Sorry, found Ohio not so appealing... (Toledo, Baltimore: foreclosures, jobs, health)

[NewToCA]

We did the Columbus to San Francisco drive last August, and you're right, Ohio has great rest stops. You really appreciate it when you drive through western Nebraska, northern Nevada and Wyoming.

[JefferyT]

Nevada rest stops are atrocious

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by ohio_5

OHIO also has the best rest stops!

LOL, they've come a long way in the past 30 years. When I first began traveling Ohio's highways regularly on the way to college and back, the rest stops all had pit toilets and there wasn't the proliferation of fast food joints at the exits back then, either!

[Synopsis]

I've been to Ohio on several occasions (Columbus) and absolutely loved it. Nice state, nice city, and nice people. I especially loved Columbus' German town, VERY authentic. Stay cool Ohio.

[Mrs. P]

Originally Posted by slj52850

I have recently moved to Fort Mill, SC and am very happy to be here. I find the natives to be very friendly. But then again its SC not NC. Most retirees are now relocating to the Greater Charlotte area because of the high cost to stay in FL. I was born in Ohio and my heart will always be there but love the climate here. Having lived in Sarasota Fl for 6 yrs, I find this area to be awesome. Only good thing about FL was the appreciation of housing in those six yrs. We walked away with abundle and foresee that happening here too.

I am leaving NC (charlotte metro area) in about 4 weeks for Ft Mill, bought a condo there. I can not WAIT to leave NC, and move to SC.
I tell you what, Ft Mill, is going to boom. Not like Charlotte, but still the real estate will continue to rise. The condo I bought had 4 of them for sale, all 4 of them sold within 2 weeks of being listed. The one I bought was up 4 days and had 2 offers. This was an established community (5 years old). The entire community was beautiful, everyone took care of their property did much of their own landscaping as well over and above what the HOA does.
It was just beautiful and right for me...and the pool was terrific.

Since my employer (located in the Park Rd area of Charlotte) is moving to the Arrowood area, my drive from Ft Mill to work will be about 7 to 8 miles and take at the most 1/2 hour pretty much....better than the drive I have now, 26 miles and over an hour.

WOO HOO, I can't wait to get to SC ! I also grew up in NE Ohio, miss it with all my heart, but agree with you, WEATHER ! But I miss the food in Ohio really bad, and being able to take I-77 without taking your life in your hands (Charlotte's part of I-77).

I was home 2 weeks ago, and the first thing I did was hit my favorite restaurants and got a Swensons cheeseburger. Even the people who were with us from NC, said best cheeseburger they ever had. Dang straight !!

[higas]

Originally Posted by aqz

OMG I am sooooo surprised.. I swear I read this and I thought I had written it! This is soo crazy I feel exact same way! I moved out here from California and wow finally someone who understands! Oh and the "sweeper" thing drives me nuts as well.

I really enjoyed reading your summation. I have been an active part of my "community" for 3 years. We're not into meth, marijuana, boozing it up or sittin down to a big plate of cow and potatoes. We moved here from Oregon. Oregon is a BEAUTIFUL state. Well-planned communities with sidewalks and genuine people with morals.

Here's another thing...laws are actually enforced there. I can't speak for the rest of Ohio, but my son lives an a small village around Cleveland area and he describes it as Hicksville, and we mistakenly moved to a village of about 1500 in Southeast Ohio--definately that.

When we stop in small towns to use the restroom when traveling, everyone stares--my husband is asian, I'm white, though my husband was born in Hawaii and speaks perfect English and is an educated man.

Now that our 3 kids are here and my daughter has a baby we don't want to go back to Pacific Northwest and be away from her, so we are considering what to do once our youngest graduates. I think the type of area we like are smaller cities of 15,000-30,000 people. I am hopeful we can find something that would at least be an improvement to this area. True, there ARE nice people here, I've met plenty of them...just not people who want to connect with you such as going out to a concert, dinner, over for a BBQ, etc. Also, I've met a disproportionate amount of people who have no problem with demonstrating no sense of values, morals or ethics, not that no one has them, it's just that I think there is an environment of tolerance for say drunk driving/partying for example. One thing when your in your early 20's...another thing altogether when your in your 40's and 50's and still using it as your recreation.

