Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thanks, and no, I know you didn't mean just to check out Forbes. I was just attempting to do some research and came upon that. I like to explore all avenues in doing research but was disappointed that what I had considered to be asa reliable source as any other was so inconsistent. I actually think forums such as this are more beneficial than alot of these so-called scientific studies. You at least get first-hand honest opinions to draw from.
They do tax everything. I was shocked to discover that you have to pay a car tax (which isn't cheap), and people tell me that there are even pet taxes. (I don't have any so I don't worry about it.)
if you are single and over the age of 25 you will be bored out of your mind. This is the experience that I am having as well as everyone else that I know that is single and over 25. Please don't tell me that only boring people are bored. It is easy to be bored in a city that almost exclusively caters to families and treats singles like we don't exist.
They even put meat in their vegetables!
On the positive it is close to the beach (2.5 hours away) and the mountains. I live in South Charlotte which is pretty, but very slow. I would say live closer to Uptown and learn to love bars, since that is really the only thing to do.
I am advocating that you avoid Charlotte and pick a more dynamic place to live.
So they tax everything? Well, hum...the bummer thing for starters is that I do have pets. A few in fact. So I guess that should be added to the budget. Are we talking cat tags here? Do I get a multi-cat discount?
Yep, over 25 and single here too. Well aquainted with bars, but I find them boring. No I'm not a boring person either.
Meat in the veggies. That sounds like the chili I once got in Texas that had carrots in it...NOW THAT JUST AIN'T RIGHT!
As for dynamic places, the hunt has just begun. My mission for the next couple of years though is to get that education under my belt. If it was all about the scene, I'd be looking at LSU or San Diego. Thanks for the advice.
About the church thing, I realize the south is very religious, but was hoping Charlotte was a bit more open-minded in that regard. I have family in Jackson, Ms. and one visit there and I knew I couldn't live there. Not only is it an ugly city, but absolutely everything revolves around the church - my family's entire social life revolves around their church and the people in it. I'm not putting anyone down who goes to church and has religious beliefs (I consider myself more spiritual than religious) but I don't want to live in an environment where you are judged according to that.
It's also disappointing to hear the art scene is pretty much nonexistant there.
I still see good points to Charlotte for me. 4 seasons and a mild winter are a plus. I could not go back to a really cold climate again (was born and raised in St. Louis). Also, aside from the taxes, it's pretty affordable. I'd be in California in a hearbeat were it not for the cost of living. I visited there often when I lived in New Mexico. I loved San Diego.
Honestly, the main reason I'm considering the south (Florida, except the northern part of it really isn't like the south) is the weather and the cost of living and also the friendliness of the people.
I do have one more question. Have you made good friends there? At my age, that is honestly more important to me than meeting a man (statisically I'm screwed in that area). Like I said, there are a lot of single people in south Florida but the quality of them is low. However, if there are few single people in Charlotte that limits my ability to make friends. I realize singles in my age brackett are the minority everywhere but I have always had younger friends - I'm young at HEART. Thanks.
I am so on your wavelength. I'm over 30 and single. I'm not desparate to get a guy but I like to have friends...who doesn't? I can't stand a environment that is based soul-er solly on religion. I grew up around that. I respect their beliefs but don't want to have it shoved in my face.
Nice weather( I miss seasons!), nice people, cost of living, are all things that made Charlotte look attractive to me. Seriously, should I be looking at Raleigh instead? no offense. I'm really leaning towards Charlotte, but after what I've read tonight I'm having second thoughts.
I'd hardly say religion is shoved in your face here. I've been here 2 1/2 years, and I have yet to have anyone even ask me which church I go to, let alone try to proselytize me. You do hear people talk about "religion" more here than you do in Cali - I hear people talking about going to church, or that they are praying for someone/something, and that can be on the bus, at work, whatever. But honestly, it's refreshing that people feel free enough to speak about that wherever they are.
I am also single, although a tad older than y'all, since I'll be 44 in a few days. but I'll have to go with what someone posted above - I'm definitely young at heart. Honestly, there's tons to do if you don't get hung up on the "singles" thing. Charlotte is probably the most "integrated" city I've ever come across. There aren't areas that singles live in, or that nerds live in, or that - name your clique here live in. They're all mixed up in all the neighborhoods.
