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Old 06-12-2011, 03:54 PM
 
3 posts, read 3,634 times
Reputation: 10

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New to the forum, I am from PA and just wanted to say hello and a little background on my experiences with the OBX. I have been visiting The Outer banks for the last 10 years or so. Usually get down there 2-3 times a year. We have gone pretty much every month out of the year so I know what its like in the off season/dead of winter. Every time we leave we always say to each other.......how can we move here and start a life???? My fiance and I are now getting married in corolla/duck this fall and honeymooning in Hatteras. We are now seriously considering moving to the area, mainly Kitty hawk, Nags head, or Manteo. I am an environmental scientist and she is a social worker. I figure one of us will definitely need to find a job with benefits before we would even consider relocating. I have been mainly looking at the 3-4 environmental companies in the OBX, but no leads as of yet. Also started looking at real estate on the west side of Kitty Hawk, it amazed me that small, starter homes can be had for under 200K. Both of us are tired of the hustle and bustle of the north, we want a simpler, quieter lifestyle. I am just starting the process/research on relocating, if anyone has anything they think I should take into consideration, please share!!

Thanks!!!
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Old 06-12-2011, 06:03 PM
 
3 posts, read 3,634 times
Reputation: 10
And by Environmental I mean I work in the No.2 Diesel fuel clean up/remediation................not shutting down the beaches because of nesting birds!!!!
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Old 06-13-2011, 06:43 AM
 
Location: Morehead City, NC
1,681 posts, read 6,018,251 times
Reputation: 1277
I have noticed over the years that when a question such as yours is posed here at CD that generally speaking the responses slant towards the negative. The negative comments usually come from folks who moved to coastal NC without a good and complete picture of the area and environment. The complaints stem from what they miss most from their prior location.
Although coastal NC has grown a lot over the past decade and is quite diverse-It's pretty much still just sand, marsh, sun and water. Don't expect the Taj Mahal, Mall of America or Studio 54.
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Old 06-13-2011, 07:26 AM
 
3 posts, read 3,634 times
Reputation: 10
Thank you for the reply. That's one of the reasons we want to move down to OBX, to get away from the hustle and bustle, we are looking for a slower pace,and we really enjoy OBX in the offseason and perfer that time of year down there. Right now I'm just trying to make a plan and to try and cover all my bases before we commit to anything.
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Old 06-13-2011, 04:19 PM
LLN
 
Location: Upstairs closet
5,265 posts, read 10,696,062 times
Reputation: 7188
Sounds like you have some experience, but living somewhere is about 80% different from visiting. At one point we moved to an island, not OBX. We had spent a lot of time there with my in-laws. Both of us had good jobs. After several years it got tedious.

Local politics are awful, something you NEVER have to worry about when you are visiting. Traffic in summer, going to or from work was AWFUL, something we never had to deal with when we were visiting. The lack of consumer conveniences gets old after a while, too, again, something that a week or two visit does not experience.

I would suggest strongly looking at Morehead City and/or the rest of the Crystal Coast if you are strongly committed to the NC Coast. There is a LOT MORE TO DO and a lot of services in this area, that unless you are Nanook of the North, you will eventually miss.

Not to say a lot of folks are not very happy living in OBX, but most have support networks or are used to the semi isolation or have employement, as limited as it is, that really tie them there.

Good Luck. Just some food for thought since I have been there and done that. I wish I lived in MHC today, that is for sure!
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Old 06-14-2011, 02:41 AM
 
Location: Nags Head,NC
79 posts, read 317,863 times
Reputation: 89
The OBX is truly a wonderful place,for those who appreciate it for what it is.Traffic isn't too bad,except for rainy days and on weekends.While we don't have a national chain store on every street corner,what we do have is enough to satisfy the vast majority of folks living here.

The biggest problem is people aren't financially prepared when they move here and the financial stress offsets the joy factor.Many people have to work 2 jobs to survive.Cost of living isn't bad,compared to other areas.If you're lucky ,you can find a decent 2 bedroom house for around $900 a month.

I moved here back in the 80's at the age of 19 and never once regretted it.If I were in your shoes,I'd go for it.You're young and have plenty of time ahead of you to catch up,if things don't work out.

Good luck!
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Old 06-21-2011, 10:51 AM
 
42 posts, read 91,216 times
Reputation: 18
Hello there. I to was from PA i joined the military and ended up at Fort Bragg NC. i soon found the Coast a place i would always find myself when i had free time.

Just within the last month i served my time and i knew way in advanced that i was going to stay in NC. i moved out to the coast and rented a small house for really cheap. i was going to hurry up and buy a home but i figured id rent and see what the area is like all year round and get to know the area alot better.

So what im getting at is if i were you. I would move to an area you think you want to live in Rent a cheap house and live there. then make up your mind.
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