Thinking about moving from San Jose, CA (Richmond, Roanoke: transplants, hotel)

[SloRaider]

My Wife, 2.5 year son, dog and myself are considering moving from Willow Glen, nice family neighborhood of San Jose, CA to either Charlottesville or Roanoke, VA. We just recently had some life altering events happen within our Family, want to turn the page on San Jose and get a fresh start.

I am in Software Sales and currently support an East Coast territory and leave on the West Coast and I would NOT need to find a new job, nor commute. My wife is a Preschool Teacher and probably wouldn't have to work, but would like to be involved in a Mom's group and possible have the potential to work 1/2 time.

What I am looking for is a neighborhood that is similar in nature to Willow Glen on the East Coast. We have a very close knight and friendly neighborhood, that is like a small European Town only 10 minutes from downtown San Jose. We are within a 10-15 minute walk from all the downtown shops, which are all unique and un-franchised. However, we are also 10-15 minute drive to the Mall, Movies, Target, etc.

We like a small-town feel, but have access to do things if we want to. Here is a summary of what we are looking for:

-Family Community and a good place to raise a family
-Friendly Neighborhood, (block parties etc.) and sense of community
-Things to do for our kids (Children's Museums, Parks, etc.)
-Availability to nicer Restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai), when my wife and I actually get a chance to go out.
-A dog friendly atmosphere (can't forget about the CKO, Chief Canine Officer of our household.)
-Four "Real" Seasons - as you know here, we really only get 2 Rain and 70 degrees and Sunny.
-Proximity to a "Target" - my wife's favorite store and was actually her only requirement in looking at new cities was their must be a target or something similar within a reasonable distance.
-Sports - some Football/Hockey teams to go see within driving distance.
-Land - I want to be able to buy a piece of land and build a house. Land is becoming increasingly more difficult to find in San Jose.
-Quality of Life - how I define this is to be able to spend quality time with your family, establish a sense of community and truly enjoy your surroundings.

My Two Major concerns are 1.) Moving away from all friends and family. Now while I would have no problem with this and always said I can live anywhere because I am very adaptable and can make friends any where I go. I would be concerned about my wife's ability to adapt. Also, for my two year old son, would not get to see his grandparents and extended family as frequently. How has others reactions been to this after going thru it 6 months, 1 year, 5 years+ after the fact. 2.) Adapting to the Weather patterns of VA from San Jose, CA. Have other adapted quickly to the difference, if you are coming from the West Coast?

If you have other city recommendations either in VA or otherwise, I would definitely love to hear them.

Best Regards,
-SloRaider

[Teebyrd86]

Roanoke!! I moved her back in June and love it!! Definatly check out Roanoke I think you would love it here! Its cheaper than charlottesville and the town itself is a bit larger.. which offers a bit more.. we have target, walmart, 2 malls, ect. but there are also smaller mom and pop places all around! This city is probably home to some of the friendliest people I have ever came across.. check out this cool video it gives you some neat sights and a little feel for Roanoke.. I would check out areas such as Rocky mount and Salem.. I think Salem is a cool town and fits your bill.. Let me know if you have any more questions!! YouTube - Roanoke 002

Originally Posted by SloRaider

My Wife, 2.5 year son, dog and myself are considering moving from Willow Glen, nice family neighborhood of San Jose, CA to either Charlottesville or Roanoke, VA. We just recently had some life altering events happen within our Family, want to turn the page on San Jose and get a fresh start.

I am in Software Sales and currently support an East Coast territory and leave on the West Coast and I would NOT need to find a new job, nor commute. My wife is a Preschool Teacher and probably wouldn't have to work, but would like to be involved in a Mom's group and possible have the potential to work 1/2 time.

What I am looking for is a neighborhood that is similar in nature to Willow Glen on the East Coast. We have a very close knight and friendly neighborhood, that is like a small European Town only 10 minutes from downtown San Jose. We are within a 10-15 minute walk from all the downtown shops, which are all unique and un-franchised. However, we are also 10-15 minute drive to the Mall, Movies, Target, etc.

