There is no promised land. (Charlotte, Raleigh: new construction, schools, gated)

[Teressah]

Originally Posted by Skipstone

One more thing: We do sometimes get bad ice storms and yes, we're affected by hurricanes.

Please don't come!

I think the simple life here right now is going to disappear as more people move in. That's a fact.

Not meaning to offend, but Florida was once nice and no longer is because of that very reason.

And our government is really backwards so don't expect much in the way of infrastructure development.

South Florida IS crazy!! In 5 little years the west coast has gone from nice to very busy indeed, conserved everglade areas with a couple bears and such are being demolished for more condos in Naples area. Fort Myers used to be considered nice, now I wouldn't have my son go there. And don't get me started with the east coast, 95 is a death-trap and I think the number one job in West Palm beach is being a hooker.

I am moving to NC to be near my family and so I can afford a home, I am not used to hot days every day and that is another personal reason I have. I love the mountains also more than anything.
Maybe yes, NC will become more and more like the north, I can't say anything positive or negative about that, I have no right too really, I am not a native so I do not know all the changes you see that I have not yet.
From my childhood I am used to a nice, friendly, suburban lifestyle, that is what I personally saw in NC.

[Markh]

I guess it's all in where you are coming from. If your a native then things probably look bleak with growth and perceived lack of action from the government.

If you're coming from out of state then compared to where I moved from, the government seems progressive. Mecklenburg county has more online information than I could ever dream of. The info you can find online and the amount invested in technology is amazing compared to MA. I can find everything that I need to know about my house, taxes and permits online than I could ever find in the paperwork mess that MA had.

As much as everyone dislikes meck county schools, the flow of information and the sytems they have in place make most of the MA school systems seem like little wooden buildings in the middle of the woods. Communication in the form of emails, voicemails and take home notes may seem trivial if you've had them before but we never have so it's a huge plus. Even the school lunch online auto pay program is terrific and ended our search for lunch money every morning.

There are probably other local governments that are more advance than those in NC but for some of us it's a huge improvement.

It's not always the simple life people are after either. We weren't. We were interested in a newly developed well organized high growth area with a lower cost of living. Did we find it, YES! The area has got its own growing pains as expected but none are unmanagable.

Taxes are high, food is expensive, gasoline is expensive -- compared to where? Compared to MA they are either cheaper or equal.

Traffic is a mess but try sitting on the Mass pike and trying to get into Boston, same thing as 77. Any busy town you can expect to sit in a line of cars and you can pretty much judge how many lights you'll have to sit through before you get to the intersection.

Corrupt government, hah, who doesn't think that? There's so much bloat that there's always room for corruption but that applies to EVERYWHERE.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Markh

I guess it's all in where you are coming from. If your a native then things probably look bleak with growth and perceived lack of action from the government.

If you're coming from out of state then compared to where I moved from, the government seems progressive. Mecklenburg county has more online information than I could ever dream of. The info you can find online and the amount invested in technology is amazing compared to MA. I can find everything that I need to know about my house, taxes and permits online than I could ever find in the paperwork mess that MA had.

As much as everyone dislikes meck county schools, the flow of information and the sytems they have in place make most of the MA school systems seem like little wooden buildings in the middle of the woods. Communication in the form of emails, voicemails and take home notes may seem trivial if you've had them before but we never have so it's a huge plus. Even the school lunch online auto pay program is terrific and ended our search for lunch money every morning.

There are probably other local governments that are more advance than those in NC but for some of us it's a huge improvement.

It's not always the simple life people are after either. We weren't. We were interested in a newly developed well organized high growth area with a lower cost of living. Did we find it, YES! The area has got its own growing pains as expected but none are unmanagable.

Taxes are high, food is expensive, gasoline is expensive -- compared to where? Compared to MA they are either cheaper or equal.

Traffic is a mess but try sitting on the Mass pike and trying to get into Boston, same thing as 77. Any busy town you can expect to sit in a line of cars and you can pretty much judge how many lights you'll have to sit through before you get to the intersection.

Corrupt government, hah, who doesn't think that? There's so much bloat that there's always room for corruption but that applies to EVERYWHERE.

