Hey folks
We have guests(3 little ones, aged 1, 2 and 3, plus their older bro 13) staying with us this week and next. Tammys bro just came in from Korea 1yr stint and he and his DW are getting things arranged to send to England for 3yrs, so no furniture, no vehicles makes it rough. Tammy told em to send the kiddies here

Seriously, its been tough to reply with work and all.
Hoping to talk to Stan tonight. He has been with out treatments since Tues, so hoping to find him with strength. Will def. let yall know an update if I get to talk to him or Carolyn.
Julie
As far as living in NC, we love it! We are 2.5 hrs from mountains, which are beautiful in spring and fall, skiing at several places in winter, Blue Ridge parkway, etc. Beaches near Wilmington are 3-3.5 hrs, outer banks near Nags Head area 5 hrs. So the best of many worlds! We live along the I-85/40 corridor near Elon University. Closer to Muushka, about an hour from here is Research Triangle Park along same roads, UNC, Duke and NC State are stones throw from each other, Wake Forest, 45 mins NW of us in Winston Salem. We are 9.5 to 10.5 hr drive to the Lodge

depending on traffic. Charlotte is 1.5 hrs SW of us. Charlotte, Raleigh, both provide lots of opportunities for jobs, schools. Wilmington has grown, almost to much IMO, traffic being a bear ,plus tourist season. Charlotte and Raleigh both have heavy traffic but lots of reroute areas, especially Raleigh.
As for SPED, we are out of the loop on it. Our DS had some issues as a younger student, and he got services but only because Tammy remained vigilent, and she was able to get with the right folks to help her along the way. Since homeschooling came into the picture, we havent needed it, so we are too far removed to know about it truly. Wish we could be more help. I do feel the bigger cities, like most would provide more alternatives.
Our area seems to be more of a bedroom community, lots of commuters. But its a great place to raise your family, a great place to call home. You will find all kinds of folks in NC. Chapel Hill, very liberal town, in fact Orange Co. where it is located is a very liberal county. Just over the line in Alamance Co. where we live, more conservative. Lots of differing political views abound in NC. Areas tend to lend themselves this way. I will say that economically, most of NC is in good shape, but east of Raleigh until you reach Wilmington, nothing but farmland. Job wise those areas bleak. Raleigh to Charlotte, not bad. Greensboro, just above our area has small city feel but lots of opportunities.
We would love having yall in NC! Its not as apparent these days, but you still get strangers waving at you and being nice for no reason other than its the right thing to do.
Hope this helps, if you have anything else to ask, I will do my best to answer.