Best place to live?

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Try our little neck of the woods - the New Smyrna Beach - Edgewater area. Been here 60 years after being born in Caribou Maine. I know the chamber has a web site. We are about 1 1/2 hours from Disney. A-rated schools, universities. Local jobs or commuting jobs to Orlando, Daytona or Melbourne. We have a lot of transplants and a lot of part timers escaping the north. We are a very friendly community. Nascars home is 20 minutes away or NFL football in Jacksonville about an hour north. Take a vacation down on our beach & check it out.

 

[karenbaco]

Try our little neck of the woods - the New Smyrna Beach - Edgewater area. Been here 60 years after being born in Caribou Maine. I know the chamber has a web site. We are about 1 1/2 hours from Disney. A-rated schools, universities. Local jobs or commuting jobs to Orlando, Daytona or Melbourne. We have a lot of transplants and a lot of part timers escaping the north. We are a very friendly community. Nascars home is 20 minutes away or NFL football in Jacksonville about an hour north. Take a vacation down on our beach & check it out.

Ha Ha.....funny you mention NSB, my Dad lived there when I was in HS and I spent much time on that beach when I would visit during school vacation! Loved how we drove our 4x4 right onto the sand. Great memories! Had my first taste of gator there too.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I have found my kids to be one of the most surprising aspects of our move. Two were willing and looking forward to move. My youngest (DS8) was the only one who was hesitant and cried a bit. Ironically, he's the only extrovert in the family and the one I hadn't thought to be concerned about him making friends.

We had lived in a very rural area for 15 years, so it's all my kids knew. My oldest (a junior in HS) went to school with the same 50 kids since kindergarten. Her class at her new school is over 450 kids, so it's quite a difference. She is an extreme introvert and if she did anything a few times a year that was a lot. She was open to the move because she recognized that it would provide more opportunities for our family, but I was worried how it would work out for her socially.

My parents called on a Friday evening to see how the kids were adjusting to their first week at their new schools. They were shocked when I told them that "all three kids were out with friends, so it must have went well".

Almost everyone we knew was rather negative about the move, specifically that you "cannot" move a teen that close to graduation and that we were being "cruel" to our children for imposing an unnecessary move on them. Dispite the concerns, all three kids have had tremendous personal growth over the last few months, we are all extremely happy, and have never had even a fleeting second-thought about the move. I think most people tend to let their fears hold them back, but I am so glad we took the risk.

Wow, i wish I could just take the risk.

 

[Colleen27]

I have found my kids to be one of the most surprising aspects of our move. Two were willing and looking forward to move. My youngest (DS8) was the only one who was hesitant and cried a bit. Ironically, he's the only extrovert in the family and the one I hadn't thought to be concerned about him making friends.

We had lived in a very rural area for 15 years, so it's all my kids knew. My oldest (a junior in HS) went to school with the same 50 kids since kindergarten. Her class at her new school is over 450 kids, so it's quite a difference. She is an extreme introvert and if she did anything a few times a year that was a lot. She was open to the move because she recognized that it would provide more opportunities for our family, but I was worried how it would work out for her socially.

That's great!

It is my most extroverted kid who opposes the idea of moving most strongly, and I guess that makes sense because she'd be leaving the most behind - school friends, several sports teams she's been a part of for years, two 4H clubs, etc. Even though she'd likely have an easier time making new connections, she has a lot of connections now that she'd have to let go. My introvert is more open to the idea but has his first serious girlfriend right now so he doesn't want to leave. (teens @@)

When I was your DD's age I'd have welcomed a big move. When you're with the same kids K-12, getting labeled the shy, quiet one in early elem can follow you like a bad penny. I'd have loved to reinvent myself as less introverted and bookish in high school but that's hard to do when that identity is so firmly fixed in the minds of all your peers! I definitely think there can be pros to moving, but I would want my kids to be on board or at least open minded about the idea before we made that leap.

 

[SEA333]

The kids are mixed. My 8th grader doesn't want to leave but my 6th grader says sure! DS11 could make friends with a cardboard box while ds14 is more of an introvert.

Ditto on Colleens's sentiment. For us at this point in our life, the best place to live is behind our own front door.

