Relocating to GA from NY (Atlanta, Athens-Clarke County: 2009, crime rate, house)

[honestgal]

Coming from NYC, the first thing that you are going to notice is that people here are very, very, very nosey. Expect to see a LOT of personal vs. professional conflict in the workplace. What I mean by that statement, is that it seems that people in the South, go to work to make friends, as opposed to actually working. That was a huge shock for me. I'm from Edison, NJ originally, I am used to people, and especially in the workplace having boundaries. If you are a nosey, brown-nosing kind of person by nature, then this will not bother you. Otherwise, just be ready for 50 questions on a daily basis.

Status is something of an obsession here as well. You will be immediately judged on the following: Your zip code, the car you drive, the school your kid(s) attends, and the clothes you wear, ect. Yes, this will really happen. I can’t make this stuff up.

Lastly, you will live in your car. Walking will be a thing of the past. You see there are no sidewalks in Georgia for the most part. At least not a consistent one, that goes beyond 50 feet. Unless you live in the Midtown/Downtown area, you will have to drive to your bathroom. It’s really ridiculous. I work in technology, and my commute from my home to Alpharetta, GA is 40.5 miles. One way. Try to find a place to live that is as close to your job, as you can.

After my family moved to Atlanta, I had other family members decide that they wanted to move here too. They have relocated back to the Northeast. Many people that relocate here from the Northeast, or West Coast end up leaving. They just can’t deal with the mindset. I have lived in Atlanta for 18 years, and I am finally leaving next summer. I will come to visit, but I will never live on this soil again.

I wish you the best of luck no matter what you decide. I just want you to get all of the information that you can, so you will be happy. It takes a lot more than a vacation to decide that you want to live somewhere.

Remember, people have said the same thing about New York City. Those same people move there, and realize things aren’t always, as it seems.

[mikepayne]

i think this person has been on here under another name before!!

[honestgal]

Ummm...no.

I came across this site, while looking for information on the San Francisco area. I have nothing to gain. I'm just giving my opinion.

Don't start rumors. Not cool.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by honestgal

Coming from NYC, the first thing that you are going to notice is that people here are very, very, very nosey. Expect to see a LOT of personal vs. professional conflict in the workplace. What I mean by that statement, is that it seems that people in the South, go to work to make friends, as opposed to actually working. That was a huge shock for me. I'm from Edison, NJ originally, I am used to people, and especially in the workplace having boundaries. If you are a nosey, brown-nosing kind of person by nature, then this will not bother you. Otherwise, just be ready for 50 questions on a daily basis.

This is true of the upper midwest as well.

I find it amusing that relatively harmless social interaction in the workplace (and in the grocery store, etc.) actually seems to offend some who were spawned on the east coast. They need to grow a thick skin and deal with it.

[mikepayne]

i guess that we are just to nice!! they are not used to nice!!

[honestgal]

It's not that we aren't nice; we just have boundaries. There is nothing wrong with that.

I have just noticed that here in the south, employer's will rate your social interaction much higher, than your actual job performance. That threw me for a loop.

Office Birthday Party Coordinators, will get a higher raise than the chick who simply wants to do Help Desk Support.

I am a very cordial individual, but I don't go to work to chat or make friends. That's not what I was hired to do.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by honestgal

It's not that we aren't nice; we just have boundaries. There is nothing wrong with that.

I have just noticed that here in the south, employer's will rate your social interaction much higher, than your actual job performance. That threw me for a loop.

Office Birthday Party Coordinators, will get a higher raise than the chick who simply wants to do Help Desk Support.

I am a very cordial individual, but I don't go to work to chat or make friends. That's not what I was hired to do.

How funny! You have just described my co-workers from Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey & Philadelphia. LOL!

[honestgal]

Oh well. What can I say. More than likely they have decided to adapt the mentality, for workplace survival. Unfortunately, you have to play the game sometimes to get by.

I don't intend to play the game, so it makes no difference to me.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by honestgal

Oh well. What can I say. More than likely they have decided to adapt the mentality, for workplace survival. Unfortunately, you have to play the game sometimes to get by.

I don't intend to play the game, so it makes no difference to me.

Or perhaps they came down here with this mind-set already in place?

Your sweeping generalizations of the South are beyond ridiculous. You do realize that NO region is monolithic, right?

I've been here for over 23 years, and have worked in many different offices. There is simply no hard and fast rule as to how things are done here, and your observations are certainly not in line with anything I've seen.

[honestgal]

The South has a reputation for being a ridiculous place. I didn't create it. I'm just pointing certain things out that I have experienced. If you don't agree with it, that is your prerogative. You are right, no region is perfect, but some places do make a bit more sense than others.

I'm glad that you have lived her for 23 years, and things have been jolly for you. Kudos. I wish you another happy 23 or more. I in turn will seek my happiness somewhere else.