Relocating to tn, nc, sc area

[HwDoYuSlpAtNite]

At least we're hoping to. But I have no idea where to start. :/ So I thought I'd come here and see if any of my fellow nB'ers have ever located out of state... and not because a job dragged you there... because we'd have to start over with new jobs and all.

*pulls hair out*
Where do I start? Any tips?

[Smileybug]

I moved to NC in the middle of college. I was living in MD and my parents decided to move to NC. So I had to pack like mad over the summer for the move and go back home a few times on weekends to help pack and move. Then my fiance (then boyfriend) got a place of his own so I ended up staying with him over the summers so I could work, since my parents moved to the middle of nowhere and he was in Raleigh.

Its a big change moving several states away. But I have enjoyed every single minute of it.

In trying to find out where you want to go, one big question is what type of job are you looking for? NC has the research triangle (Raleigh-Durham) which is great for work and is doing pretty decently right now. I can help you out with info on NC. Dont' know much about TN or SC though.

[HwDoYuSlpAtNite]

My husband wants to go where there is industry, factorys and such... and where he doesn't have to drive through the mountains a lot. He wants to be able to go to the mountains on a day trip, but not live IN them. Because he's afraid of snow in the mountains.
Me personally, I want to be as close to the mountains as possible. LOL

[Beetlescott]

I left my family (parents and siblings) to go to Kentucky a few years back only to finally end up in Louisville. I have been ther now for going on 6 years. Louisville now feels very much like home most of the time. There are times however, that I wish so much that I lived around my kids & grandkids. I miss their ballgames and all that other growing up stuff. It is too far to just jump in the car an drive "Home" anymore on a whim. Now it has to be planned. Most of the time, Louisville is home, but some of the time, I do miss home. I hope this helps.

[warren]

start comparing prices on how you're gonna move all your stuff from MI to wherever...our move to virginia WAS for a job, but we paid the entire cost out of pocket.

we ended up using a commercial mover, scrounged all of our moving boxes, and packed all but the big stuff ourselves...

significant cost savings over the movers doing it all, and the only move we ever had (out of fourteen) where nothing got broken.

oh, and gotta make a plug for hampton roads...there's industry here...a major east coast port, shipbuilding, budweiser, food producers. close to the beach, fairly close to the mountains.

take a look here too.

[HwDoYuSlpAtNite]

Originally Posted by warren

oh, and gotta make a plug for hampton roads...there's industry here...a major east coast port, shipbuilding, budweiser, food producers. close to the beach, fairly close to the mountains.

take a look here too.

LOL
And we'd know someone there already. Another bonus. LOL

[wawalker]

Sounds like a good idea to me--MI has been hit very hard and it will be years before it recovers. I think I'd go with TN of your choices and I think at least one of you should have a job secured before you actually go. Good luck.

[raff]

You might try Greenville-Spartanburg, SC. Greenville has a lot going for it -- business, education, the arts, --
the downtown area is outstanding -- how about a park complete with waterfall and pedestrian bridge right in downtown.

I hate to sound like the chamber of commerce, but we've gone up there several times in the last few years because we really enjoy the area.

see link:
Greenville, South Carolina Home Page

[uwharrie]

depending on what type of industry the manufacturing job market ( heck the whole job market) in NC is a bit bleak right now. Unemployment is averaging 10% for the state and as high as 16% in some areas. I love NC and have lived here most of my life but the economy sucks here right now. (SC is even worst)
The good thing is its pretty cheap to live here compared to some states

Originally Posted by HwDoYuSlpAtNite

My husband wants to go where there is industry, factorys and such... and where he doesn't have to drive through the mountains a lot. He wants to be able to go to the mountains on a day trip, but not live IN them. Because he's afraid of snow in the mountains.
Me personally, I want to be as close to the mountains as possible. LOL

[D2Beetle]

I have been unemployed three times so far and moved each time to get reemployed. I rented a U-Haul each time and did the move ourselves and the word "challenging" does not even come close to define self-moving. All I can say is plan, plan, plan and do one room at a time. Unless you like to and have the time, donate items that you do not need to Good Will rather than having yard sales.