We moved to the Chicago suburbs when oldest DS was 10 1/2 and halfway through 5th grade. It was absolutely awful. The boys in DS's new school were at the age where they were concerned with being "popular" and one "cool" kid was absolutely horrible to my DS, scaring his herd to not want to make friends with DS either. And DS is not exactly an introvert - not the life of the party, but certainly not afraid to join in or lead, is smart and athletic, and walked into his new classroom the first day smiling and hi-fiving everyone crowding around the door to see the new kid. 2 weeks later, he was in tears every day and for the next 6 months (the bullying followed him into Middle School for some of his 6th grade year) his grades dropped, he hated school, didn't want to join in any activities, and cried just about every night. Granted, it was due to the stars crossing that he just happened to be put in the 5th grade class with this jerky kid who was threatened that my son might take this kid's friends away and did everything he could to ostracize him and put him down, and it doesn't mean it will happen to your kids, but we decided (even though we don't really love this area for various reasons) that we will not move again out of this school district until all three kids have graduated high school. (youngest DS will be finishing 6th grade when DS14 graduates)

If you have lived in the same place for your kids' whole life, you may not know what it is like to have to start over being the "new kids' - even as parents, it is difficult at their ages because many of the kids in your new area will have been friends since preschool, hence, the parents will all know each other too and from what we have seen, many have no desire to make new friends outside their circle, nor do parents generally come into contact with other parents as much since the kids are more independant. We were lucky in that my younger two were still in preschool and first grade when we moved, so we were able to meet new families, plus DH and I are very involved in all of our kids' schools and sports, so we have met people that were kind of "forced" LOL, to talk to us since we are coaches or room parents. I won't lie, though, that we have way less friends who are parents in my DS14's age group than the younger kids. Football is heavily parentally involved even through high school, so that has helped. If my son wasn't a football player, I wouldn't know 90% of who I know in his high school.

Anyway, that is our experience - no amount of sun or warmth will sway me from taking my kids out of their environment again. We will suffer the high taxes, high home prices, school fees, traffic, cold and snow, and house and yard a quarter of the size of my sister's Michigan house for the same price until my kids are in college and out high school. 9 1/2 years to go!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

ETA: If your high schooler plays sports, make sure you check to see what the waiting period is at a new school. At DS's high school, and all the schools around here, transfer students have to sit out a season before they can play again. And since football was what saved my DS14 from believing the bully's awful words and actions when we first moved, I would never make my kids move then take a sport away from them at the time it is most cricial that they find somewhere to join in and get to know other kids. I never understood that...I get the whole "recruiting" and "stealing from other schools" problem, but it's the kids who are new that need to be included the most!

 

[Colleen27]

ETA: If your high schooler plays sports, make sure you check to see what the waiting period is at a new school. At DS's high school, and all the schools around here, transfer students have to sit out a season before they can play again. And since football was what saved my DS14 from believing the bully's awful words and actions when we first moved, I would never make my kids move then take a sport away from them at the time it is most cricial that they find somewhere to join in and get to know other kids. I never understood that...I get the whole "recruiting" and "stealing from other schools" problem, but it's the kids who are new that need to be included the most!

Your new district doesn't have a relocation exception to that waiting period? The MI high school athletic association specifically spells out that families who can document a legitimate change of address (which wouldn't be hard to do if the academic records the child is bringing in are from another state or region) aren't subject to the sitting out requirement. The rule is mainly applied to school-of-choice transfers and occasionally changes of residence (moving in with the other parent or a grandparent) within the same general area. I would assume most other areas have similar exceptions for families who have moved into the district.

 

[Minnesota!]

How do the kids feel about the idea? I have a high schooler and a middle schooler and even today, with temps well below zero, they absolutely do not want to start over somewhere new. I am dying to move somewhere warmer, especially right now with every winter colder and more miserable than the last, but we've agreed to stay put at least until the 8th grader has graduated. We'll likely end up waiting until the 1st grader is done too, if only because not having to look for great schools will open up more options for the kinds of places we'd like to live (I like big cities; my husband likes small rural towns. Neither tend to be known for excellent schools.)