We like a small-town feel, but have access to do things if we want to. Here is a summary of what we are looking for:

-Family Community and a good place to raise a family
-Friendly Neighborhood, (block parties etc.) and sense of community
-Things to do for our kids (Children's Museums, Parks, etc.)
-Availability to nicer Restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai), when my wife and I actually get a chance to go out.
-A dog friendly atmosphere (can't forget about the CKO, Chief Canine Officer of our household.)
-Four "Real" Seasons - as you know here, we really only get 2 Rain and 70 degrees and Sunny.
-Proximity to a "Target" - my wife's favorite store and was actually her only requirement in looking at new cities was their must be a target or something similar within a reasonable distance.
-Sports - some Football/Hockey teams to go see within driving distance.
-Land - I want to be able to buy a piece of land and build a house. Land is becoming increasingly more difficult to find in San Jose.
-Quality of Life - how I define this is to be able to spend quality time with your family, establish a sense of community and truly enjoy your surroundings.

My Two Major concerns are 1.) Moving away from all friends and family. Now while I would have no problem with this and always said I can live anywhere because I am very adaptable and can make friends any where I go. I would be concerned about my wife's ability to adapt. Also, for my two year old son, would not get to see his grandparents and extended family as frequently. How has others reactions been to this after going thru it 6 months, 1 year, 5 years+ after the fact. 2.) Adapting to the Weather patterns of VA from San Jose, CA. Have other adapted quickly to the difference, if you are coming from the West Coast?

If you have other city recommendations either in VA or otherwise, I would definitely love to hear them.

Best Regards,
-SloRaider

[j1n]

Originally Posted by SloRaider

My Wife, 2.5 year son, dog and myself are considering moving from Willow Glen, nice family neighborhood of San Jose, CA to either Charlottesville or Roanoke, VA. We just recently had some life altering events happen within our Family, want to turn the page on San Jose and get a fresh start.

I am in Software Sales and currently support an East Coast territory and leave on the West Coast and I would NOT need to find a new job, nor commute. My wife is a Preschool Teacher and probably wouldn't have to work, but would like to be involved in a Mom's group and possible have the potential to work 1/2 time.

What I am looking for is a neighborhood that is similar in nature to Willow Glen on the East Coast. We have a very close knight and friendly neighborhood, that is like a small European Town only 10 minutes from downtown San Jose. We are within a 10-15 minute walk from all the downtown shops, which are all unique and un-franchised. However, we are also 10-15 minute drive to the Mall, Movies, Target, etc.

We like a small-town feel, but have access to do things if we want to. Here is a summary of what we are looking for:

-Family Community and a good place to raise a family
-Friendly Neighborhood, (block parties etc.) and sense of community
-Things to do for our kids (Children's Museums, Parks, etc.)
-Availability to nicer Restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai), when my wife and I actually get a chance to go out.
-A dog friendly atmosphere (can't forget about the CKO, Chief Canine Officer of our household.)
-Four "Real" Seasons - as you know here, we really only get 2 Rain and 70 degrees and Sunny.
-Proximity to a "Target" - my wife's favorite store and was actually her only requirement in looking at new cities was their must be a target or something similar within a reasonable distance.
-Sports - some Football/Hockey teams to go see within driving distance.
-Land - I want to be able to buy a piece of land and build a house. Land is becoming increasingly more difficult to find in San Jose.
-Quality of Life - how I define this is to be able to spend quality time with your family, establish a sense of community and truly enjoy your surroundings.

My Two Major concerns are 1.) Moving away from all friends and family. Now while I would have no problem with this and always said I can live anywhere because I am very adaptable and can make friends any where I go. I would be concerned about my wife's ability to adapt. Also, for my two year old son, would not get to see his grandparents and extended family as frequently. How has others reactions been to this after going thru it 6 months, 1 year, 5 years+ after the fact. 2.) Adapting to the Weather patterns of VA from San Jose, CA. Have other adapted quickly to the difference, if you are coming from the West Coast?

