from paradise to Columbus, MS?? (Hattiesburg, Tupelo: home, schools, university)

[betteroffsingle]

I am considering moving to Columbus, MS. My Mom, Brother and Sister live there. I live in Boca Raton, Florida. I am a legal assistant. Any thoughts from anyone about the lifestyle in Columbus? thanks

[sugrgrl]

Originally Posted by betteroffsingle

I am considering moving to Columbus, MS. My Mom, Brother and Sister live there. I live in Boca Raton, Florida. I am a legal assistant. Any thoughts from anyone about the lifestyle in Columbus? thanks

Whatever you do, do not leave paradise to come to this place! Unless you are sick of paradise and I'm sure your not, I would stay put. If you crave a sleepy little town with nothing to do and you have to drive a hour or more for some decent shopping and dining then come on up! Ohterwise, if your accustomed to having a cool social life and used to being around people who are not closed minded, not to mention a serious drop in job opportunities and pay, you are better off, Honey, to stay right where you are and just make plans for a nice week long visit. Sorry, but that's just the way I see it. Most people who are from here are trying to get out or they'd like to. People who relocate here most times can't understand what they were thinking when they did and can't wait to get back into the 'real world'. Every once in a blue moon you'll find someone who likes it here but trust me, they wake up from their slumber after a few years of being in this hell hole. Old money, old ways of thinking, no opportunity... that only partly sums it up. Come up for a visit ( a few times) and then make up your mind and if you still decide to make that move, in a few years don't say I didn't warn you. Good luck.

[Diva]

I'm not saying not to move here...because it's close to your family, BUT, I moved here from New Orleans after Katrina and I don't like it very much. I'm very outgoing and fun loving and the people here are not half as outgoing as they are in New Orleans. It is a totally different place! I agree with the last reply. I have a great job here but that's about it. Don't move here unless you have many, many friends here.
Good luck to you.

[romeo kilo]

I grew up in columbus, 1955 thru 1969 and 1976-1977. My father, aunt, cousins still live there. If you are a single person and indulge in alcohol, there are enough bars for you. If you like to hunt and fish, the area is home to a the Tombigbee river and a large lake. If you want to further your education, MUW is a 4 yr liberal arts college and Mississippi State Univ is 30 mins west. If you are religious minded, there are plenty of chuches. It is not an area high on the arts. There are plenty of areas of poverty in the town and good jobs are scarce. The Air Force base is 30 minutes from the city and the impact isn't felt as it is say in tampa with Macdill AFB. I lived in the Tampa,Fl area the past 18 years, and when I recently moved, I had the choice to move anywhere...Columbus never made my top 10 list. If you are a homebody, don't need a Coach handbag, could care less about the arts, and have no problem living with a majority black population will little income, then columbus might be your town. ..it used to be mine...but never by choice.

[deanhubb]

I was a Mississippian for much of my life. My Dad lives in Hattiesburg. I've lived in Orlando for the past ten years. My Mom's family is from central Florida.

Whoa, are you in for a shock in Columbus. It might be easier to relocate a Puerto Rican to Alaska. Hunting, fishing, NASCAR, hunting, fishing, country music, the Super Wal-Mart, fast food, and listening to Rush Limbaugh are the biggest pastimes in almost any city in MS. You really need to make a trip ahead of time before leaving Boca. I really don't think you'd survive the culture shock. Like I said, I'm from Mississippi and I try to take up for my home state that is reeling from the coastal hurricane disaster but the state is not for everyone. Ya'll know what I'm sayin'?

[Possumtown Girl]

Columbus is an old Southern town that lacks a lot in the arts department but we are coming around with regard to that. We have a lot to offer but to someone from a place such as you are considering leaving, it would be a huge adjustment. Shopping is not very good and eateries are scarce unless you want to travel several miles.

If you have family here then you must be somewhat familiar with what Columbus is like. You said you were a legal assistant and that is a profession where you probably will not get the pay you could get in another state. The last time I checked we were not up to standards on the pay scale. However, there are some good law firms where you could likely get a job that would be good pay but probably not what you are accustomed to where you live.

We do have a tremendous amount of growth/expansion going on presently and it only promises to get better with all the new industry locating in Lowndes County. There is a new industrial development taking place near the Airport that promises to bring many jobs and much excitement to the area.

