Life is Good Tidewater (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: leasing, insurance, crime)

[manbart]

I grew up in Northern Virginia, and I remember VA Beach from as far back as the late 60's and early 70's, and lived there for a few years in the early 80's. Way back then the area still had a considerable amount of laid back Southern Charm. The Beach and the strip were not the greatest but still pretty darn nice. Development was taking off but was manageable as was traffic for the most part. The past couple of years I've been back to VA Beach a couple of times it's it downright depressing to see it. Sandbridge is still decent though.

The past 32 years I've lived in Central Massachusetts about an hour West of Boston. The economy here has for the most part been excellent. We have very intense medical, biotech industry, and computer/high tech. Also some of the best colleges and universities in the world and for the most part excellent public schools. The cost of living here is high but not too high because we are in a pretty small New England town outside of the Boston Metro area. A home that would cost you 300,000 in Virginia Beach would be about 360-380,000 here. Pay here is very high, and employment is generally good. The people here are diverse. Quite a few new immigrants but not flooded with them, and they are for the most part on an upwardly mobile track. Crime here is not an issue. In the town I live I could occasionally leave my door unlocked and not be too worried, go out any time of day or night with no fear, etc. There is very little of the really engrained generational poverty here that you see in inner city Tidewater or Richmond, etc. The only thing that really sucks here is the weather!! Next month I'm retiring from a job here that paid me easily 30 percent more than it would have in Tidewater Area, and I'm Unionized and have excellent benefits and a defined benefit retirement plan that will pay me 72 percent of my salary for the rest of my life and great medical insurance. My wife has the same deal. She worked where I have worked and retired a few months ago.

Two years ago we bought a home at Stonehouse in Toano just North of Williamsburg, and have been leasing it. In Massachusetts we could have never even imagined buying such a home. We hope to sell our home in Massachusetts and move into the home at Stonehouse this summer. I kind of like Williamsburg. It has some esthetic appeal, a lot of outdoor activity possibilities nearby, and you can be in Richmond or even DC area pretty quick from Toano as long long as you don't hit a lot of traffic on 95 north of Fredericksburg. For the most part we may steer pretty clear of the rest of the "Tidewater" area. We'll probably do some trips to the outer banks of NC during the summer. We'll be getting checks from Massachusetts for about $110,000 a year, owe less than 50,000 on our $300,000 home in Toano, have about $300,000 in savings and investments, and have all our son's college loans paid off. Life is good!

[Serenity2019]

Thanks for your review! But, from someone that grew up in and loves Tidewater (va. Beach) you will be missing out in Williamsburg being an hour drive from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean!

[Poquoson7]

I would suggest you revise your "steer clear of the rest of Tidewater" position. There is much to see and do in Southeastern Va, the Williamsburg area is but a fraction of the bounty.

[ForLoveOnly]

Originally Posted by coastalbum

Thanks for your review! But, from someone that grew up in and loves Tidewater (va. Beach) you will be missing out in Williamsburg being an hour drive from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean!

LOVE Va Beach!

Williamsburg is NOT one of the seven cities that make up the Tidewater area. It is only counted as part of the MSA for statistical purposes. Gotta love how some other cites in VA and even parts of NC include themselves as part of the Tidewater area!

[artistatheart]

My husband and I were (believe it or not) just talking about this the other night. What exactly are the 7 cities? I guessed Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, but then I got stymied. Williamsburg was one of my guesses, but, since I now know it's not, what are the other two? I would guess Poquoson's too small, but maybe Suffolk, Chesapeake????? Genuinely confused.

Enlighten me!

[ForLoveOnly]

Originally Posted by artistatheart

My husband and I were (believe it or not) just talking about this the other night. What exactly are the 7 cities? I guessed Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, but then I got stymied. Williamsburg was one of my guesses, but, since I now know it's not, what are the other two? I would guess Poquoson's too small, but maybe Suffolk, Chesapeake????? Genuinely confused.

Enlighten me!

Yes, Chesapeake and Suffolk are the other two.

Williamsburg, Poquoson and Franklin are the 3 other cities when referring to the larger area of "Hampton Roads" which includes the "Tidewater".

[LilyLady]

Originally Posted by artistatheart

My husband and I were (believe it or not) just talking about this the other night. What exactly are the 7 cities? I guessed Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, but then I got stymied. Williamsburg was one of my guesses, but, since I now know it's not, what are the other two? I would guess Poquoson's too small, but maybe Suffolk, Chesapeake????? Genuinely confused.

Enlighten me!

You got it!

Originally Posted by ForLoveOnly

Yes, Chesapeake and Suffolk are the other two.

Williamsburg, Poquoson and Franklin are the 3 other cities when referring to the larger area of "Hampton Roads" which includes the "Tidewater".

I occasionally hear Smithfield and Gloucester included in the "Tidewater" area.