I hope you find a place that is right for you. I don't know much about Maryland, except the western part is absolutely beautiful, or so it was about 7 years ago when I drove through there.

I'm considering Northern or Eastern Ohio--either by Lake Erie or Ashabula possibly.

Take care!

[Powro3]

If you don't like where you live MOVE!!! Simple as that...not all Ohioans are rude and crude....I just have to give my opinion...but it is your choice on where you live....I love Ohio, but there are parts of Ohio I don't like and don't want to live in....so I don't live there. Good luck in your quest for happiness....Go Bucks!!!!

[OneWayOut]

Originally Posted by Powro3

If you don't like where you live MOVE!!! Simple as that...not all Ohioans are rude and crude....I just have to give my opinion...but it is your choice on where you live....I love Ohio, but there are parts of Ohio I don't like and don't want to live in....so I don't live there. Good luck in your quest for happiness....Go Bucks!!!!

I didn't like where I lived.. so I moved == and now I love where I live, I am so glad I made the move! I love the heat, the mountains, the sun, the friendly people-- and the trip to the north rim of the Grand Canyon a few weeks ago, just a short drive away... I already have met more friends in 6 months here than during my entire stay in Ohio-- and a ladyfriend to boot! I will never move back to Ohio... ever... If I ever had to leave AZ, it would be either back to Maryland or further west.

Just so I dont forget the good Ohioans I met, I am flying back to Ohio in August, then to MD for a couple weeks, just to visit.

The Bucks? Long forgotten. Its nice to go more than a few hours without hearing about them. I am glad I wasnt here last year when all of the "Buckeyes" came to AZ for the Rosebowl. Hopefully it doesnt happen this year. I am also glad that hardly anyone talks about their last drinking experience, or which restaurant just opened and has a new "heart attack" on their menu.

Monotonous life in Toledo is now a distant memory. I only think about it when visiting this site.

I am somewhat disappointed that my experience in Toledo has turned any chance of me experiencing the rest of the state sour. There are a few areas of Ohio that I would like to visit again in the summer and go hiking, etc.

AZ has got more than I wanted in a place to live. There are several negative things here, but the positives far outweigh them.

[Clarkx3]

and yet you stated....."coming back for a visit this summer" make up your mind... Ohio the terrible cesspool of ignorance, meanness, etc. or the heart of it all. I"m so happy for you that you moved to AZ where everyone and everything in the entire state is well....perfect! Good for you! Ohio is better off not having you there telling anyone who'll listen how miserable it is...you know there are more towns than just toledo. Oh well...living in Bama now for job and miss home everyday but ALL places have good and bad...the plus here the weather...downside...no LakeErie!

[Powro3]

Originally Posted by Clarkx3

and yet you stated....."coming back for a visit this summer" make up your mind... Ohio the terrible cesspool of ignorance, meanness, etc. or the heart of it all. I"m so happy for you that you moved to AZ where everyone and everything in the entire state is well....perfect! Good for you! Ohio is better off not having you there telling anyone who'll listen how miserable it is...you know there are more towns than just toledo. Oh well...living in Bama now for job and miss home everyday but ALL places have good and bad...the plus here the weather...downside...no LakeErie!

I am confused as well, if you hate it so much...why are you coming back??? Ohio is a wonderful place..by no means is it "miserable"....Every state has its good and bad...I am moving in a couple of months...and I will truly miss Ohio and my "Buckeyes"....I am only moving because my husband got a new job in NC...NC has its good and bad as well. I look at it this way....you can only find happiness if you look for it. Ohio #1...GO BUCKS!!!!!! I will always be a Ohio girl no matter where I live...Ohio girl for life.....can't say it enough..GO BUCKS!!!