Relocating to Abington, VA...Need Info (Roanoke, Bristol: to rent, how much, house)

[DivaLicious]

Hi, we are moving to Abington in February. I need some info on what the average rent will be, Schools for my 7th grader, Public and private, Cable co, water, Electric, How are jobs aroun there? I am a stay at home Mom and my hubby is a Supervisor in a saw mill right now, but isn't opposed to changing careers, hehe. He likes Physical labor but is quiet savvy on the Computer and could also do well as a cable or Satilite installer. A 30 to 40 minute drive is ok.

Also, how are the people towards newbies in their town? I know where we are now people where VERY hateful and it took them 2 1/2 yrs to even wave at us. It was horrible and made me very depressed.

[DivaLicious]

Okay, either no one here has any helpful info or maybe this is the friendliness we can expect in VA? Perhaps we should stick with our original plan and go to NC.

[homestead]

I'm sorry it seems to you that no one down this way is friendly. We are, but a LOT of people down this way are either not online junkies ( as i am *L*) and very few have high speed internet connections which really limits their surfing. I am about 40 miles east of Abingdon. My grandmother was born and raised there. It is a delightful, historic town. You don't mention where you are from originally, but if you're not from a small southern town, you'll find people here a bit hesitant or guarded or they may appear a little 'standoffish'. While many from this area are very well educated and have great hospitality, so many from northern or more densely populated areas are so prejudiced and ignorant of our intelligence and comportment that we are quite tired of being treated as if we are all related to the banjo player from "Deliverance"!
One of the first things you will find is that even the people in other parts of Virginia, especially northern Virginia, feel that we in the southwest are lower forms of humanity. Many in this state feel that the west of the state ends at Roanoke. The area is rich in farming, mining and timbering history. These industries tend to be nepotistic and you will find areas where every home within 10 miles contains relatives of some form. Many large old farms have been divided up between the children over the years, and over even more years between grand and great-grandchildren. Since the area was settled by many from countries where land ownership was almost unheard of, the land here is of great value, not just monetary, but cherished deep within the hearts of those that live here. Much of the land lies dormant because even though the heirs have no desire to live in the area or work the land, they find they cannot part with it. Now, to try to answer some of your questions. My husband drives 54 miles round-trip to work. There is quite a bit of timbering still going on in the area, in fact is has increased quite a bit in the last few years. There are a number of furniture/moulding factories in the area which sounds like it would be of some interest to your husband. There are quite a few government jobs in the area also. Due to the inherent qualities of the people of this area and their work ethic, there are many jobs that require high levels of security, such as the Radford Arsenal, and American/ASEA Brown/Broveri (ABB, INC). There are also a number of correctional facilities in the area that employee a large number of the population. Many in the area you are moving to also work in Bristol, Va/Tn. It is a larger city with many different types of industry and is about 20 miles from Abingdon. I have looked for some links for forums, chat rooms, etc from the area for you, but have found none. I'm sure you have already visited the government sites, better business sites and such. If not, that might be a good place to start and they may be able to provide you with some links or contacts.
I hope that the fact no one has responded to you here will not deter you from moving to the area. It is beautiful, quiet and the people here ARE friendly. I hope you find someone from Abingdon to answer your questions about schools, etc. Best wishes on your upcoming move. And if you need any links to the some sites for the area, please let me know and I'll post them here for you.

