Should I move to Atlanta from Boston? can't take this long cold winter! (Peachtree City: rent, homes)
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Atlanta has a lot to offer, but remember that it won't be another Boston. You have the southern charm (in some areas) and the city life. It's very diverse, but not as diverse as other cities. Atlanta has a decent music scene for the most part and is affordable. The economy is another story, but then again that's everywhere.
I think Atlanta has lost its "southerness". Outside of Atlanta metro you can find it. I know two people who have lived in Atlanta all their lives and actually have an "Atlanta" accent. They are almost like museum pieces.
Atlanta has become a neutral southern city so you can come from anywhere and fit in. That's good and bad as Atlanta doesn't have a distinct character. Like pablum, anyone can eat it as it doesn't offend anyone's sense of taste. Atlanta is a transient city with an amalgam of people so its not anything in particular. It's reflected in Atlanta's old architecture or to be more correct...the lack of it.
I think Atlanta has lost its "southerness". Outside of Atlanta metro you can find it. I know two people who have lived in Atlanta all their lives and actually have an "Atlanta" accent. They are almost like museum pieces.
Atlanta has become a neutral southern city so you can come from anywhere and fit in. That's good and bad as Atlanta doesn't have a distinct character. Like pablum, anyone can eat it as it doesn't offend anyone's sense of taste. Atlanta is a transient city with an amalgam of people so its not anything in particular. It's reflected in Atlanta's old architecture or to be more correct...the lack of it.
I am surprised no one crucified you for your comment yet.
I am surprised no one crucified you for your comment yet.
<Originally Posted by MathmanMathman
I think Atlanta has lost its "southerness". Outside of Atlanta metro you can find it. I know two people who have lived in Atlanta all their lives and actually have an "Atlanta" accent. They are almost like museum pieces.
Atlanta has become a neutral southern city so you can come from anywhere and fit in. That's good and bad as Atlanta doesn't have a distinct character. Like pablum, anyone can eat it as it doesn't offend anyone's sense of taste. Atlanta is a transient city with an amalgam of people so its not anything in particular. It's reflected in Atlanta's old architecture or to be more correct...the lack of it.>
I've lived here for over half a century--it certainly doesn't upset me. Some who live here are concerned about other things--keeping the economy going and all that.
I can always go to my favorite spots--and enjoy myself--in my Southern way. lol Stone Mountain isn't going anywhere, neither is the Chattahoochee River--it could become polluted or dry up--but enough people are concerned about such things to hopefully prevent that.
I can find boiled peanuts and make BLT's--cornbread and BBQ.
Southern enough.
^You got that right. I have a Georgia accent...and I was the only native I knew of in Atlanta.
Now I'm in New Orleans which is unbelievably southern...
What I don't get about comments such as these is that I have lived in metro Atlanta my entire life, and in my day-to-day interactions, the overwhelming majority of people are southerners, and at least half of them are native Georgians.
It seems people must literally mean "Atlanta" (the actual city limits) when they say Atlanta, for the suburbs are loaded with natives.
What I don't get about comments such as these is that I have lived in metro Atlanta my entire life, and in my day-to-day interactions, the overwhelming majority of people are southerners, and at least half of them are native Georgians.
It seems people must literally mean "Atlanta" (the actual city limits) when they say Atlanta, for the suburbs are loaded with natives.
I think you have to go back to Atlantans born in the 1950s and earlier. Seems like the only time I hear authentic Georgia southern is from the representatives in the Georgia Dome. It's also the older Atlanta natives that have that Atlanta lilt. Regional dialects are endangered and an authentic Atlanta dialect will probably be gone in another generation. I think Emory even offered a continuing education class to help one lose their "southern".
One good reason to leave Boston is the Red Sox. Ok seriously folks. Today you have to consider cost of present living and future cost of living. People have to consider their long term financial future and living is certain places like Boston can suck away potential savings. If individuals don't consider their own long term financial plans life will do it for them.
You can save and invest anywhere but the amounts you have t work with does make a difference.
I have been living in Boston since the past 7-8 yrs. My wife and I have good paying, stable IT jobs in Boston.
But, I'm just sick of this long cold winter which lasts for 6 months a year! It's all gloomy, gray and depressing. Probably, I'm just getting older (I'm 30 yrs old). Add to that Boston is super expensive! 70 year old homes sell for > 550k$ in good school towns + 6 months of high heating bills + super high property taxes!
