Is Delaware as Boring as people Say it is? (Wilmington: for sale, broker)

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

If I had relatives around the lower DE shore and eastern shore of MD, I think I would find the Wilmington area preferable to Morgantown, WV in terms of urban amenities and milder winters. I mean, if you are motivated to see those relatives easily and fairly frequently. Especially if you aren't single, I think Wilmington could be ok. I would expect that good jobs are somewhat difficult to come by in DE right now, just as about everywhere else during this economic cycle.

Just a word about economics in Austin. As long as I have been familiar with it, the private sector in Austin has tended to operate on rather dramatic boom and bust cycles. Getting a good paying private sector job there can either be very easy or rather difficult, depending on where the economic cylce is at any given time. However, Austin being the state capital also means that there is a large government/public sector whose employment is not so affected by overall cycles in the economy. While DE state government has been seriously affected by economic vicissitudes, this isn't true for Texas, due to the nature of its tax base.

Funny that you mention Morgantown, WV because that's a place I lived in for two years, immediately after living for four years in upstate NY. The winters in Morgantown were quite similar to upstate NY because it's in the mountains. The only difference was that they were shorter and they didn't plow the roads. Try doing steep, snow covered roads with a stick shift. Every morning on my way to work I would pray that I would stay on the road and that anyone that was behind me at a stop sign would give me some space for the shift.

Morgantown is actually quite similar to Newark (my husband grew up in Newark, attended UD of a year but ended up getting his BS at WVU) in that both are college towns and fairly sophisticated, well except for the partying aspect.

[doctorjef]

Just to be clear, the Morgantown WV reference was because the poster 1WVULAWGRAD (I think I've got the name right) is apparently living there and wondering about DE.

[o.magableh]

hi Iam omar magableh from jordan

[doctorjef]

Omar, what does that have to do with this thread? Needing some attention, lad?

[Magilla43]

Thank you so much for your honest response on life in Dover. After having read your response, I realize that we should have done much more research about life in Dover before accepting a position at Delaware State. It is a great opportunity for my husband, but we must consider the fact that we have a teenager who will probably find Dover as boring as Louisiana. Now, I’m not sure we made the right decision.
That said, we are coming for a week long visit in June to locate housing. Our house in Louisiana is already sold, so like it or not, we’re Dover bound. Okay, so it’s not Oz, but neither is Louisiana. This is a move is a move on faith so; I must trust God to do what’s best for our family.
I do have another concern. I read an article about “Eight Cancer Clusters in Delaware!” Now, this is as scary as Hurricane Katrina! Do you know what is at the heart of this issue? I certainly do not want to plant my roots in cancerous water and soil!

I appreciate your responding to my inquiry and perhaps one day we will be able to meet and say hello.
With thanks,
Magilla

Originally Posted by anniebleu

In no particular order! Elizamary, there are a few cabs around Dover, but I rarely see one, so very few indeed, and sorry to say that the ones I have seen have appeared to be in poor condition. This is the way it has been for 30 years, so I tend not to expect a change. Anyone who moves here should prepare themselves to drive everywhere, both near by and farther away.

Also, Eliza, I admire your honesty in stating that you would not want to live in the area if you were a young person. I have witnessed droves of young people leave for college elsewhere, never to return.

too busy, your comments are always kind (to the extent that I've been able to drop by and read them!) and tactful. My husband and I have lived in Dover for over 30 years, essentially since we were not much more than kids, and our children grew up here. It was good enough when the children were younger, and our work (and related) situations have always made leaving just too hard to arrange, but we would have left before the kids started high school had we been able to manage it. Virtually everyone we've ever known and truly enjoyed has left along the way.

Dover has several historic, attractive areas, and a few museums, but half the stores in town are closed, and few of us feel any real sense of community. (I make a large exception for the people who have always lived here!) You can see Dover's few sights just so many times before you've had enough. You can participate in a few events just so many times. What's more, as people have pointed out here, this town with several colleges doesn't feel at all like a college town.

