Thinking about moving to Huntsville? Get in line and fill this out.... (Oxford: relocate)

[33458]

1) Current City and State?
NE Huntsville 35811 (formerly 33458, SE FL)

2) Why do you want to leave?
Left FL because there was no promise of mountains growing or low-rise getting any higher.

3) 2nd and 3rd choice cities?
We looked at several, came close to Greenville SC or Metro Washington State...but husband dislikes inevitable, abundant rain and any possibility of blizzards. With our move here, he transferred, keeping seniority, instead of leaving the company.

4) What’s currently holding you back from moving?
'Done that!

5) Anything else you want to tell us that we don't know?
CHIGGERS. CRANE FLIES. Forget Black Widows and biting snakes - these afore mentioned are the two creatures that have already made me wiggy.

6) If already in Huntsville, what do you like, dislike, pleasant surprises, regrets?
Everyone is nice. Polite. Well, most everyone. People here smile, wave, greet...refreshing.

Dislike THE ROADS. Potholes much!? Man...where's that 8% tax going?

Pleasant surprises: Let me tell you about the rain storm. Had just moved here, company putting us up temporarily. Husband was in Cali on business. Just munchkin and I, grocery shopping at the SuperT because it was closest to the hotel. Weather was fine going in, left umbrella in the truck. Come out to a flood from the sky. Oh boy. Groceries and a 3 year old to get from point A to point B. Waaay over there...'cause I never concern myself with getting the closest spot. (Smacks head.)
I'm used to rain like this (even more so) so I head right for my vehicle, jumping puddles, kissing off the perishables to get my daughter inside before she succumbs to hypothermia (It was November/December) and as I 'round the back of my truck, a woman - out of NO-WHERE - runs up and yells, "I'm here to help you!" OK, now, she is getting soaked right along with me as we try to get a week's supply of goods into the back of my 'lil Tacoma...her husband pulls up behind us, window down and starts chatting while we finish up. I thanked her profusely, still amazed that someone would do this. I have been full of good deeds for others ever since. (I'm that way anyway, but not used to getting it back in spades.)

Her name was Scarlett.

Thank you, Scarlett.

Regrets...food with tax is more expensive here. Cost of living has actually proven to be almost the same as South Florida, while we were originally given the impression (even after months of research) that it would be 'cheaper' here...the houses are less expensive, but that's it. And I'm about to drop 12,000. to start fixing mine...
Do not have the selection (of anything) we were accustomed to. Bridge Street...well, perhaps for many that is a draw, but that's the kind of shopping experience we had before (snooty, er - attractive, upscale and possibly over-priced)...I'd really rather see more local specialty boutiques and entrepreneurs, home-grown fare...businesses and other functions are not as accessible, either. Stuff closes earlier here or simply isn't open. But I already knew that. Some one else might not.
'Alabama time', as we now call it, means you don't get a call back the same day but a few days later...or two weeks later. What's your hurry, anyway? ;)
A few other issues I won't mention here as to not offend. Just different, going to adapt.

[autigerlisa]

1) Current City and State? Auburn, Alabama

2) Why do you want to leave? Retiring from Auburn University with 25 years employment.

3) 2nd and 3rd choice cities? Huntsville is my hometown and I'm looking forward to coming back.

4) What’s currently holding you back from moving? Retirement date is Jan. 1, 2009

5) Anything else you want to tell us that we don't know? I'm job hunting. I will be taking a paralegal certificate course and am interested in a position as a legal assistant, administrative assistant or paralegal. I enjoy plays, concerts, reading, I especially enjoy live theater.

6) If already in Huntsville, what do you like, dislike, pleasant surprises, regrets? n/a

[cobolt]

1) Current City and State?
South Puget Sound area, WA

2) Why do you want to leave?
A) I can't stand 10 months of clouds and rain (and I think there is something inherently wrong with popping happy pills and sitting under artificial happy lights to trick the body into thinking it's getting enough sun). B) Priced out of the housing market. "Average home" (code for ghetto, crackhouse) starts at 260K. House values/prices are not dropping here regardless of the sub-prime mess. C) A desire to be around friendly/social people. (If you've ever lived in the Pac NW, you'll understand this statement).

3) 2nd and 3rd choice cities?
Louisville, KY (is actually my first choice, but a move there would involve leaving the aerospace/defense industry and finding a new career, thus Huntsville). Tulsa, OK is also a consideration, as is Lexington, KY (last on the list).

4) What’s currently holding you back from moving?
Still in the info gathering mode. Nailing down a position.

5) Anything else you want to tell us that we don't know?
I plan to take up gardening and plant as many sweet, smelling flowering thingys I can

6) If already in Huntsville, what do you like, dislike, pleasant surprises, regrets?
I'll let you know when I make it there

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cobolt

5) Anything else you want to tell us that we don't know?
I plan to take up gardening and plant as many sweet, smelling flowering thingys I can

Me too. The only place that is harder than Colorado to grow flowers and plants is the moon.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Charles

Me too. The only place that is harder than Colorado to grow flowers and plants is the moon.

Oh I don't know about that. I lived in the Texas panhandle with its rocky soil and Oklahoma with its clay. Texas was especially troublesome--ground is like concrete. NE OK (Tulsa area) has nice dirt--not the red clay of Oklahoma city. There is always someplace worse!

Charles, when are you moving to HSV?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cobolt

Charles, when are you moving to HSV?

August 5th.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Charles

August 5th.

That's the day my flight leaves HSV on my whirlwind recon trip. Are you excited to move?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cobolt

That's the day my flight leaves HSV on my whirlwind recon trip. Are you excited to move?

Sure. We have to sell you house here before we buy there. We have to get the blue card. Next week we'll be there on a house hunting trip - kids will be in Space Day Camp and YMCA camp while we're checking out homes. Hope I can get into Huntsville High School to check it out.

[DvlsAdvc8]

1) Current City and State?
Gainesville, VA (outer Washington DC suburb)

2) Why do you want to leave?
Cost of living, and prefer proximity to relatives in the south

3) 2nd and 3rd choice cities?
Pensacola FL, Raleigh-Durham NC

4) What’s currently holding you back from moving?
Job hunting

5) Anything else you want to tell us that we don't know?
I have a 15 mos old daughter and I race motorcycles.

6) If already in Huntsville, what do you like, dislike, pleasant surprises, regrets?
We visited - Bridge St. and the mountains were very nice; fair variety of dining options, disappointing downtown area; seemingly takes no time at all to drive all the way across town (which is good and bad). Not a fan of frontage streets - and Huntsville is full of em!

[flstatenolefan]

1) Current City and State?
Recently moved from VA to Harvest

2) Why do you want to leave?
DH retired from the military and accepted position in Huntsville.

3) 2nd and 3rd choice cities?
none, really

4) What’s currently holding you back from moving?
We are renting for a year to get a feel for the area before we buy.

5) Anything else you want to tell us that we don't know?
I will grit my teeth and be nice to locals during college ball season

6) If already in Huntsville, what do you like, dislike, pleasant surprises, regrets?
We love the easy access to other parts of the South...the beach, Atlanta, Nashville, etc. We also have enjoyed the local hospitality and safety of the area. I did not feel as safe in VA when out and about. I am surprised at the split personality that Huntsville has East and West of 231. We live in Harvest, and it's a real effort to make it to 231, but I find most of what I need in the Madison area, though.

Have not discovered any real dislikes, but being from the South originally, I pretty much knew what to expect here.