Mark, THANK YOU so much for saying all this!! I wholeheartedly agree. The only thing I want to add is this, we have basically VERY clean politics in NC and Mecklenburg county. I think the other poster called our government "backward" - also not true. We are all just struggling to keep up with all the changes percipitated by the explosive growth we have experienced. That doesn't make us "backward" that makes us a city of people playing catch up, that's all.

[Carolina_native]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Mark, THANK YOU so much for saying all this!! I wholeheartedly agree. The only thing I want to add is this, we have basically VERY clean politics in NC and Mecklenburg county. I think the other poster called our government "backward" - also not true. We are all just struggling to keep up with all the changes percipitated by the explosive growth we have experienced. That doesn't make us "backward" that makes us a city of people playing catch up, that's all.

What?? Clean Government?

Ever hear of Jim Black?

Know how the NC Lottery got started?

Charlotte Speed Cameras?

[Carolina_native]

Anyone who tells you NC has no negatives or that its all just 'growing pains' sounds like a salesman to me.

I wont go over all the points other posters have made, but as a life long NC resident in the lake Norman area I can tell that this area is changing week to week. New shopping areas and homes sprouting up everywhere. Dont look for a slower paced life here anymore, maybe in the rural areas of NC but no one wants to live there. Drive over the state line from NC to SC and gas prices drop from about 25 cents a gallon.

I really dont understand the 'magic' of NC that other states dont have. If you want slow paced life, lower cost of living, move to Mississippi.

If you want a mix of Florida type growth and New York politics, come to North Carolina.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Carolina_native

What?? Clean Government?

Ever hear of Jim Black?

Know how the NC Lottery got started?

Charlotte Speed Cameras?

Jim Black has not been convicted of a single thing - yet. And even if he is, it is not fair to judge an entire state or city based on the actions of ONE politician. Charlotte's speed cameras were a very short lived thing that the judical system axed pretty quickly. I will repeat, for the most part we have very clean government in this state and city. Is it perfect, no. But we are a far cry from the kind of corruption seen for decades in many large cities across this country. For most of us coming from other states the elected officials here are a breathe of fresh air.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Carolina_native

Anyone who tells you NC has no negatives or that its all just 'growing pains' sounds like a salesman to me.

I wont go over all the points other posters have made, but as a life long NC resident in the lake Norman area I can tell that this area is changing week to week. New shopping areas and homes sprouting up everywhere. Dont look for a slower paced life here anymore, maybe in the rural areas of NC but no one wants to live there. Drive over the state line from NC to SC and gas prices drop from about 25 cents a gallon.

I really dont understand the 'magic' of NC that other states dont have. If you want slow paced life, lower cost of living, move to Mississippi.

If you want a mix of Florida type growth and New York politics, come to North Carolina.

Has anyone here specifically said there are no negatives?? Personally, I am not trying to sell anything. I am trying to give people with questions real answers to those questions, not my disgruntled opinions as to whether or not they have the right to come here.

[CJ-FROM-NJ]

Anything is better than Jersey at this point. The whole state is rotting from corruption.

[Teressah]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Has anyone here specifically said there are no negatives?? Personally, I am not trying to sell anything. I am trying to give people with questions real answers to those questions, not my disgruntled opinions as to whether or not they have the right to come here.

lovesmountains, I always like your posts they are so helpful. And I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't see and feel the magic of NC...move to Mississippi?? As if!

[Skipstone]

I really dont understand the 'magic' of NC that other states dont have. If you want slow paced life, lower cost of living, move to Mississippi.

If you want a mix of Florida type growth and New York politics, come to North Carolina.

Huzzah Carolina Native!

I stand by my statement that NC government is backward as far as infrastructure goes.

You've got to live in Raleigh to understand that. Population growth is far outpacing highway development and traffic snarls and congestion are increasing dramatically. High taxes with little to show for it. Sound familiar to anyone from out-of-state?

7,000 new students in the public schools every single year and first the governor wants a big fat "education" lottery and then that's not enough so they want a school bond. What next?

Yep, Carolina Native, I've heard of Jim Black. You're right on. He's part of a big bunch. There is more government corruption here than in any other southern state and it's causing the people here higher taxes.

I wish I did live near the state line so I could buy cheaper gas.

I doubt many here would prefer MS to NC, but Carolina Native was just using it as an analogy because that state has a reputation for being slower placed.

This isn't an attack on NC. It's being honest about what's going on and it's what was asked for.