Should I consider a move to Baton Rouge? (New Orleans, Jean Lafitte: apartment, house)

[GorillaBrav]

Good morning,

I've had some life events lead me to decide I need to shake things up in my life. I've moved around in the past and have visited most of the country due to my career. However I've been presented with an opportunity in Baton Rouge. It will pay very well, however I've never been to the area, let alone the state. This is where I need help.

I've searched through the forum and read advice and input provided to people about where to live etc. For me, I'm on the fence about this position. It's nothing against the company, it's more of I am in an industry I can live just about anywhere in the US and now that I'm looking to make a change I want to go somewhere that I will enjoy in and outside of work.

Reading through various websites etc, Baton Rouge seems to get very polarizing reviews, so I am not sure if I should consider this chance or wait for something else (I am not in a rush, but would like a change).

A little about me and my situation to hopefully help you help me (which I appreciate very much).

I'm 34, single. No kids, no wife/girlfriend, and I will not have any family or friends anywhere close (nowhere in the state). So basically I'm all alone. I would like to settle down and find the right lady for me and potentially have a family with her. I would also like to meet friends and not just be a loner.

I like trying new things, being outside, travelling, and playing pool. I would think with me being alone a somewhat nice apartment would be fine at first ($800 - $1100 in rent). I typically keep to myself and don't get too wild, so I don't think being near LSU would be ideal. I do also prefer somewhere safe (relatively speaking since no where is absolute). I have a car and have not depended on public transportation in the past. I've usually been a suburbs type of guy but don't want to have more than a 30 minute commute to work. In the past I've lived in Kansas City, MO, Louisville, KY, Cedar Rapids, IA, and northwest Atlanta, GA.

My question isn't so much what part of town should I live in, that would depend on where the job is located, but moreso should I consider this opportunity or not?

Thank you for your time and help.

[WhoDatInMD]

Based on your interests, I would consider it. There are many good outdoorsy things to do in Baton Rouge and the nearby parishes. There's a number of national parks/wildlife refuge areas within an hours drive and you can walk trails (and maybe see some gators) and do other activities in them. I took my fiance to the Jean Lafitte national park earlier this year and we walked a naturalized trail and saw a few gators.

There's a few good pool spots in BR but I always liked Ricochet's and met a few cool guys there playing pool Friday nights. If you like tennis or other recreational sports, BREC has a great sports program where you can play and participate in a number of different sports. I played tennis and met a good amount of people playing in BREC leagues and by just going to random tennis courts around the city and playing pickup games. If you like to run, there's a huge running club that runs downtown.

As for meeting the right lady, it all depends on what your tastes are and where you're trying to meet women. Baton Rouge may be a college town but it's still fairly conservative like most of Louisiana and within the Bible belt. If you're the conservative type, go to church, etc..., then you shouldn't have too hard of a time meeting the right woman. You might get lucky meeting her just doing some of the things I mentioned earlier or through volunteering places.

I'm 34 also, black, engaged, no kids, and I left BR in 2011. My main reason for leaving was I was bored with the city and Louisiana in general. After living in LA my whole life, I needed something new. I was kinda like you before I reached that point but later began looking to break out of my shell and BR really didn't offer many after work options for young, black, professional adults like HH spots and lounges where black professionals meet, rooftop events, etc... And I wasn't religious so it was hard finding a black woman who either wasn't religious or accepted that I wasn't and still wanted to be with me. After moving to the DC area, I found more open-minded individuals, after work activities, seasonal weather, my fiance, pretty much everything I was looking for. Baton Rouge is still a very nice place with very friendly people tho (the people up here aren't as friendly as there).

I hope I was able to give you some things to think about.

[Imsoblue]

Yes! It's a great place. People are real nice and if it's a good paying job your money should go pretty far in living arrangements. I am rarely it's aware of it being a college town, but you will probably become a fan of the Tigers because it's just that much fun!
And New Orleans is so close!

[Nmlcal1204]

Let me say that I, like you, have lived other places. I am originally from the New Orleans area and I moved in 2005 to Kennesaw, GA. I lived there for 3 years and then I lived in Denver as well as San Diego. I wanted to move home (or at least closer to home) once I had my daughter so we bought a house here in Baton Rouge a little over a year ago. Being that I have lived other places.....I like BR "okay" but it is not my favorite. There is not a ton to do if you have been to other cities. Now some people LOVE it here because they don't like big cities but the issue is that just because BR is a smaller city doesn't mean you won't deal with one of the biggest issues that people have with larger cities. Traffic. The traffic is pretty bad here. No where near as bad as Atlanta but the have an excuse! We just have terrible infrastructure. Like I said that we like it here, I love my house, but we may look into moving soon.