For us, our kids are thrilled at the prospect of moving. It's us that is hesitant. We really go back and forth. Good jobs, good pay, insurance.

But the weather sucks, we want a different house, we want to start over fresh where we don't have family and friends inserting themselves into our daily lives, etc.

As for that money article about the best places to live - 3 in MN in the top 15 and you couldn't pay me to live in any of them. there is no heart, character, or real sense of community in any of them. All are urban sprawl, cookie cutter, one-upper communities. So, I am taking that article with a grain of salt.

 

[Colleen27]

As for that money article about the best places to live - 3 in MN in the top 15 and you couldn't pay me to live in any of them. there is no heart, character, or real sense of community in any of them. All are urban sprawl, cookie cutter, one-upper communities. So, I am taking that article with a grain of salt.

I feel the same way about one of the two Michigan cities listed. I wouldn't live there. It is a subdivision community full of one-uppers and busy-bodies, not my sort of place at all. But the schools are good and homes there cost an arm and a leg so I'm obviously in the minority to feel that way. The other is a place I'd love to live though - a very cool college town - and it is on our short-list of options for relocating within the Detroit area for better job options than our rural community has to offer if we don't end up leaving the state when DD graduates (both my and DH's parents are here and we're both the "dependable" kid in our family, so there's a possibility we'll end up going straight from staying for the kids to staying for the parents ).

 

[Handbag Lady]

What is considered affordable to you? There are cities outside of L.A. and Orange County that I would consider affordable but others may not. We live in North Orange County about 12 miles from Disneyland. One of the more affordable cities in Orange County called Brea. However, many would not consider it affordable.

What are your job options out here? Temecula is a great city. Closer to San Diego than Orange County with great weather (can get warm in summer). Great schools and more affordable than Orange County, San Diego and L.A. County. I personally wouldn't even consider anything in L.A. County. Try researching different cities in Riverside. But depending on what you think is affordable, Temecula might be a good option for you if you really want to do So Cal.

I was just going to write almost the same thing. There are gorgeous areas in Southern California that are not in the pricey bits. My dad lives in San Pedro and LOVES it there.

 

[HereWeCome Mickey]

For all the folks living in NC was wondering how long of a drive to WDW.
We are a Chicago about to relocate to a suburb of Charlotte, NC
My kids are already begging me to plan a trip

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I am from Charleston, SC and am now in Franklin (Nashville), TN for my DH's job. Both would work for you. Buy your house depending on the school district. TN has more "seasons" and I consider it too cold in the winter. However, many think it is a mild climate. My DH loves it and he is from Chicago. Charleston is beautiful and I would love to go home. However, folks who are not from there find the humidity stifling at times. I am happy to answer more questions on either.

 

[itutorfortravel]

For all the folks living in NC was wondering how long of a drive to WDW.
We are a Chicago about to relocate to a suburb of Charlotte, NC
My kids are already begging me to plan a trip

We live in a suburb of Charlotte, NC, and it's about an 8.5 hour drive from here to WDW!

 

[cep101]

I live in Maryland, and it's 13 hour drive to Disney World! Not too shabby

 

[karenbaco]

"What is considered affordable to you? There are cities outside of L.A. and Orange County that I would consider affordable but others may not. We live in North Orange County about 12 miles from Disneyland. One of the more affordable cities in Orange County called Brea. However, many would not consider it affordable."

Not really sure how to answer that? I guess a 2,800 sq ft home with a 1/2 acre of land for less than $400,000 is affordable.

 

[MillauFr]

Not really sure how to answer that? I guess a 2,800 sq ft home with a 1/2 acre of land for less than $400,000 is affordable.

Yes is depends on what you compare it to. Orange County is affordable compared to Seattle.... http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal....675359,-122.320385_rect/17_zm/1_fr/?view=map

I knew prices were going up around here but $2 million for a dump???? Crazy

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

"What is considered affordable to you? There are cities outside of L.A. and Orange County that I would consider affordable but others may not. We live in North Orange County about 12 miles from Disneyland. One of the more affordable cities in Orange County called Brea. However, many would not consider it affordable."