Magilla, Dover IS the big city. That is, south of Wilmington, Dover is the city. And, yes, it is quite rural. I like some aspects of this. It's nice to be able to drive in almost any direction for a few minutes and be amongst horses, cows, goats, and so on in (sometimes) attractive countryside. A few more minutes, going east and you're near Delaware Bay. (Bombay Hook is an interesting national wildlife refuge, for those interested in a diversity of birds.) Delaware doesn't have many miles of ocean beaches, but some of those miles are lovely. Already, in mid-May, they're busy and the traffic, unless you choose your times carefully, is bad.

Magilla, I would strongly recommend that your family visit for a week. You may be able to get some idea as to whether this area has more to offer than your part of Louisiana. You need to be here and to imagine whether what's available, visited and experienced over and over again, will sustain you and your family. If not, are you able to live in Dover and spend a good deal of time driving elsewhere, taking trips?

In terms of hurricanes, I can reassure you, at least from our experience. Hurricanes have not had major impact during the many years we've lived here. We have seen quite a lot of impressive damage from thunderstorms and microbursts though, and even some tornadic activity. But not like Louisiana.

I think that anyone can find themselves in an area that just isn't a good fit. You can, for a certain amount of time, and in various ways, fight boredom, frustration, and so on. If you have family relatively near by (we don't) and you find friends who don't decide to move after a few years, you can find ways of managing. I think it depends on your age, your children's ages, your work, your interests. Sometimes, it may be possible to develop new interests. Sometimes this just doesn't work.

We are well aware that there's no perfect place. We have been searching!

[doctorjef]

Magilla43, please see the thread on Cancer clusters in Northern Delaware for some discussion of this and a link to an article that appeared in the Wilmington News Journal last year. Unfortunately, dependable information about this continues to be limited and the true epidemiology isn't really clear. The apparent clusters aren't simply in northern DE -- indeed, several are down in Sussex County (south of Kent, where you will be moving). As to the boring nature of Dover (where I don't live and can't comment from personal experience), teenagers are generally very adaptible, especially given supportive parenting, and sometimes can actually come to like a rather limited place more than their parents do. So much is about one's friends at that age. You do have a big advantage in terms of being only about an hour or less from DE's Atlantic coastline beaches, Rehoboth being the closest and IMO the most fun unless one is a college age Spring breaker or young adult of at least 21, in which case Dewey Beach tends to be the place to be. In any case, your teenager will probably enjoy opportunities to be down at the beach, which can be enjoyed to varying degrees from May through October (people go down during the winter as well, but obviously the opportunity for outdoor activity then is limited).

[Summering]

Originally Posted by Magilla43

My family is seriously considering moving to Dover, DE this summer. My husband was offered a job at Delaware State Univ. I've never been to Dover before, but my husband was whizzed in and out for an interview and mentioned it seemed very rural. We like the suburbs feel.

Any suggestions as far good areas to live with subdivisions, malls, schools, activities? We have a teenage daughter in high school that wants to make new friends and is looking to do more then what's available in Louisiana. Besides, we’ve had enough hurricanes to last a lifetime!

Any thoughts? Decisions, Decisions!!!

Magilla........I don't think you will find Dover, DE all that bad. We had an Aunt, Uncle and cousin who lived there all their lives. But, after some time there ,checking around, you can always head to a neighboring town with different appeals. Delaware, itself is a beautiful state....no doubt about that. You should be able to find the area that suits your needs. Whether more rural, or more suburb. Dover itself never felt rural to me.......

I understand from someone who works for Delaware State College that
their two children got free college tuition, since they work for the College.
In that case........what a great offer to refuse.( If perhaps you might have gotten that offer also) I have no idea if that is a standard offer.

There are many fun places to head to, all not far from the Dover, location.

There are some great Malls and Outlet areas. There are wonderful beaches like Cape Henlopen, Rehoboth, Bethany and especially Dewey for teens and young adults. There is no way your daughter won't love those places. It won't be far to head to Ocean City, MD and enjoy all the action there. Each one of my girls choose a different beach as their favorite.....It all depends on your own personal tastes.

