Transplants from New England - How Did You Adjust? (Raleigh: house, college)

[Ann in Oriental]

I didn't ever adjust. It's been 21 years and I'm still not very happy here! I came from Massachusetts, from the south shore area and Cape Cod. Fantastic summers, no need for air conditioning, just open the windows. If it got really hot (85) a table fan would do and even then it only lasted 3 days. I miss the people the houses the climate the seasons,everything. I've felt like I was in "limbo" the whole 21 years I've been here, just existing and trying to get through one more day or month or year. I don't care for southern food and I think the weather here is suckie. Hot hot summers, cold,gray winters and maybe if you're lucky 2-3 weeks each of fall and spring. The beaches are nice but they are nice in New England too. There's nothing I can do about it, other then get divorced. To the original poster, some of us never adjust.

[Francois]

I'm saving up in the Triangle, where all is booming

You must not be reading the same unemployment figures I am...

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Ann in Oriental

I didn't ever adjust. It's been 21 years and I'm still not very happy here! I came from Massachusetts, from the south shore area and Cape Cod. Fantastic summers, no need for air conditioning, just open the windows. If it got really hot (85) a table fan would do and even then it only lasted 3 days. I miss the people the houses the climate the seasons,everything. I've felt like I was in "limbo" the whole 21 years I've been here, just existing and trying to get through one more day or month or year. I don't care for southern food and I think the weather here is suckie. Hot hot summers, cold,gray winters and maybe if you're lucky 2-3 weeks each of fall and spring. The beaches are nice but they are nice in New England too. There's nothing I can do about it, other then get divorced. To the original poster, some of us never adjust.

I can appreciate your experience, but are you not out on the Cape? That, IMO is a bit different than living in other areas in NC. It's not apples to apples.

Other than that, I think after 21 years if you have not assimilated you can't blame NC for that. I would think that's a hard resistance to change. No offense.

[itscolduphere]

Originally Posted by Ann in Oriental

There's nothing I can do about it, other then get divorced. To the original poster, some of us never adjust.

Sorry to hear about that.....
I guess I'm fortunate in that things have to work/jive with both my husband and myself, or it's "no deal". Are you there because of your husband's job? What about a summer place in MA or yearly visit to Cape Cod? Sorry you haven't adjusted ... maybe you can retire there.

In just the week of thinking about it, we are planning on a possible summer home in Litchfield Co. if we still miss CT after being gone a while. Funny thing in the course of making final dealings with people here in CT before leaving, I can say I won't miss the "CT Hospitality" (Sarcastic)

[CT to Wake Forest]

I would just caution you to not move here for the housing. You absolutely feel like a kid in a candy store because there is sooooo much inventory. CT usually has almost 5 houses worth living in for $650K. I had a gorgeous house in CT with an in-ground pool. I miss it whenever I think about it. It was unique and if I could reverse that sale, I would. However, we are making the most out of our time here in NC and the weather is phenomenal, though it has not been this spring.

We had our NC house custom built and it too is beautiful with a community pool. However, every house in our neighborhood and neighboring neighborhoods and most of the triangle are essentially beautiful and very similiar based on the trend of the year it was built.

The beaches are nice, numerous and you can go to them for a longer season, but not a 5 mile drive like CT. You don't get that same New England summer feel of warm days and cool nights, but the water is so warm you can swim into November. The mountains are pretty but no Vermont.

It is a different life here for sure. Take care to move to a neighborhood where your children will match in age to your neighbors and you will easily make many friends. That is a big difference from CT. People have come the the triangle from all over the country without their family and friends and they want to make friends. If you will be able to stay home with your children, you will make some really good friends and you will still miss Abbott's, but you can go back and visitl. Also be careful about your expectations of the Wake County schools. They are extremely different than CT. Your child will not necessary go to the neighborhood school.

Cary is a good choice for someone from CT, I would actually compare it in many ways to Westport, except for the schools. Chapel Hill is also a good choice if you are looking for a town with character.

I'll be honest, we have met people from MA, NY, NJ, PA, etc, but very few from CT. Your adjustment won't happen overnight, but if you keep an open mind, you will find things you like here, just don't get nostalgic, it will make your adjustment time longer! Good Luck with your move. It will be a busy and exciting time for you.

[Jdatlas]

Originally Posted by CT to Wake Forest

Cary is a good choice for someone from CT, I would actually compare it in many ways to Westport, except for the schools. Chapel Hill is also a good choice if you are looking for a town with character.

If you move to Cary expecting it to be like Westport, CT you will be very disappointed. I am not knocking Cary but it is no Westport. Westport has the beaches, the unique houses on huge lots, the country lanes, Main Street, the proximity to NYC etc. etc.

[Claudaniella]

Originally Posted by Ann in Oriental

I didn't ever adjust. It's been 21 years and I'm still not very happy here! I came from Massachusetts, from the south shore area and Cape Cod. Fantastic summers, no need for air conditioning, just open the windows. If it got really hot (85) a table fan would do and even then it only lasted 3 days. I miss the people the houses the climate the seasons,everything. I've felt like I was in "limbo" the whole 21 years I've been here, just existing and trying to get through one more day or month or year. I don't care for southern food and I think the weather here is suckie. Hot hot summers, cold,gray winters and maybe if you're lucky 2-3 weeks each of fall and spring. The beaches are nice but they are nice in New England too. There's nothing I can do about it, other then get divorced. To the original poster, some of us never adjust.

I'm afraid I may feel the same way. That I will never adjust. But I have to say that the last two winters really took it out of me. I have a 125' driveway up here, and needed to get it plowed no less than 16 times this winter. At $45 a pop. This for the priveledge of driving snow-covered roads for 50 miles to my job. Same thing last winter, with a summer in between where it rained every...single...day...for two months straight. This is no lie. The Cape is unique, and the weather there can be quite different from the rest of MA. Even coastal. I live about 2-3 miles from the coast and get no ocean breeze whatsoever. I will miss good Italian and Chinese food, Boston sports teams, and my friends. Most of my family - parents, cousins, aunts, have moved south or west. There are things here that they miss, but none of them are coming back. Looking forward to my visit to the Triangle next month. I will report. Best of luck to you. Go Sox!!

[wanderintonc]

Actually, Cary reminds me of West Hartford (minus Elmwood), a lot.

My family sought to move to Raleigh for a couple years-in the end, it was not meant to be at this time (perhaps someday). I completely understand JViello's post from earlier! I'm a tad jealous, only a tad right now because spring is finally here in CT-what a winter! ugh.

[Marley05]

I have lived here since leaving Annapolis Maryland for 20 years. It took me a couple years to embrace the difference. I miss mostly the water, so I go to the Outer Banks, New Bern, Wilmington, Washington, and Belhaven.

That said - embrace where you are. I met a girl from Boston a few years ago who kept saying "this is nice, but it's bigger/better/nicer in Boston". The person was obnoxious. It's different. Go and explore. Embrace that and you'll be a happy person.

[MikeJaquish]

"Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'" Red, aka Morgan Freeman, "The Shawshank Redemption"

At some point you gotta burn the ships, as the saying goes.