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I saw this on the Tennessee forum, which was modified from a Florida forum and thought I'd modify it for Greenville, S.C. because we think we would like to relocate (and eventually retire) there.
For those who moved to the Upstate area of South Carolina:
1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in the upstate?
2. What was the most important reason why you moved to the upstate?
3. What made you pick the particular town in the upstate that you moved to?
4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?
5. If you had to do it over again would you still move to the upstate of S.C.? If no, would you have chosen a different town in S.C., moved to someplace other than S.C. or returned to the place you left?
6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in the upstateof S.C. than where you moved from?
7. Do you have friends of relatives in other states that tried to either directly persuade you not to move to South Carolina or showed their displeasure/disapproval/incredulity/disgust/non-enthusiasm in more subtle ways? Why, do you know?
8. Do you think the town where you live now in the upstate of S.C. will eventually turn into the place you left? If so, how long will it take?
9. Since you got here, what has surprised you most either about South Carolina or your town in the upstate? (good or bad)
10. Would you recommend others move to upstate, S.C.?
1. Brockport>New London>Brandon, FL>Tulsa>Greer by - 27 years
2. job
3. mortage rates were 12% and rising 1/2 point a day - had to do something even if it was wrong
4. whats confortable?
5. moving to Richmond - better job
6. Tulsa was a hiog flying cultural mecca when we left there. Oil was fueling everything. Greenville was hick town USA but the job was here..
7. no
8. not in a million years
9. the way politicians have systematically ruined it.
10. if you do not have to educate kids and you can find the kind of work you want yes. Schools rank last in the country
if you have this many doubts you should stay in Western NY.
Retired just over 2 years ago . Moved to the south from Utah to get away from the snow , cold , ice of winter , the extremes of summer heat . No place is perfect while at least the year round temperature in upstate South Carolina is great . How many places can you actually work in the yard in December in 50 to 60 degree temps . South Carolina is tax friendly toward seniors retired . We have a new home , just over 2,000 sq ft main floor with a full unfinished basement that walks out to our boat dock & fishing pier on just under an acre. Our home owners insurance less than 500.00 a year , were less than 5 miles from the downtown area of shops , malls , medical services , etc all of which are some of the best one could ever want or ask for . Anderson has it all without the congestion of the BIG city . Greenville 30 miles away , Hartwell , Georgia 25 miles away , Ashville , NC an hour away , GSP internation airport 40 minutes away . No sales tax on food from grocery stores , Intangables are not taxed , low cost on utilities . We knew no one in the area & the close family we have is at least 500 , 1500, & 2000 miles away. We look for over 6 years prior to picking & moving to this area . Were not well off , live basically off retirement funds & do quite ok considering what the price of things are today as compared to a few years ago . South Carolina has one of the lowest fuel tax in the nation . Schools are pretty much supported by those who chose to play the lottery . Housing is easily affordable by anyone while one is best to live just outside of the city . Retired one can survive quite well even on a modest retirement income.
1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in the upstate?
2. What was the most important reason why you moved to the upstate?
3. What made you pick the particular town in the upstate that you moved to?
4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?
5. If you had to do it over again would you still move to the upstate of S.C.? If no, would you have chosen a different town in S.C., moved to someplace other than S.C. or returned to the place you left?
6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in the upstateof S.C. than where you moved from?
7. Do you have friends of relatives in other states that tried to either directly persuade you not to move to South Carolina or showed their displeasure/disapproval/incredulity/disgust/non-enthusiasm in more subtle ways? Why, do you know?
8. Do you think the town where you live now in the upstate of S.C. will eventually turn into the place you left? If so, how long will it take?
9. Since you got here, what has surprised you most either about South Carolina or your town in the upstate? (good or bad)
10. Would you recommend others move to upstate, S.C.?
1. Ohio/Florida/Georgia/Anderson, SC 5 mos.
2. Affordability on a blue-collar retirement, things to do & the weather
3. After putting over 14,000 miles on our vehicle looking for a place to call home throughout North & South Carolina we were very impressed with the positive growth of the area in the last few years (we came through about 4 years ago),yet housing is still affordable.
