Wilmington NC or Columbis SC (moving)

[Cheddar]

Title says it all.  I visited Columbia few months ago and was impressed.  Cheap ass houses and lots of lakes.  Wilmington looks nice on interwebs; the kids and I love beaches.

Got a week to decide roughly and torn between the two.

[Teleku]

I'm just not sure if I can trust answering your question with that avatar.

[Miasma]

No idea but in general I would trust the place I've actually been to and liked over the fucking internet.

I don't think we have anyone on the boards from either of those places since being able to read and write is mostly mandatory for a message board.  That was uncalled for and I apologize.

[rattran]

I've spent quite a bit of time in West Columbia, Sc (the gf is from there) Columbia has surprising levels of crime in the affluent suburban areas around it.

Rush's has a decent chili-cheese burger though.

[01101010]

Columbia was ok (lived in Darlington for a year and went to Columbia a few times), but it can get hot as shit in the summer there. That said, I'd take Wilmington, NC with a caution: hurricanes. Being able to drive to the ocean in a few minutes always wins out with me. SC is a little more friendly in the taxes dept too so there is that. I'd still go with Wilmington.

[rattran]

Columbia was 90s when I was there in January, and 90s for April May and June. So if you like Hot, Wet weather, you'll love it.

[Cheddar]

Columbia was ok (lived in Darlington for a year and went to Columbia a few times), but it can get hot as shit in the summer there. That said, I'd take Wilmington, NC with a caution: hurricanes. Being able to drive to the ocean in a few minutes always wins out with me. SC is a little more friendly in the taxes dept too so there is that. I'd still go with Wilmington.

Hurricanes we are used to.   I grew up in Virginia Beach.

We go to Kitty Hawk a couple weeks every year and love the beach.  I lived in SC for a couple years (and had boots melt to asphalt in September- true story) so am very aware of the heat.

The crime piece bothers me.  Is Columbia one of those cities where you have to know what neighborhoods NOT to drive in?

Anyway, plan was to move to Blythewood up north of Columbia before this second option hit.

[schild]

1. Hurricanes in VA Beach are bullshit pussy storms.
2. Jesus christ, neither. How does this happen to you?

[Cheddar]

1. Hurricanes in VA Beach are bullshit pussy storms.
2. Jesus christ, neither. How does this happen to you?

Other options were glorious locations like Rochester NY or Baltimore.  I said "hell no."

[schild]

Baltimore is better than both. Live in white town: Resisterstown, Owings Mill, etc. Access to DC, Rockville, Bethesda, and if you're a doucher, the Jersey Shore.

Rochester is nice 9 months out of the year. Really nice.

Wilmington and Columbia are shitholes.

[Merusk]

Ched has like 13 kids. He'll be welcomed by the bible thumpers in the Carolinas.  Not like you, ya swarthy ethnic man, you.   

But yeah, I think I'd have taken Baltimore first.

[koro]

I've lived in SC my whole life (I'm 35 minutes from Columbia). I'd never in a million years voluntarily move here to live outside of pure desperation, and I'm currently saving up to get out. The people are shit, the weather is worse, and there are few to no good opportunities for decent work.

[schild]

Ched has like 13 kids. He'll be welcomed by the bible thumpers in the Carolinas.  Not like you, ya swarthy ethnic man, you.   

But yeah, I think I'd have taken Baltimore first.

Clearly you haven't met the breeders in the suburbs outside of Bmore.

[Engels]

Does Wilmington have the burgeoning movie industry still?

[Paelos]

Brother in law is from Wilmington. It's very nice.

Columbia SC is a racist, hot, shithole. Nobody in the SEC likes going there. Other rednecks avoid that town.

EDIT: Listen to koro.

[Cheddar]

Brother in law is from Wilmington. It's very nice.

Columbia SC is a racist, hot, shithole. Nobody in the SEC likes going there. Other rednecks avoid that town.

EDIT: Listen to koro.

Looks like Columbia is the winner.  Mainly due to a new development in my work life.  Also, we have a bunch of friends who relocated to Georgia/SC state line.

We will NOT be living in Columbia itself.  Looking at Lexington, Blythewood, or more towards lake Wateree.

[Paelos]

Good luck. Invest in lots of air conditioning.

[Count Nerfedalot]

Brother in law is from Wilmington. It's very nice.

Columbia SC is a racist, hot, shithole. Nobody in the SEC likes going there. Other rednecks avoid that town.

EDIT: Listen to koro.

Listen to the monkey.  Too late? My condolences.  Not to send this too far into politics, but unless you strongly believe in and identify with tea party politics and fundigelical religion, and you really have a thing for 100 degree heat with 100% humidity and the sweet smell of pine sap mixed with asphalt with not a single breath of a breeze, you will probably regret it.

[climbjtree]

I live in NC, and I'll vouch for Wilmington over Columbia any day of the week.

[ShenMolo]

Split the difference and move to Asheville NC, Greenville SC, or Athens GA. All are way more awesome than Columbia.

[Cyrrex]

Good rule of thumb is not to ever move to "south" anything.  Unless it is South British Columbia, or something.

[01101010]

Good rule of thumb is not to ever move to "south" anything.  Unless it is South British Columbia, or something.

Unless you have lived in Cleveland and spent a winter or two up there.

[Cheddar]

So wife is excited, but then spills she REALLY was uber excited about Wilmington (this evening).

Women, when we ask your opinion please be giving it. 

Sigh.

[Rasix]

Ohh, so you care about her opinion and not ours? 

[Cheddar]

Ohh, so you care about her opinion and not ours? 

  Perspective.  Decision was up to family.  No help at all 

Women are funny.  And note, my wife is not meek.  Tell me what you want!

[Nebu]

I hope you can afford private schools.  Public education in SC is bad and getting worse.  If it's not too late, I'd seriously consider Wilmington for the sake of the children. 

[Paelos]

I'll reiterate that Columbia is a hotter than balls shithole that even Tennessee fans don't want to visit. Seriously. They live in Knoxville and look down their noses at that crapburg.

[Venkman]

Women, when we ask your opinion please be giving it. 

Hear, fucking, hear. In my 40s, married a decade and a half, and I'm still sometimes required to guess what she really means. The ultimate insanity is continuing to believe I might get it right someday 

Having said that, Rochester is nice. Was there for four years. And I loved the weather, all year round though there was always the peak grumbling season. Best sunsets of any place I've ever left.

However, it isn't a beach town by any stretch

[Yegolev]

If you only have to guess your wife's mind sometimes, I tip my hat to you.  As for me, I've given up trying to decipher this minefield of tricks, red-herrings, innocent deceptions, and fake logic.

[Cheddar]

For closure:  officially heading to SC.  Never moved my family; logistics gonna be a bitch.

Excited but bummed about being away from family 5 days a week until we find a place.  Much time for games, though 

[Tannhauser]

Welcome back to the South Ched!  We have sweet tea!

And diabeetus.

Staying south of the Mason Dixon line is usually a good move.

[Teleku]

Staying south of the Mason Dixon line is usually a good move.

[Roac]

For closure:  officially heading to SC.  Never moved my family; logistics gonna be a bitch.

Welcome to Cola, neighbor.

But... you chose poorly.

[Paelos]

We warned him.

[Cheddar]

2 weeks in and I love it.  Again, I am way up in NrE side of Cola, so ymmv. 

Large part is definitely job satisfaction.  People are super friendly and looking forward to getting the fam down there.

Anyhow, lets be real.  I am with the haves currently, so my view is way distorted.  Looking forward to my first lake adventure.  :)