columbus ga (Atlanta, Macon, Dallas: fit in, real estate, attorney)

[JLA]

kerry88 if you are looking for growing area, then Columbus is it. As an ex-military person, I would say take some of stuff you read here with a grain of salt. When I lived in Denver my ex-wife hated it because she could not find a job (she had no skills to offer). If they mean slow by the shear number of cars on the road, then I guess we are slow. If they mean slow as compared to New York or Chicago, then yes we are slow. I did not move back to Columbus because I wanted the fast life, I came bake here because I wanted a stable life. But in a city like Columbus full of transplants, you are going to get a lot of snubbing going on. If you are educated and flexible, then you will do well. Like Atlanta the city has transformed itself from a blue collar town into a white collar town. If you have no skills, well your paycheck will reflect that. Sounds like you have a plan, you should do well. Currently the following job fields tend to do well here; medical (nurses, MD, med-techs and lab techs), dental (DDS, Ortho and Hygienist), computer skills, construction, clerical, business management, law and some engineering fields.
Unfortunately a lot of military people leave the service with no skills, which are easily transferable to the civilian world, so they suffer. If they would use their GI bill to acquire a marketable skill,then they would do well.
If you a settled and have children you will love it here. If you love to party, then I suppose you will like here also (there seems to be a club or liquor store around every corner :>)). I don't want to give you the wrong impression, but as I hear it there a fast lane here and if you look for it you will find it and you don't have to look very hard. There is plenty to do here (museums, art, theaters, music, parks, golfing, sports, shopping, food, social clubs and religious activities). It does get hot here in the summer, but if you are used to FL summers, then the summers here would be a piece of cake. By the way, Columbus is very cosmopolitan and with TSYS located downtown there are quite a few people downtown with at least an BS or BA degree. Columbus State University is here and Auburn University is about 30 minutes away, so there are quite a few PHD's in this area. Everything is not centrally located Downtown, which is good and bad. One of the good things is that we don't experience many traffic jams. The theaters, concert halls and Columbus State University Downtown campus are located close by each other. Plenty of eateries and clubs are also located downtown. But once again this is not New York City an we don't pretend to be.
As far as conservative, this city is more middleof the road. I believe the majority of the people tend to vote Democratic.

[doctorkat]

Originally Posted by kerry88

well, im not really looking for slow pace. i want to start my cleaning business in ga. i dont want to busy either. i think i ruled columbus out! anywhere in ga that has rivers or lakes and a growing area? we will be renting a house there. thanks for everyones response. iwe have been to savannah and donnot really care for it. atlanta is way to busy. my sis lives in newnan but i dont want to move right on top of her.

I recently took a job in Albany, going to live in Leesburg. I only got answered by two posts, both bad. However: in the last few weeks I have spent some time in Albany, which has the lovely Flint River. Last week official plans began to create a "river walk" in order to encourage small business. It is small, just spread out. Not the horror story everyone seems to share. I have not encountered rudeness of any kind, and find Albany's dedication to economic and cultural growth encouraging. I live close to Columbus here in Auburn now and have for 12 years. Although it has its nice points, I have always had a distaste for the number of nude bars, girls girls girls signs, adult toy shops, etc. in place for the military men on weekends. Also, driving through on 280/431, the heart of it, takes over twenty minutes on a good day. Congestion, lights, and oh boy its ugly and dirty right there. (yes, I know that's not all of Columbus, just enough to give me a bad taste in my mouth for the city). People are friendly. That has not been enough for me to make me move there. REGARDLESS of the two or three negative posts on Albany/Leesburg, 60 odd miles away, its pretty, growing and lots of H2O. Check it out online. I am a professor and find the area quaint and full of possibilities.

[roamfree]

Thats Victory Dr. From what I heard and have seen they are doing alot to get that area in shape. Looks a heck of alot better than it did when I grew up in that area.

Originally Posted by doctorkat

I recently took a job in Albany, going to live in Leesburg. I only got answered by two posts, both bad. However: in the last few weeks I have spent some time in Albany, which has the lovely Flint River. Last week official plans began to create a "river walk" in order to encourage small business. It is small, just spread out. Not the horror story everyone seems to share. I have not encountered rudeness of any kind, and find Albany's dedication to economic and cultural growth encouraging. I live close to Columbus here in Auburn now and have for 12 years. Although it has its nice points, I have always had a distaste for the number of nude bars, girls girls girls signs, adult toy shops, etc. in place for the military men on weekends. Also, driving through on 280/431, the heart of it, takes over twenty minutes on a good day. Congestion, lights, and oh boy its ugly and dirty right there. (yes, I know that's not all of Columbus, just enough to give me a bad taste in my mouth for the city). People are friendly. That has not been enough for me to make me move there. REGARDLESS of the two or three negative posts on Albany/Leesburg, 60 odd miles away, its pretty, growing and lots of H2O. Check it out online. I am a professor and find the area quaint and full of possibilities.

[jsims10315]

Absolutely LaGrange. 30 minutes from Newnan. West Point Lake is awsome. Nice new theatre in town. Up and coming city in Ga.
Lots of antebellum mansions.
Try it. You might like it. Alan Jackson did.

