[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Trusses

But it was definitely at night, maybe 9 or 10 pm.
?

OK, I believe you now. Next time you go to the keys though, take the turnpike and save yourself the stress, it isn't like that.

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Originally Posted by Trusses

You will like NC better than MA - no comparison! But I've never been to MA, lol.

Where are you going in NC?

If the Asheville area, I can tell you all kinds of stuff to check out and do. And being that it's in September, that's a good time to go. Still summer, so it will be warm but getting cool at night.

My wife has a friend in Winston-Salem.....been meaning to visit for a while, but we've never got around to it.

I have a feeling that the scenery will blow me away...my wife is a little worried about racism, but from what I've read/heard, it isn't much of a problem in the cities (I even posted in the NC forum to gauge people's opinions).

I have explored it on Google Street View and I like what I've seen....

I'll have to see how it compares to MA though, because I really liked MA a lot (it's probably my favorite part of the US).

[Trusses]

Winston-Salem is pretty nice. I have only been there a couple times though, so I cant really say one way or another. I will say though, that I'd be shocked if you had racial issues there. NC isnt hillbillies in trailers and people with no teeth, despite what some might say. I know you didnt say that, I'm just saying it's been implied on some of the S FL forums. In Asheville, which is probably more "southern" than W-S, we had hispanics, blacks, lesbians, whites, all kinds in our apartment complex - and a lot of people from FL. But it's not like S FL when you think of "Floridians" ...

I think you will be blown away by how courteous and friendly people there are... big change from Miami... and then you can come back on the Miami and FTL forum and say to all of our forum buddies "Trusses was right. The people up there are nicer, and the grass really is greener up there", lol.

[EnjoyTheSilence]

Originally Posted by Trusses

Winston-Salem is pretty nice. I have only been there a couple times though, so I cant really say one way or another. I will say though, that I'd be shocked if you had racial issues there. NC isnt hillbillies in trailers and people with no teeth, despite what some might say. I know you didnt say that, I'm just saying it's been implied on some of the S FL forums. In Asheville, which is probably more "southern" than W-S, we had hispanics, blacks, lesbians, whites, all kinds in our apartment complex - and a lot of people from FL. But it's not like S FL when you think of "Floridians" ...

I think you will be blown away by how courteous and friendly people there are... big change from Miami... and then you can come back on the Miami and FTL forum and say to all of our forum buddies "Trusses was right. The people up there are nicer, and the grass really is greener up there", lol.

Thanks Trusses. In truth, I'm not looking for greener grass....just different grass. I have always imagined NC to be a fusion of old east coast / southern combined. A lot of the pictures of towns / cities there give the impression that it's quite old, with plenty of character. I have a strange hunch that I'll like it though, maybe more than I liked MA. Property is very affordable there and the climate would probably suit me well (four seasons, but not overly cold during winter).

[blackhype]

Lol, how many times was Asheville mentioned in this thread.

[Trusses]

W-S gets hot in the summer, not quite like FL - but it definitely has a more humid climate than western NC does. But it doesnt stay humid for a looooong time like it does in FL. And the winters are mild - cold? - yes. But very mild. You probably wont see much snow - I believe it's uncommon in that area of NC, but it might every once in a while. There is a historic area - Old Salem - that's pretty cool. You should check that out if your into historic sites. Have fun there.