4. Still settling in but so far so good. Figure about 2 yrs to aclimate to the changes.
5. Yes!
6. Other than Ohio (if you don't count the weather) it's better than either Florida (too crowded & hot & expensive) or Georgia (worst place we've ever lived in our lives).
7. Nope
8. I think it will continue to improve but no one has a magic ball on how a city will develop. You can guess that it will grow better or worse but it's still an opinion. I think Anderson will continue toward being a great place to live.
9. That the people here are so friendly to transplants!
10. Absolutely.
Retired just over 2 years ago . Moved to the south from Utah to get away from the snow , cold , ice of winter , the extremes of summer heat . No place is perfect while at least the year round temperature in upstate South Carolina is great . How many places can you actually work in the yard in December in 50 to 60 degree temps . South Carolina is tax friendly toward seniors retired . We have a new home , just over 2,000 sq ft main floor with a full unfinished basement that walks out to our boat dock & fishing pier on just under an acre. Our home owners insurance less than 500.00 a year , were less than 5 miles from the downtown area of shops , malls , medical services , etc all of which are some of the best one could ever want or ask for . Anderson has it all without the congestion of the BIG city . Greenville 30 miles away , Hartwell , Georgia 25 miles away , Ashville , NC an hour away , GSP internation airport 40 minutes away . No sales tax on food from grocery stores , Intangables are not taxed , low cost on utilities . We knew no one in the area & the close family we have is at least 500 , 1500, & 2000 miles away. We look for over 6 years prior to picking & moving to this area . Were not well off , live basically off retirement funds & do quite ok considering what the price of things are today as compared to a few years ago . South Carolina has one of the lowest fuel tax in the nation . Schools are pretty much supported by those who chose to play the lottery . Housing is easily affordable by anyone while one is best to live just outside of the city . Retired one can survive quite well even on a modest retirement income.
Like the poster, I am looking for a place to move and semi-retire. I have seen you post many enthusiastic reviews of Anderson and I am wondering, since moving there have you found it relatively easy to develop a social life?
I moved to Atlanta from NY and, although it served the purpose of giving me a less expensive place to raise a child, now I look forward to getting out of here. The fact that there are all sorts of things to do in Atlanta isn't much of an attraction if you feel like you might get shot while doing them.
Are there things to do in Anderson? Plays, Concerts, classes to take, etc? I want a place that is safer and friendlier, but I would still like to have interesting things to occupy my time with.
Like the poster, I am looking for a place to move and semi-retire. I have seen you post many enthusiastic reviews of Anderson and I am wondering, since moving there have you found it relatively easy to develop a social life?
I moved to Atlanta from NY and, although it served the purpose of giving me a less expensive place to raise a child, now I look forward to getting out of here. The fact that there are all sorts of things to do in Atlanta isn't much of an attraction if you feel like you might get shot while doing them.
Are there things to do in Anderson? Plays, Concerts, classes to take, etc? I want a place that is safer and friendlier, but I would still like to have interesting things to occupy my time with.
Well Lake Hartwell is a large lake and even if you can't afford to live on it (or maybe you can) there is public access areas all along it. We go there to walk, fish from shore & picnic. We are just outside the foothills so you can be in the mountains in 45 min? There are lots of places to hike or go to various waterfalls. The Anderson Joes started playing last year which is a pro baseball team & in the spring/summer there are free concerts downtown. If your into theatre & concerts Anderson itself has Electric City Players & ACT. It also has a theatre at Anderson University & Clemson Little Theatre is in Pendleton just north of Anderson. Clemson Univ has a colussium (sp) that has concerts. Oconee County has a theatre in the Seneca area which is just north of Clemson. Seneca also sits on Lake Keowee. There are 11 golf courses in the Anderson area. There are classes you can take at Tri-County Tech college & Clemson (which is about 20 min north of Anderson), the arts center, etc. AND Greenville is only 30 min away which has a wealth of stuff to do. I doubt you'd be bored here but it won't be like NYC or Atlanta's scale but it also won't be the danger or congestion or prices they have either. As for the social life, we've met a lot of nice people and there is a club for newcomers that have been here less than 5 yrs where they get together & play cards, go out to eat, tour different places. We haven't gone to any of their meetings yet = too busy so far. Hope that helps! We haven't been here long so I'm sure there others who could help a lot more. Good luck with your search for home!
