Seattle-New Orleans - can we make the leap? (rental, condo)

[SeattleSue1]

We're 60 and 61 and have been offered the opportunity to relocate to Louisiana for my husband's work. (I'm a third grade teacher.) Our children our grown. Although we are happy here in the Seattle area with our grown children and extended family nearby, we are considering the move to fill in the years before retirement.

(We have lived in California, New Mexico, Hawaii and Arizona thus far.)

We are interested in experiencing "city life" and would like to live in a condo or townhouse in an area that would allow us to walk to shopping and restaurants. I would need to find a teaching job as well. I have been reading posts about the Lower Garden District and the Warehouse district that sound like they might be a fit for us.

We are not "bohemians", but we are reasonably outgoing, friendly and broad minded. We live in the "burbs" now and would like a change. I'm having a hard time visualizing what life might be like. Can anybody enlighten me? Suggest neighborhoods that might be a fit?

Thanks for any help you might offer.

[Orestes]

Have you ever visited New Orleans? This is the fairly standard answer...

You should take a short vacation there and spend time in the areas you are considering. Remember, your visit shouldn't be spent doing the typical tourist shuffle. Sure, you should see some things while in town. But, it is more important to spend time "milling around" in the areas you are considering.

Were it me, I'd rent a vacation rental property (something like a condo) for a week or even two. Fly in and rent a cheap car. You should have ideas ahead of time regarding the areas you're interested in (which it seems you do). Then, drive around in those areas at different times of day. Take plenty of pictures, take lots of notes and talk to plenty of locals. Return home and let it marinade for a few weeks. Reread your notes and look over your photos. If you're still interested in moving, get serious about fleshing out your plan.

Good luck.

[mhounit]

I would definitely visit before making any kind of decision . N.O. and Seattle are very different places .

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by mhounit

I would definitely visit before making any kind of decision . N.O. and Seattle are very different places .

I can't think of any two places which are MORE different!

[SeattleSue1]

Thanks for your reply. I have been to New Orleans - but not for decades! You're absolutely right. We absolutely must visit first. I'm sure a visit will help us sort this out.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Be sure to visit in a hot month when the humidity is high. Lots of people, me included, can't stand the humidity - it's like breathing water.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Be sure to visit in a hot month when the humidity is high. Lots of people, me included, can't stand the humidity - it's like breathing water.

I'm sure coming from Seattle they have a little bit of experience breathing humid air. The only thing they wouldn't be used to is the heat, which does make it feel hotter than it is.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Hot humidity is very different from cool humidity. Think sauna vs. cool vaporiser.

[Prytania]

I can stand the humidity and heat during the day.

Its the humidity and heat at night which makes me something something.

But I can't think of anywhere else this exciting to live.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Hot humidity is very different from cool humidity. Think sauna vs. cool vaporiser.

I'm saying that the humidity is not what needed to be emphasized, it is the heat. Hot and humid makes if feel hotter and cold humidity makes it feel colder.