Sincerely,
Maggie

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by homestead

I'm sorry it seems to you that no one down this way is friendly. We are, but a LOT of people down this way are either not online junkies ( as i am *L*) and very few have high speed internet connections which really limits their surfing. I am about 40 miles east of Abingdon. My grandmother was born and raised there. It is a delightful, historic town. You don't mention where you are from originally, but if you're not from a small southern town, you'll find people here a bit hesitant or guarded or they may appear a little 'standoffish'. While many from this area are very well educated and have great hospitality, so many from northern or more densely populated areas are so prejudiced and ignorant of our intelligence and comportment that we are quite tired of being treated as if we are all related to the banjo player from "Deliverance"!
One of the first things you will find is that even the people in other parts of Virginia, especially northern Virginia, feel that we in the southwest are lower forms of humanity. Many in this state feel that the west of the state ends at Roanoke. The area is rich in farming, mining and timbering history. These industries tend to be nepotistic and you will find areas where every home within 10 miles contains relatives of some form. Many large old farms have been divided up between the children over the years, and over even more years between grand and great-grandchildren. Since the area was settled by many from countries where land ownership was almost unheard of, the land here is of great value, not just monetary, but cherished deep within the hearts of those that live here. Much of the land lies dormant because even though the heirs have no desire to live in the area or work the land, they find they cannot part with it. Now, to try to answer some of your questions. My husband drives 54 miles round-trip to work. There is quite a bit of timbering still going on in the area, in fact is has increased quite a bit in the last few years. There are a number of furniture/moulding factories in the area which sounds like it would be of some interest to your husband. There are quite a few government jobs in the area also. Due to the inherent qualities of the people of this area and their work ethic, there are many jobs that require high levels of security, such as the Radford Arsenal, and American/ASEA Brown/Broveri (ABB, INC). There are also a number of correctional facilities in the area that employee a large number of the population. Many in the area you are moving to also work in Bristol, Va/Tn. It is a larger city with many different types of industry and is about 20 miles from Abingdon. I have looked for some links for forums, chat rooms, etc from the area for you, but have found none. I'm sure you have already visited the government sites, better business sites and such. If not, that might be a good place to start and they may be able to provide you with some links or contacts.
I hope that the fact no one has responded to you here will not deter you from moving to the area. It is beautiful, quiet and the people here ARE friendly. I hope you find someone from Abingdon to answer your questions about schools, etc. Best wishes on your upcoming move. And if you need any links to the some sites for the area, please let me know and I'll post them here for you.

Sincerely,
Maggie

What an informative post! Thanks Maggie. Even though I live in NC I love southern Virginia too. We have always enjoying going to Damascus for Trail Days or to just ride the Virginia Creeper Trail. In a way it's probably good that those snobs in northern Virginia look down their noses at the rest of the state - that way they won't all flock there in droves and ***** up the peace and quiet I would NEVER live in northern Virginia - talk about feeling claustrophobic! Have a great day

[homestead]

It's nice to hear that someone outside of this area finds it as great a place as we do! And you're right, perhaps it's best that we're a pretty well kept secret. *L* I'm glad you found out about us, but keep it quiet, ok?? And I agree about NOVA (southwestern virginia speak for northern virginia) too many people and too much hurrying for me! I hope you continue to visit the area and enjoy it as much as we do.

Maggie

[DivaLicious]

I am from Savannah, GA and never ever look down my nose at my fellow Southerners. We are interested in VA for a few reasons. I for one LOVE the mountians and I am looking for just the right place for us either in VA, TN or NC. My hubby (to be) likes VA because he's a Washington Redskins fan and says they show the games more in VA, LOL! That's important yanno, hehe!

All I do know is we've been in a certain part of East TN for a lil' over 6 yrs and we are STILL treated badly and like outsiders in our area. We DESPARATELY want to get out and we HOPE we can move to a place where people are more welcoming and friendly. I am a Southern Girl and my BF is a Yankee from PA but has been down here long enough that our "Southern Ways" have rubbed off. He STILL will not eat grits or Lima beans though.

[VA_HouseHunter]

Very nice area. It offers a downhome feel and not high pace.

The wages are lower than most areas but to rent a 2-bedroom apt it would not be unrealistic to spend $500 for a decent place.

[abdnva]

Originally Posted by DivaLicious

Okay, either no one here has any helpful info or maybe this is the friendliness we can expect in VA? Perhaps we should stick with our original plan and go to NC.

Diva,

Let me offer you some advice...

Regardless of where you decide to settle, whether it's SWVa, or NETn, or NWNC, here is the ONE thing to remember.

ALL of the people where you relocate will probably have the following attitude, one with which I agree - 'You decided to move here, so you should embrace our culture, and not expect us to embrace your culture.'

That doesn't mean that people will berate you for being different, but rather that people will embrace you WHEN you accept their culture. Not before, but WHEN...

Folks in the southern Appalachians - that's 'app-uh-LATCH-ee-uns', and NEVER 'app-uh LAY-chee-uns'... folks here are welcoming of newcomers, if & ONLY if the newcomers accepts the local mores. If you come in & talk all about how much better the shopping was elsewhere, or the schools, or the housing was superior, or that the locals here are all 'rednecks or hillbillies' then you can basically go back to where you came from. If you come in & say that you think this is a great place to live, they'll love you. It's that simple. If that is too bold for you, or if you feel a need to be stroked, you're moving to the wrong place. People in the Appalachians have been denigrated & insulted for several decades by all angles from outsiders, with no relief or foundation, and they are strong enough to be tired of it. So don't expect them to run to embrace you. Instead, you can GUARANTEE that they will embrace you, when you open your arms towards them.

