<p>Heck, you could always travel during “bad weather” times so you can have the best of all worlds. Have heard nice things about NC and SC, but have never spent time in either one. Our neighbors are there now, helping care for aging parents and then are thinking of moving to TX, where one of their kids lives. One of their others lives in Atlanta and another in Honolulu. They just found HI too expensive.</p>
<p>Greenville SC is one of my favorite places and it stays few degrees cooler than Columbia and on toward beach in summer. Raleigh is bigger and worse traffic. Brother lives outside Chapel Hill in small town that avoids really high real estate prices (for the area). SIL works in Raleigh and might would live there but they are in better school situation where they are. Asheville NC is suppose to be retirement friendly, very artistic vibe.</p>
<p>barrons when Virginia and NC join the BIG you will be all set. Wisconsin in Charlottesville.</p>
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<p>@dragonmom and @colorado_mom, we looked at Boulder (it’s not on the list because of price, but we are fortunate not to be that price constrained. We both loved Boulder s we have close friends there and they have a big community. We concluded that Boulder would replace where we now live. ShawWife didn’t think the arts community was that strong or cohesive. [She shows in galleries and museums and has pieces in a few public spaces and has a nice community where we are. ] We actually looked at a house on a lake. I was sorely tempted. I probably would love Grand Junction. In addition to natural beauty and a relatively high quality of life, Canada has the virtue of good basic health care and long-term care, which can be supplemented. Most of it is a bit cold for me but Vancouver Island would not be.</p>
<p>What’s the health care situation on Vancouver island? We had a family member living on Hawaii who had to be airlifted to Honolulu for a life-threatening emergency for their child. They have returned to the mainland.<br>
I would really seriously favor Canadian healthcare…</p>
<p>I would think Vancouver island’s situation is different - it is connected to the mainland via a well-run ferry system, and Vancouver is not that far. </p>
<p>Off topic, but i have a book recommendation for Shawbridge and his wife: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. It has two alternating story lines; one of them is about a writer and her artist husband who live on Vancouver Island (or more accurately, a small island off Vancouver Island). It provided a very detailed picture of what it would be like ti live there. Almost made me want to move there! And it is a terrific read. </p>
<p>Although I have not actually been to Grand Junction CO, I can say that it would be very different from Boulder. For us the Western Slope would have little appeal. It is hundreds of miles (and 2 mountain passes) from Denver / big city. </p>
<p>We do know a few families with with kids settled in Grand Junction (easier to find jobs such as teaching) and liking it… but the parents so far have not mentioned any desire to follow suit. </p>
<p>More Boulder trivia… DD (now in Denver) misses her college days near CU Denver campus. Her apartment was a dive (literally a bargain basement deal)… but she could survive w/o a car. For fun, she’d walk about a mile and then run around this lovely park - <a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33324-d107197-Reviews-Chautauqua-Boulder_Colorado.html”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33324-d107197-Reviews-Chautauqua-Boulder_Colorado.html</a></p>
<p>LakeWashington, We’re lifelong NC residents. Our family are all graduates of public u’s in NC. We recently built our retirement home in eastern NC. </p>
<p>College towns in NC…
Davidson (Davidson College)
Winston-Salem (Wake Forest University, Winston Salem State Univ. and UNC-School of Arts)
Raleigh (NCSU, Meredith College, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s University)
Greensboro (UNC-Greensboro, N.C. A&T University, Guilford College, Greensboro College),
Asheville (UNC-Asheville)
Boone (Appalachian State University)
Greenville (East Carolina University)
Cullowhee…really small town (Western Carolina University)
Charlotte (UNC Charlotte, Queens University of Charlotte, Johnson &Wales Univ.) </p>
<p>We have already chosen UVa as my instate team (sorry VT etc). Lynchburg is split between UVa and VT fans abd you see lots of flags out for both on game days. We have been to several games already and enjoy the day there. We’ll make some trips up to UMd and RU over time. My brother lives 15 minutes from RU and has lots of room. We also have been to games at local Liberty U and for the price $(10 or so) it’s good FCS football in a very nice setting. Even UNC/Duke are in fairly easy range for a day trip. </p>
<p>Packmom…thanks for the list. Winston-Salem really is at the top of our list. It’s a great little town.</p>
<p>Is the Ardmore are still nice? That is where DS loved during grad school and we loved it. So did he.</p>
<p>@notelling, my wife is now reading (or, more accurately, listening to) the book you suggested. Thanks.</p>