NOLA Transplants: How hard was the move and would you do it again? (New Orleans: 2014)

[apollonia1972]

This is my first post but I haven't found any other related threads, so whatever feedback you're willing to offer is appreciated--

I'm a 28-year-old woman with a long-term boyfriend. We've lived together in Las Vegas since 2013 (and before this in San Diego, where we were both raised), but for the past year or so we've been considering a move to New Orleans (I've wanted to move there since I first visited more than 15 years ago, and he was finally able to visit the city in 2014 and absolutely loved it).

We've mastered the interstate move but aren't completely sure if we're ready to handle cross-country relocation, especially because I work in publishing, which isn't always the easiest industry to find jobs in (it does help that he works in hospitality, though, and would pretty much be able to find a job anywhere in the U.S.).

Being from Vegas, we're also used to things like living in a high-tourism city with a hospitality-based economy and dealing with intimidating crime rates and safety concerns. But I'd love to hear from people who moved to New Orleans from other major U.S. cities--was the transition difficult?

Did you decide to move before you found a job or after? If before, how long did it take you to find a job once you arrived?

Were there any major surprises about living in New Orleans that you didn't anticipate?

Most importantly, if you had the choice to make again, would you still move to New Orleans?

Thank you!

[adventuregurl]

I can't help with your questions as I don't live in Nola but after reading your post I compared crime rates in Las Vegas to Nola and there is more violent crime in Las Vegas, I didn't know that! Property crime was a little higher in Nola.

[mkat321]

subscribing to this thread because we may be relocating to NOLA for work in the fall

[norb123]

Originally Posted by mkat321

subscribing to this thread because we may be relocating to NOLA for work in the fall

I have moved here twice. The first time I took a huge pay cut and kind of held that against the city, even though I loved living here. I was here for three years and then I moved somewhere else to start my own business and missed New Orleans for the whole seven years I was gone. Something about this city just gets in your blood, and it's hard to live in another city after spending time here. I had a chance to move back in '09 and came back against advice from many people, and I can't imagine living somewhere else now. "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans" takes on a Whole new meaning if this city fits you. I'm sure it's not the same for everyone, but it's the best move I've ever made. Crime is ridiculous, some of the city services are a joke, but the way this city makes me feel makes up for all of that. I moved around a lot when I was younger, and this city is the first that feels like it's mine.