All young people with skills should leave Hampton Roads? (Greenville: real estate, mortgage)

[telemonster]

Hi all.

I was born and raised in Hampton Roads. Lived here all my life, but have visited a number of other areas.

I am now of the impression that any young, smart person should leave the region. This place sucks your soul.

No matter how many cool ideas you come up with, the mindset is too boring to do anything neat.

The jobs are boring. I've worked for a pretty impressive list of places, and at the end of the day, they were not very good compared to other regions. We don't see many local tech companies that do neat things. But Northern Virginia and Raleigh both have a nice list of companies that are respected on a national or even worldwide stage.

Many of the jobs are for gov't contractors, and dare I say it... many of them just want meat in the seats so they get paid. They aren't the kind of jobs that are challenging. The gov't is very wasteful with money. And you are likely to get stuck with coworkers that aren't very good.

At the end of the day, Hampton Roads has nothing. The few companies that DID make it, the owners never share the rewards with the employees. The attitude here is that young people deserve to get paid little, because they are young. Meanwhile on the west coast, young people got paid well. They in turn started new companies, or funded other startups (fubar, youtube, myspace, facebook come to mind).

At the end of the day, Hampton Roads is fail. Outside of payday cash advance places, those easy financing for dumb gov't employee places (USA Discounters?), and perhaps rim shops... there isn't much here.

There is no justification for the high home prices. They will crater. The local gov'ts are pretty corrupt (not different from other areas, perhaps). The region has no soul.

So why should anyone, that is any good, stay here? Look at real estate in Raleigh or DC. Northern Virginia has more traffic, but the places aren't that much more expensive (compared to the earnings possibilities in the jobs).

Proove me wrong!

[citydweller]

Since you have made it known - clearly - that you hate the area why do you continue to live here?

[Erma]

My advice to you would be to go your own way, travel and see what else is out there for you. You will find, what I tell many, there isn't much difference with the exception that you have a choice here. Many don't in other places, but you have to find out on your own. Good Luck..I really mean that!

[telemonster]

I throw out there what I see is wrong. Often times we see criticism without the constructive part.

I feel I'm doing the world a favor. As I see other people look the same way I am (away from the region), I'm throwing out there what I see as the reasons people most likely leave.

I currently do work for a fun company. Granted times aren't as good as they were, but I'm hanging in till the end. I know finding another company like the one I work for is pretty unlikely in the Hampton Roads market.

I've always gotten the "if you don't like it here leave" reply, but never gotten any sort of discussion as to where the region falls down.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by telemonster

I throw out there what I see is wrong. Often times we see criticism without the constructive part.

I feel I'm doing the world a favor. As I see other people look the same way I am (away from the region), I'm throwing out there what I see as the reasons people most likely leave.

I currently do work for a fun company. Granted times aren't as good as they were, but I'm hanging in till the end. I know finding another company like the one I work for is pretty unlikely in the Hampton Roads market.

I've always gotten the "if you don't like it here leave" reply, but never gotten any sort of discussion as to where the region falls down.

It's something you have to find on your own. We've all been there at times while we grow and try to find ourselves.

[loose cannon]

In many ways this sounds just like the Lehizzle Valley. Im visiting Greenville SC for sure and we will see what happens. Even if I end up staying here in the Lehizzle Valley at least I travel every so often. Some of these nitwits think going to Easton PA from Allenswamp is an exotic trip. Good luck to all in Virginia. It is a good state.

[Randomdude]

I have spent many posts relating some of the points you make, and I do agree that any young people with training or talent would be best to leave this pit. You will find salaries are higher, and cost of living in relation to salary better in nearly every metro area in the US, outside of California and Florida, for almost any profession you can imagine.


What you will find at the end of the day, that the people in Hampton Roads either enjoy it (mostly older 40+ who became established before this place became outrageous), or they want out of it (75% of people under the age of 30 who are largely struggling to get by). The few younger people who like it here are mostly here for the beach, or theyve lived here forever and would rather struggle here then leave. So posting things like this either infuriate people or its nothing the people who agree with you already havent thought, or probably posted themselves.


I know its frustrating here, and be my guest to vent, but its just my opinion that youre kind of wasting your breath with this type of post, I promise you that.

[citydweller]

Truly, I understand where you are although I try not to bash the place since it is my decision to live here. If I didn't have a nice paying job and a mortgage I too would take flight but alas I am here at least for now.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by citydweller

Truly, I understand where you are although I try not to bash the place since it is my decision to live here. If I didn't have a nice paying job and a mortgage I too would take flight but alas I am here at least for now.

I enjoy living here. Maybe because I have the opportunities to see other areas less enchanted. I would love a couple acres on a freshwater lake in warm weather when I grow older, but I'm not older yet and I'm still piddlin' around.

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

The few younger people who like it here are mostly here for the beach, or theyve lived here forever and would rather struggle here then leave.

Excellent point. I don't know what it is, but most of my friends have no desire to even travel out of Hampton Roads let alone live somewhere else. They grew up here, now they're going to college here, and they all plan on staying here forever. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing this area and I'm not saying I agree with the OP, but I don't see myself spending my entrie life here either. I feel I'm the most traveled of my little group of friends, and it worries me to see them stifle themselves by not venturing out to see other places. But that goes for everywhere, not just Hampton Roads. No one should just stay in their little bubble and not experience other things and places, and I doubt this only happens in Hampton Roads.