I'm seriously thinking of moving to a warmer, cheaper city like Atlanta,Ga or Dallas,tx , etc.
I love Boston in the summer..but it's hardly there to enjoy. The beaches, the downtown, the harbor, great school system for kids and safe suburbs...its all nice...except for the winter.
I'm not sure if I'm being just a cry baby because of the weather or should I really follow my wishful dreams and make a move to these cheaper,warmer cities. Is it worth starting all over again in a new city?
I see all these brand new homes on HGTV selling for 300k$ in sunny atlanta and I feel sad about living in Boston. Are these worth moving for?..or its just grass is greener on the other side?
Here's a gem I wrote a month ago when we had our somewhat, bi-annual "snow storm" (if you can call it that) hit Atlanta.....you will recognize this as it is the "norm" for those poor souls who endure the North as no one really quite "lives" it up there.....
Enjoy...
While it's true that unto everyone's life, some rain must fall, Atlanta receives much less than some would expect. And that is just fine with me.....
Having originally grown up in "Moscow" (Read: Cleveland/Akron) I can tell you entirely without reservation, this is a snap....all that crap you read and hear about from Hall Mark cards this time of year is rubbish....I grew up where "men were men"...and unfortunately, so were the women.....it got so cold up there we used to call it the "Moscow Effect" where pretty much everyone would scrunch up like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day and tell everyone how cold it was going to be and for how long.....
It's the kind of place where one might want to scratch their recently thawed out fingernails onto a chalk board in some sort of masochistic ritual to beg for God's forgiveness as there must be no other reason for the weather to be that cold other than God's damnation.....
It's easy here although as I continue to age and take on a Tom Bosley'ish appearance, I've started to become more sensitive to the cold here....the good news is that unlike Cleveland/Akron, you WILL see the sunshine and you WILL see your shadow again....not occassionally but, on a daily basis.....
The Ground Hog's got nothin' on those folks who endure the wrath of a Cleveland/Akron winter.....eh?
Snow in Atlanta? Sure. But, it's just a dusting.....oddly enough, here's some of the most notable things one will see when it does....never fails to make me smile.....
1) Rush to Home Depot. This somewhat annual ritual is usually fueled by the likes of you-pick-the-newscaster at whatever station you tune to. I call it the "Monica Kauffman" syndrome....no slam on the every-changing fro Monica but, when one watches the wild, in the wild, it's as though the hungry have found food. Hilarious. This is second only to the annual ritual of those gals in Cobb County who actually spy cotillions.
To watch the somewhat annual pilgrimmage to Home Depot when really cold weather (read: 10-30 degrees) "threatens" us for 1-2 days is quite a treat. No flashlight, battery, generator, safety tape, piece of insulation or space heater is spared.
It's been known that certain women of larger stature will thump any other Kate Moss type with little notice, and sometimes entirely without, for even THINKING of making a move to the ceramic heaters they have "reserved" for their brow-beaten spouse when he arrives with one of the few remaining carts left....IN THE PARKING LOT!!!!
It reminds me of holiday sales when everyone has waited as long as they possibly can before they rush the tables festooned with China's latest goods at Wal-Mart. These chicks take no prisoners and God help YOU if you reach for the last big padded bra on sale.....you have been warned....
It's as though we live in a 3rd world and no one really knows when the jitney bus will show up again......
2) The rush to Publix/Kroger....Ingles for the rural folks....this is similar to Homie Depot with the loads being somewhat smaller. There is a smaller improvement in the decorum that restrains the most vile and aggressive individuals a bit longer. Personally, I think it's the lights. It's brighter and tighter in THEIR aisles so, a little less mayhem tends to ensue.....
In this case, no jug of water, milk, loaf of bread, sandwich meat, or PB&J material is spared.
The only thing more pathetic than this is the crowd that must fight their way through Ingles for the even less meager rations. Ingles....Everyone's last choice besides Patel's convenience store in Blue Ridge.
It's where the downtrodden or the most rural...shop...if you can call it that....it's where Publix and Kroger (K-Roger) probably pawn their soon to be spoiled goods....I know, I've been there....the melons aren't as ripe, the bread is stiff (like Flo, the checkout lady), and the demeanor of the patrons is similar to those that may be found in South Florida...mean...n' meaner.....
