[sheena]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

Phoenix has the largest municipal park in the USA - South Mountain Park. Also, I have seen many amenities in the parks of my hometown, Tempe, that are not in the parks in the Connecticut towns where my sister and parents live. There are many outstanding parks in Tempe, Phoenix, and other cities and town of the Phoenix area.

Ken Akerman
Tempe, AZ

South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the USA? I don't find that park very appealing at all.

What parks in Phoenix are outstanding? Tempe parks? I'm not meaning to be sarcastic but outstanding Phoenix parks?

[Iska]

Originally Posted by silviodante

I just have a general question for everyone who dislikes NC and wants to go back to CT. Are you generally middle-age or older? Because for my generation (21-35) I know a ton of people who moved from CT to NC, and they all would never go back. In fact, the only people I know that regret the move are older people who grew up in CT and moved because it was too expensive. For people my age- unless you need the real hardcore lifestyle of NYC and live in Stamford or Greenwich- there is just so much more to do in NC. It has so much more outdoors activities, new cool stuff, nightlife, JOBS, and, most importantly, a future. I can foresee starting my career here, having an awesome house, and maybe even finding a nice Southern belle. A future in CT looks bleak at best. ....... Unfortunately, the Northeast (outside of Manhattan isle) is no place for a young person to start their life, and the grass is greener down South- in all aspects. Neither me nor anyone I know who moved can think of one thing they would want to go back to CT for- except family pressures, and maybe the slightly better proximity to skiing... that's it!

SilvioDante, when the extremes of your post are trimmed, you're making some very valid points.

I started in northern New England. First stop, MA. Second stop, CT. Then got on the toboggan and slid all the way down to the deep, deep South, against the advice of almost every single person I know. As a young person, I too saw a bleak future. Worked for an outfit in the capital city. Saw absolutely no future and decided that I had to get outta CT and find a life. I think I'd now be gray and still struggling at the margins had I stayed in CT. Who'd ever think the answer for this Yankee would be the deep South? Moving south was liberating. Low cost of living. Making not much less than I was making in CT (in fact, making more now than I'd be making if I had stayed in CT, as is evident from the incomes I see on the Web of people in my line of work). Able to put kids through ultra-expensive Northeastern private schools almost without the financial stress I would have experienced in CT (please, not bragging, just stating a plain fact to illustrate my point). Laidback deep South lifestyle which at first was a culture shock has since proved to be a psychological balm.

If you want to move south as a young person, please do. It's not bad at all. There are many opportunities to make a decent living, contrary to some of what has been bandied about around here.

The South has provided me the enablement I need to finally return to CT and enjoy this beautiful state. Not sure exactly when, but I'm headed back. Back in CT, once the morning rush hour is out of the way, I plan to hit the road, whiz by JViello and his Harley as I cruise the state to enjoy its beauty. I don't think I'd be where I am now, if I'd stayed in CT. Just one guy's saga, but that's the way I see it.

SilvioDante, you, like me, will be back. It doesn't look that way now, but you'll be back.

[Highpointer]

Originally Posted by sheena

South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the USA? I don't find that park very appealing at all.

For a city park, I don't know how much better a park can get than South Mountain Park. According to the park's website, the park is over 16,000 acres (more than 25 square miles) in size, most of it in natural condition. The website states there are "51 miles of primary trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking for all ability levels skills." What more could a city park be?

Ken Akerman

[silviodante]

Originally Posted by Iska

SilvioDante, when the extremes of your post are trimmed, you're making some very valid points.

I started in northern New England. First stop, MA. Second stop, CT. Then got on the toboggan and slid all the way down to the deep, deep South, against the advice of almost every single person I know. As a young person, I too saw a bleak future. Worked for an outfit in the capital city. Saw absolutely no future and decided that I had to get outta CT and find a life. I think I'd now be gray and still struggling at the margins had I stayed in CT. Who'd ever think the answer for this Yankee would be the deep South? Moving south was liberating. Low cost of living. Making not much less than I was making in CT (in fact, making more now than I'd be making if I had stayed in CT, as is evident from the incomes I see on the Web of people in my line of work). Able to put kids through ultra-expensive Northeastern private schools almost without the financial stress I would have experienced in CT (please, not bragging, just stating a plain fact to illustrate my point). Laidback deep South lifestyle which at first was a culture shock has since proved to be a psychological balm.

If you want to move south as a young person, please do. It's not bad at all. There are many opportunities to make a decent living, contrary to some of what has been bandied about around here.

