moving from Rochester NY to Hendersonville NC (Charlotte, Asheville: appointed, transplants)

[Deanna22]

I will be moving from Rochester, NY, to the Hendersonville, NC, area next year. What kind of things should I be aware of? How to gain NC residency? Cost comparatives of auto and health insurance between the two cities?
Employment prospective: I am a tax accountant, Payroll administrator, Office Manager, Bookkeeper, EMT-B, with an interest in becoming a registered nurse. Which avenue would you suggest I follow or, at least, research further?
Re: Nursing - If I were to get my LPN before moving to NC, what would it take to get my RN? What if I don't get my LPN prior to moving? Are there programs that will help financially to get my RN? If so, what are the qualifications?
Any help, suggestions, comments are welcome!!
Thank you!

[Schickelgruber]

Moving here without a job lined up is not a good idea. In this economy, health care is a good bet, but the idea that finding employment or financial help for education will be easier in Hendersonville than in Rochester is like assuming that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I think you will find that when it comes to tuition and financial assistance, you will be considered a non-resident until you have been here for 12 months as a non-student, i.e. if you are enrolled as a student for 12 months, you will still be a non-resident for tuition purposes during the subsequent year. Most states have gotten wise to the "game" of students trying to get in-state status just because they have attended school for a year.

I think you have to determine why you want to move. If it's because you think the employment opportunities are better here, you will be disappointed.

[olegirlie]

Why Hendersonville? One would be a bit crazy these days to move without some kind of job offer already in place.Why not Charlotte? If you are serious about going into a career in nursing that would be a great choice.I worked and lived there for 3 years and loved it! And yes, there are TONS of transplanted NY-ers there so you wont feel so "alone".And just about anywhere is cheaper than NY state!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by olegirlie

Why Hendersonville? One would be a bit crazy these days to move without some kind of job offer already in place.Why not Charlotte? If you are serious about going into a career in nursing that would be a great choice.I worked and lived there for 3 years and loved it! And yes, there are TONS of transplanted NY-ers there so you wont feel so "alone".And just about anywhere is cheaper than NY state!

Gosh, don't send her to Charlotte - our unemployment rate will be 13% soon and our nursing schools are all overloaded with people making career switches!

[Deanna22]

Thank you for all your comments. I think I should clarify some things.
I am 46, single, and have no children living at home. In fact, my son will be moving to Oregon this summer. I am moving to Hendersonville because I have family there. But, I am not ready to move to Florida yet. I am sick of New York State - the taxes, the weather, the people...
My reason for asking the employment/career questions I did was to make a decision on which industry I should start focusing on for a job - prior to moving to NC. I want to move into the healthcare field, but not if that area of NC is saturated.
I am interested in any information from other "transplants" about things you wish somebody had told you before you moved.
Again, thank you very much for your input...

[Cofga]

The Asheville-Hendersonville area is a retiree mecca thanks to articles in various magazines such as "Southern Living" and "Where to Retire". Consequently a large chunk of the local economy is driven by retiree needs, including health care. As baby boomers age expect that need to increase. There are several hospitals in the area including Hendersonville, Waynesville, Fletcher, and Asheville (2 there if you include the VA hospital). However, I do agree with others that you should get your education up there then move south unless you have deep pockets or plan to move in with those relatives in Hendersonville.

[louise50]

Because of the demand from the huge retiree population, Hendersonville, NC has stellar Medical facilities and increasing . I would think that the health care profession would be a better possibility in the present economy than other fields.

[Asheville Native]

Nationally registered EMT-B? You really need to be a nationally registered EMT-P before your certification will help you employment wise.

[SheRuns]

I am a recently retired (61) person who - yes, because of what I have read about the many qualities of the Asheville/Henderson area - is seriously thinking of checking out the area and possibly relocating. I would like to ask the "natives" of NC what they think of all these northerners (retired or not) coming to live in your state. Do you in any way resent us for intruding on your way of life? I wouldn't blame you if you did, but if you don't want us there, maybe I should look somewhere else to retire.

[OMGosh Josh]

Damn old people from Florida and New York (not including yourself) build second homes here in North Carolina and only live here for about a third of the year.

I'm getting sick of these gated communities and fast.

It's cool if you're coming from somewhere else to live here, I'm just tired of the people coming from out of town, building oversized houses that they only live in for a small portion of the year and raising the cost of everything.

Baaaahh...

Ok, my rant is over.