It's the kind of place where you get to "Feel" the 3rd world without really actually having to live there.....it's where all those immigrants you whine about show up at 12 midnight......with a smile.....just like Wal-Mart.....se habla....
The kind of place where "Cousin Eddy" is going to show up from his latest National Lampoon movie shoot.
3) Traffic. For once, it's light. One thing we whacky Atlantans love is our free time....deserved or otherwise.....we tend to go in late, go home early because of the "traffic".....poor employers.......Nothing says QwikTrip better than a "pending storm", of any kind, threatening our very well being in Atlanta. People f'in FLEE the workforces as fast as their supervisors will allow.
The rush usually is led off by that never-quite-satisfied admin closest to the door commonly known as "The Receptionist"....In outside sales, we call her "The Pit Bull". Keep a good eye on this broad. She's your visual cue that it's OKAY to bolt as she IS your alibi when asked why you left at 3....ish.....the day before....
When pressed for an answer as to why you left early the day before, simply toss in the kids, flat tires, elderly care or some other hard-to-really challenge nonsense and you are usually okay. In Atlanta, the workers seem to take this to an art form....busy busy busy...just caaaaan't quite get that whole day in.....snow storms, or the looming threat of one, sends them running faster than an Anthrax scare in DC......
And while everyone will make you THINK they need to get home, you can usually find them in the traffic jam with I-POD's blaring, cell phones going, and make-up adornin' juuuuuuust after their "necessary" departure.....GRTA represent!
4) The News. While the folks usually do a pretty good job of tuning these gems out, they are absolutely glued to the latest "developments" of the pending 10mph storm "heading our way". It's right up there with the friend we all have that has at least one TV f'in GLUED to the Weather Channel 24/7. While it's true that weather can change suddenly I'm just not entirely convinced I have to keep my eye on it THAT closely. Heck, I don't even watch my spouse that close and perhaps with that albatross, I should have ample reason to do so?
No matter, the thought of a single hail ball is enough to send our folks in Atlanta scurrying like cockroaches awash in new light (light switch....ON!). On a brighter note, it's THE opportunity to get a new roof so for that, we are all entirely grateful.....insurance pogues nothwithstanding....ahem.....
5) The morning after. Just like that skank you young bucks might have dragged home the night before, all things must come to an end. Sure, you might be able to sneak her out the back for her obligatory "walk of shame" to the car but, much like your employer, you are going to have to face her/them sooner or later.
Man up. Get her up, get her OUT, and get to work!!! While the evenings "social activities" ARE important, none so much so that you are willing to give up your W-2? Besides, how many women, skanks or otherwise, are willing to hangout with YOU without a paycheck?
Lose the paycheck and you are going to be arm wrestling for the tatoo'd monster at 3 AM in the pool halls without one. You will know her by the pack of Marlboro's, 1/2 a head of teeth, and "blonde" hair that hasn't seen peroxide for months....mmmmmmmm........tasty........
6) Post Mortems. While said "storms" are always shorter than you hope, the post mortems on said storm reviewed at work last longer than said storm ever could. Your co-workers, always in the hunt for execuses to do anything BUT work, will spend DAYS going over the blow by blow incidents that almost happened to them or ones they heard happened to a neighbor's friend's cousin, once removed.....sure.......These, thick-a$$, round chair surfers will spend more time on what could have been than what you would want them to do.....seems simple but, get two or three of these jokers going and you won't hear them come up for air until lunch......
It's worse than enduring Terry Bradshaw on Sunday's. Magic Johson in the winter....just no end in sight....sigh.....
Other than that?
Yeah, the Summer and other two Summer seasons are fine. But, that's a discussion for another day.....ping me in the Spring and I'll toss a few more of these morsels out.....
Stay safe, know the locations of all Homie Depot's and Lowe's stores in ADVANCE!!!... and for God's sake, avoid Ingles and cousin Eddy!
I don't want to post anything too "off-topic", but New York's air travel market is so huge and lucrative that back in 2006 Delta began offering helicopter service from Manhattan to JFK to get its top clientele to the airport in 8-10 minutes.
Delta said it was those who routinely buy last minute tickets for around $10,000 a pop.
Newark EWR is only about 10 miles from Manhattan, possibly closer than JFK.
Yep. But it IS in another state. As I recall, that was the point made when I asked if we could count other airports too?
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In THIS case, the Grass IS greener.....
