Living in NYC, want to retire to Roanoke, opinions please? (fit in, neighborhoods)

[pealow]

Hi all, I've become interested in retiring with my husband and pets to the Roanoke area. We currently live in NYC and I've grown up here. We were considering Florida but the summer climate seems extreme to me. I'd prefer to open a window as opposed to being in air conditioning 24/7. I also would miss the change of seasons, especially fall foliage. I am 53 and hubby is 63. I am white American and my husband is a dark skinned Indian man (from India, Indian). We were concerned about racism in Spring Hill Fla as we have friends who live there and speak too often about the "rednecks" ( hope that I don't offend anyone with that term). I love and respect all people and am looking for the kind of place where I can expect the same in return. I am also in love with the mountains and nature. Can anyone give me some positive vibes about this beautiful area.

Paula

[j1n]

Originally Posted by pealow

Hi all, I've become interested in retiring with my husband and pets to the Roanoke area. We currently live in NYC and I've grown up here.

Big change for sure, but then again the Manhattan of even 20 years ago has changed a lot!

We were considering Florida but the summer climate seems extreme to me. I'd prefer to open a window as opposed to being in air conditioning 24/7. I also would miss the change of seasons, especially fall foliage.

NOOOOOOOO!!!! Thats the "big mistake"...the old Northeast-to-FL move!!
Seriously though, don't do it. The summers are ridiculously hot and humid. You'll maybe get a short reprieve for a month or two a year. FL is flat...no character. It's also quite a bit more expensive in Spring Hill than in the Roanoke area.

I am 53 and hubby is 63. I am white American and my husband is a dark skinned Indian man (from India, Indian). We were concerned about racism in Spring Hill Fla as we have friends who live there and speak too often about the "rednecks" ( hope that I don't offend anyone with that term). I love and respect all people and am looking for the kind of place where I can expect the same in return. I am also in love with the mountains and nature. Can anyone give me some positive vibes about this beautiful area.

Paula

Mountains...surrounded by them here. Nature? Lots of it! Rednecks? Yup! However... it's a different redneck than you will find in FL or many other places. It does get much more "rednecky" as you go out into "the sticks". But rednecks here are folks who grew up in the country around here. Rednecks in FL are likely transient rednecks from other places. Racism? I'm sure there is, but I saw waaaaay more racism up in NJ (lived in the NJ suburbs of NYC for 30+ years) then I've ever seen here.
With a city like Roanoke, you get it all...the downtown and the mountains. You can be from the downtown market to the middle of nowhere in less than 30 minutes. I live on a hill about 3 minutes from downtown. We never even turned on our ac this summer. Not once. There is a constant breeze blowing through. And there is a lot of diversity here. You sound like you and your husband would fit in just fine. Oh yeah...we also love our dogs here

[roanoker 4]

I agree. You sound like a good match for Roanoke!

[mccamp]

We moved from Boston and we love it here. Will never head back to the NE.

We are a multi-racial family. White, black and hispanic. We haven't encountered racist comments or attitudes. I'm sure there are racists here. They're everywhere. But we were accepted with open arms. My teenagers were adopted from Haiti and they are so happy we moved. Honestly, we experienced more racist attitudes in Boston than we have here.

You should come to visit. Walk around downtown. Take a drive in the countryside. Talk to folks. Visit a church or two (if you're church-goers). Explore some neighborhoods. You'll know almost immediately if you belong here or not. THat's the way it. Either your soul will sing, or it won't. If it doesn't, then you know that this isn't where you're supposed to be.

[pealow]

Wow...your replies make me feel that I'm on the right track. I spent many summers in the Alleghanies of PA and always wanted to open my eyes each day and see mountains. This will happen within the next year, I'm sure.

Paula