thinking about moving (Savannah, Wilmington Island, Madison: rent, house, to buy)

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by bolinha

Man! did we pick the right weekend to head to FL. FTW!

FTW! = ???
If that is what I think it is...
I lived the life for a looong time.

[vidanto]

Me too I am moving to Savannah from Italy and my matters about the choice where to live are about the following four areas:
a) Historic District
b) Tybee Island
c) Wilmington Island
d) Whitemarsh Island
No kids, one dog and I love alot to walk on the beach and I have always lived near the sea in Italy.
Any advice is greatly appreciated and I apologize for my bad English language

[Just Plain Al]

I have posted ad nauseum about Wilmington, and Whitemarsh, Islands.
If you look at some of the old threads you can find my posts.
Or just ask some specifics, and I'll try to answer those.
Walk on the beach?
Not with your dog.
Hilton Head is the closest place to do that.
And they charge you $10.00 there just to get in!
Dog park on Tybee, not on the beach.

Next...?

[ellie]

Originally Posted by vidanto

Me too I am moving to Savannah from Italy and my matters about the choice where to live are about the following four areas:
a) Historic District
b) Tybee Island
c) Wilmington Island
d) Whitemarsh Island
No kids, one dog and I love alot to walk on the beach and I have always lived near the sea in Italy.
Any advice is greatly appreciated and I apologize for my bad English language

Personally, I prefer the lifestyle in the historic district and on Tybee to that of Wilmington and Whitemarsh. Wilmington and Whitemarsh are just suburban neighborhoods, not distinct "islands".

The historic district is more like a northern European city in its layout and lifestyle. People make friends by walking their dogs. Tybee Island is very quiet in the winter and somewhat busy in the summer. There are some interesting full-time residents, a few good restaurants, and several seedy bars.

What kind of lifestyle are you hoping to live?

[Padgett2]

Tybee would be the only place where you could walk on the beach. Everywhere else would require a drive to get there. Wilmington and Whitmarsh are islands in that they are surrounded by salt rivers and marshes. There are no beaches there. Other than being near the water, the homes are like homes in the usual residential areas with access to the water only in the marina areas.....unless you have the Big Bucks and can afford to buy a home with your own dock.

I also think you might like the Historic District better. It's about a 20-30 minute drive to the beach. The area usually called the Historic District is bordered on the North by the Savannah River. The River Street area gives you access to just sitting and looking and strolling. The dog would have to be kept on a leash, and THOU SHALT PICK UP ALL YOUR PUP'S POOP within the HD. (sorry about that!)

[Just Plain Al]

"... Wilmington and Whitmarsh are islands in that they are surrounded by salt rivers and marshes."

Thanks Padgett!
I wuz gonna say something, but I didn't want Ellie to get mad at me again.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by Just Plain Al

"... Wilmington and Whitmarsh are islands in that they are surrounded by salt rivers and marshes."

Thanks Padgett!
I wuz gonna say something, but I didn't want Ellie to get mad at me again.

LOL. For a newcomer, the "islands" won't seem like islands. Most people can't tell the difference between Oatland, Whitemarsh, Wilmington, or Talahi unless they happen to notice the little signs. Going to Skidaway or Tybee requires crossing a substantial bridge and causeway.

And even those are certainly not Capri or even remotely similar to anything he's used to. I'm afraid this new resident will be quite disappointed if he's thinking he'll get what he has in Italy. (I can't believe you'd leave!!!!)

[vidanto]

In fact, I lived in Penisola Sorrentina, and Capri was every day before my eyes.
My dream is to begin the day, when the weather allows me to do it, to go to bar for coffee and cornetto, then walk along the beach with my dog, then have my food shopping very often buying local fresh fish and then come back at home.
In the afternoon, before sunset, again a walk along the beach and an aperitif at bar before dinner at home.
I would enjoy to avoid to use the car.
That's all I need !

[Just Plain Al]

Originally Posted by vidanto

In fact, I lived in Penisola Sorrentina, and Capri was every day before my eyes.
My dream is to begin the day, when the weather allows me to do it, to go to bar for coffee and cornetto, then walk along the beach with my dog, then have my food shopping very often buying local fresh fish and then come back at home.
In the afternoon, before sunset, again a walk along the beach and an aperitif at bar before dinner at home.
I would enjoy to avoid to use the car.
That's all I need !

I really need to find some of the stuff that this person is smoking.
Or if they're serious, they belong on Tybee.
'Cause there ain't nothing like that around heah.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by vidanto

In fact, I lived in Penisola Sorrentina, and Capri was every day before my eyes.
My dream is to begin the day, when the weather allows me to do it, to go to bar for coffee and cornetto, then walk along the beach with my dog, then have my food shopping very often buying local fresh fish and then come back at home.
In the afternoon, before sunset, again a walk along the beach and an aperitif at bar before dinner at home.
I would enjoy to avoid to use the car.
That's all I need !

That's a lovely area, I visited there a few years ago and wish I could have stayed longer.

It will be difficult to live that life on Tybee because of the law against dogs on the beach. There are few good bakeries in our area and none (that I know of) on the islands or on Tybee. So really good cornetti are out of the question. However, you can find a few adequate substitutes at the better grocery stores in our area. It would require driving, unfortunately.

To draw parallels and differences with your area and ours would be difficult. If you lived near Forsyth Park in the historic district you could find excellent coffee, a good bakery, fresh seafood, and a number of sophisitcated places for an evening aperitif. You would be a 30 minute drive from the beach.

Living on Tybee you'd have a lovely beach, a very small and inadequate grocery, a few good restaurants, and fresh seafood.

Perhaps you can find a place to rent for a few weeks or months until you decide what would be right for you.