Moving to New Orleans? (Baton Rouge, Metairie: spring break, insurance, private schools)

[Uc2it]

If you stick to the North Shore the education system, is as good as just about anywhere else. My wife and I live on 40 acres just outside of Slidell. We're 2 minutes from the Interstate, and another 2 minutes to the mall and the big box stores. We moved here 20 years ago from Houston, and I'm originally from Chappaqua, NY. You know, where the Clinton's now live. The nice thing is, there's a Heart Hospital almost at the end of our driveway now. I'm a recently retired GS-15 gov't employee, and I've seen and spent time in just about every city in America. The only thing I hate is the summers. About New Orleans. I've always loved New Orleans, and if you go to the wrong area's you can get hurt. At least, more so pre-Katrina. We don't have any real close neighbors, and that's how I like it. I don't want to live in any subdivisions anymore. There's great places to live like Abita Spring's, that's only about 45 minutes from the city. It's also the only place in the South where you don't have to have a drawl. Most people from the 9th Ward sound like they're from Brooklyn. I always loved Colorado, but I've lived all my 60 or so years within 30 miles of the coast of the US. I think when I go inland for too long, I get agoraphobia. I think you'll do fine here, and there's a million things to do. I'm just a homebody and have been there and done that. But, don't forget it's a red state and people have very conservative values here. Being a liberal is like being an atheist. If you're progressive, just don't share you're thought's. David Duke almost became the Governor after we moved here, and that was a culture shock for us. Good luck!

[Uc2it]

Oh yeah, the previous guy posted a message about the school system. I noticed he's from Houston and we lived in Clearlake for 20 years. Where my wife was born and raised. He's right in general, about the schools. But, here on the North Shore we have just as many kids going to MIT and Harvard as Clear Lake, TX. I went back to Tulane graduate school after graduating from UT in Austin, TX. almost 40 years ago. Actually, after I returned from Vietnam. If I had kids again, I would trust sending them to school in Mandeville or Covington. There's also very little crime where we live. We never lock the doors, and leave our keys in the car and truck. I realize you can't do that in the city or a subdivision. Who knows, you may want to live on 5 acres or so. We don't have any services but phone and electricity. We have a free flowing deep well, and a septic system. Our DSL is with BellSouth (AT+T) and it's T-1 or 3Mbps and Satellite TV. Home prices are very good, compared to most places. Property taxes is almost non existant. We actually paid under $1,000 last year taxes, and that was with 40 acres. We paid about $6,000 in Clearlake, TX. A few years ago they were only charging us a few hundred, because you're first $75,000 of improved property is tax free. If you file Homestead Exemption. My family up in Westchester, NY pay over $10,000 a year. Which is ludicrous. I left there in '65, so I'm really more from down here then there. Trust me, it's really not so bad. You make some friends, and just lay low. They don't call this place the "Big Easy" for nothing. Again, Good luck...

[jjsnyder]

don't leave Colorado. Colorado is 20 years ahead of New Orleans. You will be giving up a lot if you move. Everything you have worked for. I left New Orleans after the storm every time I visited I see how much better home is.

[Uc2it]

Hi, again: Well, I just got back from Boston and saw some recent posts and thought about what I wrote. I think someone saying that we're 20 years behind Colorado, is a bad rap and ludicrous. I'm no fool, and was an Intel Analyst for almost 30 years. I also recently went back to graduate school and got my Ph.D. and not online, at a top notch university in New Orleans. Yes, New Orleans is very decadent and was so long before Katrina. That is what the city is. I would not compare Geneva and Naples, nor would I compare San Francisco and Wilmington. We also own property in Prescott, AZ. and Asheville, NC. We thought we'd move West, but you know nothing in life goes how you plan. Yes, I would agree Colorado is a wonderful place. But, you're considering a move because of financial rewards and not to retire. The education system in the New Orleans area is abysmal at best. It was always terrible! But, many really smart people have been hatched out of this area. I'm not going to list them, you can google that. How can you compare the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf Coast. When I was in Army intelligence I was sent to language school (DLI) at the Presidio of Monterey, CA. Which blows away both places. It's just comparing apples and oranges again. I think where we lived in Clear Lake, TX., where JSC Space Center is can be considered fairly up to date and in line with 2007. Well, the North Shore where we live on 40 acres is fairly comparable to that and not 20 years behind it. It's true, we don't have the medical center of Houston but no place in Colorado does either. I personally wouldn't live in Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harahan and or Luling either. It all looks basically like overgrown cities from the 60's. Most people on that side of Lake Pontchartrain send their kids to private schools. To be honest with you, I wouldn't send my kid to a Catholic private school on a bet. I went to one as a kid in the North East, and I prefer my kid to have diversity. I loath religion in school. To each his own. Some also
separate the boys and girls, and the girls have them wear uniforms. That's 50 years behind the times, in my opinion. The best part of High School was thinking about the opposite sex, then again, that was the 60's. But, I don't think that much has changed in the evolution of humans. There are many great places to live in America, but when you're younger and it's over a job, it's about your future. I commuted to DC from Houston, for over 20 years. We didn't want to live there, and my wife didn't want to move. We have 2 daughters that live in that area, as fate would have it. The only really bad downside to where we are is, the population has exploded since Katrina. Everyone wants the North Shore. Only 10 years ago, there was still land for a $1,000 an acre. I personally just hate the summers. The locals hate the winters. I haven't put on the heat in over 30 years. During the winter my electric bills are $100, and during the summer are $400. I guess that tells the story. If you love the mountains and just don't want to leave, then stay and make the best of it. As I said, it's comparing apples and oranges! Good luck, again!

