Is West Virginia for us? If not, please make a suggestion.... (Charleston: employment, university)

[cry_havoc]

Originally Posted by Chriscross309

You don't know where I've been, what I've seen, or even where I've lived. And the truth is that it is none of your business. Fact of the matter is that I've seen every corner of this country and 6 other countries. I've been to some of the world's most impressive cities and stayed at some of the world's nicest hotels. I've even been to some of nation's biggest cultural events and festivals, but I'm sure you are still convienced that I am below your standards. The truth is your standards must be low because you have chosen Morgantown as a home.

So you claim to have seen everywhere in the country and traveled to the most impressive cities in the world? Yet you find charleston a good place to live and full of culture? Either you are lying or don't understand culture.

If my standards are low for living in morgantown yours are several times lower for choosing charleston. If you are stuck their because of circumstances beyond your control I am truly sorry.

[drs72]

Charleston has a lot of nice things. As a small city without a major university, it has a lot of nice things. It is the state capital, after all. However, Charleston doesn't surpass Morgantown culturally. That's a little bit of a stretch, don't ya think? Everybody knows if you're looking for culture, you'll find it in big cities and college towns with major universities. Charleston has the Clay Center and I'm sure a nice art scene, but I would be extremely skeptical if someone were to try to tell me that they surpass the home of the state's 30,000-student, flagship university. To add to that, hearing people speak other languages, seeing Muslims, etc. is a daily occurrence here and you don't find that in Charleston. I think that would be a difficult argument to make. With that being said, I think a good comparison is this: Charleston is to Harrisburg as Morgantown is to State College. WV and PA are a lot alike and their respective capitals and state college towns have a lot of similarities.

Chris, you seem to get frustrated and start making jabs directly at Morgantown when cry_havoc continues to contradict you. That's something you shouldn't be doing. He's not the only one who lives here and certainly doesn't represent us. Charleston is good for some things and Morgantown for others. No need to stoop to his level. At the end of the day, you'll be the better man for refraining.

[cry_havoc]

Originally Posted by drs72

Charleston has a lot of nice things. As a small city without a major university, it has a lot of nice things. It is the state capital, after all. However, Charleston doesn't surpass Morgantown culturally. That's a little bit of a stretch, don't ya think? Everybody knows if you're looking for culture, you'll find it in big cities and college towns with major universities. Charleston has the Clay Center and I'm sure a nice art scene, but I would be extremely skeptical if someone were to try to tell me that they surpass the home of the state's 30,000-student, flagship university. To add to that, hearing people speak other languages, seeing Muslims, etc. is a daily occurrence here and you don't find that in Charleston. I think that would be a difficult argument to make. With that being said, I think a good comparison is this: Charleston is to Harrisburg as Morgantown is to State College. WV and PA are a lot alike and their respective capitals and state college towns have a lot of similarities.

Chris, you seem to get frustrated and start making jabs directly at Morgantown when cry_havoc continues to contradict you. That's something you shouldn't be doing. He's not the only one who lives here and certainly doesn't represent us. Charleston is good for some things and Morgantown for others. No need to stoop to his level. At the end of the day, you'll be the better man for refraining.

Great post.

First off morgantown has more than just muslims. It has lots of students from east asia, india, africa, europe, and latin america. Morgantown has gotten a significant islamic population and it seems they are adapting well with the locals. All the ones I have met are very friendly.

I resort the, "snooping to my level," remark. I may not be polite but I don't generalize all the people in charleston. While I do doubt chris's claims I know he doesn't represent everyone in charleston. He is the one that gets upset when I say anything positive about morgantown, which turns are discussions into long arguments. I think charleston is a nice city but it doesn't have strong culture or art. Doesn't mean it is a bad place that is just the truth of the matter. Don't think it has impressive architecture. It isn't terrible but it sure isn't nice. It does have some nice neighborhoods. It does have a good restaurant scene.

When you consider the morgantown area, and not just arbitrary lines on a map they are around the same size in population. Morgantown is closer to population centers. It is also more urban. Finally it is more diverse. These things again don't make charleston a bad place.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by drs72

Charleston has a lot of nice things. As a small city without a major university, it has a lot of nice things. It is the state capital, after all. However, Charleston doesn't surpass Morgantown culturally. That's a little bit of a stretch, don't ya think? Everybody knows if you're looking for culture, you'll find it in big cities and college towns with major universities. Charleston has the Clay Center and I'm sure a nice art scene, but I would be extremely skeptical if someone were to try to tell me that they surpass the home of the state's 30,000-student, flagship university. To add to that, hearing people speak other languages, seeing Muslims, etc. is a daily occurrence here and you don't find that in Charleston. I think that would be a difficult argument to make. With that being said, I think a good comparison is this: Charleston is to Harrisburg as Morgantown is to State College. WV and PA are a lot alike and their respective capitals and state college towns have a lot of similarities.

