Living in the Outer Banks...recommended or not? (Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk: apartment, rental)

[medicwife]

Originally Posted by jmarquise

having a job offer is a good start. one question you should ask yourself is this. I like vacationing here, but would I like living here? you will have basic shopping and all that good stuff, but you will be far from major shopping and airports. I don't know much about medical care there. I think if you liked how quiet it was in feb, you will most likely enjoy how lively it is during the season. got to make a list of pros and cons I suppose. there are some fun things to do with family there, and if you enjoy water sports, then extra value! I personally might get a bit bored there, but I don't have a family to keep me entertained. I haven't been to the OBX in a couple of years, but maybe they have added more things. my concern for you, coming from another state would be the lack of a major airport nearby, but I suppose you aren't too far from the norfolk/va beach area.

All good info. Some things I hadn't thought of like the airport...which is actually okay because I won't fly. I'm terrified of it. But good point of major shopping. I don't believe there is a Target there...how about a Walmart? We've begun the pros and cons list. This is the kind of fodder I am looking for to work on that list. Great stuff.

I've looked into the Outer Banks Hospital quite a bit. My hubby is in the medical profession, so some problems can be identified & treated by him. But I don't know much about family doctors and such that are available.

[medicwife]

I just went to the Walmart website and there is one in Kitty Hawk...................THANK GOD!

[Ann in Oriental]

There is a clinic in Ocracoke but the nearest hosp. is up towards the VA border. The Ocracoke school is great and loads of artsy stores.It's my favorite place in the world but I couldn't afford it.

[medicwife]

What about The Outer Banks Hospital?

[nlblueyes]

I know a lot of locals on Ocracoke go to the Norfolk/VA Beach area for major medical procedures.. The closest target is VA Beach area or New Bern -- there is a Walmart and Tanger Outlets (not as big as the ones in Rehoboth DE) in Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head area..

Jmarquise -- pros/cons list are a great idea -- I think I have done them for every move/major decision I have made (except for the one that got me where I am now in Baltimore and NOT liking it)

OBX year round living does involve making sacrifices -- but I know for me I am ready to take the plunge and try it out.. I am up for the change -- It is time for me to get out of Baltimore.

[jmarquise]

I bet you that there are enough retirees there that would merit excellent medical care. as you have read, there is a wal mart! I am not a wal mart shopper, but it's nice to have some stuff like that around. depending on where you are in the OBX, you might be very close to major city stuff in VA. just depends on how far down you are and where you think you might live. think about what your daily life entails. think about what you have where you are. if you life includes nothing more than shelter and food, as mine pretty much does, then it might not be a sacrifice. you will be somewhat close to the VA beach area and that offers a bit more.

Originally Posted by medicwife

All good info. Some things I hadn't thought of like the airport...which is actually okay because I won't fly. I'm terrified of it. But good point of major shopping. I don't believe there is a Target there...how about a Walmart? We've begun the pros and cons list. This is the kind of fodder I am looking for to work on that list. Great stuff.

I've looked into the Outer Banks Hospital quite a bit. My hubby is in the medical profession, so some problems can be identified & treated by him. But I don't know much about family doctors and such that are available.

[jmarquise]

it is good to weigh the pros/cons of every decision. I am from the DC area, and I actually have a lot of good things to say about the baltimore area. this might come as a result of never living there! I always enjoyed going to orioles games, before DC got a team. I liked the inner harbor, and fells point. there were lots of things I liked about baltimore. I guess it's like a making lemonade out of lemons type situation.

Originally Posted by nlblueyes

I know a lot of locals on Ocracoke go to the Norfolk/VA Beach area for major medical procedures.. The closest target is VA Beach area or New Bern -- there is a Walmart and Tanger Outlets (not as big as the ones in Rehoboth DE) in Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head area..

Jmarquise -- pros/cons list are a great idea -- I think I have done them for every move/major decision I have made (except for the one that got me where I am now in Baltimore and NOT liking it)

OBX year round living does involve making sacrifices -- but I know for me I am ready to take the plunge and try it out.. I am up for the change -- It is time for me to get out of Baltimore.

[medicwife]

Originally Posted by jmarquise

I bet you that there are enough retirees there that would merit excellent medical care. as you have read, there is a wal mart! I am not a wal mart shopper, but it's nice to have some stuff like that around. depending on where you are in the OBX, you might be very close to major city stuff in VA. just depends on how far down you are and where you think you might live. think about what your daily life entails. think about what you have where you are. if you life includes nothing more than shelter and food, as mine pretty much does, then it might not be a sacrifice. you will be somewhat close to the VA beach area and that offers a bit more.

We don't require much extras in our family. We have learned to live on a very tight budget as I stay home with both of our children. If you can imagine, this move would come with a considerable pay RAISE for my husband. Along with that I realize that the cost of living rises also, but we've done our homework and I think we can make it. We have only one debt and that is a car payment on the only car that we own. We have a motorcycle which we owe nothing on. We have no other debt. So we are going in with a clean slate. We don't require things that the big city offers us. We live in a TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINY town in Indiana. It used to take me around 20 minutes to get to the closest Walmart, but they just built one closer and it now takes me about 10-15 minutes. For any major shoping it could take anywhere from around 30 minutes. I'm VERY used to this and I don't mind it. We have discussed the way of life there alot (it is most of our daily discussion) and we know we would use the water as our entertainment. We love all water sports. Our children are small and are not used to any big city life. So no culture shock there. Our daughters entertainment is playing with the neighbor kids.

We have done the pros/cons but not listed them out on paper. That may be a good thing to do. I haven't come up with any cons that have scared me yet. Except that my parents will be moving behind us as my Mom can't stand to be away from my babies and the con is that I'm not seeing much for employment for my Dad. I'm very nervous about that because I really want to be close to them. My Dad is an accountant and the pickins are pretty slim there for bean counters.

[jmarquise]

the norfolk/chesapeake/VA beach might be a realistic option for your father, depending on where in the OBX you might be located. even elizabeth city perhaps.

Originally Posted by medicwife

We don't require much extras in our family. We have learned to live on a very tight budget as I stay home with both of our children. If you can imagine, this move would come with a considerable pay RAISE for my husband. Along with that I realize that the cost of living rises also, but we've done our homework and I think we can make it. We have only one debt and that is a car payment on the only car that we own. We have a motorcycle which we owe nothing on. We have no other debt. So we are going in with a clean slate. We don't require things that the big city offers us. We live in a TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINY town in Indiana. It used to take me around 20 minutes to get to the closest Walmart, but they just built one closer and it now takes me about 10-15 minutes. For any major shoping it could take anywhere from around 30 minutes. I'm VERY used to this and I don't mind it. We have discussed the way of life there alot (it is most of our daily discussion) and we know we would use the water as our entertainment. We love all water sports. Our children are small and are not used to any big city life. So no culture shock there. Our daughters entertainment is playing with the neighbor kids.

We have done the pros/cons but not listed them out on paper. That may be a good thing to do. I haven't come up with any cons that have scared me yet. Except that my parents will be moving behind us as my Mom can't stand to be away from my babies and the con is that I'm not seeing much for employment for my Dad. I'm very nervous about that because I really want to be close to them. My Dad is an accountant and the pickins are pretty slim there for bean counters.

[medicwife]

Originally Posted by jmarquise

the norfolk/chesapeake/VA beach might be a realistic option for your father, depending on where in the OBX you might be located. even elizabeth city perhaps.

really?! How far is the VA area from say Kitty hawk? Thanks for the tip!