Possible move to SC -- we'd love some suggestions (Charleston: sales, rent)

[JViello]

Originally Posted by thechappells

JViello...i find your opinions pretty harsh and unfounded.

we just moved here...we do miss NE ...you will find all of those here. it may not be 'in your face' but there are plenty of new englanders here and none of us have felt like fish out of water. we learned to adapt and make the best of it.
OP...don't expect "new england" and embrace the change.

Let see, you just admitted everything I said. How are they unfounded?

What I wrote is accurate. I don't hate the South, but it is what it is...and it aint New England by a long shot.

Charlotte is a nice city, and as I said I would live there over SC any day...but even then you will sacrifice a lot of quality of life IMHO.

My wife felt the same way and it was her first trip South. SC leaves a lot to be desired IMO sorry.

P.S. Speaking for all New Englanders in SC is a bit presumtuous wouldn't you say? Oh and I lived in Charlotte and traveled around various parts of SC. (MB, Charleston, Columbia etc) but never spent time in Greenville. It was poised as "the other SC" on the boards...it was B.S.

[thechappells]

Originally Posted by JViello

Let see, you just admitted everything I said. How are they unfounded?

What I wrote is accurate. I don't hate the South, but it is what it is...and it aint New England by a long shot.

Charlotte is a nice city, and as I said I would live there over SC any day...but even then you will sacrifice a lot of quality of life IMHO.

My wife felt the same way and it was her first trip South. SC leaves a lot to be desired IMO sorry.

P.S. Speaking for all New Englanders in SC is a bit presumtuous wouldn't you say? Oh and I lived in Charlotte and traveled around various parts of SC. (MB, Charleston, Columbia etc) but never spent time in Greenville. It was poised as "the other SC" on the boards...it was B.S.

i didn't speak for all new englanders but the ones we know. if you want new england, then stay in new england. your comparing apples to oranges.

my bad on misunderstanding you on where you actually lived, but that was 10 years ago, correct?

your experiences in the south didn't sound favorable, but for many it is.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by JViello

I lived in Charlotte for several years at a younger age and moved back to New England for the last 10 years. I had a brain cramp and thought perhaps SC was different than what I could not live with in Charlotte based on the posts and pictures...

If you are so in love with New England, then don't blame South Carolina for being quite a bit different. You obviously had a bad experience, but that was likely due to your expectations. Many people (thousands annually) visit and move to Greenville from places in the North and Northeast, and from the indication received via most sources of feedback, the majority have been pleasantly surprised by this area - in fact, many have fallen in love. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but tell me where such a place exists. Regarding the "culture, topography, etc..." that is all a matter of opinion and in no way dictates the validity of someone else's preferences and/or experiences. In case you were not aware before visiting, we are currently in the midst of the most extreme drought you will find in the entire nation, so yes, the lakes are suffering miserably right now - as I mentioned in another thread recently.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by thechappells

i didn't speak for all new englanders but the ones we know. if you want new england, then stay in new england. your comparing apples to oranges.

my bad on misunderstanding you on where you actually lived, but that was 10 years ago, correct?

your experiences in the south didn't sound favorable, but for many it is.

I know, that's my point. It IS apples to oranges. Any native New Englander will have to make an adjustment.

I spent about 5 years of my life in the South. I didn't hate it...and when I moved back to New England it was for career reasons not because I was freaking out. Only then and more so now that I'm middle aged did it become very obvious just how much I left behind to go South. It took a few years after moving back to really stop and think about HOW MUCH is contained in a 3 hour drive from CT to ME and the quality of life I got BACK. Moreso after visiting again.

Call me stupid, but it took two interstate moves and about 7 years to finally realize just how unique of a place New England is, but there is now no denying it in my mind - warts and all.

What really pissed me off is the DM's and posts and pictures I received about how different the "upstate" was etc etc etc to the point that I started to believe the BS. I wasted a few thousand dollars and week from work for nothing. Aggravating. If I can help someone avoid the similar mistake, to me that's helpful. There is a lot of hype and boosterism going on around many of these forums and frankly it's not honest and wrong.

