CHOA here, which is a social club where you can meet people.
I do not regret moving to Charlotte at all -- and I wouldn't recommend anyone move to Atlanta, personally.
Whether you like it here depends entirely one you. Like every other metropolitan area, there are people here who love it and those who don't. It's about what you want, your lifestyle, interests, etc....
I moved here from VA Beach a few weeks ago and don't know a soul here other than my spouse. So far, I like it.
Charlotte is a very attractive city with number of large businesses headquartered here. We have Pro Basketball and Football, along with NASCAR. Charlotte has the most amazing "Greenway" system within it's Parks, so if you like riding your bicycle, walking, jogging or rollerblading, you'll be pleased. The Greenways are always expanding, too!!!
The city is located within 4 hours of the ocean and a couple hours from the mountains. If you're an avid hiker / beach bum like me, you'll be happy with the convenience.
The cost of living in Charlotte is very reasonable and is actually much less than many major metropolitan areas. There is always the option of "crossing the border" into nearby South Carolina for an even cheaper cost of living and you will still be a very short drive from Uptown Charlotte. An easy commute.
I haven't tried out the night life myself so I can't answer that one. There are a number of festivals, gallery crawls and other activities to participate in, though. Recently, a poster on this site named "Carolina Blue" posted a HUGE number of upcoming events for this month alone. Go under "Search" on this site and type in Calendar of events to find it. It's impressive.
Last bit of advice...........Invest in a copy of "The Insiders Guide to Charlotte." I have the 10th edition and it has been an invaluable tool to help me learn about this area. I used "The Insiders Guide to VA Beach" a few years ago and it gave loads of info that was a huge help. I highly recommend it.
Can anyone tell me the deal with the crime situation in Charlotte. After reading charlotte.com and seeing other posts regarding crime- is Charlotte not safe? Which areas are not good.
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Charlotte Lifestyle