[sumwunzma]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

The closest towns to New Orleans on the east bank are Metairie and Kenner. On the west bank right across the bridge are places like Gretna and Harrahan -BUT, as stated before by someone else do not even go there, avoid the west bank of NO all together. If you choose Metairie or Kenner, just keep in mind what I said about a doctor shortage and the schools.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM???? First, Harahan is on the EAST BANK - not the west bank. Second, THERE'S NO DOCTOR SHORTAGE IN METAIRIE AND KENNER! They were hardly affected by the storm.

If you're going to pass on information, please make sure it's accurate!

[electric_lady]

on this board....
new orleans has it's problems just like any other place. i think you should go visit and see for yourself. lots of people love living there.

[Micktooth]

Sumwunzma, I think I might have to disagree with you regarding the shortage of doctors. Since Katrina and the closing of several hospitals in NOLA, JP has had to pick up most of the burden. A lot of healthcare professionals have left the area. There is a shortage of hospital beds (patients are waiting in recovery often times for over 6 hours to get into a room), a shortage of ER staff (patients waiting at times up to 8-10 hours for treatment or even driving to Houston for care), A shortage of nurses(ads throughout the country trying to entice healthcare workers to come to NOLA), in some instances, doctors' pay has dramatically decreased due to the fact of the increased number of indigent patients being treated outside of the Charity system. Some doctors have not been paid for months! I can go on and on, but I think you get the point. Just one more quick example, my father in law had surgery last week at East Jeff and there is such a shortage of doctors, that the anesthesiologists were "on loan" from Kiessler Air Force Base in Biloxi.

[Drouzin]

Mamma, St. Tammany Parish is on the North Shore of Lake Pontchatrain; that is roughly a 40 min. commute depending on traffic and where in the parish you would choose to live. This area is growing rapidly due to Katrina and shopping is good and getting better. The North Shore is a conservative area with good schools (using LA standards) and relatively crime free. It's very suburban and family oriented, so if this describes you than this would be your place.

Jefferson Parish would give you roughly a 30 min commute into the city mostly because of the traffic. It is a pretty conservative area, but has a bit more of an urban feel than the North Shore. The school system is not as good as on the North Shore, and many people put their kids in private school here. There are tons of shopping, lots of restaurants, and at least three malls in the Metairie/Kenner areas. If you are suburban/urban and want a relatively safe place to live this is it.

No one has mentioned Uptown NOLA, which can be a nice family oriented neighborhood. There are lots of quaint small businesses with lots of character. However, it is an expensive area as far as housing, and you have to be careful of what area you live in. One street will be nice and the next two blocks over can be a slum area. Crime can be a problem, but it's usually robbery kind of stuff in this neighborhood. If you like quirky and urban this might be the area for you.

Like other posters on here have said, the culture here takes some getting used to. We tend to find it weird when we travel; things are done so differently in other places. Crime in the city is bad in certain areas, but in the suburbs there really isn't much of a crime problem at all. If you do decide to move, find a real estate agent who can help you pick a safe neighborhood with decent schools and ask lots of questions.

[holloway1010]

Do you know where exactly your husband will be doing this? New Orleans Proper, The West Bank, St. Bernard, etc. I will be able to give you lots more information then. What I can say is that if you mind the rules and stay far away from drugs, your life here in the Big Easy can be very nice and easy. If you are Black, you might want to avoid New Orleans, dont worry I'm not rascist or anything. I only say this because I read in the paper where about 90% of crime victims are Black which I cannot figure out because it seems like there are the same amount of Whites and Vietnamese(another good sized ethnic group in New Orleans) who mess with the drug industry.

[holloway1010]

You can find alot more important information about New Orleans neighborhoods and stuff like that at: New Orleans neighborhoods - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia