Lesbian Couple Relocating to Charleston from NYC (York: neighborhood, living)

[lizardspock]

Originally Posted by iwabird21

Well, unsure if the gf wants to live downtown while I do but am fine if not. Perhaps in our second year there job-pending. What do you mean by "hazard upper King"?

We have to schlep a while to do our laundry here so if there's no W/D, that's okay. Also, when you say "tiny" do you mean by Charleston's standards or are we thinking Tokyo microapartments? I used to live in a room that only fit my bed.

And for now, we're just a 2-person family Late 20s/almost 30s. The extra bedroom would be for visitors.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I meant that the Upper King area is borderline. ZUMAN is right - there are a lot of young professionals moving into the area, but there are still a lot of sketchy areas. I climb at the indoor bouldering facility up there at least once a week and during the day it is fine. But they were burglarized earlier this month and the pizza restaurant next door gets broken into once a year on average. You can also see when you drive through there that the area is largely low income housing with some nicer pockets cropping up. That's what I meant by "hazard Upper King", as in if you want to take a chance on it, it might work out or it might not.

I think he has somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 sqft, so not too terribly small. Keep in mind that Harleston Village is pretty desirable, so other areas like the Boroughs will be cheaper but not quite as nice and/or convenient to all that Charleston has to offer.

If you aren't necessarily looking at downtown living I would suggest somewhere in Mt. Pleasant, but that's where I live so I am partial. It takes me 9 minutes to get to downtown Charleston, 3 minutes to get to the 526 connector (beltline basically) and it's about 16 minutes to the beach (Isle of Palms). Other areas are nice too, just depends on your priorities and where you work.

[IsNull]

I'm not exactly sure what 'LGBT friendly' would be defined as. I don't think anyone would heckle you here. It's about as accepting as any more 'modern' southern town. People will have their opinions, but the most you might ever get is a face made at you... which again would be rare. Especially based on the level of PDA you listed. I must live a very sheltered life, I don't see a lot of homosexual couples out holding hands. I feel that of the strange looks you might get, most would be because it's not expected and isn't seen everyday vs I'm against the practice.

But as someone pointed out, Charleston is in a conservative state and while more liberal than most cities in the state... it's probably much more conservative than what you may be used to. Unless the US Supreme Court allows same sex marriage, I wouldn't expect to see SC allowing it any time soon.

I guess if I would define San Fransisco on a LGBT friendly scale as a 10. Charleston might be a 4?

[ahef71]

Being a recent transplant from Brooklyn, my partner (a guy) and I (a girl) wanted to live close to downtown while we got to know the area and decide where we want to settle in. We also wanted to commute by bike as much as possible. (The bridge from Mt Pleasant has a killer incline, and the ones out to West Ashley, James and John Islands do not have bike paths, yet.)
We found a lovely little house with a big yard in Wagener Terrace for $1300, and are convinced this is the neighborhood we want to be in. It's a diverse neighborhood of young and old, black and white, straight and gay, blue collar and white collar. Just like Brooklyn. Oh, and it's only a fifteen minute drive to Folly Beach (lots of surfers there)!

And I really don't think you're going to have much to worry about being gay. It's a very friendly Southern graces city, but it's also a tourist town - so they've seen it all, but aren't gunna comment on it even if they were shocked.

Good luck! You're going to love it here. We do!

[Robynn]

Originally Posted by ahef71

Being a recent transplant from Brooklyn, my partner (a guy) and I (a girl) wanted to live close to downtown while we got to know the area and decide where we want to settle in. We also wanted to commute by bike as much as possible. (The bridge from Mt Pleasant has a killer incline, and the ones out to West Ashley, James and John Islands do not have bike paths, yet.)
We found a lovely little house with a big yard in Wagener Terrace for $1300, and are convinced this is the neighborhood we want to be in. It's a diverse neighborhood of young and old, black and white, straight and gay, blue collar and white collar. Just like Brooklyn. Oh, and it's only a fifteen minute drive to Folly Beach (lots of surfers there)!

And I really don't think you're going to have much to worry about being gay. It's a very friendly Southern graces city, but it's also a tourist town - so they've seen it all, but aren't gunna comment on it even if they were shocked.

Good luck! You're going to love it here. We do!

So you left Brooklyn to move to Charleston and are excited to find a place in Charleston just like Brooklyn?

[OleTomCat]

You will have more of a hassle with the dog and the cat than your lifestyle when it comes to finding a place to live....

[ahef71]

Originally Posted by Robynn

So you left Brooklyn to move to Charleston and are excited to find a place in Charleston just like Brooklyn?

Yeah, I'm very excited to have moved from Brooklyn into this neighborhood rather than a neighborhood of chain restaurants and box stores where you have to drive to get anywhere. I'm not ready to go total vanilla.

[MichaelNYC]

Originally Posted by ahef71

Being a recent transplant from Brooklyn, my partner (a guy) and I (a girl)
Good luck! You're going to love it here. We do!

As I tell people back in Crooklyn (me being born and brought up there)... and tell those here

Best thing about being here..... it ain't Brooklyn.
Worst thing about being here... it ain't Brooklyn.

Just funnin'......... nothin' ta miss... everythin' 'ere and mo'.... ta enjoy fo the mo' and fo the betta

[ahef71]

Originally Posted by MichaelNYC

As I tell people back in Crooklyn (me being born and brought up there)... and tell those here

Best thing about being here..... it ain't Brooklyn.
Worst thing about being here... it ain't Brooklyn.

Just funnin'......... nothin' ta miss... everythin' 'ere and mo'.... ta enjoy fo the mo' and fo the betta

I'm totally with you, MichaelNYC. I'm glad to not be up there anymore, but miss it nonetheless.

[MichaelNYC]

Originally Posted by ahef71

I'm totally with you, MichaelNYC. I'm glad to not be up there anymore, but miss it nonetheless.

Try HARDER.............. about still missing it :P

I have never missed it...........

After all it is always in me............. I take Brooklyn with me where ever I go... just keep it inside

I have never missed it........... well ok.. I am up there almost monthly for 2 years.. so cannot truly miss it.. as it is right around the corner for me each month.
But looking forward to that one day I'm a neva goin' back

'Cept once to show my son, where he was born (same hospital as me btw), the neighborhoods, riding the trains etc.

So try HARDER

[nyc2chux]

You'll have no problem finding an apartment within your budget. In Park Circle (No. Chas.), it's possible to find a decent house to rent for less within 15-25 min. from anywhere you need to be. As for tolerance ("gay-friendly" or otherwise), Charleston is outstanding. I've been out at work and everywhere else as long as I've lived here, and it's never been a problem. As an expat Brooklynite, I do miss some things, but when I go back to visit I'm often quickly reminded of why I left. NYC and SF are great cities but so is Charleston. Don't let its small size and geographic isolation (off the beaten I-95 corridor) fool you. Do some homework before you make any decisions. There are lots of books written about the city. I'm sure you'll find it very intriguing.