Should I come back? (New Orleans, Metairie: rent, loans, new house)

[ferocious]

If you don't have to move back, don't. It is not the same here at all. I reluctantly moved back from Tennessee and really regret it. And when I first got there, I missed New Orleans terribly. But I grew to love Tennessee. It is so much cleaner there, and as far as that goes, there are places here the hurricane hit that are back to normal but there's still the same old litter everywhere problem. Still are able to buy ANY kind of alchohol ANYWHERE. Plus, there has been NO care taken to make things look nice. There's no landscaping, and business signs all look the same and are just plastered on the front of box shaped businesses. Tennessee was so much more pleasant just to drive to the grocery store, even. Not here. Truth is, it's always been this way, it took a hurricane to really make me and others notice. Employment is real bad here, and people are leaving to move out of state. If you don't have to come back, don't. You might regret it and get stuck here. I'm sorry, but there's no excuse for a suburban and urban city to be this ugly and dirty all the time.

[Kurt1962]

Shaley,

Actually there IS a small touch of ''Nawlin's" up there in WA. State, it's a cajun resteraunt in Everett,WA. called "Alligator Soul" ,it's owner/manager is a New Orleans translpant, so the food is pretty much genuine. I was stationed at the Everett Naval Base about 6 years ago while on active duty. I really DID like the Seattle area!! I would have to say that the overcast winter/fall weather was the only thing I DIDN'T like about it. I had no problem making friends. I'm back here in Covington,LA for the moment staying with relatives but I am seriously considering moving back up there,(to Washingon St) or possibly Nevada,(Reno-Carson-Tahoe area). Just reading the Times-Picayune every day is depressing enough for me, this place is just laughable. I understand missing family and friends and maybe being a little homesick, but seriuosly though, "culture" and "good times" can be had almost anywhere.

[Kurt1962]

People here can't even speak proper english, let alone learn how to use a damn turn signal,(driving habits in the NO area are by far the worst I've seen ANYWHERE!!) and in LA. in general. I convinced alot of people here are either really naive, stupid or drinking all the time, or maybe its ALL of the above, who knows. Politics in LA. is a spectator sport to behold, if you want a good laugh,(they re-elected Jefferson,Nagin,and jailbird Edwin Edwards has been governer of this state not once, twice, but THREE times-if that tells you anything!!) Anyone who believes that that decedant,miserable,hot humid,swampy,politically corrupt, crime ridden, trash littered,(thay actually PRIDE themselves on that in LA.!)is actually a "great" place to live needs to seriously have they're head examined. I've never seen a place where people settle constantly for mediocracy and second best,(Saints season ticket holders come to mind here-40 years of mostly misery!) For those singing the "praises" of this place, see a psycharitrist, or other mental health professional-you need it! For those contemplating returning-WHY? If you're thinking of leaving, wise choice. Have a nice day!

[geno722]

Looks like there hasn't been a post on this in a while, so here's one: New Orleanians are New Orleanians, and both sides of the coin are true: if you make a friend there, they'd likely die for you, but if you get on somebody's wrong side, they'll more likely be directly in your face than behind your back. Which I much prefer to where I now live, the Memphis area, for the last 31 years, where "Southern gentillity" means people will say plenty behind your back that they won't say to your face. I probably wouldn't move inside the N. O. city limits at this point for several reasons (crime, uncertainty of receovery, lack of coherent leadership) but - more so since Katrina - I appreciate my hometown more than I ever have as an adult. Unlike more sprawling communities, the heart of Metairie is only 8 miles from downtown N. O. Ray Nagin isn't the mayor in Jefferson Parish. All signs I see every few weeks as I work on renovations of my elderly mom's house near Severn and W. Esplanade are positive, including a very noticeble police patrol presence.
I literally almost moved from Memphis back into Lakeview a few months before Katrina, and while I'm obviously glad that didn't happen, N. O. is still a unique treasure in the United States, and I still think of going back. BTW, if you're one of the posters here who's just disgusted with the politics etc. and am ready to leave N. O., I understand that, but go ahead and go ... leave room for me so I can be one of the agents for change rather than just giving up!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by geno722

Looks like there hasn't been a post on this in a while, so here's one: New Orleanians are New Orleanians, and both sides of the coin are true: if you make a friend there, they'd likely die for you, but if you get on somebody's wrong side, they'll more likely be directly in your face than behind your back. Which I much prefer to where I now live, the Memphis area, for the last 31 years, where "Southern gentillity" means people will say plenty behind your back that they won't say to your face. I probably wouldn't move inside the N. O. city limits at this point for several reasons (crime, uncertainty of receovery, lack of coherent leadership) but - more so since Katrina - I appreciate my hometown more than I ever have as an adult. Unlike more sprawling communities, the heart of Metairie is only 8 miles from downtown N. O. Ray Nagin isn't the mayor in Jefferson Parish. All signs I see every few weeks as I work on renovations of my elderly mom's house near Severn and W. Esplanade are positive, including a very noticeble police patrol presence.
I literally almost moved from Memphis back into Lakeview a few months before Katrina, and while I'm obviously glad that didn't happen, N. O. is still a unique treasure in the United States, and I still think of going back. BTW, if you're one of the posters here who's just disgusted with the politics etc. and am ready to leave N. O., I understand that, but go ahead and go ... leave room for me so I can be one of the agents for change rather than just giving up!

