considering moving to charlotte from long island

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by hooligan

But his beef correlates directly with the OP's #1 reason for wanting to leave LI - expense.

I'm with Mikey, no one here can tell you if you'll like Charlotte, you need to come and see for yourself.

I suggested it be moved since he objected to my use of the word "relative" and wanted to put on his boxing gloves. LOL.
I failed to define "realative" since I felt it isn't part of this dicussion or an answer to the OP query.

But, since you asked: what I meant by "relative" is, if one has the money and desire to pay the "rape" taxes of NYC/NYS than so be. If someone in NYC is making big bux that the taxes are "relative" to his earning. Are they not? If someone is buying a home in Westchester County NY for 2-3 million dollars but earning a million plus on Wall Street...isn't that "relative"?

I thin k that explains my position (with the word) better...I hope.

[OverTaxedInNY]

Originally Posted by pink caddy

I recommend you take your beef to the New York forum. This is the Charlotte forum.

As far as where I live, it is public information on my profile.

I did take my beef to that forum as well. I just wanted to point out how wrong you were Spreading misinformation is a dick move dude.

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by OverTaxedInNY

I did take my beef to that forum as well. I just wanted to point out how wrong you were Spreading misinformation is a dick move dude.

Congrats. As far as the rest of your high level of intelligent posting I can only assume that's the way you talk in the snowbelt after you get a good dose of cabin fever.

lol. Making toys up there yet with Santa????

[OverTaxedInNY]

Eh, I'm known for having a trucker mouth that would also put a sailor to shame. You should work me me lol During the colder months I get even worse, cold weather and cabin fever is a b*tch

No toys yet, I'm sure the snow will be flying soon though and it'll be about that time

[hooligan]

Originally Posted by pink caddy

I suggested it be moved since he objected to my use of the word "relative" and wanted to put on his boxing gloves. LOL.
I failed to define "realative" since I felt it isn't part of this dicussion or an answer to the OP query.

But, since you asked: what I meant by "relative" is, if one has the money and desire to pay the "rape" taxes of NYC/NYS than so be. If someone in NYC is making big bux that the taxes are "relative" to his earning. Are they not? If someone is buying a home in Westchester County NY for 2-3 million dollars but earning a million plus on Wall Street...isn't that "relative"?

I thin k that explains my position (with the word) better...I hope.

I agree with what you're saying, my friend, but would it not also be relative to other locations outside NYS? Even if I earned $1M+ a year, that wouldn't mean I'd *want* to pay $1500 or more a month in property tax.

At any rate, this is getting a bit OT, I suppose. I think we can all agree that there is a premium to be paid for easy access to the most famous city in the US. If you want to pay it, great. If you don't, well that's just fine, too.

I can't stress this to the OP enough, though: Don't take your friend's word for it - no one knows how you will like living here better than you. I'm certain it is MUCH different than life on LI. Better in some ways (I hope), but worse in others, I'm certain.

Let us know when you're coming down to visit, we'll roll out the Welcome Wagon for ya.

[iheartthoreau]

I've been a teacher in CMS for several years and a teacher in NC for longer so...some quick items to note:


There are surrounding counties to Mecklenburg--the county Charlotte is in...Union, Cabarras, you could go down really to South Carolina and teach in Rock Hill---seriously...the amusement park is half in NC and half in SC---so...it's very close (though CMS offers the best "cost of living" supplement in the state), private schools, and charter schools to consider:

1. Our governor just re-wrote our payscale and we didn't get a raise..in fact, I make less this year than last year even thought I went up a "step" based on my years.

2. Our health insurance just went up as teachers--larget co-pays on visits and prescriptions, pay for vision now...etc.

3. We don't have unions and we aren't allowed to as per our State law.

4. CMS and many area school systems did "reductions in force" last school year, laying off many employees...the first to go: poor performance and years of service to the system the lowest. We have heard rumblings of that potential again this year (and might I add that if they would stop giving raises to administration...ugh...and the Teach for America program...by next year we are going to have over 400 of them...which boots experienced teachers out of jobs because our system has "made a commitment" to that program). Your best option is to be dual certified. PE and something else.

5. Quality of "program" is dependent upon level and school. This is an abstinence only state, so from the Health side, please be aware of that and you will make some mammas and pappas go ballistic if you even dare suggest their little darling needs to know words like "condom" and "birth control" --- taboo.

6. I'd have to imagine that every place has its idiosyncrasies. I have lots of wonderful kids and aside from administrators mucking it up (shocking)...I typically am very happy with my current teaching position.

7. Dating---this is an incredibly diverse area of the state of NC---I met my fiancee at Advanced Placement training...and he's a "Yankee" as so many posters seem to blatantly stipulate that everyone hates "yankees" here...he's from Boston...so...I don't feel that there is a strong dislike of "yankees"---every now and again a civic issue comes up and those who have been here forever always blame the influx of people to our area as the root of all evil...that happens everywhere...

8. We are ideally situated to mountains...the beach is a couple of hours away..but we have lots of lakes...Really, you can enjoy outdoor activities from April to October/November...so...that's a big plus...hiking, mountain biking...kayaking---we have the National Whitewater Center here. 4 hours from Atlanta...5 hours from DC...Pro Sports... TONS OF PARKS--I LOVE our Parks...uptown is a great place the hang out..there's a light rail line that is being implemented...the Arts are relatively good here (no Broadway mind you..but...)

My home... my fiancee and I bought a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home (brick exterior--hardwoods--new windows--new HVAC)...and an extra lot...on a quiet cul-de-sac close to the greenway (park and running trails) for $140,000. It's not in Myers Park or Ballantyne (the upper snazzy areas), but it is a nice, solid, middle class area with great trees and convenient...10 minutes to the middle of uptown Charlotte and equidistant to our schools and should we choose to switch schools there are plenty around that are a reasonable drive. Our taxes, and we live in Charlotte proper, (Matthews, Mint Hill a little less expensive) are about $1700 a year. I own a Honda Civic---my car taxes each year, as it is a newer model, are around $200 a year. My avg. gas bill in the summer is $10--in the winter is $90-$120. My avg. electric bill is $70-$100 depending on AC use in the summer....I love ceiling fans...and thermal curtains. My trash, sewer, water = $35/mo. --My monitored alarm = $36/mo. There are buses that run so...depending on where you live, you may choose to utilize public transportation.

Good Luck

[Carolinajean]

I just saw a job posting this morning in the Charlotte Observer for a PE teacher at Lake Norman charter school.

I don't have the info at hand, but I'll bet you can google them and find it.]