Here are some Anderson links if your interested:
http://www.electric-city.net/web/home.asp (broken link) http://www.tctc.edu/
http://www.ac.edu/index.php (broken link) http://www.andersonscchamber.com/visitor/index.asp http://www.andersoncountysc.org/index.asp http://www.alleneasler.com/foothillstrail.html http://www.cityofandersonsc.com/ http://www.ecplayhouse.com/
Relocated in 1995 from NJ to Greenville County
Better quality of life
Location - close enough to everything yet tucked away in the country
Took 1 year to get acclimated
If I had it to do over again, yes, I would move here
Life is MUCH better
No friends or relatives new much about SC so they couldn't dissuade us
Not in my life time and I have a good 50 years left to my life, ha!
12 years ago the Upstate region of SC lacked diversity....today it's an international community...THANKFULLY!
I most certainly recommend the Upstate to any one and every one
Coming from Syracuse, NY just about a year ago....
1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in the upstate?
From Syracuse, NY-been here for just over 1 year.
2. What was the most important reason why you moved to the upstate?
Husband received a promising job opportunity.
3. What made you pick the particular town in the upstate that you moved to?
Pressed for time to find a home, we came from having 60 acres and a 15 year old house that we had built ourselves, we found a home that is about the same age, on 4.5 acres in a small development with privacy. The lot sold us on the house. It'll do until we find more property. We are approx. 10 mins. outside Simpsonville, yet it feels rural where we live.
4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move? My kids are in college out of state. I'll feel much more comfortable with things once they're here. So far, that's the plan!
5. If you had to do it over again would you still move to the upstate of S.C.? If no, would you have chosen a different town in S.C., moved to someplace other than S.C. or returned to the place you left? If I had it to do over again, I would have done it 20 years ago, and purchased a PILE of property!
6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in the upstate of S.C. than where you moved from? Overall, no comparison. Better. Just seeing sunshine makes it a better day already.
7. Do you have friends of relatives in other states that tried to either directly persuade you not to move to South Carolina or showed their displeasure/disapproval/incredulity/disgust/non-enthusiasm in more subtle ways? Why, do you know? We have some very good friends who were sad to see us leave the area. They understood our position though and are supportive.
8. Do you think the town where you live now in the upstate of S.C. will eventually turn into the place you left? If so, how long will it take? Well, let's see...it needs to become totally depressed, unemployment will have to rise, gas prices will have to go up, utilities will have to rise, temperatures will have to move toward the ice age, and it will have to snow 130" in a season here, like it did in NY last year. I think it'll be a while.
9. Since you got here, what has surprised you most either about South Carolina or your town in the upstate? (good or bad). It has surprised ME about how difficult it has been to just get a "foot in the door" clerical type job. I'm not looking to run the whole show or make 50K a year! I'm competent, come from a six year solid employment stint in NY with three very good letters of recommendation and I've landed a part time job with a school in the Greenville district that is over 40 minutes from where I live. There HAS to be something in Simpsonville I'm qualified for! So, if anybody knows anybody who is looking for somebody.....full time, clerical background, attention to detail....
Another thing that surprises me is the driving skills. Or lack of! People on their phones-no headlights on while driving in the rain and the exhaust coming out of some of the cars still allowed to be on the road, kind of saddens me. I've become a much more defensive driver. I also find *I'm* speeding more on the highways just to get in my 'own space.'
10. Would you recommend others move to upstate, S.C.?
Yes, I think it's a great place to live. I'm anxious to explore the area with more day trips to the coast and to the mountains.
I saw this on the Tennessee forum, which was modified from a Florida forum and thought I'd modify it for Greenville, S.C. because we think we would like to relocate (and eventually retire) there.