There are several groups here in Charlotte that can help you get off the ground socially, and possibly even in dating. Try Meetup.org. They have tons of events, most of which are not family oriented. They do have some that are, don't get me wrong, but most are geared towards adults (and not in the "mind in the gutter" way). I've made several fantastic, lifelong friends through this group.
I fully admit to not having gone everywhere in Charlotte. I typically stay out of the seedier areas and I also don't go too deeply into the burbs. I most certainly don't leave Charlotte very much (too many Confederate flags for my taste). I do live on the nicer side of town and I am sure that service places do somewhat take advantage of that fact. My point was that in California it is easier to find these deals that you refer to. You don't have to go very far outside your own neighborhood, even if you live in one of the nicest areas of town and every restaurant serves several healthy dishes. I didn't say it was impossible to find a cheap manicure or a restaurant that serves baked chicken in Charlotte. A person is just less likely to find these things here than in Los Angeles (which is where I was born and raised, and know pretty well since I moved from there to here). So my comments were from the perspective of someone from Los Angeles to someone from Los Angeles considering coming here.
Was the dig on the Confederate Flag REALLY necessary? Not to go too off topic, but if you bothered to make some attempt to understand what it is really all about you'd find it's not what you think I live on the "nicer side of town" too and have no problem finding everything I need within minutes of me. I suggest you continue to expand your horizons.
Confederate flags? I have not seen one in the 7 years since I moved back here! Meat in veggies? HUH? Fried foods? I don't even eat fried fish and I am a native. Have rarely ever in my entire life fried anything - and don't own a fryer. Can't find an inexpensive mani/pedi? Why?
These are some of the strangest comments I have heard about this area. I have wonderful restaurants (fusion, sushi, Thai, japanese, etc) within 3 miles of my house. Same for upscale shopping, salons, docs, vet, groceries, etc. Yep. I have lived other places and it is about as good as it gets as far as variety and close proximity to my house.
Location: Some got six month some got one solid. But me and my buddies all got lifetime here
4,555 posts, read 10,352,737 times
Reputation: 2162
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821
Confederate flags? I have not seen one in the 7 years since I moved back here!
In all fairness I have seen them but only during the Coke 600 and and BofA 500. However you might see a grand total of 5 of 'em out of the tens of thousands of cars that park at those things, hardly enough to say that there's "too many".
I fully admit to not having gone everywhere in Charlotte. I typically stay out of the seedier areas and I also don't go too deeply into the burbs. I most certainly don't leave Charlotte very much (too many Confederate flags for my taste). I do live on the nicer side of town and I am sure that service places do somewhat take advantage of that fact. My point was that in California it is easier to find these deals that you refer to. You don't have to go very far outside your own neighborhood, even if you live in one of the nicest areas of town and every restaurant serves several healthy dishes. I didn't say it was impossible to find a cheap manicure or a restaurant that serves baked chicken in Charlotte. A person is just less likely to find these things here than in Los Angeles (which is where I was born and raised, and know pretty well since I moved from there to here). So my comments were from the perspective of someone from Los Angeles to someone from Los Angeles considering coming here.
Wanderer - Not Lost is right about Charlotte, NC.
Singles 30 Something....born and bred here..Culturally & Socially just not much to do here.....Having been to California/Arizona/Nevada to visit family..You just dont have the variety of things to do that you would in those other cities...Actually looking to relocate to one of those states in 2010...when economy is better...(KNOCK ON WOOD!!!) Just think that I have outgrown my home state and to look at setting roots elsewhere.
In all fairness I have seen them but only during the Coke 600 and and BofA 500. However you might see a grand total of 5 of 'em out of the tens of thousands of cars that park at those things, hardly enough to say that there's "too many".
I see a lot more Mexican flags around town than American flags, LOL. Do I care? Nope. Does it reveal some coded message about how folks think here? Uh, no. I would assume folks who fly the Mexican flag are either natives of Mexico or they like Mexican culture and want to identify that they are into it.
Every time I hear someone say they are turned off by seeing a Rebel flag the first thing I think is - "oh, coded language for saying there are a lot of white trash who live here."
That's what the poster really meant. Same thing when someone mentions mobile homes. That is just code for "too many uneducated ignorant Southerners in the area."
Let's just be honest.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.