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Hi Everyone,
After reading many of the posts I feel like I'm at home! We're from South La....Cajun Country, have a deep belief in God and what is seems like "some" would consider country!
When we moved to NC, we moved straight into Cary (right outside of Raleigh). What a culture shock. We grew up waving to anyone we passed. Geez, don't do that here or they look at you like you have 3 heads. And by no means say "excuse me" when you walk in front of anyone in a grocery store. Anyway, since the first day we moved here, we've been looking for a way to live in the Boone area. We visit as often as possible and it honestly feels just like home. We've never met so many kind, caring people.
Here are our questions..
How in the world does everyone afford to live in the mountain towns? Housing is more expensive than most here in the Triangle and pay is lower?
Vehicles cost the same here and there, so there's no getting around that.
Jobs are just not paying what it takes to make a living it seems?
What are we missing? How is everyone else doing it?
We're not looking for anything fancy, by all means, that's not us. But we do want a nice home.
Hi Everyone,
After reading many of the posts I feel like I'm at home! We're from South La....Cajun Country, have a deep belief in God and what is seems like "some" would consider country!
When we moved to NC, we moved straight into Cary (right outside of Raleigh). What a culture shock. We grew up waving to anyone we passed. Geez, don't do that here or they look at you like you have 3 heads. And by no means say "excuse me" when you walk in front of anyone in a grocery store. Anyway, since the first day we moved here, we've been looking for a way to live in the Boone area. We visit as often as possible and it honestly feels just like home. We've never met so many kind, caring people.
Here are our questions..
How in the world does everyone afford to live in the mountain towns? Housing is more expensive than most here in the Triangle and pay is lower?
Vehicles cost the same here and there, so there's no getting around that.
Jobs are just not paying what it takes to make a living it seems?
What are we missing? How is everyone else doing it?
We're not looking for anything fancy, by all means, that's not us. But we do want a nice home.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!
As a native Louisiana girl I had to respond, though I don't have a lot of advice to offer I am afraid. But hey, how 'bout dem Tigers????
Seriously, you are suffering the lack of "southern charm" in Cary because so few southerners live there anymore. Have you heard what people here say "CARY" stands for? Containment area for Yankees
As you can see by my name, I share your feelings for mountain living and wish you the best in getting there one day. One thing I do know, many folks who move to the mountains who still have to work seem to have work from home type of jobs. Not sure what your background is, but is there any way you could use your skills and experience to find a job that you could do from home?
Here's another thought, by looking in the Boone/Blowing Rock area you do know you are looking at one of the more expensive places to live in the NC mountains, don't you? Why not readjust your sights and aim for some place mountainous that is not nearly so expensive?
I would like to add my suggestions Look online thru Homes and Land Magazine for the High Country....there are homes available in all price ranges! Good luck!!
We fly our purple and gold flag with pride!!! You should have heard the yelling coming from this house when it was announced that they were playing for the championship.
As a matter of fact, we passed a girl in the mall the other day and she wearing an LSU sweatshirt and my husband stopped her and asked her all of the appropriate questions
1. Is that YOUR shirt? lol, that was so funny.
2. Where are you really from?
Unfortunately, we're not that familiar with any other areas besides the boone/blowing rock/west jefferson areas. I guess we just fell in love with that area and never gave anything else a chance.
I love the idea of being in a college town though. (or at least close by) We have 3 kids, so thinking ahead is important.
I'm a personal chef/food writer (but my main job is mom & we homeschool) and my husband in an demand planner for a very large company here in RTP. All attempts over the past 5 years to telecommute have failed. That was our plan all along.
We'd love to open a cafe of sorts in Boone. I love the idea of sharing my love of Cajun cuisine with others and this would be the perfect outlet!
We fly our purple and gold flag with pride!!! You should have heard the yelling coming from this house when it was announced that they were playing for the championship.
As a matter of fact, we passed a girl in the mall the other day and she wearing an LSU sweatshirt and my husband stopped her and asked her all of the appropriate questions
1. Is that YOUR shirt? lol, that was so funny.
2. Where are you really from?
Unfortunately, we're not that familiar with any other areas besides the boone/blowing rock/west jefferson areas. I guess we just fell in love with that area and never gave anything else a chance.
