Possible Relocation to NC

Hi A.,
I live in south Raleigh, not far from Lake Wheeler, in one of the best school districts in the county. We also are not far from Lake Jordan and Falls Lake, and being a waterskier myself, all three lakes are great for recreation and camping. We have wonderful private hospitals in Raleigh, not to mention UNC and Duke hospitals. Also, IT is big here due to the RTP , but Centennial Campus on NC State University is home to Red Hat among others. I am not sure when you are considering moving, but I have my house for sell. I will be happy to send you the flier offline if you wanted to investigate the area in which I live. I'm not trying to sell you my house- lol, as your time line is probably far off, but it lists the schools and you can investigate the area and ratings. I also grew up here, and got a quality education in the Wake County school system. It has had some negative media press due to some wacky redistricting proposals, but none have gone into policy, thank goodness. I love my hometown and after living in another city for 10 years, I would never leave again. It's a very different city than I grew up in, but it's 10 times better. The influx of people from up north have really helped bring diversity to the area. NC is also great because it is the most progressive of all the southern states. We have the best university system hands down. However, if you move here, you have to pick an ACC to stand behind- it's just the way it is here. AND, you must promise me to be an NC State wolfpack fan. LOL
Take care.

We moved from Chicago to NC. We have been stationed there twice.

First get ready to brush up on making friends with the grocery gal and the gas attendants. NC is very southern. THey work on NC time.
In the south you chit chat first, then ask your questions. I really miss that.
Every one is so friendly, Southern hopitality is alive and well in NC.

You will learn to love sweet tea. THis is the most wonderful thing to come out of the South. And no one north of Dixie does it right.

Find a Bojangles, Cajun Fried Chicken. These are so much better than KFC.

Raleigh is on the ice line, so when it ices, beware. It is different than snow driving. Snow is annoying, ice is downright dangerous. THere is not a lot of snow in Raleigh and the heat is different It will be hot in the summers, but Chicago has a suffocating hot. Its' a different hot.

I really miss NC. Chapel Hill area is really nice. We lived on the coast.

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Before you move, take a look at what another poster mentioned, the redistricting policies that Wake County Schools was considering. It's likely to come up again. I do not live in the area but my brother does (he has no kids so the school situation is moot). But you can decide for yourself how you feel about the redistricting. Even if it did not go through this time it is there on the table and could be revived. There has been a lot of misinformation and emotion surrounding it, so be very wary of what you read on either side of the discussion. I would not let that alone sway me if I were moving to a new area but you do need to check on schools no matter where you go.

And speaking as an NC native who went to college in Chicago, I can tell you that it will be a culture change for you if you're a Chi-town big-city native, but you might like the slightly slower pace! You also will have to consider very high pollen if you have allergies in your household -- it's bad down there as my brother has found. But again, that would not necessarily change my mind.

Don't move anywhere without making an extended visit in person first, or better, several visits at different times. And I'd advise not moving until one of you has a job there -- wherever "there" ends up being.