Virginia On My Mind (Roanoke, Lynchburg: fit in, employment, landscaping)

[BLUE COLLAR]

Hi,I'd like to find out if we're right for Virginia?We,my wife and child live in NW New Jersey,I manage a gun dept.in an independent outdoor store,I've been in the gun business in NJ for almost 30 years.I also have a small landscape business,just cutting grass and plowing snow.NJ is crowded and expensive,people tend to be rude and self-centered,we want out.Our search thus far has been ME,VT,NH and NY,all beautiful places but the cost of living and job prospects have not been what we'd hope for,though NH does still hold promise.We like hills and mountains.We would also like a few acres of property but still be close to jobs,shopping,etc.Thanks for any help.

[cam4vt]

I think you would be great in VA. However VA is diverse depending on the part of the state you go to. For example how big of a town do you want? What shopping is a must? Mountains, hills or beach? Do you need a major city near by with everything you can think of or are you fine being in a small city that has most but not all of want you want? (shopping, dining, entertainment etc)

[BLUE COLLAR]

cam4vt,thank you for your reply.Mountains and hills would be great,snow too.Big cities aren't important at all.Shopping for my wife,Wal-Mart,Target,etc.Good schools health care,good people.Within an hour commute to work.

[Babe_Ruth]

Originally Posted by BLUE COLLAR

cam4vt,thank you for your reply.Mountains and hills would be great,snow too.Big cities aren't important at all.Shopping for my wife,Wal-Mart,Target,etc.Good schools health care,good people.Within an hour commute to work.

BC,
Maybe Waynesboro-Staunton-Harrisonburg area..
Mountains, snow, good people.. It's medium sized towns, so it's not remote like Southwest VA, which also has the physical features you mentioned you're lookin for..
I can't really speak to Waynesboro-Staunton's current economic condition.. maybe someone else in here could.. anyways, good luck brother.

[cam4vt]

Originally Posted by Babe_Ruth

BC,
Maybe Waynesboro-Staunton-Harrisonburg area..
Mountains, snow, good people.. It's medium sized towns, so it's not remote like Southwest VA, which also has the physical features you mentioned you're lookin for..
I can't really speak to Waynesboro-Staunton's current economic condition.. maybe someone else in here could.. anyways, good luck brother.

Although those are great towns, i'm not sure how the roanoke/blacksburg metros (which are about 30 to 45 mins apart) are considered remote? Or are you referring to further SWVA?

[Babe_Ruth]

Originally Posted by cam4vt

Although those are great towns, i'm not sure how the roanoke/blacksburg metros (which are about 30 to 45 mins apart) are considered remote? Or are you referring to further SWVA?

Yeah, you're right.. Roanoke does remind me a lot of Staunton area. Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lynchburg also have the winter weather Blue Collar's lookin for, and are medium-sized towns with good people (in my experience).
I guess when I think about, & reference, southwest V-A, I think of the furthest stretches, Wise County, Galax, etc.. But Roanoke & Blacksburg would probably fit in well with their search, good call. And maybe he'll be a V-Tech fan..

[BLUE COLLAR]

Thanks again for the help.Any thoughts on the Shenandoah Valley area?

[HokieFan]

Shenandoah Valley is really lovely, and you would likely have customers for your landscaping business in the spring/summer. Not so much in the fall/winter. We typically do not get a lot of snow.

Is your plan to work for a gun shop wherever you move? Many of the gun shops in the Shenandoah Valley are small businesses, and are owner operated. Not a lot of employment opportunities if that's what you're looking to stick with.

Does your wife work outside of the home? What does she do?

Have you looked into West Virginia?