Lewes? (fit in, real estate, new home)

[beachanyone]

Hi Everyone,
I have been a member of this forum for about 6 months now, though I have never posted. My husband and I have been considering relocating our family to Lewes, DE. I have been trying to read all I can on Lewes and DE in general. I am from Howell, NJ and my husband is from NYC. We currently live in West Virginia for work which has not been an easy adjustment. In fact, we are very anxious to pack our bags and never look back at WV again. We are beach people, I grew up near the Jersey Shore and we spend our summers there. We would really love that lifestyle full time. I have heard the school in Lewes are very good. Although we have not yet visited Lewes we are almost certain (from my many online hours of research) that we would be very happy there.

I guess my question is would a couple of beach loving democrats fit in here? We are quiet, somewhat conservative, preppy and we like culture and the outdoors. I am looking for the same feel as Howell, NJ without the high taxes and "got to keep up with the Jones" attitude. Also, where we live now (WV), which I like to refer to as H.E. double hockey stix, there are strip clubs, tattoo shops and bars on every corner...and I want to get away from that environment! Also would you consider Lewes to be a hip town? I love fashion as does my husband and we seem to get strange glares around here if we dress nicely.
Thank You so much for taking the time to read and respond to my post.

Tabitha

"Whether they be young in spirit, or young in age, the members of
the Democratic Party must never lose that youthful zest for new
ideas and for a better world, which has made us great." -JFK

[CJHinDE]

Originally Posted by beachanyone

Hi Everyone,
I have been a member of this forum for about 6 months now, though I have never posted. My husband and I have been considering relocating our family to Lewes, DE. I have been trying to read all I can on Lewes and DE in general. I am from Howell, NJ and my husband is from NYC. We currently live in West Virginia for work which has not been an easy adjustment. In fact, we are very anxious to pack our bags and never look back at WV again. We are beach people, I grew up near the Jersey Shore and we spend our summers there. We would really love that lifestyle full time. I have heard the school in Lewes are very good. Although we have not yet visited Lewes we are almost certain (from my many online hours of research) that we would be very happy there.

I guess my question is would a couple of beach loving democrats fit in here? We are quiet, somewhat conservative, preppy and we like culture and the outdoors. I am looking for the same feel as Howell, NJ without the high taxes and "got to keep up with the Jones" attitude. Also, where we live now (WV), which I like to refer to as H.E. double hockey stix, there are strip clubs, tattoo shops and bars on every corner...and I want to get away from that environment! Also would you consider Lewes to be a hip town? I love fashion as does my husband and we seem to get strange glares around here if we dress nicely.
Thank You so much for taking the time to read and respond to my post.

Tabitha

"Whether they be young in spirit, or young in age, the members of
the Democratic Party must never lose that youthful zest for new
ideas and for a better world, which has made us great." -JFK

I would'nt call Lewes "hip" exactly but it is growing very fast. Between Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, & Bethany there should be plenty of "beach" things to keep you busy. I will say the "Jersey shore" and Delaware beaches are 2 different monsters though. Cape Henlopen schools are pretty good for Sussex county (they are building a brand new high school).

[Mesoc]

Wow, a good old neighbor, I'm from Jackson NJ, moved to Lewes about 7 years ago. I can say that the culture/environment here is completely the opposite. Here its much slower, and its not as friendly as NJ. People here seem to just "gawk" at you.

Personally, we regret moving here and wished we stayed up in NJ, but now we're settled in, so we can't just pick up and move.

[beachanyone]

Originally Posted by Mesoc

Wow, a good old neighbor, I'm from Jackson NJ, moved to Lewes about 7 years ago. I can say that the culture/environment here is completely the opposite. Here its much slower, and its not as friendly as NJ. People here seem to just "gawk" at you.

Personally, we regret moving here and wished we stayed up in NJ, but now we're settled in, so we can't just pick up and move.

Hi!
Thank You so much for your posts!
I miss living in NJ, it has just gotten too expensive to move back. You are scaring me though....I really thought we had found our new home when we found Lewes. I am really trying to find a happy medium ... decent people, clean area, cultural diversity with a little bit of stlye. Am I missing the mark here?
I do not want to make the move and then regret it, that is what we did when we moved to WV...(about seven years ago) just to buy cheap real estate.
Thanks Again, I think I am going to be asking a lot more questions nowThank You
Tabitha

"Whether they be young in spirit, or young in age, the members of
the Democratic Party must never lose that youthful zest for new
ideas and for a better world, which has made us great."

[nlblueyes]

Have you ever thought of Annapolis??? It is on the bay, not really beachfront but it might be more your style.

[Mesoc]

Sorry, I'm not trying to scare you. The tricky thing is you only see what you want to see when you think you've found your next place to live. Unfortunately I found out the hard way.

Have you looked into Seaside or maybe Wildwood area in NJ?

[beachanyone]

Thanks Again for your replies. We enjoy the town of Bethesda and Annapolis. Something like that in a beach community would be nice. Seaside and Wildwood are also nice, but we are pretty much ruling out NJ totally b/c of price. If price were not an issue a beach house in Belmar would be awesome.

Mesoc- you are so right and I don't want to make that mistake. We did that already when we moved to WV and we have HATED it ever since.
We are planning on a trip to Lewes in the spring. Nothing is better than checking it out for yourself, right?
We are not looking to get back into the regular game of which n'bor has the best this and that. Just a nice place to raise a family and have some fun.
Honestly anything woud be better than here!!
I appreciate eveyones feedback
I hope to learn more about the town of Lewes from reading these posts.

[lookin'for"home"]

I just logged on for the first time in months... I'm from Jackson, too!!

I've not been to Lewes but I've been curious. I laughed though because
I'm in PA (Pensy... Philly...New Hope - think very long "O" in New Hope) and that' what I LOVE about PA- the people are so much nicer- at least here in Bucks. It's a shock when I go home. People are so ... not happy... not that nice.

AAAND I looked at WV for the same reason. The closest place I found thus far is Hawley area - way up north by Lake Wallenpapack but that's mountains; the beach area so far is Wildwood. I don't like the lot sizes.....way too close for me.

I've heard great things about NC beach area. It's just that NC is so far from my mom who is still in Jackson.

Politics in Jackson are just horrendous these days.

[maryCh]

NC beach area is beautiful, but hard to be there if you still need to make a living or have kids in school. I grew up in Va Beach, and we have lived in central NC for 15 years prior to our recent move to DE. Frankly, I think we have done ourselves (and our younger 2 kids) a huge favor by moving to the "small wonder".

Mary

[lookin'for"home"]

Why? What do you like about it?

(My daughter's name is Mary. You don't hear that name much anymore.)
Lynn