For those who moved to the Upstate area of South Carolina:
1. Where did you come from and how long have you been in the upstate?
2. What was the most important reason why you moved to the upstate?
3. What made you pick the particular town in the upstate that you moved to?
4. How long did it take you to get comfortable with the move?
5. If you had to do it over again would you still move to the upstate of S.C.? If no, would you have chosen a different town in S.C., moved to someplace other than S.C. or returned to the place you left?
6. Is your "overall " life better or worse in the upstateof S.C. than where you moved from?
7. Do you have friends of relatives in other states that tried to either directly persuade you not to move to South Carolina or showed their displeasure/disapproval/incredulity/disgust/non-enthusiasm in more subtle ways? Why, do you know?
8. Do you think the town where you live now in the upstate of S.C. will eventually turn into the place you left? If so, how long will it take?
9. Since you got here, what has surprised you most either about South Carolina or your town in the upstate? (good or bad)
10. Would you recommend others move to upstate, S.C.?
My wife and I moved from NJ about four months ago. We relocated to Easley,SC which is about 15 minutes from Greenville,SC. There were several reasons we moved. Basically, living and retired would have been expensive in NJ. In SC the taxes are much lowere and avoidable as is most of everything. The weather is warm, the people have all been very friendly, and we've found it very easy to fit in. The area we are located has everything we need actually within a 10 minute ride or less. The biggest town is the city of Greenville which is just 15 minutes from Easley. A great city, clean with much to do and see. The area is near several major colleges with Clemson about 15 miles down the rode. We are big college sports fans so this area is ideal. Oh yes, we did experience some descent from our family as it was extremely difficult leaving the entire clan back in NJ, but it is either a 2hr plan ride or a 12 car ride. The family is starting to understand the resons for our move so they are getting use to the idea. Housing in this area is very affordable. Good Luck
Dan
Well Lake Hartwell is a large lake and even if you can't afford to live on it (or maybe you can) there is public access areas all along it. We go there to walk, fish from shore & picnic. We are just outside the foothills so you can be in the mountains in 45 min? There are lots of places to hike or go to various waterfalls. The Anderson Joes started playing last year which is a pro baseball team & in the spring/summer there are free concerts downtown. If your into theatre & concerts Anderson itself has Electric City Players & ACT. It also has a theatre at Anderson University & Clemson Little Theatre is in Pendleton just north of Anderson. Clemson Univ has a colussium (sp) that has concerts. Oconee County has a theatre in the Seneca area which is just north of Clemson. Seneca also sits on Lake Keowee. There are 11 golf courses in the Anderson area. There are classes you can take at Tri-County Tech college & Clemson (which is about 20 min north of Anderson), the arts center, etc. AND Greenville is only 30 min away which has a wealth of stuff to do. I doubt you'd be bored here but it won't be like NYC or Atlanta's scale but it also won't be the danger or congestion or prices they have either. As for the social life, we've met a lot of nice people and there is a club for newcomers that have been here less than 5 yrs where they get together & play cards, go out to eat, tour different places. We haven't gone to any of their meetings yet = too busy so far. Hope that helps! We haven't been here long so I'm sure there others who could help a lot more. Good luck with your search for home!
Here are some Anderson links if your interested:
Electric City Net - Anderson SC - Community Portal Restaurants Real Estate (http://www.electric-city.net/web/home.asp - broken link) Tri-County Technical College
Anderson University (http://www.ac.edu/index.php - broken link) Visitor Information Anderson County SC County Government The Foothills Trail - The Carolinas' wilderness experience City of Anderson, SC, Homepage Electric City Playhouse
Wow... Thanks for all of the great info. I am looking forward to doing some exploring up in that area over the next few months. I can't wait to live someplace safer and friendlier than Atlanta.
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South Carolina Retirement
People on their phones-no headlights on while driving in the rain and the exhaust coming out of some of the cars still allowed to be on the road, kind of saddens me. I've become a much more defensive driver. I also find *I'm* speeding more on the highways just to get in my 'own space.' 