So, if you're coming, remember the reason you moved here. They didn't move to be near you, you moved to be near them. Tell everyone how glad you are to be there, and they'll show you the love, in bushel baskets full. But if you constantly gripe & complain that it isn't like the place you moved from, because of the lack of restaurants you like, or because of the lack of stores you already know, or whatever, they'll very correctly invite you to return from whence you came. No more so than anyone from Atlanta or Philadelphia or NYC or Boston would do, however. Keep that in mind. Some people claim that folks around here are 'standoffish', but they choose to ignore just how insulting people in almost EVERY northern city is when you're an outsider...

This part of the country is a great place to live. Everybody knows that. With or without other people coming in. IF they choose to come in, it MUST be because they want to live like us, NOT because they want us to live like the place they chose to leave.

With that said, welcome to 'God's Country!' We know you'll love it, if you give it a chance...

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by abdnva

Diva,

Let me offer you some advice...

Regardless of where you decide to settle, whether it's SWVa, or NETn, or NWNC, here is the ONE thing to remember.

ALL of the people where you relocate will probably have the following attitude, one with which I agree - 'You decided to move here, so you should embrace our culture, and not expect us to embrace your culture.'

That doesn't mean that people will berate you for being different, but rather that people will embrace you WHEN you accept their culture. Not before, but WHEN...

Folks in the southern Appalachians - that's 'app-uh-LATCH-ee-uns', and NEVER 'app-uh LAY-chee-uns'... folks here are welcoming of newcomers, if & ONLY if the newcomers accepts the local mores. If you come in & talk all about how much better the shopping was elsewhere, or the schools, or the housing was superior, or that the locals here are all 'rednecks or hillbillies' then you can basically go back to where you came from. If you come in & say that you think this is a great place to live, they'll love you. It's that simple. If that is too bold for you, or if you feel a need to be stroked, you're moving to the wrong place. People in the Appalachians have been denigrated & insulted for several decades by all angles from outsiders, with no relief or foundation, and they are strong enough to be tired of it. So don't expect them to run to embrace you. Instead, you can GUARANTEE that they will embrace you, when you open your arms towards them.

So, if you're coming, remember the reason you moved here. They didn't move to be near you, you moved to be near them. Tell everyone how glad you are to be there, and they'll show you the love, in bushel baskets full. But if you constantly gripe & complain that it isn't like the place you moved from, because of the lack of restaurants you like, or because of the lack of stores you already know, or whatever, they'll very correctly invite you to return from whence you came. No more so than anyone from Atlanta or Philadelphia or NYC or Boston would do, however. Keep that in mind. Some people claim that folks around here are 'standoffish', but they choose to ignore just how insulting people in almost EVERY northern city is when you're an outsider...

This part of the country is a great place to live. Everybody knows that. With or without other people coming in. IF they choose to come in, it MUST be because they want to live like us, NOT because they want us to live like the place they chose to leave.

With that said, welcome to 'God's Country!' We know you'll love it, if you give it a chance...

woo hoo!!! I like the way you said all that

[abdnva]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

woo hoo!!! I like the way you said all that

Well...

I was born in the area, grew up here, moved away after college, and chose to return. I have seen it from both sides. This area of the country is what it is, just like every other area of the country. Those that choose to accept it are welcomed, and those that choose to change it might just as well try to make Brooklynites speak 'Bahstonian'...

This is a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL, place to live. It's not perfect, but everyone makes choices in life. I could choose to live in Charlotte or Atlanta, and always worry about being mugged, even though I would probably make 40% more than I'd make here. of course, I'd pay 200% as much for a home as I would here, too. Instead, as nice as Charlotte & Atlanta are to visit, I choose to live here. Where I can NOT lock my car or house at night, and still feel safe. or I can benefit from the Farmer's Market, and all the other great 'small town' things that I enjoy here. The Christmas Parade, the crafts shows, the home tours, the local high school sports, even though I don't have a teenage child...

I look at it this way, on the Andy Griffith Show, when the 'big city' police came down from Raleigh or Mt.Pilot to Mayberry, they always discovered that the small town guys weren't nearly as stupid as they thought...

I welcome anyone else who wants to move to this area. Really, I DO. All I ask is they they stop insulting us long enough to remember why they wanted to move here in the first place...