[Allbennian]

Albany has its good points and bad. As for crime, it's no worse than any other city its size. It's big enough to be able to shop and buy just about anything you want. One attribute is the low cost of living. You can by a nice brick house inside the city limits with a normal lot for less than $100,000. Albany is an ideal town for anyone who likes small town living. It's a perfect town to retire in. If you love fishing, hunting or the outdoors in general this is the place for you. We have the Flint River and several nice lakes within a short drive as well as several large plantations that provide outstanding hunting. Another great thing about Albany is its geographic location. If you like the gulf, Panama City is only a 2-3 hour drive. If you like the Atlantic Savannah area it's a little farther, BUT, living in Albany is far enough away from either coast so that you don't have to rebuild or move every hurricane season because your house floods or blows away. It's far enough inland where you're safe. Also, if you like big city activities Atlanta is only 3 hours away. We are about 60 miles from the Florida line so if you like to shop in Tallahassee it's only an hour or so drive. One of the best things about Albany is that no matter what day of the year it is traffic is easy. No matter what time of day it only takes around 15 minutes to get from one side of town to the other with traffic jams being extremely rare. I-75 is only 40 miles east in Tifton. US 19 and US 82 both go through town for easy driving in all directions. The down side of Albany is the school system. Many of our public schools are taken over by street gangs. If you have children you do have a few choices of private schools that don't have the gang problem but they're a little costly. However, they are worth every penny because they provide a better learning environment by enforcing proper dress codes and conduct which allows the students to strive and achieve higher grades as well as building self confidence. There are presently three choices of Christian private schools also. No town is perfect and Albany is no exception but I feel if you look at other town its size you'll find the bad issues here are equal or less. We have the largest technologically up to date medical facility, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, within a hundred mile radius. I was born and raised here but I have lived in several other big cities including Atlanta and Shreveport, La and that is one big reason I appreciate Albany and what it has to provide for me and my family.

[JLA]

doctorkat, I am sorry that you could not get past how Victory Drive looks, but I trust that the next time you come through Columbus you will take 185N to US Highway 80 West, these highways are limited access. The scenery should be more pleasant and this will allow you to by pass the traffic bottle neck on US Highway 280. The next time you are in town tour our lovely historic district Downtown, take in a play at the Springer Opera House or a concert at the River Center. Why not visit one of our many parks? Lake Bottom, Flat Rock or Cooper Creek is a good starting point. If that's not enough and you have the energy, maybe a little antique shopping either Downtown or Bibb City. The good thing about Columbus is that the city is large enough, that you will not have to experience the Victory Drive scene. By the way, War Eagle!

[nadinethehowlingdemocrat]

The Kia plant is opening in Lagrange. Consequently, the population and demographics will change and a cleaning service may go well there. Columbus is a retirement city. A cleaning service should be profitable here. I am from Columbus and I have lived all over the world and I have lived extensively in the midwest. I loved the other places but there is no place like home. I can breathe here.

What you will find here is a less stressful life style. Low traffic, Mom and pop's businesses, a few strip malls occupied by local entrepreneurs, old subdivisions, enterprise zones, and better air quality the further south you go in the town.

More traffic, compromised but good air quality, Conglomerate chain stores, malls, franchises, and supersuburbs in the northern part of the town.

There is a lot to do here and if you do not like what is being offered,entertainment wise, Atlanta, Auburn, Tuskegee, Montgomery, Macon and Eufaula each, are less than two hours away from Columbus.

Columbus is a perfect spot to be what you want to be and to get where you want to get. If your HeartMind is in sync, you can make it anywhere in the world, and you can definitely make it in Columbus.

Come on. We will be glad to have you.

[mommashopper]

Hello,

I would like to give you some advice. I am a "military brat" I have lived my life mainly overseas and in the north with a quick stay in Oklahoma. Columbus, to me is a city built on un-written laws that you might want to know about. I don't know what your ethnicity is or sex. But, speaking from experience the only ones who have a easy time getting any business started in this area are all-white (you must prove mainly IRISH decent for some odd reason) males who are willing to join the good-ole boy's club. I am a very industrious
articulate and attractive female, but I don't fit any of the above demographics. I have always had a business and did very well with them from Dallas to Pittsburgh. However, the mentality down here almost warrents an offense to the idea of some one like me speaking well, possessing self-esteem and being ambitious. I warn you now, if you are a liberal at heart.... confident.... analytical..... you may find that this is not the place to "set up shop" as it were. Just thought I would let you know.

[JLA]

Mommashopper, what kind of business are you in, if you don't mind me asking? By the way, Columbus like Atlanta is largely a Democratic city and it tends to vote the Democratic ticket. I know a some African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Middle Easterners and Caucasians who have successful businesses. I don't know why yours did not do well. This city unlike a lot of other cities I have lived in or visited is a melting pot of many ethnicities. I really don't know why not being of Irish decent is causing you so much trouble. I will admit that the Good Ole Boy network is alive and well here, but then again, it's alive all over the USA. My advice, if you don't mind me giving it, is to network, get to know people who know people and you will do well. Just my two cents worth. An ex-Air Force man.

[VLYS]

Would a 50 yrs of age couple from CT
"fit" into Columbus? my husband has already
been offered a job that pays $100+/yr.

Is the weather tolerable?
Thank you very much.