The South has provided me the enablement I need to finally return to CT and enjoy this beautiful state. Not sure exactly when, but I'm headed back. Back in CT, once the morning rush hour is out of the way, I plan to hit the road, whiz by JViello and his Harley as I cruise the state to enjoy its beauty. I don't think I'd be where I am now, if I'd stayed in CT. Just one guy's saga, but that's the way I see it.

SilvioDante, you, like me, will be back. It doesn't look that way now, but you'll be back.

Oh, no, I can tell you that I will 100% not be back in CT. Within 5 years all my remaining friends and family will have left too. Then I would move back for what? An exciting career in New Haven or Hartford? Ha, no thank you. There are about 30 other states I'd move to before CT.

[BigHouse9]

One place does not have to be bad to have the other place good. CT is a wonderful state with a phenomenal future. NC has it's positives too. I have posted many times that CT is better than NC and that I have my issues with NC, but that is my opinion.

[lamishra]

OP, why did you choose Leland, of all places, as a place to settle down in NC? I'm an NC native and I can tell ya I'd rather live in CT than Leland too.
I'm just curious why you choose that area.

[redsoxwalking]

just wanted to say that from my experience you should give NC more time, say another year. i've really found that there is a natural time, after 3 years, when a new place starts to really feel like home. maybe you could decide to settle in and be happy where you are, i bet your roots will grow deeper. best wishes.

[clodhopper]

I think moving from CT to Leland, NC would be a very difficult transition for anyone. I can't imagine myself moving to CT. I did move from a city of 400,000 in Va. to East Central NC about 23 years ago. It was like stepping onto the set of a Mayberry episode....and I loved it. NC is experiencing titanic change and many areas are struggling to cope, but I feel confident it is going to be fine.

Bottom line NC is a place where working folk can enjoy a good quality of life that might not be so accessible elsewhere.

If you really feel that CT is the place for you, I would return with no hesitation. Life is short. Just come back for a visit and check out some other areas. Good luck!

[X-Greensboro Resident]

My two cents is that you're comparing apples and oranges. Leland NC is not exactly a great part of NC, so your "Cons" are a bit biased. I think you'd enjoy NC more if you lived in a different part of the state or just a different city that fits your interest better. Have you been anywhere else in NC?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by silviodante

I just have a general question for everyone who dislikes NC and wants to go back to CT. Are you generally middle-age or older? Because for my generation (21-35) I know a ton of people who moved from CT to NC, and they all would never go back. In fact, the only people I know that regret the move are older people who grew up in CT and moved because it was too expensive. For people my age- unless you need the real hardcore lifestyle of NYC and live in Stamford or Greenwich- there is just so much more to do in NC. It has so much more outdoors activities, new cool stuff, nightlife, JOBS, and, most importantly, a future. I can foresee starting my career here, having an awesome house, and maybe even finding a nice Southern belle. A future in CT looks bleak at best. I mean, for young people the new Whitewater center in Charlotte and weekends on the Outer Banks are a lot cooler than looking at old Victorian houses and going to the Peabody Museum.

I see a lot of parallels between the old "stay in Europe or immigrate to America" and the now "stay in the Northeast or move South." In both situations, you have the old generation saying how much they love the old country and want to go back- because there are no traditions, there are too many "other" nationalities, it is less tranquil. Yet the younger generation would never go back because they love the new, future-oriented aspects of America and would have no future in Europe. Unfortunately, the Northeast (outside of Manhattan isle) is no place for a young person to start their life, and the grass is greener down South- in all aspects. Neither me nor anyone I know who moved can think of one thing they would want to go back to CT for- except family pressures, and maybe the slightly better proximity to skiing... that's it!

So, move back to CT if you want, but I like living somewhere with a future. It all sounds very reminiscent of the old Italian grandmothers in my neighborhood who did nothing but compare things with Italy and complain. If I want to go to a "living museum," there are plenty of cheap flights from RDU to Europe.

Silviodante - I know a three young people that moved to NC, hated it and returned to Connecticut. They told me that it had nothing to offer that Connecticut didn't have. The night life was no better there than here and that at least in Connecticut you could get to New York or Boston easily if you wanted real excitment. They thought the cities they lived in lacked ethnic diversity. As for jobs, all three are well educated and though they had good jobs in NC, they never felt that the job was not very secure and that in a poor economy that they wouldn't be able to find a good job there. They returned to CT, found great jobs, enjoyed a great singles life, two found "northern gentlemen" and got married. None have "looked back". Jay