Not really sure how to answer that? I guess a 2,800 sq ft home with a 1/2 acre of land for less than $400,000 is affordable.

If your dream is California, it's absolutely possible with those numbers. You may not get EXACTLY what you want but pretty darn close. Check out Temecula. It's beautiful (they have some wineries). They have wonderful schools. The weather is typically in the 80's all year (of course a little lower in the winter and in the 90's in the warmest summer days). You are an hour from Legoland, hour and a half from Disneyland, hour from downtown San Diego, two hours from downtown L.A. and about a half hour to the nearest beach.

You can get a house over 2000 square feet on about a third of an acre for under $400,000. Not all of California is SUPER expensive.

 

[karenbaco]

If your dream is California, it's absolutely possible with those numbers. You may not get EXACTLY what you want but pretty darn close. Check out Temecula. It's beautiful (they have some wineries). They have wonderful schools. The weather is typically in the 80's all year (of course a little lower in the winter and in the 90's in the warmest summer days). You are an hour from Legoland, hour and a half from Disneyland, hour from downtown San Diego, two hours from downtown L.A. and about a half hour to the nearest beach.

You can get a house over 2000 square feet on about a third of an acre for under $400,000. Not all of California is SUPER expensive.

Sounds wonderful!!!!!!

 

[SEA333]

Your new district doesn't have a relocation exception to that waiting period? The MI high school athletic association specifically spells out that families who can document a legitimate change of address (which wouldn't be hard to do if the academic records the child is bringing in are from another state or region) aren't subject to the sitting out requirement. The rule is mainly applied to school-of-choice transfers and occasionally changes of residence (moving in with the other parent or a grandparent) within the same general area. I would assume most other areas have similar exceptions for families who have moved into the district.

Possibly, they might have one. I don't know. It is different here in Illinois than in Michigan (where I lived for my first 35 years). DS14 was in 5th grade when we moved, so I didn't have to look into it when we moved, and haven't had a reason to since. But, they are VERY strict here about school boundries, there is no school of choice, and they actually will come to your house to perform an inspection of your living/sleeping arrangements if they suspect you are lying about residency. So, it would not surprise me at all if they did not make exceptions for relocations...the best scenario I have heard is my neighbor who is doing a complete refurb who needed to time their move so that it was during (the end of) his HS daughter's gymnastic season - she will have to miss the last few weeks at her old school, but our school agreed to count her missing that as a "sit out" period. That was about all they were willing to do. Like I said, it is culture shock being here, coming from the Detroit area where things are much less strict.

And I agree on the two MI cities in the money article - I have no desire to live in the one city (I hate that 1-75 area), but because we are huge Wolverine fans (my alma-mater) and it is DS14's dream to play for the Maize and Blue (now even more than ever with Harbaugh!), or even just attend UM as a regular student, we would love to move back to live in the other. A lot of my family lives within 20 minutes of there anyway - win/win all the way around!

Go Blue!

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

I am in Nor Cal...outside Sacramento area. Not much here (we have restaurants, shopping, pro basketball, minor league soccer and baseball), but we are close to everything (that is actually our mantra!). 1.5 hrs to Tahoe, 1.5 hrs to San Francisco, 6.5 hrs to Disneyland, 3 hrs to Yosemite, etc...

Anyhow, hot summers (no humidity), coolish winters (no snow). It was 68 today and the trees are blooming; I will be starting my garden April 1st. 2 years ago we were able to get a 2000sf fixer (no basements here, so keep that in mind) on 5 acres, 30 mi outside the city limits for $250k. The houses here are now in the $400k range.

The schools are good (depending on the neighborhood). I like the diversity of people...mixture of African American, Hispanic, Hmong, Viatnamese, Chinese, Indian, Russian, etc...Mostly liberal...every major religion (some are even all on the same street!)

Variety of jobs (engineering, Apple, HP, Intel, lots of government and state jobs due to being the state capital, construction, education, etc..) and close to Bay Area and the Silicon Valley type jobs (I.e., lots of tech giants).

Good luck with your search. We were just researching the northeast because we have neve been there. Of course, ours will just be a visit. We are tied into the teacher retirement system, so we are stuck in CA for a long while!