Is Providence for me? (fit in, houses, to buy)

[pasden]

Hello, my wife and I are considering moving to Rhode Island and more specifically Providence and we could really use some advice. We are both European and do not really know anyone in that part of the US but we have heard so much good about it that we hope that it will suit us. We love older cities with charming (and affordable!) houses, walking to restaurants (good restaurants are important) and shops but yet relatively close to nature.

We are looking for a place to settle down and have kids and make friends. We both work from home so we are a bit scared about being isolated. My questions are: do you think we can fit in and get to know people? Which parts of Providence do you recommend? We want to buy an older house with lots of charm, a small backyard and maybe a porch or deck or two. We have lived in DC and SF before and found both cities very nice but very expensive. We are in a way looking for an affordable and smaller version of DC. Do you think Providence is a fit or will it feel small?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[thebigmove]

Hello,
Can I ask where in Europe do you from?
I'm Hungarian. My husband and I also thinking about moving up North from the South and I was looking throuh the forum when I sal your question.

[pasden]

Hi,

we're both from Sweden but have lived a bit all over before ending up in the US.

[dmwaite]

I would look @ the east side of Providence...

[terrasurf]

Will it feel small- you shouldn't be bored here, but RI does lose its more sophisticated young people to places like Boston. There definitely is an artist/hipster vibe in the city. I think your chances are as good as any here. Providence isn't overwhelming, people are welcoming, and there are many activities to get involved with, with minimal ground to cover. The state offers a lot for such a small area, and there are some very good restaurants.

[tps2008]

You might like Providence but don't expect it to be like DC or SF.

[terrasurf]

I've been thinking about this post, and it doesn't quite add up. Why would a Swedish couple with the seeming ability to work independantly from home, look for a place in the US to fit in and hopefully thrive and raise a family-- when the benefits of working and raising a family in Sweden are probably better than anywhere in the world. As part of the EU you could live and work anywhere in Europe, where the culture is more familiar. It doesn't make sense to me.

[Hollytree]

Climate?