Looking for fresh start and relocation to southeast US
 

I am professional female 30 years old who is currently going through a divorce(no children). When the divorce is final, I plan to relocate to a small to medium size city. Wwill not live in the north, northeast, or out west! I have lived in Cinncinati, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Chicago in the past. I am looking for somewhere not so cold (but not florida!) with a variety of things to do and a good job market as well as a major airport being somewhat closeby. I need a friendly city where I can relocate and meet many people without feeling isolated or like an outsider. I really enjoy college towns as well. Most of my family lives in the middle Tennesse area and I would like to be within about a 6-7 hour drive of them.<BR><BR>Looking for suggestions. I have thought about Memphis, Birmingham, and Savannah but I need lots more info. Again, I don't expect my divorce to be final for another 6-8 months so I have plenty of time investigate cities and job opportunites.<BR><BR>I know this is not a relocation forum, but I'm hoping to get some input.

I wouldn't head south unless you enjoy being downgraded by a bunch of southern men who feel that they are superior. Having worked with Southern men over the past few years on deals, I can't say that I'd wish this on any woman.

How about Charlotte? Savannah has a few nice blocks but much of it is a ghetto.

I'm sorry that xxx feels the way she does, but it's DEFINITELY not that way all over the South. There are any of a number of locations throughout the South that would fit your criteria. My suggestion is to check out the job market in your area of expertise in any all of the the areas that meet your criteria. Also, what do you like to do with your spare time? Make sure that's available nearby. <BR><BR>Grab your atlas and start checking out the larger towns in every state you'd consider. Don't eliminate as being too big or small without first checking out it's vicinity to smaller or larger towns that you would accept. The South is a wonderful place. Welcome home.

I think it might depend on what you do for a living.<BR><BR>But let's see. Chapel Hill, NC is a lovely and fun town though perhaps a touch on the small side and too college-oriented. I have a friend who loves Asheville, NC, and another who loves Savannah. This is my bias, but based on my experiences I wouldn't recommend SC at all. <BR><BR>What about Washington DC? It actually feels like a medium-size city much of the time, and there are great neighborhoods and suburbs like Takoma Park, MD.<BR>

I know what the south is like. I guess I forgot to mention it but I grew up in the middle TN area where family currently lives so I have some experience!<BR><BR>As for DC, too big and too fast-paced! I am an attorney and do insurance litigation so there is a wide job market across the country for my work. Can anyone list some pluses or minues to specific cities like crime, traffic, cost of living etc? Thanks for the kind comments (with the exceptionof xxx) that I have received so far.

xxx I don't know why but I am surprised at what you found. Still looking at Movers request of Memphis, Birmingham, and Savannah her family lives there, the fact that she is excluding the Northeast and West Coast tells me that she is of a different mind set on this score. Too bad about the men they always seemed so darn charming!!! Oh well thems the cons you get the pros of nice manners, sweet disposition but it comes with the cons, not hard to be sweet if you think you are speaking to a child. <BR><BR>Not hard to believe that xxx is exaggerating it is not like the south is recognized as a hotbed of social change. If anything there is the overwhelming stereotype of religious zealots and conservative democrats. <BR>

Since your family already lives in middle Tennessee, why not move to Nashville? Nashville is a great medium size city that I consider very friendly. As far as it being a college town, there are several colleges in Nashville (Vanderbilt, David Lipscomb, and Belmont just to name a few), though I wouldn't necessarily consider it a "college town." Nashville seems to have just about something for everyone including fine dining, shopping, various cultural events, musical events, etc., etc.<BR> As far as Memphis, I lived in Memphis for three years while I attended law school. Memphis has its good points and its bad points as, I'm sure, any Memphian would say the same. There is a lot to do in Memphis, but I do not consider Memphis a "friendly" city. Unfortunately, the race relations in Memphis are extremely strained and this makes for an "unfriendly" city in my opinion.<BR> Considering other cities within 6-8 hours of middle Tennessee, you could always try Knoxville. I lived in Knoxville for 4 years while attending college at UT, and I found Knoxville to be a friendly small city. The only thing about Knoxville is that much of the town centers around the University of Tennessee. I never experienced living in Knoxville while I wasn't attending school there, so it is hard to say what it would be like to live there and not be a student at UT.<BR> My favorite southern city, other than Nashville, is Charleston, SC, though this is located probably 8-10 hours or so from middle Tennessee. Charleston is fabulous, and the beautiful beaches are so close by.<BR> Hope this helps. Best of luck in making your decision.