Chris, you seem to get frustrated and start making jabs directly at Morgantown when cry_havoc continues to contradict you. That's something you shouldn't be doing. He's not the only one who lives here and certainly doesn't represent us. Charleston is good for some things and Morgantown for others. No need to stoop to his level. At the end of the day, you'll be the better man for refraining.

I'm not disagreeing with anything in your post....

But, State College PA is not an interesting town.... I'd think Morgantown is much better than State Park, PA!

I've never been to Morgantown, but I have the impression it is much more eclectic college town. When I visited State College, it had no similarities whatsoever to cities like Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and such that I'm familiar with in MI.

I always imagined Morgantown to be a little bit like a little Ann Arbor or a very little Madison WI...

Or am I wrong?

[cry_havoc]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I'm not disagreeing with anything in your post....

But, State College PA is not an interesting town.... I'd think Morgantown is much better than State Park, PA!

I've never been to Morgantown, but I have the impression it is much more eclectic college town. When I visited State College, it had no similarities whatsoever to cities like Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and such that I'm familiar with in MI.

I always imagined Morgantown to be a little bit like a little Ann Arbor or a very little Madison WI...

Or am I wrong?

Never been to either, but my brother goes to Madison and he does say Madison is like a bigger Morgantown.

[WychyWoman]

Whoa... holy moly. I never thought that my simple inquiry would result in pages of such debate!

To the poster who said all they needed was their nice trailer on the side of a hill... I'm with you (and would like to shake your hand). No, we wouldn't be able to live "anywhere we want" to. We are not millionaires. "All those properties" we own are the result of a falling real-estate market for sellers, some great credit, and trustworthy, amazing tenants. Anyone can succeed in investing for the future as long as they plan for it. I've just been planning since my first job, and my first house.

To the poster who said that my inquiry was just another "random post" and "nobody was moving" to West Virginia, you could not be more wrong. I have posted inquiries in the past and they resulted in no hits. That's OK... maybe nobody had any info for me. This - my latest question - is a serious one indeed.

Lots of factors may change in the next 5 years, but we needed a place to start. I was elected to make the inquiries, and this was the beginning. I have not (yet) posted in any other state's forum as I wanted to start here.

Keep the info coming, folks. And for those of you who have written me privately, I appreciate it.

[WychyWoman]

If anyone can recommend a buyer's agent/realtor in WV, please send me their info....

[angelcat63]

What's Springfield and Romney Like?

[Zea mays]

I recommend you try (rent) before you you buy. Your coming from from L.I. and proximity to NYC, you may find WV quite a cultural shock. It is not for everyone.

Just curious, but where do own land in Illinois? If you are farming corn and beans (what else in IL?) and bought more than 5-10 years ago, you must be doing mighty fine about now.

Look before you leap.

[boycewv]

I apologize for our rude guests as they seem to think their locale is somehow superior. I would not suggest southwestern wv, it is economically depressed and has been for a very long time. I used to live in both Charleston and huntington, and while they do make up a large population of wv they seem to be isolated and do not necessarily fit into the north or south, but Huntington is a beautiful city and I remember all those days as a kid I spent in ritter park. Morgantown is somewhere I visit often, but I would consider it a town for the young, but it does meet your political and cultural demands. However, I would suggest the eastern panhandle and do your research as there are many great small communities. You can escape the city but still reside close to many large towns within a half hour: Martinsburg, Winchester, and Hagerstown. At the same time you are within an hour and a half to Baltimore and Washington DC and all of the associated communities such as Georgetown. With that in mind you can also drive into the middle of nowhere and stay in a cabin in the mountains or spend a day in the Berkeley spring baths. As an investor you should also know that berkeley, Jefferson, and to a lesser extent Hampshire and Morgan counties all have rapid population growth. We are talking over 25% making this part of the country an investors gold mine. I have seen homes go from 80000 to 250000 in the past 10 years. However, the prices have fallen greatly due to the economy, but they will go back up. Just check out the economic numbers they are astounding. Just FYI I have lived in elkview, south Charleston, gilmer county, downtown Charleston, huntington all within 10 years. Then I lived in Romney for 15 years, and have just moved to Berkeley county about 6 months ago for more job opportunities. Found a successful career in Hagerstown, MD making about twice what I was making before. I really miss romney though.