If you have other city recommendations either in VA or otherwise, I would definitely love to hear them.

Best Regards,
-SloRaider

hey sloraider...
Your San Jose money is going to go a long way in VA!!
It will go much further in Roanoke than Charlottesville.
Both towns have good amenities. Roanoke's setting is more dramatic, I think...ringed by mountains. From what you describe, you would probably like the SW part of Roanoke...try the Grandin Rd and Raleigh Court neighborhoods.

-Family Community and a good place to raise a family
yes and yes
-Friendly Neighborhood, (block parties etc.) and sense of community
I would say so
-Things to do for our kids (Children's Museums, Parks, etc.)
Yes...parks, Mill Mtn Zoo, lots of history, farms, festivals, etc
-Availability to nicer Restaurants (Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai), when my wife and I actually get a chance to go out.
Errrr, I'll say yes. I'm an NYC-area transplant, and good pizza can be found here. So I would guess good sit-down Italian as well. Other stuff...Chinese, Thai...yes. The Mexican may or may not be up to par when compared to what you are used to on the west coast.
-A dog friendly atmosphere (can't forget about the CKO, Chief Canine Officer of our household.)
yes
-Four "Real" Seasons - as you know here, we really only get 2 Rain and 70 degrees and Sunny.
yes. some snow even.
-Proximity to a "Target" - my wife's favorite store and was actually her only requirement in looking at new cities was their must be a target or something similar within a reasonable distance.
not sure about Target. But Walmart, Kmart, etc.
-Sports - some Football/Hockey teams to go see within driving distance.
Yes. Roanoke has a hockey team and plays in the Civic Center. There are a bunch of colleges around, and football is pretty big.
-Land - I want to be able to buy a piece of land and build a house. Land is becoming increasingly more difficult to find in San Jose.
Lots of land.
-Quality of Life - how I define this is to be able to spend quality time with your family, establish a sense of community and truly enjoy your surroundings
Yes.

My Two Major concerns are 1.) Moving away from all friends and family. Now while I would have no problem with this and always said I can live anywhere because I am very adaptable and can make friends any where I go. I would be concerned about my wife's ability to adapt. Also, for my two year old son, would not get to see his grandparents and extended family as frequently. How has others reactions been to this after going thru it 6 months, 1 year, 5 years+ after the fact. 2.) Adapting to the Weather patterns of VA from San Jose, CA. Have other adapted quickly to the difference, if you are coming from the West Coast?

Come visit for a long weekend, or a week. If you choose to relo here, there is a lot for your wife to get involved in. And there's a lot to do as a family too.
Weather is like this...
Spring...stuff blooms.
Summer...green, lush, pretty humid, hot.
Fall...amazing, colors, clear air, crisp.
Winter...fluxuates...today it was around 50, yesterday was 70, 2 weeks ago it was 20. we've gotten a few little snows (melts away after a day or two).

[Teebyrd86]

Also if you decide to visit Roanoke for a weekend check out my neighborhood I live in South Roanoke City.. Its homes are really cool with lots of charm and we have a block party every year.. & im pretty sure there are moms groups and the neighborhood is probably the best in the city.. heres a link to the neighborhood newspaper.. The South Roanoke Circle Good Luck!

[roanoker 4]

To SloRaider, Roanoke is a collection of small villages within the City. Grandin Village is the most popular with younger folks, coffee shops, "trendy" restaurants. South Roanoke also has a village center with more upscale folks, professionals and soon a trolley will connect that area to downtown. Downtown Roanoke is evolving into a fun place to live with over 60 restaurants(many ethnic, art museums, Hotel Roanoke, etc). The best part about living here in the Valley is that one can travel to two regional malls, downtown within a 20-30 minute trip. If you get tired of the City scenery, drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and there is nothing but cows, barns and mountains.

[theshan]

I think Charlottesville is a great place for families: check out AlbemarleFamily - NEW for the week of Tuesday - Monday February 5 - February 11, 2008 for a range of activities available.

We have something like the highest number of restaurants per capita--not sure if that's true but a quick look online will show you all the options, including plenty of international: thai, brazilian, indian, chinese, korean . . .

