Anyone Move from CT to Raleigh NC area? (Hartford, Stamford: showing, getaway)

[LindaGlover]

Originally Posted by BigHouse9

Linda,
Cost of living is NOT cheaper here and we have come to realize that the hard way. Summers are much more hot here than in CT, don't know what Alaska has to do with anything. There are some communities without HOA's but they really are far and few between. Education is nowhere near as good here as in CT.

Some of the things that you cannot see until you come here and live are the traffic and infrastructure issues. Much more of a cookie cutter bland lifestyle.

BigHouse9,
I think you skimmed over what I said. I live and HAVE lived in Wake County 20 years, my husband has for 32 years. He's a contractor and knows much of what is happening in the Cary/RTP/Morrisville area since he is right on Davis Dr.
I agree the summers are hotter here, but we are in the South not the North. I remember growing up in CT we could get a cross breeze and be fine. That just will not happen down here. I changed Alaska to CT since that is the comparison and not to confuse the issue any further.

My 3 kids are in the WCPSS, and I do have insight on the WCPSS. I beg to differ on education...Wake County is 3rd in the nation by statistics so it appears to be better.
As for cost of living....I totally disagree. My best friend in CT had to move in with her mother last year to save the family home because heating costs were too high. Sad but true. I will never forget when my grandmother retired and had to down size her home (my grandfather built) to an apartment because she could not afford the TAXES. A higher H2O bill is far better than 2x or 3x the tax bill or heating costs. What will $200K buy in CT vs here. 1/2 the home, maybe a garage, and 2x taxes.
Anything I have stated is from personal experience not because I am on the outside looking in.

[BigHouse9]

Originally Posted by LindaGlover

BigHouse9,
Anything I have stated is from personal experience not because I am on the outside looking in.

Same here. We just see it differently, that is all.

[wanderintonc]

What's 'cookie-cutter bland' to one person sounds like nirvana to another. A nice normal life in a nice normal home that I can actually afford, sounds wonderful! I can't wait to find out for myself (awaiting job transfers). I'll always like Ct too and will visit (family here) but our future is there, I truly believe.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by wanderintonc

What's 'cookie-cutter bland' to one person sounds like nirvana to another. A nice normal life in a nice normal home that I can actually afford, sounds wonderful! I can't wait to find out for myself (awaiting job transfers). I'll always like Ct too and will visit (family here) but our future is there, I truly believe.

Agreed that to each his own. For me seeing house after house that looks identical and was probably built within a week of the next one with identical sized lots surrounded by strip malls, and divided blvds with light after light after light is not "a nice normal life" or "nirvana". Some folks love working in a sea of cubicals. I go out of my mind.

The only difference I will point out, is those of us making comment actually made the move and actuall lived or are currently living in NC. I certainly wish you the best, and hope you don't find you made a mistake as it's not easy to reverse a large life decision like that.

[Leo725]

Yes, this state is dying

The future - The young educated people of this state are leaving in droves. I graduated from Uconn and for every kid you hear of who got a job in CT theres 2 who left for Phoenix or D.C, etc.

The state or the newspapers can spin it however they like.

From first-hand experience the job market for the under 30 crowd is infinitely better outside of the state.

[Golden1]

Not true! You can become a corrections officer I agree except for major league white collar jobs CT is becoming a retail service state in terms of employment - meaning people are finishing college and working at Home Depot or the mall. We used to be a huge defense contracting state and for such a tiny state we had a major firearms industry. Now it's wheedled away and we're being used as a place to live for those working in NYC.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by Golden1

Not true! You can become a corrections officer I agree except for major league white-collar jobs CT is becoming a retail service state in terms of employment - meaning people are finishing college and working at Home Depot or the mall. We used to be a huge defense contracting state and for such a tiny state we had a major firearms industry. Now it's wheedled away and we're being used as a place to live for those working in NYC.

This is true of the industrial North as a whole. The manufacturing shift started in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan during the very early '80s when the industrial landscape changed (READ: went overseas). New York and New England were able to bear the brunt of it fdue to the large number of white-collar jobs. But now jobs in these areas are heading to North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

The transition to a service-based economy hasn't been easy. The reasons are many: a labor force that was very union-oriented, unskilled, complacent, living beyond its means, etc.

Being a former-New Yorker, many of us are familiar with the two factories (beer and frozen foods) in Upstate New York where laborers were paid well beyond market. Long story short, both factories closed. Workers making in the 30- or 40-thousand dollar range (this was the '80s!) were only able to find work in the low 20s resulting in many losing their homes.

[Sandra M]

Hi Linda, I like your explanation about to live in Raleigh. I am living in Orlando, FL and have 3 kids in High School. Could you please tell me wich High School will be good for them. My daughter love dance class, one of my sons plays trumpet at Jazz Band, and the other one loves to play soccer. They are good students and we are a family who loves the nature.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Sandra M

Hi Linda, I like your explanation about to live in Raleigh. I am living in Orlando, FL and have 3 kids in High School. Could you please tell me wich High School will be good for them. My daughter love dance class, one of my sons plays trumpet at Jazz Band, and the other one loves to play soccer. They are good students and we are a family who loves the nature.

If you love nature, Raleigh is far from a "nature center". More like suburban sprawl than anything else. If you are set on NC go further West or towards the shore in a smaller town - Raleigh is just stuck in the middle of not much besides muddy lakes and subdivisions.

VA will have a lot to offer as will most of the NE states. New England is a nature lovers paradise.

Just something to think about.

[LindaGlover]

Originally Posted by Sandra M

Hi Linda, I like your explanation about to live in Raleigh. I am living in Orlando, FL and have 3 kids in High School. Could you please tell me wich High School will be good for them. My daughter love dance class, one of my sons plays trumpet at Jazz Band, and the other one loves to play soccer. They are good students and we are a family who loves the nature.

I think all these activities will be offered to them no matter which school they attend. Of course some schools will have better programs for them to participate in than others. To find all 3 activites in 1 school that excel any other HS can be tough. Such as, 1 HS might have the best football team while another has the best chorus.

If they plan on attending college, I would ask myself...is 1 of the children
a candidate for a full scholarship to a college because of their talent or are 2 of them or all 3? That will help you begin your focus towards a particular HS. I know it is hard to single out 1 child, I have 3 myself, but we know if 1 has particular potential the others don't.
Remember there are many programs outside of school to participate in as well.

Also if grades are a major issue I would look for a high scoring HS to help ensure you they get prepared for college if they plan on attending.

Contrary to the above post there are many things to occupy ones time outdoors. There are bike ridding clubs, nature parks, many lakes, trails, amphitheaters, etc. It is all what you make it.

Hope this helps some