Moved to South Carolina - HUGE MISTAKE (Columbia, Greenville: bankrupt, elementary school)

[appalachiangirl]

Flgargoyle,
Why would you ignore out of state applicants? That doesn't seem fair.

[Girl]

Originally Posted by ann onymous

Well here's some examples, that the Civil War is still referred to as the War of Northern Aggression, mind your manners if you're from the north east, some southerner who was pretty fired up when visiting Gettysberg and wouldn't let his wife take pictures, granted none of these people were from SC.

The folks I know who reference the War of Northern Aggression always do so with tongue firmly implanted in cheek. And in the year-plus that we've been here, I honestly can only think of TWO instances where that was done in front of me.

I read on these forums all the time about this separation between "Yankees" and "Southerners" and yet I have not experienced ANYTHING BUT THE BEST in my dealings with everyone around me since moving to this area (Charlotte metro). Whether they are fellow transplants or lifelong locals, I have had ONLY good experiences thus far. So you won't catch me complaining at all. I LOVE this area of the country.

[KCGIRL]

I have to say this thread is quite amusing. Like someone said in an earlier post, you have likes and dislikes in every state in this country. My family is originally from the North and South, I grew up in South Carolina, I have family living on the West coast, Asia, and Europe, but your home is what you make of it. You can judge and be critical, hee and haw about North vs. South, whine about everything...crime (I have never seen or heard of much my whole life), schools (my public school educated friends are senators, judges, professors and doctors), churches in every corner....(I would think that would be a much better alternative to have a church on every corner than most bigger cities I 've lived in that have a bar or crack house on each corner) Complaining is easy, but getting out and making the best of it is way too hard for some. Life here is wonderful and if people dont want to live here....fine with me. Frankly, I think we are a diamond in the rough and the more people know about it, the less charming our life would be.

[C_bennett]

Chitownguy,
I see that the area you moved into was not what you expected. The southern way of life varies across the state. I live in Bluffton, the gateway to Hilton Head Island, and I enjoy being here. I have to admit that the summers are, as you say, "H-O-T"...but the winters are not bad here. I have not seen snow in 28 years! We have a lot of culture and our "northern newcomers" love it! In fact, the majority of our transplants are from "up north". Maybe your next move should be preceded by some extra research.

Good luck to you. I hope you find a happier place.

[flgargoyle]

Originally Posted by appalachiangirl

Flgargoyle,
Why would you ignore out of state applicants? That doesn't seem fair.

I guess in my line of work (tool maker) out of state applicants rarely actually move, esp. in a transient state like FL. We get a lot of people 'testing the waters' who aren't living in FL, so why should I interview someone 1000 miles away who may have no intention of moving? There are plenty of people out of work locally (unfortunately) so we don't need to interview anyone that's not standing in front of us. This is true in other places, too. My boss moved to CO in June, and he was told to not bother applying for work there until he moved. He had a job within a week. When I move to SC, I won't apply for work until I actually live there. Other lines of work are different, I'm sure.

[bthomas16]

well im sorry but i think that you should have done more research before you moved to SC. Not everywhere is perfect for everyone, i have had many job offers in chicago but i refuse to go because i dont like it there. I went to high school in sc, and i loved it! It was much better than any of the schools in pittsburgh. ( i have attended 3 high schools in pgh.) I also find it unfar to compare chicago to south carolina! Slight difference!!

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by Captain Ron

By looking at city data . com the temps are mild in the winter and somewher on this forum I thought I heard someone say 40's and 50's . Please explain. And how hot is hot? Im thinking 90 ??

Charleston can get to the mid to high 90's with high humidiity but inland can get even hotter. However I think mid and high 80's is more the norm for the summer (warmer inland) for the summer. I think most days in the coldest part of the winter for just a few weeks, it still may get up to the 60's during the warmest part of the day.

[orangeburghomes]

I have helped hundreds of people move from NY to SC especially Orangeburg SC- they all seem very happy and they like it here- they are avoiding spending their lives with higher taxes, more crime, and the cost of living here provides them with a very nice lifestyle and they tell me if they stayed where they were and retired they would have been living check to check-- I like it here- I have been here since 1975- I have been involved in the relocation of people from all over since 1990 through my business- Some people are not happy anywhere- some people will adjust to where ever they are- some people approach life with the right attitude and others never do-- if it is to be it is up to you- Orangeburg does provide everything you need and a lot of what most folks are running from is not here- if it is big city life you want this is not for you and you are not for us- but you can be in a large city within 40 minutes (it takes that long to get anywhere in the BIG CITY) and do whatever your heart desires- yet on a day to day basis you are not aggravated by the perils of BIG CITY-- traffic- nasty people-crime and spending all your earnings trying to live. thanks

Originally Posted by mich1

I'm from Long Island, New York and we are thinking about moving to the Myrtle Beach area, does anyone have anything positive to say? Long Island is not like New York City for those of you thinking another New Yorker who will hate the South.

[ComputerUser000]

Originally Posted by Prichard

"I've always noticed that once someone decides to leave an area, it suddenly becomes 'the worst place they've ever lived.'"
___________________________________


AMEN!

I disagree to someone extent..

..I've lived in Marks Mississippi, Cocoa Florida...Williston North Dakota, Madbury/Dover New Hampshire and now beautiful, historic Abbeville, South Carolina.

I've loved every place I lived in for various reasons, never really hated any of them and they weren't "the worst place I've ever lived"

[SaltwaterFishing]

I can relate to the whole civil war thing having been stationed in SC and GA for 3 years. I grew up in Huntington Beach, Ca and joined the service at 17. My first duty station was Ft. Jackson, SC.

Yes, South Carolina was a culture shock. The whole yankee thing, rebel flags, dry counties, Free Bird playing every other song, super loud Dixie car horns ect.

Keep in mind the military is made up of people from all over the country. I would say that my units had 25% or more soldiers from the south. Yea, most of them had a rebel flag tattoo. The ones that didnt, got one after they received their first paychecks.

Dont kid yourself, the south has plenty of good ol' boys. Racism is still very high. I think what bothers many people is the fact that they never had to experience this socially. I had many southern friends and would go with them to visit families on the weekends and holidays. Its uncomfortable to be introduced as "This is my friend Jim, he's a yankee." Even stranger is the cold shoulder reception that I would receive from the relatives....with the exception of additional yankee jokes.

I was always told that they need to get to know you first. After time, I was accepted by most everyone. The yankee jokes dropped to a minimum but I still had to endure listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd sing Free Bird 500,000 times.

I got the feeling strangers were not welcomed because many of these small country type communities had illegal extracurricular activities. You see, law enforcement knew about these things but it just kind of accepted and tolerated. Everyone was related in some way and it wasnt like the nephew was going to arrest his uncle and so on. One such activity was pit bull dog fighting. Another family still made moonshine.

As long as the states allowed communities to elect law enforcement and then these people could hire on anybody they wanted......the whole thing was basically a family affair and certain ways of life would be tolerated.

Now when I went with buddies to Atlanta, it was an entire different world. Very classy and very hospitable as I was offered refreshments and a comfortable chair. Sure, they talked about their family history but in a manner that was not disrespectful to others. Put it this way.....I always felt welcomed.

Now I'm sure there are just as many nice folks in SC and I'm sure many hillbillies exist in GA. Now here is the wierd thing that still bugs me.....what happened to the middle class? From what I see, it doesnt exist down south. Its not only segregated by race....its also segregated by class. Its a huge swing because nothing exist in the middle.