Be Straight With Me (Atlanta, Marietta: fit in, transplants, condos)

[HomelessTeacher]

Thinking about moving to Cobb or Paulding County.
Two biggest concerns:
Fitting in, because I am a "yankee"
And religion.
I am not a religious person.
Is this an issue?

How do us northerners fair down there?
I am willing to adjust, not too stuck in my ways...but I'll definitely stand out I think.

And is there much to do around the area, or do most people go into Atlanta?

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by HomelessTeacher

Thinking about moving to Cobb or Paulding County.
Two biggest concerns:
Fitting in, because I am a "yankee"
And religion.
I am not a religious person.
Is this an issue?

How do us northerners fair down there?
I am willing to adjust, not too stuck in my ways...but I'll definitely stand out I think.

And is there much to do around the area, or do most people go into Atlanta?

Sean Hannity has many fans here--cannot be more NYC than that?
He would be welcomed.

You might want to read some of the FYI/demographics about Atlanta and specifically Cobb and Paulding counties in the city-data database. The metro area includes over 5,000,000 people.

'Diverse'---metro Atlanta is diverse. Ethnicity, religion, political views and in every possible way.

Bring a positive, progressive attitude with you and you will do fine.

Wherever you are--you make your life interesting. You could go to Buckhead --entertainment/nightlife or you could go anywhere you pleased--cultivate your own interests and there should be plenty to enjoy. Sports of all kinds, nature trails/parks/lakes/rivers---history and cultural events of every kind. Every sort of opportunity for continuing education. Not to mention that many of the best corporations have headquarters here.

Traffic and air quality are concerns. There is crime. Some of it extremely serious. Yet the population somehow copes.

If you are truly a 'Homeless Teacher'--best get busy--school systems are filling positions for next year right now. They are selective. 'Attitude' is extremely important here. Those that see solutions and believe 'I Can' and Will do what is needed --fit in well here in every way.

sls

[Twostep]

How about Birmingham, AL?

[eightblueyes]

cobb county,welcome to the south,and God bless you.

[dncngrl1964]

I am a new yorker who lives in paulding county and does not go to church although I am religious enough to know a thing or two

[forresthills]

most areas here are diverse with all types. You will be welcome here

[atlantagreg30127]

I live near the Cobb/Paulding line and I guess the best way to describe this area is that it's, "in transition and growingly diverse".

I'm in Powder Springs. It used to be a mostly white conservative to be honest kind of "heehaw" town, and in the last few years there's been a lot of growth (not all good). More of a mixture of people coming in... housing choices (condos, etc) and some retail. Unfortuantely a few of the newcomers are bringing troubled teens with them, so crime has also increased with the diversity.

Cross the line into Paulding/Hiram and there is explosive retail growth along the Highway 278 area - literally dozens and dozens of small to major stores, restaurants, theaters, and more (including traffic) with more under construction. Along with that is a migration of newly transplanted people from elsewhere, along with people from Atlanta looking to move "out a bit" away from the city. That being said, Paudling can also be kind of a weird place... a mixture of country yuppies with old hard-core southern rednecks. If you travel West on 278 and reach the intersection of Hwy 92, this seems to be some sort of unspoken "barrier" between reasonable civilization and hickeyville. On the East side of 92, you tend to find more mainstream people, mixed families, transplants from up North, etc. On the West side of 92 you tend to find more folks who will bring up the " have you found Jesus?" topics in what they consider a normal conversation, families wearing hunting fatigues when they eat out, etc. Not all of course, but once you cross that imaginary line at 92 and 278, poof Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore.

One place to visit to snoop is paulding.com in the internet cafe area. You'll read some progressive conversations that sit right alongside the stay-at-home mothers of 6 kids who do christian home schooling in order to keep their kids away from "the deviants". So it'll give you an idea of the mentality of the area (good and bad) and help you gauge if you could handle it or not. Overall it's not a hugely bad area, but it is growing rapidly so with that comes the usual stuff (increases in certain crimes, a LOT of traffic increases, etc).

As far as "stuff to do" - in Paulding (and many suburbs) it's going to consist mainly of a mall (Douglasville in Paulding's case) and a lot of chain retail stores in strip centers. If you move to Cobb County, then aim for near the Marietta Square area as the Square there has a few neat shops and restaurants, one performing theatre, etc (link is: http://www.mariettasquare.com/ ). There is no public transit in Paulding, and Cobb has a very limited bus service. Atlanta has rapid rail (subway) and your more unique neighborhoods (Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points, Buckhead, etc).