If you have time...what's is like to live in your area?

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I’m living overseas and will be moving back to the States in 1-5 years. I’m here to ask you about where you live, have lived or would like to live. I’m determined to find a place to settle on the first try. Not to mention the huge expense of moving, I really want to reap the rewards of being committed to my local community and I want the next time I move to be my last (for at least 15 years). If you have time to help, I’d be most appreciative. Thanks in advance!

[hubris]

Age 0-4: Wilmington, DE. Many relatives still live there and I go to visit often. I'm not impressed with Wilmington or DE in general, and we'll leave it at that.

Age 4-13: Sonora, CA. I LOVED California, love to go back to visit. I can't speak to what the economic situation is like to live there, but Northern CA is beautiful and I think that many communities would be good for an MDC mama. Sonora was pretty rural and small and somewhat lacking in diversity and culture, but it made up for it with proximity to the mountains. Yosemite was 1 1/2 hours away and my family visited all the time.

Age 13 - 21: Charlottesville, VA. I dream of returning to C'ville. It is a beautiful university town surrounded by nice countryside. Although it is becoming a lot more built-up than it used to be, it still isn't as suburban as a lot of communities are. There is a lot there for families who like a natural lifestyle, and the university gives the town an intellectual energy that other rural towns in VA often lack.

Age 18-21: attended college at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Beautiful if somewhat overrun with tourists and pretty swampy in the summers. Lots of history, and lots of outlet shopping (many tourists just go there for the outlets and don't even know that Colonial Williamsburg is there :rolleyes: ). It's a great place to live as a college student or a retiree, but my brother lived there as a "townie" for a while and the town lacks interest for locals.

Age 21-25: Norfolk, VA - in the Ghent (historic) section of town, walking distance from art museum, whole foods store, the port, the opera house, grocery stores, art theater, and more. I would love to go back, but don't want to raise kids in such an urban environment.

Age 25-27 (the present): Columbia, MD. While I have gotten used to Columbia, it is far too "white bread" for me. Lots of chain stores, not much local flavor. It's very, very suburban and kindof like Stepford. I'm sure there will be some things that I miss, but I'll be happy to move in a year or two! Hopefully we're headed to either Norfolk, VA or Richmond, VA.

HTH!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Hey, Thanks for your suggestions. I posted on this area because my family and I lived in Baltimore while I was growing up.
I’m really interested in what you had to say about Norfolk. I’ve never been there but it sounds very nice for what I’m looking for, which includes and urban atmosphere. Perhaps Richmond would do as well. I’ll be renewing my interest in VA. BTW, I was born in Blacksburg and parents were married in C’ville while my dad attended UVA. My parents were also divorced there and both have some bittersweet memories of that time so that’s why I’ve never considered Charlottesville.
I too love CA but we can’t afford to move there when we get back and we both want to be closer to family, which would mean the East Coast. Plus, it will be nice to be able to visit CA from time to time…I think I will appreciate it more that way. I surely took it for granted while we were there.
Thanks again, Hannah

[tandemmama]

I'd have to say I'm partial to the North Florida area, but only because that's where all my wonderful high school memories are from. We moved to the midwest from there and I hated it. I don't have any "real" advice though because I couldn't tell you about the real estate or politics of the area. :(

I think I'm mostly replying to you because I think it's cool you're in Heidelberg LOL We moved from there 2 years ago and I really wanna go back!!

good luck finding a great place to live!!!

[Shell]

I grew up in New York, and now live outside of Annapolis, MD. I lived in central Pennsylvania for 10 years too.

I thought the above comments about Charlottesville, Virginia were very interesting, because if I could live there, I would in a heartbeat! It is interesting to see that others agree. I think it is one of the greatest, undiscovered towns on the east coast. It is a truly beautiful town. Progressive, pedestrian and bicycle friendly, very close to the mountains, and close enough to Washington DC if you are really itching for some city life. Great art and food too. I doubt we would ever move there because it is too far from my family and friends, but I do dream of it.

I also love New York's Hudson Valley region.

Good luck in your search!

[nancy926]

0-18: Williamson, NY (between Rochester and Syracuse)
school in NJ and CA - doesn't really count b/c I was living on campuses so I have no idea what the "real life" was like.
22-25 - Washington, DC (Adams Morgan) -- great when you are in your 20s and don't mind driving for 20 minutes looking for a place to park. I would never go back there now!
Then Minneapolis, 26-28. Loved everything about it but the weather (and now, the sprawl).
And now Baltimore: we have lived in Baltimore City since 1997; we rented in Hampden (don't pronounce the "p"!) for a year and then bought a house in Mayfield (near Lake Montebello and the old stadium, which has been torn down). I was raised in a rural environment so the best things I can say about Baltimore is that it is diverse and funky and you can pretty much find people who are like you if you look hard enough. There's lots to do and you're close to DC, Philly, NYC etc.

that said, we are moving north of Burlington, VT next month...we have talked about doing that for years and finally went ahead and did it! I can't imaging raising our daughter in Balto. Maybe in one of the neighborhoods we can't afford...maybe even in another house in this neighborhood (ours is only 2BR and I need an office b/c I WAH). But IMHO there is nothing like growing up out in the sticks where you can see zillions of stars at night and not hear sirens all the time or worry that the funny noise outside is someone trying to get in your window.

I just got done reading the latest Baltimore magazine and it only reinforces my belief that Baltimore is an overlooked underappreciated city with a LOT to offer, but it has a lot of problems too. We were planning to move out of the city anyway b/c we had our fill of dealing w/city agencies, getting our cars broken into, etc. I used to pick on my hometown for its weekly paper and two stoplights but now that we have a baby my perspective is totally different. If I had grown up in a city, we might be staying....but I'm fine with moving north to pine trees, skiing, owls and moose!

HTH,
Nancy
:)