Below are a few links that may give you some insight to Columbus and Lowndes County. Good luck.

http://www.gtpdd.com/aaa/

http://www.columbus-ms.org/

//www.city-data.com/city/Columbus-Mississippi.html

http://www.historic-columbus.org/main.html (broken link)

http://www.columbus-arts.com/artunderground.php

Lastly, if you visit Columbus Talks take those posts with a grain of salt. That site is slated with trolls. Some of the people are very nice but attacks are common place, so be careful.

[jetjockey75]

Originally Posted by betteroffsingle

I am considering moving to Columbus, MS. My Mom, Brother and Sister live there. I live in Boca Raton, Florida. I am a legal assistant. Any thoughts from anyone about the lifestyle in Columbus? thanks

If you currently live in paradise, DON'T move here!!! I moved to Columbus from my own paradise eight years ago and have regretted it ever since. I once heard someone say that Columbus is 175 years of tradition unhampered by progress, and that is pretty accurate. If you can't prove that your great great grandaddy was born here, they don't want to have anything to do with you. The unofficial city motto: Come Visit Anytime (and spend your dollars) --- Just Don't Stay!!

Fortunately I've got a good paying job and am just saving my nickels until I can get the hell out.

[ms rn]

All the above are so true. I have lived here all my life. and i do love it, because all my family and friends are here. and i like the part of knowing most everybody. like knowing, the kids my kids hang around with, or their family, etc.
but it is very boring here. the nurse pay is actually pretty good here, and i love my job. but you should think long and hard about it. i would love to relocate to destin, pensacola or fort walton, but my husband is not going for it.
good luck!

[proud to be American]

I'll have to agree Columbus is my least favorite place in Mississippi.
Boca is awfully expensive thou.I would say check out Tupelo, Ms.It will be more of what you're lokking for.

[Mark Allen]

Wow, what a surprise to see such low opinions of such a great town.

Columbus is a great place to live and has much to offer. In Columbus and the immediate surrounding areas, there are two major colleges, an Air Force Base, a major waterway, more than enough historical sites and places of interest for history buffs, great places to eat and - believe it or not - there is art! Columbus and the Golden Triangle Area (Columbus, Starkville, West Point) is the home to a number of talented musicians, artists and writers.

Life is slower here, and it's also much less congested than many other places. That doesn't mean it lacks excitement, though. There's always something going on.

MS University for Women is located in the heart of old Columbus while the much larger MS State University is only twenty-five miles away in Starkville. Columbus Air Force Base is only about five minutes on the outskirts of town. Friendship Cemetary, the birthplace of the Memorial Day holiday, overlooks the banks of the Tombigbee River from the shadows of huge magnolia trees and solemn statues. Twenty minutes away in the town of West Point, hunting celebrity Toxey Haas and crew mingle with local sportsmen at the huge Mossy Oak outlet, which also serves as the headquarters of the hunting industry giant.

Columbus, MS is a place of old Southern charm and modern day progressiveness. There is natural beauty, and growing industry. There are rivers and lakes, and there is a racetrack. There are excellent schools, and even more excellent teachers. There are churches, and there is real faith.

Between Columbus, West Point and Starkville, you are never more than a half hour's drive from your favorite dish. Local restaurants offer fresh catfish, seafood, fine steaks, New Orleans cuisine, authentic Asian, Mexican and other international flavor dining with such quality and favorable prices that you can't help but smile.

Another great thing about Columbus is its position in relation to other great cities in the South. For those times when you just have to get away, Tupelo, Memphis, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham are all within reasonable driving distance for major concerts and other events that don't normally come to Columbus. When you consider the things that those cities and areas have to offer and combine them with everything that Columbus has to offer, one must wonder if there really is any better place to live anywhere.

Much can be said about all the things that Columbus has to offer. But, the primary benefit of living in Columbus is the people. The people here are great. Columbus is a warm and friendly town. There is a spirit of charm here. The men are men, and the women are beautiful, and many of them stunningly so.

No, Columbus will never be all things to all people. It may not be as naturally beautiful as this town or as exciting as that town, but it's a great place nonetheless. For most of the sixty-thousand or so that enjoy living here, it's all they need!