Older retiring gay couple (women) fr Long Island moving down...

[Tdiddy0027]

yes, but M. park could still be some other place. You have to take into account that they aren't locals , I think you can do that. since your name is Accountable haha

[lolobooks]

i hear decatur has gotten so expensive that now women have had to branch out to other areas around decatur. do you know anything about clarkston, avondale estates, pine lake, tucker? are there parts of stone mountain that are better than others? would it be better to go north, south or west of decatur to find a decent 'safe' neighborhood?

[kandahudson@yahoo.com]

"safe neighborhoods"... I'm so sorry, I do not have an answer for that.
after reading so many posts and having my own knee-jerk reactions, I have sat here and reflected on that question, and what keeps a neighborhood safe? Safety means something different from one individual to the next. I think it is human nature to gravitate towards areas, things, that reflect our own image. In that respect, we feel "safe" because there is the old addage "safety in numbers" and being in a "comfort zone". So this is my recommendation:
I actually did this. To hell with what agents and well meaning folks say. I found a home I liked, then I actually knocked on the doors of the neighbors, expressed my interest in the home for sale in the neighborhood, and interviewed the immediate neighbors about the area. Who else knew better? It was a hoot! And needless to say getting acclimated went smoothly because my neighbors and I were already aquainted.
I hope this helps.;-D

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by Tdiddy0027

yes, but M. park could still be some other place. You have to take into account that they aren't locals , I think you can do that. since your name is Accountable haha

M. Park refers to Morningside Park, which, if you'll read the orig. post, was spelled out in full just three sentences before the reference to M. Park.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by kandahudson@yahoo.com

..... Safety means something different from one individual to the next. I think it is human nature to gravitate towards areas, things, that reflect our own image. In that respect, we feel "safe" because there is the old addage "safety in numbers" and being in a "comfort zone".
;-D

I definitely have to agree. I think it's important to drive around in different neighborhoods, and see who lives there and what the houses and yards look like. There are just too many factors. Some people want lots of order and control: edged and immaculately manicured lawns with fountains, shrubs in perfect symmetry and in geometrical shapes, lots of covenants to prevent anyone from straying from orderliness....then there are those who are slobs....and everything in between. Diversity doesn't necessarily predict friendliness either. And there can be jerks among all types and in every neighborhood. People in the north like to think that all intolerance is limited to southerners. But, the worst and most intolerant in our previous neighborhood was a retired couple from New Jersey.

Those types exist universally.

I did exactly what kanda recommends in my current neighborhood. I had narrowed the choices down to two different houses. It was the interviews with immediate neighbors that helped me make the final decision. They are terrific neighbors, and it does make a difference in quality of life.

Best wishes to you both!

[xxman777]

FYI: Morningside Park is actually just called Morningside. If you go looking for Morningside Park you won't find it because it doens't exist.

http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/planning/npu_system.aspx (broken link)