When you guys talk about the mountains in NC, can you elaborate more on that? We are talking 4k to 5k feet right? Do you guys have bears?
"Do you have bears" Hahahahahahahahahaha, man that's classic. Do your bears have a southern drawl? Hahahahahahahahahahaha, man I love this place.
Yes I am. Believe it or not we had a bear in a wooded area here last summer in Chicago and also had a mountain lion earlier this year.
Lived in Arden for 3 years, right next to Asheville, about a mile from the Biltmore Estate, on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest. Hiked every trail in the Pisgah over that time. Saw a black bear on 3 occasions, may have been the same one....it wore a radio collar. But otherwise there is a noticable absence of wild life, particularily birds. Beautiful country with a bad acid rain problem. Pisgah ajoins the Blue Ridge National Park, the most visited of all the national parks and rated with the worst air quality of all the parks. Pollution from coal burning powerplants to the west in Tn drops onto the mountains. Lot of tree loss at higher elevations such as on Mt Mitchell. Big problem now is people moving there and building their McMansions on the ridge lines, giving them nice sunrise/sunset views but otherwise destroying the pristene mountains that once made the place so unique. Other than that....it's a great place....depending on what you're looking for.
Too late to edit... intended to say "ajoins Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smokey Mountains National Park"
We're thinking about a move, too. Probably to Charlotte, since most professional opportunities seem to exist there, with a lot of multinationals having NA HQs there, although we haven't ruled out Raleigh, maybe? Anything significant changed in terms of housing prices, taxes, pollution, traffic, or anything else since this thread was started? We're into a safe neighborhood, low property taxes, clean environment and at least a relatively progressive environment. We do like cultural things such as concerts and the arts, too. I mean, we're not Berkeley liberal by any stretch - I think we're fairly socially moderate - but maybe we're more socially progressive (while economically conservative) than what I may may fairly or unfairly have as a portrait of North Carolinians in my head (due to media portrayals and word of mouth of people who may lack any credibility)? Thanks in advance to any tarheels that want to give us the real scoop.
I spent most of June in NC...going back up in august...must admit...It was HOTTER in NC then it is in Florida!!!...But it was awesome going to the top of S. Mounain and swiming in crystal clear mountain water...hit a bunch of waterfalls with the kids and it was just awesome.no gators in the lake is also a plus
Moved to coastal Carolina last year and it's definitely much hotter than I even expected. Good thing there's a breeze all the time off the ocean or else I wouldn't be able to take it. Anyway, it's a nice place to live if you enjoy outdoor activities/beaches and the cost of living is dirt cheap. There are new stores and shopping centers being built non-stop around me so it's starting to feel a little less isolating than previously.