Advice sought for NY transplant stay at home dad (Charlotte: transplants, house)

[NY Vinny]

HI all, My family and I are planning on moving to Union county next month, but have a strange situation brewing. My wife and I have made plans over several years to relocate to the Charlotte area in search of a lot of the things we don't like about New York, and to gain some financial freedom as well as quality of life for ourselves and our 2 year old son. We're pretty much set on our move as our house is under contract here in NY, and we are set and have contracts for the home we're purchasing in Providence Downs South, but for the short term, my wife will remain in NY working at her current job, while I stay at home with our son and two dogs. The reasons behind this are simple. I'm planning on working while at home for myself while watching over our toddler to help keep the expenses down while we transition. She's staying in NY at her current job to help continue with an income stream and benefits until she can find permanent work in the Union county school system, which may not occur until after the holiday break this year. My question would be how to best integrate myself into the neighborhood and meet new people whilst Im here with only my son, and a "stay at home" job so to speak. The work I'm doing at home should provide a fair amount of flexibility in the short run, so I'm hoping to be able to get out a fair amount. I'd love to hear from any natives or transplants that have thoughts on this, or other possible consequences of our move. Thanks, looking forward to meeting folks soon.

[Brooklyn_QueenBee]

Because you have children, it should be fairly easy to meet people. Especially if they join any sports. Meeting your neighbors will be fairly easy.

Charlotte has a big meet-up group. Do something, Learn something, Share something, Change something - Meetup.com
There you will find friends through the activities or interest you have.

Welcome and join one of the meet-up that we at CD have.

[sophialee]

Providence Downs is beautiful. We have some friends that live there and go to their homes for pool parties every so often, all the neighbors seem really nice.

As with most neighborhoods, take your kids to the pool and you will meet people i would think. The two people I know who live there have their own pools, so I'm not sure how crowded the community pool is, but I bet a lot of people still hang out there.

There is at least one poster on this board that lives there. Maybe she'll stop by?

Welcome to UC, neighbor

[anifani821]

Welcome, Vinny! You are gonna be surprised how easy it is to meet others. Just go to the pool (as others have said) . . . parks . . . join some groups . . . you will be surprised how quickly you meet your neighbors and strike up friendships.

Good luck on your move. Let us know how we can help you get settled in.

[BrianH1970]

If only you were Bald Vinny from section 39 of the old Yankee Stadium....

[NY Vinny]

Thanks to everyone so far for the advice. As for being Bald Vinny.. sorry, Im pretty much just the opposite.. got a WHOLE lotta hair on my head Im happy to say. As for the Old Yankee stadium, well I'm already missing that, and haven't yet been to the "new" stadium OR Citi field.. just something about growing up with the old stadiums that seems to make it feel like "cheating" if I went to the new ones.. Im sure I'll get over it and visit both someday though...

I'll also be posting more as I get down to Charlotte propper, so hopefully I can meet up with some folks from this forum in person.

Enjoy the 4th everybody

[colleenlit]

Hi Vinny:

Welcome! My husband Joe is stay home dad to our two sons, ages 5.5 and just turned 3. Oh, and my 5 year old is Vincent too! We just moved to the Lawson Subdivision in Waxhaw in february, transplants from Florida, though my husband lived all of his life except for the past five in Philadelphia.

Yes, the pool is a great place to meet people, and you will ultimately do fine; but I think you are wise to be taking steps to sort of take care of yourself in advance. Having lived in a fast paced city his whole life, it has been quite an adjustment for my husband to feel stuck alone with small children while I"m out working, sort of dropped into this county where (he feels) "cows and horses outnumber people and churches outnumber gas stations."

It will be an adjustment, but people really are so nice here it shouldn't take you long to feel at home. A couple of suggestions from my husband:

On hot days - the McDonalds at Blakeney has an AWESOME indoor playground. On nice days the shoppes at Blakeney have a playground where you can grab a snack or icecream do a little shopping in between playtime.

Enroll your little one in "my gym" or "little gym" or "gymboree" classes. These are definitely a "mommy and me" experience, and we don't see alot of dads, but it's a great time.

Buy an annual pass to "discovery place" uptown. Really great place to spend an hour or two a few times a month, again when it's hot, rainy, cold..

The carolina place mall also is a nice place just to take the little ones to run around, and has a small play area to let them cut loose.

Anyway, I would be happy to pm you our contact info if you'd like to get together for a "play date" with my husband and our 3 year old when you get here. My big boy will be starting kindergarten this fall, and we are thrilled. We were prepared to go catholic school back in PA and in Fl, but here the schools just have such a great reputation I'm happy my kids will get to go to great school with neighborhood friends.

Colleen