Where in Triangle area, or can you point me somewhere else, please! (Raleigh: homes, high school)

[ddeel]

I was just thinking San Antonio! Of course it may be because I am still homesick only being here 6 weeks. However, I must say SA isn't much for walking. In TX you pretty much drive everywhere unless you are in a few areas. Alamo Heights comes to mind but it's expensive. Being a military city there are lots of retired people there and thus many retirement communities. The one near my last house was great and provided transportation to places you could walk. Not sure on pricing though the area, in general, was fairly expensive but I know there were plenty of other places in the city. Also, there are quite a few smaller communities in the Hill Country part of Texas (rolling hills and live oaks rather than the flatter dry areas people ALWAYS associate with Texas) I'm sure they are populated by many older, friendly, active people and would provide places to walk and talk.

That said, if you think NC is hot (and why people are you having such a hot summer right when I get here ) you will be very unhappy in TX. Last summer SA had 58 days at 100 or higher. It was hotter than normal but it does seem it's getting hotter and hotter there each year. Don't expect ANY snow although higher into the hill country they do see ice many years but it never hits SA. It will mostly be hot or warm except for January so you may be wearing shorts for Christmas.

[graygardener]

I plan to relocate to the RTP area in Oct. and have been reading these posts for several months. I have Goggled a long list of topics of interest to me re Raleigh area--what to do, the volunteer master gardener program, botanical gardens, cycling routes, diverse neighborhoods—you name it. I ask “what do you think about Raleigh or RTP” to neighbors, former neighbors, friends, volunteer master gardening buddies, and anyone else—even a clerk while I was paying my auto license reg fee! (She had actually been to and loved the RTP area). Most reports (about 85%) are very good. I know there is no utopia. In the end, the one adage I must remember is that “Home is what you make it.”

Though originally from Wisconsin, I have been blessed with opportunities to live and work in West Africa, Costa Rica, DC and its surrounding states, and now Central Florida. I have traveled parts of the west coast, east coast, mid-west, southern states, England, France, and coastal West Africa. Perhaps, I am just a vagabond and don’t know it. I do know that I love the east coast. Yet, the worse decision I have ever made was MOVING to Florida. There are many wonderful things about it. The Wake Cty Volunteer Master Gardener Program is the very best in the state—perhaps the country! People in my community (55+) are wonderful, but such a community is containing. The small town I live in and the surrounding small towns offer something to do ALL the time. The downtown area is a tourist attraction. I know store owners by their first name, especially the pet stores where I can take my dog. So why am I leaving? I didn’t follow my instincts and common sense. I sold my lovely home in Northern Virginia thinking I could live cheaper here. In the end, I lost a lot of money to a builder and then lost more money to a lawyer. The hot humid summers start in May and (last year) went into the end of October. (I do love all 4 seasons.) I am not a daily, weekly or even monthly beach person; theme parks are not really my thing; and I don’t ride motorcycles. I am African American and I have heard the term “redneck” more times here than any place I have ever been. Even some of the old people, and I guess I am old, can be horribly MEAN! But I always say that even when I shoot myself in the foot, the Good Lord is forgiving and always has something better in store for me. So I will approach the Raleigh area with this in mind. I will be an explorer, renting of course. But I also plan to try to give something to the community, learn about the people and the culture and have fun doing it.

I have neighbors here who took out a 3-year lease; but travel to Boston for the summer. (They have children and grandchildren in both places.) Well, they decided not to buy here. They will just rent here for the winter months (at Residence Inn for monthly rates and discounts) but buy a condo in the Boston area. All this to say, be a vagabond for awhile. You are in a unique position to explore other places, people and culture. Living out a suitcase for awhile will certainly help you decide where you want to be!! Hobbies, reading and social clubs travel & day trip groups, wine tours are just some of the great ways to meet others, learn something about the culture, and the neighborhoods. Sorry to be long-winded. Good luck!

[michele1993]

I moved to North Carolina from Virginia, where I was raised, about a year ago. I have also lived in Tennessee and Pennsylvania. I will never move anywhere else, this is the best move that I ever made. I live in Greene County just outside of Kinston and Snow Hill. Snow Hill, NC was just nominated for Best Tennis Town. It's an hour and a half from the Triangle. It is lacking some culturally but the friendliness of the people makes up for that. Cost of living is decent you can rent a 3bed 2 bath home for $500 a month. Job market is awesome with Dopaco, DuPont and Spirit AeroSystems all hiring. Dopaco and Spirit are in Kinston along with a chicken processing plant that I can't remember the name of. DuPont is in Grifton about 7 miles outside of Kinston. Summers are warm but the winters are not cold. We had one snow last winter it lasted less than 24 hours and then it was gone. I've told my husband several times since we moved here the only way I'm leaving is in a box.

[WonderingWhere]

itsajourney, lovebrentwood, NCGator, SaucyAussie, raleighjayne, ddeel, graygardner, michele1993

I am a bit overwhelmed by your kind and thoughtful responses. I have learned so much from you already. A million thanks. I need to come on down there to find an area that seems a good fit.