If your daughter likes boating there is a ton of opportunities there also.

Perhaps she would like to take the ferry from Lewes to Cape May and explore the town, the small shops, the beach.........or even take a trip over to the "Diamond Beach" to explore for gems! ( not real diamonds, but fun gems)

I'm sure you'll do fine in Dover, DE. and I hope you report back to CD your thoughts on the area. Take as much time as you possibly can to explore a good housing area. One that meets all your needs........

As a family you'll enjoy the merits of being close to Philly and NYC.....
It will be just a day trip to visit and explore...

Personally, I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

[Magilla43]

Originally Posted by Summering

Magilla........I don't think you will find Dover, DE all that bad. We had an Aunt, Uncle and cousin who lived there all their lives. But, after some time there ,checking around, you can always head to a neighboring town with different appeals. Delaware, itself is a beautiful state....no doubt about that. You should be able to find the area that suits your needs. Whether more rural, or more suburb. Dover itself never felt rural to me.......

I understand from someone who works for Delaware State College that
their two children got free college tuition, since they work for the College.
In that case........what a great offer to refuse.( If perhaps you might have gotten that offer also) I have no idea if that is a standard offer.

There are many fun places to head to, all not far from the Dover, location.

There are some great Malls and Outlet areas. There are wonderful beaches like Cape Henlopen, Rehoboth, Bethany and especially Dewey for teens and young adults. There is no way your daughter won't love those places. It won't be far to head to Ocean City, MD and enjoy all the action there. Each one of my girls choose a different beach as their favorite.....It all depends on your own personal tastes.

If your daughter likes boating there is a ton of opportunities there also.

Perhaps she would like to take the ferry from Lewes to Cape May and explore the town, the small shops, the beach.........or even take a trip over to the "Diamond Beach" to explore for gems! ( not real diamonds, but fun gems)

I'm sure you'll do fine in Dover, DE. and I hope you report back to CD your thoughts on the area. Take as much time as you possibly can to explore a good housing area. One that meets all your needs........

As a family you'll enjoy the merits of being close to Philly and NYC.....
It will be just a day trip to visit and explore...

Personally, I don't think you will be disappointed at all.

Summering,
After reading your post I feel a great sense of relief. We actually always enjoyed exploring as a family and from the sounds of it, looks like we'll not be disappointed. I'm going to let my daughter read your post as it offers some good insights into things to see and do when she gets there! I promise to report back from time to time.
Magilla

[Magilla43]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Magilla43, please see the thread on Cancer clusters in Northern Delaware for some discussion of this and a link to an article that appeared in the Wilmington News Journal last year. Unfortunately, dependable information about this continues to be limited and the true epidemiology isn't really clear. The apparent clusters aren't simply in northern DE -- indeed, several are down in Sussex County (south of Kent, where you will be moving). As to the boring nature of Dover (where I don't live and can't comment from personal experience), teenagers are generally very adaptible, especially given supportive parenting, and sometimes can actually come to like a rather limited place more than their parents do. So much is about one's friends at that age. You do have a big advantage in terms of being only about an hour or less from DE's Atlantic coastline beaches, Rehoboth being the closest and IMO the most fun unless one is a college age Spring breaker or young adult of at least 21, in which case Dewey Beach tends to be the place to be. In any case, your teenager will probably enjoy opportunities to be down at the beach, which can be enjoyed to varying degrees from May through October (people go down during the winter as well, but obviously the opportunity for outdoor activity then is limited).

Doc,
Thanks for the heads up on the cancer clusters in DE. I'm definitely going to search the Wilmington News Journal to see if I can turn up anything. In the meantime, we are looking forward to exploring the beaches with our daughter. At 50, life in my 20's and 30's is long gone. For now, I'm just along for the ride.
Magilla

[Magilla43]

Originally Posted by Jason28

Remember Wayne's world? "Hi....I'm in Delaware". That pretty much sums up what there is to do in Delaware.

Woe, I loved Wayne's World! There really wasn't much for them to do was there?

Magilla