Though I am not a dog person, it seems I am the only one--in many communities like Riverrun, Hollymead, and Forest Lakes, you will see lots of folks walking their dogs and socializing in common areas. There is also a dog park at Darden Towe, though off-leashing happens at some of the other parks. Even walking the trails on O-Hill on UVA grounds, people and their dogs would play.

Yes, there is a beautiful spring and autumn. The winter isn't true to some since we don't normally get a lot of snow, but still, compared to CA, it's cold.

There is a gorgeous new Target across from Hollymead which opened two years ago.

Virginia football reigns supreme here. I assume you are talking professional though, so for that the Redskins would mean almost a 2-3 hour drive to MD to see them play. Washington has the Caps--about 2 hours. Richmond has minor league ball.

I would look into Fluvanna County if you want to build, though a realtor I'm sure could point you in the right direction in Alb Co. Fluvanna is where Lake Monticello is, which is another gorgeous community for families, but your wife will have a 30 min drive to Target.

The folks with the quality of life here are those who do not have to commute to Richmond or DC (yes, some make the drive!). Not sure if your work is something you can do from home?

It is hard to move--I left Cville a year ago and miss it still. My toddler is too young to know the difference, but it is hard on his grandparents, obviously. You mentioned being concerned about your wife's ability to adapt--is she truly onboard with this cross-country move?

Good luck with this big decision, feel free to ask more questions.

[Stevedawg]

I think you may like both of the mentioned places but just be wary of major culture shock. Charlotesville is more populated by college kids and transplants so it may be a little easier to adjust to for a west coaster. Roanoke is a southern city where many of the people have deep roots and religion plays a big part in the social activites of the city. You may feel a bit more culture shock coming from CA to Roanoke. Also neither of cities will have near the same kind of job market as bay area. Also think about family and friend connections before moving across the country. I say this cause I'm from Roanoke but moved to Texas and I know it's a change.

[j1n]

I respect stevedawg's post and point of view, but I'll throw in my experiences as well. Just a different point of view...

Originally Posted by Stevedawg

I think you may like both of the mentioned places but just be wary of major culture shock. Charlotesville is more populated by college kids and transplants so it may be a little easier to adjust to for a west coaster.

Roanoke has it's fair share of college kids around too, as we have something like 4 or more colleges all over here. I moved here from Hudson County, NJ...six blocks from the Hudson Bay and practically within view of NYC. I grew up running around NYC...going to shows at CBGB's...hanging around Washington Square Park, etc...and I have not experienced nearly the amount of culture shock that you would think.

Roanoke is a southern city where many of the people have deep roots and religion plays a big part in the social activites of the city. You may feel a bit more culture shock coming from CA to Roanoke.

My only real exposure to "religion" here has been from going to church. Other than that, I think that folks are just ok with being more open about their faith. And to me, it comes across as "neighborly", not pushy at all.

Also neither of cities will have near the same kind of job market as bay area.

Come here with a job lined up, for sure.

Also think about family and friend connections before moving across the country.

Absolutely something that should be taken into deep consideration.

[Stevedawg]

I think you may not get the culture shock because you are still an east coaster. I think southerners and northerners have more in common than maybe they care to admit but west coast is just different. As for religion, it may not be this way for everyone but from my own experience my parents, brother, and sister-in-law social lives all revolve around the church and even my own did to some degree when I was growing up there. I can't really see where all the college kids are either. The New River Valley has tons of them but Roanoke has very few, even if you count Roanoke College but that is in Salem. Lots of high school kids but few college students actually in Roanoke.

[Lynch Vegas]

Charlottesville is so beautiful and very hip with a more liberal population, but it is quite small although has very cool shops, restaurants, college sports, great entertainment, and all the amenities you need, plus Richmond shopping is like 45 min. drive to Short Pump. Roanoke is also beautiful and would be more of a real city IMHO, has more industry, etc., and I'm guessing a better job market than C-ville, but that sounds like a non-factor for you. I'd pick C-ville.