In reply to raleighjayne...it's not that I need activity 'round the clock, but I am a night owl and would love somewhere I could get a cup of coffee or do a little grocery shopping at night without being too scared to go out by myself. It seems resort areas do have people around at all times. (Chicago is one of my favorite places, too, but the weather....)

I am looking for sidewalks, lots of sidewalks, with people on them at least until 10 p.m. If the summers are a little better than summer in Houston, that is fine. I imagine San Antonio is the same.

I don't know what else to say, except that I will probably head on down there in a few days, as soon as I determine some kind of road trip that would make sense. I would have 3 or 4 days...well, I could spend more time if necessary.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a drivable sightseeing tour for this purpose? Chamber of Commerce? (which one?) AAA? Thanks again, nice people.

[itsajourney]

I said I would get back to you with a few ideas--so before i go off to bed--I lived in Cary when I was there. I liked it at the time, not sure how it strikes me now. I previously liked the town of Wake Forest on the north side of Raleigh.

I would have to suggest Greenville, SC to you because they have done an outstanding job of reinventing their fabulous downtown.

Fredericksburg, VA--nice downtown with lots of cute shops. Very walkable with plenty of housing near downtown. It puts you really close to Washington, DC and you will deal with the DC sprawl.

I also really like the Williamsburg, VA area. I love all of the history there, but I just haven't found Richmond or the Hampton-Roads area to be a fit for my city life yet. I have more exploring to do there.

Right now, Raleigh, NC & Williamsburg, VA area would be my two top picks. Raleigh because it is way bigger than Williamsburg. Williamsburg because it puts me back into the heart of historical things that I left behind in PA. Both towns are highly educated. Because Williamsburg sits right near the water, it actually doesn't have too bad of winters at all. I've been up there the past 4 Dec/Jan, I have have been amazingly comfortable temperature-wise.

As someone above mentioned, in Raleigh you are not far from coast or mountains. In Williamsburg you aren't either. Williamsburg is not big itself, it just sits between several large cities. So nightlife in Williamsburg is probably slim pickins'

I am still trying to get acclimated to Winston-Salem--I love Old Salem historic district.

Greensboro is in the process of re-inventing itself and its downtown area. I did see this when I was there last year. It's also supposed to be big on the arts.

Summers in Raleigh are WAY better than Houston. Having lived in Orlando for 9 years now, I know that heat & humidity well. For me, Raleigh is a summer picnic compared to what I am used to. You are coming from PA tho--so summers will be hot for you--and winters will be pretty wonderful.

Personally, if I were you, I would take more than 3-4 days. I lived in Raleigh for 6 months-and was still getting adjusted to it. I could find my way around--mostly. I had a really hard time though with everything traffic-wise seeming to be in circles instead of grids.

When I come up again, I am going to concentrate more on the west & north sides of Raleigh. I will probably also explore more towards Chapel Hill & Carrboro. When I left in 2004, Apex was growing tremendously. Would have to update myself on that also. Cary was nice and fairly conveneint to lots of things, but as a city, it has grown to bursting at the seams.

I just got back from 9 days in San Antonio. I'm sure it is a great city. I saw a lot & did a lot, but Texas scenery just gets really boring to me. San Antonio is on the edge of Texas Hill Country, but it's not the same as the eastern mountains-in PA or NC. San Antonio is very hot, but the heat was much drier than I have in Florida, so to me it was more bearable than Orlando. I think Raleigh in the summertime might be fairly comparable to San Antonio heat--but summer in Raleigh doesn't last as long as in San Antonio. Also, the evenings cool off a bit more than in San Antonio.

PS I was born in Chicago--I think it is a FANTASTIC city--but I am never going back to those winters!!!!!

[Crashj007]

We moved to Raleigh from Enola and love it. Wake Forest or Chapel Hill would be good choices, too. PM us when you get here!

[stinegirl]

Take a trip to historic Savannah. Beautiful walking town, plenty to do, friendly people, a river and tourists. And the winter is mild.

[WonderingWhere]

itsajourney....Wow, thanks for all that. I am so looking forward to seeing these areas. I was just in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Used to live there, does not suit now. Fredericksburg....hmmm, that sounds interesting, too. I think Williamsburg is too small. I don't know, from what I have seen here with you folks and your helpful answers....it sure is fun trying all these places on.

[WonderingWhere]

Originally Posted by Crashj007

We moved to Raleigh from Enola and love it. Wake Forest or Chapel Hill would be good choices, too. PM us when you get here!

Crashj007...Since you are from "home" and you know what I am talking about...I will surely be happy to consider your choices, and will love to PM you. Thanks!

[WonderingWhere]

Originally Posted by stinegirl

Take a trip to historic Savannah. Beautiful walking town, plenty to do, friendly people, a river and tourists. And the winter is mild.

Stinegirl....ah, touched my heart with that suggestion...Road trip. Thanks.