Not knowing what jobs you would consider... as you may or may not know, VW is building a plant in Chattanooga, TN and there is the Saturn plant in Springhill, TN. Anywhere in Middle TN puts you about halfway between the Mountains (Dragons Tail) and the beach, (Gulf Shores) for weekend getaways.

[MichelleRoze]

I just saw on the news that Athens, GA is the #5 best place to live and #7 best place for jobs. Might be worth looking into. Dawg town is pretty sweet, college area, but you could live in the 'burbs around it. Like I said, Winder, GA would be a cheap place to live (very country) and you could work in Athens, GA. PLUS, you wouldn't be to far from Me! (that's a big plus )

Here's the article about it.

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

I just saw on the news that Athens, GA is the #5 best place to live and #7 best place for jobs. Might be worth looking into. Dawg town is pretty sweet, college area, but you could live in the 'burbs around it. Like I said, Winder, GA would be a cheap place to live (very country) and you could work in Athens, GA. PLUS, you wouldn't be to far from Me! (that's a big plus )

Here's the article about it.

My cousin lives in Athens and loves it!

[ladytonya]

Unfortunately, in Western North Carolina most of our industry has disappeared. Both my parents lost jobs at what used to be two of the largest employers in the county. We used to have the second largest Gerber baby food plant in North America, second to the plant in Fremont, MI. Now, the largest Gerber plant is in Mexico City. Now, the primary employers are the college and anything in the hospitality industry. We do have a few plants still around, Borg Warner and Volvo are the two I can think of off the top of my head. They're both in Henderson County, not Buncombe (where Asheville is located). I can answer a lot of questions about the area and can do some searching and asking around about jobs if you give me an idea of what kind of experience you and Wilky have and what exactly you're looking for. Of course, if he doesn't want to be in the mountains he wouldn't want to be in Asheville. The roads here aren't quite as bad as some of what we were on in the rural areas around Robbinsville and Bryson City, at least not in Asheville and Hendersonville.

[MichelleRoze]

I did hear the VW plant in NC, was it? that is expanding...hmmm...lol discounts! HAHA

[HwDoYuSlpAtNite]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

I have been unemployed three times so far and moved each time to get reemployed. I rented a U-Haul each time and did the move ourselves and the word "challenging" does not even come close to define self-moving. All I can say is plan, plan, plan and do one room at a time. Unless you like to and have the time, donate items that you do not need to Good Will rather than having yard sales.

Not knowing what jobs you would consider... as you may or may not know, VW is building a plant in Chattanooga, TN and there is the Saturn plant in Springhill, TN. Anywhere in Middle TN puts you about halfway between the Mountains (Dragons Tail) and the beach, (Gulf Shores) for weekend getaways.

Yeah... the VW plant, last I knew, was going to be there in 2011 right? I'm hoping to be moved by then... but reality is it might take that long to save and get all the ducks in a row. Upside to Chattanooga, I have a friend in Dunlap, just outside of Chattanooga. LOL

[HwDoYuSlpAtNite]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

I just saw on the news that Athens, GA is the #5 best place to live and #7 best place for jobs. Might be worth looking into. Dawg town is pretty sweet, college area, but you could live in the 'burbs around it. Like I said, Winder, GA would be a cheap place to live (very country) and you could work in Athens, GA. PLUS, you wouldn't be to far from Me! (that's a big plus )

Here's the article about it.

Giggles... the bonus is always a good bonus.

[raff]

The VW plant is being built in Chattanooga.

The BMW plant (which offers tours) located between Greenville and Spartanburg, SC has been in operation for about 10 years.

[HwDoYuSlpAtNite]

Back to searching... lol. I sorta stalled on it for a while... but really wanna get lookin' harder now... with the new neighbors... lol.. I WANT OUTTA HERE EVEN MORE NOW. *sighs*

Off to google Athens, GA. LOL

[MichelleRoze]

YAY!!! Athens rock! Good luck searching. I'll keep my eyes peeled as well. Though I'm also looking for a job too. lol I might look in the Athens area as well.

[shellbug]

If you like the college town feeling then go for it. I used to live in Auburn Al, and the town literally revolved around the college. It wasn't my thing, nothing against college kids ( I was one too a while back) but it gets old. Forget about getting around certain Saturdays in the fall due to football games. The summers were nice, most of the students were gone and alot less traffic. I have heard Auburn and Athens are alike.