Try this site for city comparisons:<BR>http://www.bestplaces.net/

If you've ever been a woman having to deal with business men in the South, I think you'd see where xxx is coming from. I too have had some misfortunes in business dealings in that region. Granted some of the men are gentlemen, but there are a great many that are opinated women bashers. It was suggested to me on more than one occasion that I should be home barefoot and pregnant. I'm successful in business and have no problem working in the other regions of the nation.

I am a native Alabaman and DC is NOT in the south. Granted, Virginia, across the Potomac IS, the Maryland/DC side of the river is NOT. DC is neither Southern in temperment nor geography (Richmond/Norfolk/Roanoke are Southern, DC/Baltimore/Annapolis are Northern). NoVa is the South in geography alone.<BR><BR>I get "Southern Living" magazine and I find it so amusing the areas of our country the editors try to lump together as "the South" (Kansas City? Oklahoma? Maryland?). "The South" consists of the Gulf states, TN/KY/WV and the Atlantic states from Virginia to Georgia. Florida isn't The South, nor is anyplace west of the Mississippi (except Louisiana).

Never lived there (now I am in Auburn AL.) but have visited Huntsville, AL many times. It is smaller than Birmingham and may be too small, I don't know. I believe it is more sophisticated and cultural however than B-ham. The cost of living in both is low, but I think the educational system is better in Huntsville as well. As for being close to the middle TN area, it most definitely qualifies.

I'd vote for the Research Triangle Park area of NC- anywhere between Chapel Hill and Raleigh, probably not Durham proper- smaller communities include Morrisville and Cary- much new growth there. Nashville has some interesting aspects, but its airport (BNA) doesn't get the same level of direct flights that Raleigh-Durham airport (RDU) enjoys. Charlotte is another area that appears stable due to the high concentration of financial business. Its airport is a plus, but its traffic scene is a definite minus, IMHO. Good luck in your search.

I second Nashville. Great city with plenty of young professionals. <BR><BR>Avoid Charlotte & Atlanta like the plague. Charlotte has no soul and lacks entertainment; Atlanta is the black hole of Calcutta. <BR><BR>Good luck!<BR>

Does anyone remember the name of that website that compares regions/cities? Something like bestplaces? It gives all the crime stats, taxes, weather, etc, of any two places you enter. OR - you can rank what's important to you and it suggests places!

<BR>Asheville, NC<BR>Asheville, NC<BR>Asheville, NC<BR>Asheville, NC<BR>Asheville, NC<BR>Asheville, NC<BR>Asheville, NC<BR><BR>Happy Trails,<BR>Paul

Yikes! It's already listed here! Mind meltdown. Sorry.

Whoa, Sarah! Your take on Charlotte doesn't agree with what I know of it. To each his own and sometimes you get what you give.

Hey, most men think women should be barefoot and pregnant, some won't admit it, some just won't say it and others will, it has nothing to do with where the men live. <BR> Also, I wish more people would not choose Florida as their choice of places to live. I love the bumper sticker... welcome to Florida, now go home.<BR>Florida transplant, myself and love it.

Wipe Orlando off your list if it was ever on it. More people have been laid off here in the past three months than ever before. Mostly the service industry, of course, since the tourists aren't coming here in droves, but many high-tech jobs are leaving, too.