I love the idea of being in a college town though. (or at least close by) We have 3 kids, so thinking ahead is important.
I'm a personal chef/food writer (but my main job is mom & we homeschool) and my husband in an demand planner for a very large company here in RTP. All attempts over the past 5 years to telecommute have failed. That was our plan all along.
We'd love to open a cafe of sorts in Boone. I love the idea of sharing my love of Cajun cuisine with others and this would be the perfect outlet!
Where in La are you from?
I grew up in Denham Springs How about you?
I love college towns too, so I can understand how you feel. Most people who buy homes around Boone seem to be using them as weekend homes or retirement homes, or maybe as an investment for rental income.
There are areas within 30 miles of Boone in Wilkesboro where you might find more affordable homes, though I know that would not be the same as living in Boone I LOVE the West Jefferson area and Allegheny county myself, Boone gets a bit too congested for my tastes when the college is in session, especially on football game days!
Has anyone mentioned Taylorsville to you? It is such a nice little town surrounded by the Brushy mountains, which is south of Wilkesboro - just another place I would suggest you ride thru some time. Check out job possibilities in Statesville if you find you like Taylorsville.
One more suggestion, in your fields both you and your husband might very possibly have job opportunities in Asheville, have you considered going that direction? If he could get a job there, you could live about 30 minutes away in the great little college town of Mars Hill. It is beautiful up that way too!
Since you homeschool you've got at least a third of your battle won. Now you just need a job and an affordable home! Best of luck, I say follow that dream - you'll find your place eventually
We fly our purple and gold flag with pride!!! You should have heard the yelling coming from this house when it was announced that they were playing for the championship.
As a matter of fact, we passed a girl in the mall the other day and she wearing an LSU sweatshirt and my husband stopped her and asked her all of the appropriate questions
1. Is that YOUR shirt? lol, that was so funny.
2. Where are you really from?
Unfortunately, we're not that familiar with any other areas besides the boone/blowing rock/west jefferson areas. I guess we just fell in love with that area and never gave anything else a chance.
I love the idea of being in a college town though. (or at least close by) We have 3 kids, so thinking ahead is important.
I'm a personal chef/food writer (but my main job is mom & we homeschool) and my husband in an demand planner for a very large company here in RTP. All attempts over the past 5 years to telecommute have failed. That was our plan all along.
We'd love to open a cafe of sorts in Boone. I love the idea of sharing my love of Cajun cuisine with others and this would be the perfect outlet!
Where in La are you from?
finding_our_way:
Well, just our luck!!! Someone wants to bring real Cajun cookin' here to NC and they want to move to the mountains. Unfortunately we have no hills here in eastern NC but we sure would love some of that crawfish and jambalaya!
(side note to loves_mountains.. I believe you meant to say Containment Area For Relocated Yankees). LOL!...but I totally agree with the rest of your post.
Last edited by RuralCoastalGuy; 12-06-2007 at 02:03 PM..
Reason: in my old age I forgot something
finding_our_way:
Well, just our luck!!! Someone wants to bring real Cajun cookin' here to NC and they want to move to the mountains. Unfortunately we have no hills here in eastern NC but we sure would love some of that crawfish and jambalaya!
(side note to loves_mountains.. I believe you meant to say Containment Area For Relocated Yankees). LOL!...but I totally agree with the rest of your post.
EXACTLY! Thanks for the correction
Don't even get me started on how much I miss crawfish - YUM. But I do make a mean jambalaya!
Have to ask, why is it that some got very upset about K Dunn's comment on that other thread, and no one is getting upset about this Cary acronym? It seems comparable. I hope that no harm is meant.
Have to ask, why is it that some got very upset about K Dunn's comment on that other thread, and no one is getting upset about this Cary acronym? It seems comparable. I hope that no harm is meant.
I think it has to do with the word "yokel" which most take as offensive, but even northerners get a kick out of the C.A.R.Y. thing.
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Look online thru Homes and Land Magazine for the High Country....there are homes available in all price ranges! Good luck!!
I LOVE the West Jefferson area and Allegheny county myself, Boone gets a bit too congested for my tastes when the college is in session, especially on football game days! 
. Unfortunately we have no hills here in eastern NC but we sure would love some of that crawfish and jambalaya!
...but I totally agree with the rest of your post.
Just wondering
