Is sw va or ne tn the right place for me? (Norfolk: fit in, low crime)

[juniebug]

I'm enjoying reading of other people's search for the perfect place to live because I'm looking too! I live in the suburbs of Philly and hate it. My husband's family is here, which is how I got conned into coming to this awful place, ha ha. I lived most of my life in VA ( Norfolk and northern Va) but I think those areas will be too congested for my liking when we're ready to move in our mid to late 50s. The culture up her is spectacularly rude. It is not unheard of to flip off fellow parents in the parking lot at our child's school! This is a very well off upper middle class neighborhood, by the way. Don't even get me started on the drivers. I just think these people are very angry. I want to live where neighbors say hello to each other. I would rather not get run off the road if I'm not speeding enough. I want a church home that is in the mainline protestant community (we are Episcopalian, but Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc. we could deal) and I think I'd be uncomfortable if evangelicalism is predominant. My husband is a software developer and will still need to work, so we can't go to the middle of nowhere. Anyway, the Roanoke and Johnson City areas sound interesting enough to consider. Would we fit in?

[roanoker 4]

I spent some time in the Philly area as well on business and I noticed the rudeness. A company that I worked for here in VA was taken over by a Philly company and the management style was even worse!! Of course in warmer climates people tend to seem more friendly. I think the size of the city has a lot of do with it also. There are some aggressive drivers in Roanoke but not to the extreme of Philly. I have travelled through ne TN and I have found the people to be extremely friendly, maybe a little bit more than Roanoke. I think you will like either place!! Good Luck!!

[vamtncat]

You might also want to consider Blacksburg with your husband being in software development. It is a beautifull town! Intellectual community withiout being snooty. You would fit right in. Blacksburg is about 45 min south of Roanoke.

[j1n]

hey! Philly's the "City of Brotherly Love"!! No one's rude up there!
Generally you will find the Roanoke valley mellower all around...winter weather, cost of living, attitudes, etc.

[Teebyrd86]

Hey and Welcome to the Roanoke forum! I am one of those biased people that have nothing but positive things to say about The Roanoke Valley! If you look close enough at every city/town you will find negitives around but I can personally say I enjoy living here.. and No it's not perfect. Roanoke has to fit you; your lifestyle. I moved here from Richmond a year ago with the company I work for and have no regrets. The low cost of living, beautiful scenery, nice people, low crime and overall good quality of life is what drew me to the area. I tell people all time that say Roanoke is boring that they have to be adventerous. You can dig deep and find tons of things to do around here!! Good luck to you, I hope you deside on Roanoke.. you will not regret it!!

[wuan23]

Hi

Please choose Johnson City. I do not care to have another holier-than-thou, so called Christian, as a neighbor.
I wonder what God said, when he read this post?

You might just move right next door to a Catholic, Hindi, Muslims or even a family of non-believers and we don’t want that.

People like you will not be happy in a town like Roanoke. We have Blacks, Hispanics, Gays and Lesbians.

We have a lot of rude northerners living here too and Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, just down the road.

Roanoke has all kinds. So, just continue down 81 and good luck

[LynchburgLover]

Look at the Peakland area of Lynchburg. I'm not sure about the job market but the Episcopal/Presbyterian, well mannered, friendly stuff would work for you. Lovely old neighborhoods. Check out James River Day School and Virginia Episcopal School. You'll love them and I'd truly be shocked if you were ever flipped off!

[althea78]

After living in Richmond, Roanoke has far less extreme ultra conservaive whack jobs than Richmond. I can't wait to get out of Richmond.