<p>H is talking to a company in Maryland - Eastern Shore. It’s too soon to know how serious these conversations might be, but it’s enough for us to start looking at what it might be like to live there. </p>
<p>We went to Chincoteague many years ago, when our kids were much younger, but that is the only time I’ve been to that area.</p>
<p>I’d love to hear – well, anything at all. Good, bad. Things to think about, or ask about. At this point, I don’t even know what questions to ask.</p>
<p>I used to go to the beach there when I lived in D.C. more than 20 years ago. Last time I was there was about 10 years ago.</p>
<p>Except for the beach areas which had fairly new development for the vacation home owners, I remember it as rural, and rather depressed. I think it would be a big change from living in rural Atlanta, a change that might not be easy if you really like the amenities of urban life. I’d be concerned about being regarded as a big city slicker and therefore having difficulty making friends in a small area where many people grew up together.</p>
<p>Don’t know how true my impressions are, so will be interested in what those who are more knowledgeable think.</p>
<p>Well, you’ll get the best cantaloupes you’ve ever had should you move, that’s for sure; there’s no 'loupe like an Eastern Shore 'loupe!</p>
<p>I hear the blue crabs are fast disappearing. Someone tell me it can’t be true.</p>
<p>What is Maryland without a bushel basket bursting with crustaceans and a mallet? :(</p>
<p>I live in MD (born and raised here)but not on the eastern shore. We use the main route from the bay bridge into the eastern shore to go to Ocean City. There are quite a few towns on the eastern shore and the ones I have seen are very nice. Housing is more affordable on the eastern shore compared to where we live. As long as you are not looing to live in St. Michaels or waterfront property. The only downside I would think will be the summer traffic from the bay bridge to and from Ocean city and the Delaware beaches. You can check out hosing in Kent, Dorchester, and Caroline counties. Maryland seafood is the best if you like crabs and shrimp. There are a lot of local produce stops on the eastern shore that have really good corn on the cob, strawberries and such. You can PM me if you want more specific information on an area. Good luck</p>
<p>Binx, whereabouts on the Eastern Shore? Salisbury? Easton? Both of those locations have very nice areas.</p>
<p>Those are the two areas we’ve been pointed towards, Lderochi. Easton, because it is closer to big cities (DC, Baltimore) and Salisbury, because it is a bigger place itself, and housing is more affordable.</p>
<p>A lot of people I work with live in Salisbury and really like it. A few live in Easton, but you are correct that the cost of living there is a good bit higher. Salisbury is a very good location – convenient to Del. beaches, Easton and St. Michaels. Has a state university, which brings in some cultural events. For what it’s worth, we live in Downstate Delaware now, after living in Duluth, GA. We’d never go back to the Atlanta suburbs. The seasonal beach traffic on Fridays and Mondays – as bad as it is – is nothing compared to the daily grind of Atlanta traffic.</p>
<p>We were there in the mid 70’s. Lived near the highest point of the mid peninsula where they had a fire (?) tower. Highest point was ~ 40 ft above sea level. We were not impressed and did everything we could to go to DC. We were also not impressed with Ocean City and Rehobeth Beaches…too many people and stank of BO. Too hot, too cold, weekend traffic on I-50, farmers over farmed, polluted ground water. Crabs too small and oysters expensive. Mosquites that stung you thru blue jeans. Japanese beetles, County sprayed malathion every two weeks for mosquito control. The high school that was 10 years old needed to be replaced because of cheap construction and termites. Loved the BBQ chicken. </p>
<p>We were from Oregon.</p>
<p>Goodness, I sure hope it has changed from the 70s!</p>
<p>I went to school there for two years in the mid/late 70s. In chestertown. I guess it was pretty, but it was flat, depressed, and I can’t over-estimate how much I didnt want to be there. It may well be different now, or *I *may be different now. I was a confused 18 year old stuck at a college I didn’t want to be at, among people who talked “funny” and thought I did, listened to bad country rock, and went home every weekend. </p>
<p>I guess I 'm the wrong person to answer here! :)</p>
<p>One interesting factoid is that the region is probably some of oldest settled parts of US. Not unusual to see a house built in 1700’s. As for the language, the accent was then foreign to us, but finally dawned on me that because of the relative isolation of this area, (before the Bay Bridge) and the Choptank bridge, that the people really spoke a form of English of the 1700’s.</p>
<p>Yes, I noticed that, too, LP. Even some non-EAstern Shore students I knew had that faint English accent.</p>
<p>Hi, I live and work on Maryland’s Eastern shore. I’m in the tourism business and can help if you need it. Where is he looking? You can PM me if you want.</p>
<p>On my way back to New York City I drove across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel and into the Eastern Shore for the first (and only time) in
2003. I thought the rural/semi rural character was somewhat pretty and the Delmarva accents really intrigued me.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. We’ll probably take a look in a couple weeks. Life is too busy right now with getting kids back to school. I have very mixed feelings at the idea of a move right now, so am looking for deal breakers one way or another at this point.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t know if this applies:</p>
<p>I tend to orient myself by physical landmarks: Position of sun, mountains, ocean. I was lost more than once on the “shore”. No mountains on the ‘shore’ . And everytime I thought where the ocean was, I ended up going in the opposite direction until I had to mentally draw a map of which ocean. Basically the Oregon’s ocean and mountains (coastal/cascades) run perfectly N-S so its easy to go figure out which way is a direction. </p>
<p>I never get lost. Until W tells me, I’m lost.</p>
<p>LongPrime is right about the lack of physical landmarks. More than a couple miles from the Bay/Ocean I think “flat and rural” is a fair assessment. But near water’s edge it’s very pretty on both “coasts.” If you’re looking for a single voice on the Eastern Shore, I believe Iderochi would be an excellent resource.</p>
<p>“… so (I) am looking for deal breakers one way or another at this point.”</p>
<p>Well, away from the coastlines there are only two Starbucks on the Eastern Shore. And if shopping malls are your thing, plan on frequent drives across the Bay. “Nordstroms. Yeah we got a Norstroms family right over in Pocomoke City. Been there for generations.” (Sorry Eastern Shoreans. I love the place, but you gotta admit that BBB means Better Business Bureau there.)</p>
<p>We spend a lot of time on the Eastern shore of Md and had actually considered buying a second home in the Chincoteague part of Virginia. My MIL lives on the ES of MD. The problems I find in this are are the medical facilities and the schools.</p>