Granted to someone from nowheresville I'm sure DT Greenville would "blow you away" but to someone who has similar type cities by the dozen up here it's a joke. I was underwhelmed. Not that it wasn't nice...but my God people, it's just average New England city at best. sheesh...

Couple quick and honest questions for you:

1. Are you native New Englanders? Yes or no.

2. Can you tell me there are not things you sit back and just WISH there where around you like we have here?

SC is not the same, and I'm willing to bet dime to a dollar that as time goes on and the "newness" wears off you're going to look back and see just how good life really is up here and it's going to hit you like a ton of bricks.

I wish you the best, I really do and I hope you "adjust" to your new home without too much pain.

Best,

Jay

[Skyliner]

I will add that I am glad you decided to come for a visit before making plans to move. That is precisely why I always encourage people to spend time visiting prior to planning a relocation. You can find many unique qualities in many different places around the U.S.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

If you are so in love with New England, then don't blame South Carolina for being quite a bit different. You obviously had a bad experience, but that was likely due to your expectations.

I'll be making a post in the Greenville section...don't worry. I'm just running the thoughts through my head before shooting from the hip.

If anything is was this visit after moving back 10 years ago and now that I'm not a green kid anymore that validated what I knew in my youth. For that, I'm grateful.

No, my expectations were based on the endless pictures and boosterism given.

What I found was ONE STREET about 600 feet long that is called "downtown greenville".

In fact I took a video standing in one spot and turning 360* that contains about 10 pictures posted that make it seem like you can go several blocks one way or another and find this vibrant city. It's not accurate. It's not.

My expectation was from DM's like the one I recieved that said it's just like Charlotte in regards to "newness and cleanless" but closer to the mountains.

WRONG!

I'm not expecting you local folks to agree with me. It's not my intention. My intention is to bring some levity to your hype for others.

Like I said...look for the post.

P.S. Charlies off RT14 was not very good to me. Chopped dry pork BBQ and two sandwich sizes. No pulled pork, no brisket, no ribs...just a sandwich in a strip mall store. Best BBQ my @ss. Muddy River in Portsmouth NH (Which we went to straight from SC) blows the place away and it's just okay at best. That's what I'm talking about. Things like that. Perhaps perception is everything. A person can think a Chevy Colbalt is a great car because they've never been in a 335i.

[Skyliner]

Yes, it sounds like your poor experience was only a matter of perception, firmly based on strong expectations and comparisons. For the record, I very rarely eat at the local BBQ restaurants anymore because I prefer my own flavor to what is offered at all of them.

I cannot hold this against you, because South Carolina is not the best place for everyone on the planet. Many people coming from places far and wide love it, but likewise many people do not love it.

I am not sure who would have told you Greenville is just like Charlotte, but perhaps they were thinking along a specific set of criteria. Overall there are similarities, but there is plenty of difference as well.

[Skyliner]

You are exaggerating your points. One 600 foot long street called "Downtown Greenville"? Not in the slightest degree accurate! "Close to the mountains" is accurate.

I am familiar with cities in New England, but remember this is the South Carolina forum and there is a huge difference in climate between the two, which is one major reason many people from your region move down South to begin with. I would love living in New England if it were not for the extended period of bitter cold there. No "charming" town or city there is worth the hassle of living through such long winters and short summers, in my opinion.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by JViello

...My expectation was from DM's like the one I recieved that said it's just like Charlotte in regards to "newness and cleanless" but closer to the mountains...

Originally Posted by JViello

...I absolutely hated NC. Hated it...and I'm a "right wing religous" person so you'd figure I would be in heaven right? Ha!

You should have seen this coming. I should have seen this coming. By the way do you believe in Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura?

[usmcfamily]

We were stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort. We absolutely loved it! I am a native New Englander, lived all over the US while my husband was active duty and recently moved back to New England to be near family. Southerners are so friendly. We had no problem adjusting, people were fantastic and so welcoming to us. Beaufort is surrounded by water and beauty. Boating is a way of life there. Hunting Island is a beautiful state beach. There is an nice, walkable downtown. Southern Living magazine had voted Beaufort best southern town for quality of life. Schools get a bad rap all over SC. I would research each school carefully. We did put our older 2 in private school - an awesome school and a wonderful experience for them. My younger went to public elementary and we loved that school as well.