Still confused (could be permanent) (Savannah, Pooler: rent, vacation, income)

[kimokani]

I have to get out of Florida like the other million people. My husband is now a weather weinie. Everytime I mention a place to go he says it's too cold. We love the Florida weather but can't afford to live here anymore and I have big orthopedic problems and have been promised a wheelchair down the road. I need a place we can afford on one income, should that day come sooner than later. I have now narrowed the search down to Columbia, Sc; Augusta,Ga; Savannah, Ga; or some small town just over the line in Ga from Jax. I have to have good healthcare nearby as one top priority. Savannah is now winning the race due to temp and location near the ocean but I am hearing how bad the crime and air quality is. Can anyone compare this to say... Philly or Sw florida? If anyone has any other ideas I am all ears. Thanks sooooo much in advance. (sorry for the length of this thing.)

[cpowers21]

I live in Pooler, Georgia (about 30 minutes North of Savannah). I've heard the crime isn't as bad as philly. But I still wouldn't want to live in the downtown area. The islands are nice. If you have children, you should look into effingham county. If you have any other questions feel free to private message me.

[Georgia]

If you are over 55 there is a Sun City in Beaufort, SC just over the GA border.
You can go the back road right to the Savannah bridge in 18 mile. Nice area.

[kimokani]

I have no young children...semi-adult. I don't know if they are even coming with us. We are mid-forties so we don't qualify for Sun city yet.

[cpowers21]

Have you visited all the places you are considering. If not, I would definitely make a trip to see them. Good Luck!

[kimokani]

No, that's our next step. I am still waiting for the hubby to come to some decision on the area he wants to check out first. I also have to wait for enough vacation time from work. I might just do a sweep of all the areas. Start with Columbia and make our way back. How long do you think you should spend in each area if you make a sweep like that?

[kimokani]

Oh, do you know of any problems in the Savannah river with nuclear waste coming from upstream near Aiken/Augusta area? Hubby has read some dirt on that and you never know where the info is coming from.

[Liz in North Augusta]

Originally Posted by kimokani

Oh, do you know of any problems in the Savannah river with nuclear waste coming from upstream near Aiken/Augusta area? Hubby has read some dirt on that and you never know where the info is coming from.

That's absurd. Nuclear waste is certainly NOT in the river!

[Cattknap]

But the air is polluted - very low air quality.

[cpowers21]

Originally Posted by kimokani

Oh, do you know of any problems in the Savannah river with nuclear waste coming from upstream near Aiken/Augusta area? Hubby has read some dirt on that and you never know where the info is coming from.

I have read several of the documents myself. There isn't any active waste. It was all past/prior waste that is an issue. They have been seeking to remove the buried waste effectively and safely. That being said, the only real issue with the water seems to be the tritium in the water. It is apparently only harmful to pregnant women at certain doses and to people who catch and eat mainly fish from the river downstream from the Savannah River Site. All this information was obtained using the internet.

"Our ultimate goal is to change completely the mission of the United States Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site from military to peaceful pursuits. We are dedicated to ending the toxic and radioactive pollution of the soil, water and air of SRS by achieving a true cleanup of more than five decades of bomb plant contamination. "

It seems as though they are trying to clean it up. The site however is in South Carolina. According to Georgia testing, there's no significant waste here.

If you are going to sweep all the areas, you will need at least a few days in each to get an idea. If you figure at least 4 days for each, you'll need 12 days there and 2 days for travel.

If you come to the Savannah area, look into the Southside (Georgetown) area of Savannah, West Chatham county, and Effingham County. Also if you need any help, feel free to let me know.