It's only life.: February 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Um... I'm serious people

No one is voting on my I NEED YOUR HELP post below. I know it looks like a lot of text to read, but it's really not. Out of all the silly posts i make that people comment on, I actually need comments this time. So vote! Please :-D
Thank you!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Friends I NEED YOUR HELP!

Ok, so I'm thinking rather seriously about relocating. I love Norfolk, but I've spent my time here (8 years!!!) and think I'd like to try somewhere new, somewhere I can make my home and buy something. I love Ghent, but it's impossible to buy a place to live here unless you're pooping out money. I'm pretty limited in my search because I want to be at the very most, 6 hours away from everyone in my immediate family (not to mention friends in Hampton Roads and Northern VA/DC). So far, I haven't really found anywhere in Virginia that's attracted me. I think Occoquan is a really cute area, but houses are all like starting at half a million $. This is what I'm looking for in a nut shell: A smallish town, close to a bigger city, that offers a downtown historic atmosphere (like ghent) where you can ride your bike or walk anywhere you go in town. Also a place that has a community feel, like a farmer's market, flea market etc... I don't care much for big cities or making lots of money or having a fancy anything. I want to be able to afford to buy a house on my own, and to eventually start my own business. Hopefully a store selling crafts and paintings / clothes and crap i make, and also other things from local artists etc... I'd reeeeeeeeally love to live in a beach town, but it's dangerous to live ther year round with the bazillion hurricanes that have been flyin through all over the coast lately. Plus totally dead in the off-season. I don't want to be in some totally prepster southern town, where there are no artsy fartsy people with tattoos and laid back attitudes like i'm used to. I know that places like Philly and certain areas of New York are still pretty close to VA, but I'm really scared of being freezing cold. Here are some places that have stood out to me so far. They're all in NC, and surprise they're basically all close to the research triangle. Charlotte and Asheville both look amazing, but they are probably too far away from everyone. I wanna be around for Aimee's new baby's life and not miss out on so much of her being a baby, like i did with Cody. Anyway, please take a look at these places i've outlined below and cast your vote. If you have any further suggestions I would appreciate them too. Thank you! :)

Chapel Hill, NC
Population: 51,519
Median Income: $88,000
Median Home Price: $342,000
Median Age: 30
Distance from Aimee / her fam: 45 mins
Distance from rest of fam: 4 hrs 20 mins
Plus: Lots of artsy crap around, many bike paths
Pics:

Apex, NC
Population: 34,791
Median Income: $78,700
Median Home Price:
Median Age: 31
Distance from Aimee / her fam: 30 mins
Distance from rest of fam: 4.5 hrs
Plus: Fast growing, lots of job opportunities (really close to Aimee)
Pics:

Wake Forest, NC
Population: 15,000
Median Income: $52,307
Median Home Price:$143,500
Median Age: 31
Distance from Aimee / her fam: 40 mins
Distance from rest of fam: 4 hrs
Plus: Inexpensive Housing, super close to Raleigh, opportunities for opening small business
Pics:

Wilmington, NC
Population: 75,800
Median Income: $31,100
Median Home Price:$128,000
Median Age: 34
Distance from Aimee / her fam: 2 hrs
Distance from rest of fam:6 hrs
Plus: Close to the beach, inexpensive housing, lotsa bang for your buck
Pics:

Durham, NC
Population: 217,000
Median Income: $46,000
Median Home Price:$175,000
Median Age: 31
Distance from Aimee / her fam: 45 mins
Distance from rest of fam: 4 hrs
Plus: Many local art festivals, great shopping, supports fast startup for small business
Pics:

Honorable Mention:
Holly Springs, NC (don't know much about it)
Population: 12,000?
Median Income: $69,550
Median Home Price:$173,000
Median Age: 30
Distance from Aimee / her fam: 40 mins
Distance from rest of fam: 4 hrs 45 mins
Plus: I saw an article that made me want to consider this place and now i can't find it!
Pics: