move from boston to raleigh (Durham, Clayton: Valentine's day, apartments, how much)

[bostonian12]

will i survive how different is it?

[Sox Girl]

Where do you live in Boston?

[lovebrentwood]

Lots hotter in the late spring, summer, and early fall than Boston.
Less traffic (but still traffic).
Different culture.
Pansies grow in winter.
You won't need to bring your winter boots or your down coat.
Lots more new construction everywhere -- newer homes, apartments, stores, and office buildings.
Less straightforward talk and more (sometimes insincere) politeness.
Few jobs except in healthcare.
You will miss all your friends and relatives.

[bostonian12]

Southie

[ech86]

Tons of people from work have moved from Boston. They've adjusted very well here and wouldn't dream of going back.

[MI-Roger]

But save your FastLane transponder for trips back North. It may also be handy for the future South-west I-540 expressway which will be toll.

My son just made the move in the opposite direction and has already noticed the rapidly cooling temps in the Boston area. Thanksgiving time in Raleigh is shirt sleeve weather (no jackets required) and people are already planting the hardier varieties of outdoor flowers by St Valentine's Day.

Because of the mild climate the cities and State agencies own very little snow removal equipment. A half-inch snowfall can nearly bring the city to its knees as light snow turns to ice on the roadways, so plan on working from home on a few winter days.

In Boston drivers blast their horns for no apparent reason, in Raleigh drivers will slow to 15mph on expressways and utilize their 4-way flashers during rain storms. Different city, different local driving customs.

[Sox Girl]

So my husband and I moved from Somerville down here 2 years ago. As people have said, the weather is the best thing going. The winters are much more mild. They said that this week will be "cooling off" and the temps will be in the low to mid 70s... There will be nights when the temps will get into the lower 20s and even the teens, but the following day, it will be back into the 50s or 60s. Although, there were days that it was in the 30s and 40s.

The lifestyle is definitely different down here, unless you live in downtown Raleigh which is nothing like living in Southie. They are building Raleigh up, but it doesn't have Boston's nightlife. There are bars and clubs though, but it's definitely smaller scale, which I'm guessing you would probably know.

I miss living in Boston and being able to go to Fenway and taking a cab home afterwards, but it's also nice when you see everyone in hats and gloves with their breath and I can sit out on my deck because the weather is still warm and watch the game. Yes, I actually do that.

The thing to keep in mind is that it's not Boston and that it's only a flight away when you get homesick.

[VickiR]

I recently helped a client purchase a home in Clayton. According to my buyer, who is one of the most friendliest people that I have ever met...especially from Boston, the n'hood that he is moving into is full of folks from MASS.

Vicki

[jamangirl]

Depends on how well you can be separated from your family, friends and other previously established roots. That seems to be one the biggest reason many end up moving back. We moved here over 3 years ago from south of Boston. We miss our family but the trade for better family time, less hurried lifestyle (IMO), and definitely better weather was well worth it. As for saving money, I think it might be a trade off. Some things are less expensive like housing and property taxes but other things like food are more expensive and there is a tax on a lot of things that are not taxed in Mass. Raleigh does not have the Boston pro sports scene but there is college sports galore and the Hurricanes. Many Sox fans find their way to the Durham Bulls games as well as Baltimore Orioles games. Pus, there is alwys direct tv for any sport you may miss. But Raleigh is different and I think people who move here have problems when they come and expect things to be similar.

[lovebrentwood]

As I've said once before, in retrospect, I wish I had "built in" to my life two to three visits a year to my hometown to visit friends and relatives.

If you do that -- or even if you return at least once a year -- I think the transition would be much easier. (I think it's good advice for anyone relocating here.)

Otherwise, you'll be like me, and you'll be going up for funerals and realizing how much you missed those people who were once very close to you.