<p>Kat, thanks. I like Davis. I dont know if I could live there and Davis doesnt meet the financial criteria.</p>
<p>Lots of NC people. I like reading the pros and cons of areas of NC. </p>
<p>Winston Salem as a name of a town is kind of a turn off to me. 
I do read that parts of NC are similar to parts of the bay area. It is interesting to get different viewpoints.</p>
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<p>You just described the town where my H grew upâitâs on the OH/PA/WVA border and most everyone in town worked for a big steel mill in PA. When the mill shut down, most of the small towns in the area just withered away. No more manufacturingâmost people who are there now work in the retail industry. Some commute to Pittsburgh, which is about 30 miles away. We went back for one of Hâs reunions and it was sad to see. Nothing in the downtown. It was really like a ghost town. The only activity was on the outskirts of town where there were numerous big box retail stores, these stores are now the major employers.</p>
<p>Bromfield2, sounds awful. </p>
<p>Lizard, in my neck of the woods, people moving from FL to NC or SC are called âhalf-backsâ.</p>
<p>I have no issue with my HOA. There is a subdivision called the Architectural Review Board. When I was painting the exterior of house, my painters had a break in schedule. Rather than wait for an official meeting, I stopped at 2 neighbors home, both on this committee, and they walked over and approved the colors on the spot. Iâve driven my elderly neighbor to vote. I donât have friends in my community (probably because I work full-time), but Iâve never had a nosy neighbor. Anyone who attends the Board meetings regularly will probably be nominated to serve. Obviously, its a small, non-gated community. Lots of diversity. </p>
<p>I like cheap gasoline, tooâŠfilled my car today at 2.98/galâŠand it wasnât even a Costco.</p>
<p>I think that @VaBluebird you should stop mentioning NC!!! >>>>>>>>>></p>
<p>'Tis where Iâm from. But I consider myself a Virginian now. I love Virginia.</p>
<p>I think we will revisit Winston Salem! So rented a great place in the Ardmore areaâŠit was lively from 2007-2009âŠreally nice varied homes. Is it still nice? The houses were older, and some sort of craftsman style. We liked them. </p>
<p>And at the time, prices were great. </p>
<p>Bromfield, I think your kids just have the misfortune of having landed amidst a bunch of busy bodies with not enought to do. I highly doubt moving the trashcan or needing a bit of tidying up of the side yard is something" found in the HOA rules! People really do worry about âkeeping up appearancesâ and keeping those real estate values up. I wish our neighbors across the street would sell. They have let it become a dump and this is not a dumpy neighborhood.<br>
Living in Chapel Hill is a dream for those of us who loved it there for a while. The southern part of heaven.</p>
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<p>I filled my car yesterday at $3.25. Thought it was great at the time. Now I feel like I got ripped off. </p>
<p>Well I thought I got a good deal at $3.45 a gallon here.</p>
<p>hey, any time it gets near or under $4, Iâm pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>Iâm hoping for $3.0 soon.</p>
<p>We moved from NJ to NC in 2008, and have been very happy here. Had we stayed in NJ we would have likely faced financial ruin (no job and high expenses). Our move here provided some breathing room and with a little help from the stock market morphed into a full fledged retirement.</p>
<p>The only regret is that the politics during the past 2 years has made us feel like the state we moved to is different from what we thought it was, but in fairness we have spoken to people who have lived here for 30 years who feel like the place in the past 2 years is different from what they thought it was too. So, since we cant discuss politics and it gives me a headache anyway I will just say that is our only complaint. </p>
<p>The politics are kind of horrifying, @âNJres</p>
<p>But I hear it will change back soon enough. I hope that is true.</p>
<p>If enough of us move thereâŠwe can be part of the solution!</p>
<p>AnywayâŠthe WS area of NC seems to have everything we are looking for. Too bad neither of our kids live even sort of close to NC!</p>
<p>A Carolina girl chiming in here. NC has 3 distinct regions, and they each have their own pros and cons. I grew up in the middle Piedmont area, and thought it was great to have easy access to both beach and mountains.</p>
<p>Just like any state, there are good people, and not so good people. Lots of friendly folks within the state, just take time to find the good ones. </p>
<p>That said, I wonât return to my home state for retirement. Donât agree with the direction the state is headed in business, taxes, inefficient government operations, politics, etc. But might live close to NC border, to be within easy driving distance of great medical facilities, and close to uncrowded, family beaches.</p>
<p>We are still a few years from being able to make any moves, but South Carolina is more intriguing to me right now, seems like a more stable state. It would put us in closer proximity to 2 of my siblings, and of course those scenic beaches.</p>
<p>Wherever we end up, I hope to be in a small home in a small to medium sized town, within easy driving distance of a major city that has airport and great medical facilities. Having just put my mom in assisted living, I have a different perspective on my retirement years and will research facilities for the elderly as part of the decision-making process.</p>
<p>We also took NC off our list for reasons mentioned. We may just stay put having come to the realization we are not really small town folks. Not what the original plan was but not sure we want to leave friends and go through resettling either. Itâs a debate weâve been having for years. Right now we donât have to downsize but it was in the financial plan to do so. </p>
<p>Some people prefer to stay put when they retire. </p>
<p>My friend is not moving to Eugene. He didnt ask his girl friend about moving to Eugene. Eugene is too gray for her. </p>
<p>Some guys are clueless .</p>
<p>Find a new girlfriend in Eugene.</p>
<p>Lol! He is really happy with her . She did say she would go anywhere with sun. :)</p>