One thing that needs to be mentioned is that while New Orleans has numerious problems, voters are starting to replace the politicians that the FBI hasn't nailed. Because now political incompetence is having a direct pocketbook impact in terms of higher insurance rates, poor white-collar economy, lack of facilities, poor infrastructure, etc.

[Vampgrrl]

Half the state legislative delegation from Orleans Parish has now been replaced as of last month.
Change is slow here but it is changing.

[Timmo]

New Orleans: The city that care forgot. In All areas of life.

[ILUVMAINE]

To Shaley's comments on living in Seattle and missing home- I say-> I'm wit ya gurl! My family and I moved to Chattanooga, TN in December 2005 b/c of Katrina. And let me just tell you when I read what you said about the food sucking, the people having "don't get too close" signs stuck to their forheads is words right out of my mouth every other frickin' day!!!! It is the EXACT same way here. My neighbors are not nice. They have cook-outs and don't invite us. Whenever we offer anything- they say "no, thank you, we're fine". I'm like I didn't ask you how you were!!! Dammit! Why are people so closed off? WTF is wrong with all these morons across this country??? I miss my home, too!!! I lived in Metairie. I miss the food, the stores, the people.....the ability to have a new neighbor and become like family members within only a handful of months of meeting. Why are people so afraid of opening up and loving one another.... LAME ASS town I live in now. My husband and I just started to look into moving back home but the problem now is not only the inflated cost of buying a house but the insane cost of home owners insurance!!! The insurance is surely going to block us from coming back. I am so sad....I will know in a couple of days what the insurance will prolly be for a house that is around 150,000 bucks. I've been warned by my friend and agent that we should expect 4 to 5 thousand dollars a year for insurance!!!! That is an extra 4 to 5 hundred dollars per month on top of the house principal and interest payment!! *sigh* We will move back one day....just not anytime soon, I don't think....the cost of living is unreasonable for an economy that is still wounded and healing....[/quote]

Unfortunately, moving back to New Orleans may be more depressing than being away. I know that sounds weird, but things just aren't the same down there. As for people being so stand offish - I think some many of us have become fearful of what others intentions are! I know that is so sad, but we have lived in our house almost 14 years and I can only tell you a handful of names in the neighborhood. Other than our direct next door neighbors, I would recongize most of the people if I ran in to them at the store. I guess people have their own lives - working - raising a family and by the time they get home to rest, they don't feel like socializing! Of course, I'm not a very good example - all I want to do is move to Maine and live out in the woods! LOL AND get away from the rat race!

[sparklesprinkler]

Yeah, I know, it can be depressing in N.O. and surrounding areas, still. If you focus on the lack of progress in some areas. I visited this past October for two and a half weeks. I went to get some luvin's from all my friends and give out plenty! Lawd how I miss being able to be the sweet social butterfly fluttering around and having get togethers and gettin' a 'lil wild and crazy from time to time....Holidays are very sad for me living here. It's a time where I realize that all my heart and soul is in N.O. Love it or hate it. The good things that are there are not to be replicated anywhere else in the world. The progress being made is enough to give me a happy heart. Just the people living there and watching them go hither and dither with their daily lives makes me smile. They are the ones that are bringing N.O. back. They may not know it but they are. I'm staying positive (it's in my nature, anyway) that N.O. will eventually squeeze out the evil bastards of N.O. I hope everyone had an awesomely sweet Christmas. Happy New Year to all of you!!!

[titus]

first of all, i have never lived anywhere but LA and I NEVER have and NEVER will go to NO... That said, i will also NEVER go to WA... the crime rates there are just as horrible as anywhere else in the country! Oh, and the politicians up there think they should outlaw guns so criminals will stop shooting people... yeah, gun crime is worse in those places than almost anywhere in the country...

oh, yeah, price of living... it cost less than $600 a month to live where i live... it may not be the nicest place, but we are all family... and my daddy is from NY and he was accepted in so easy... i wouldn't live in NO, but don't judge the rest of us because of that feces pond.