Hate Arizona, want to move, any advice?

military spouse · May 2, 2006

Hi...
This is my first time posting anything. I currently live in AZ. We are SICK OF PHOENIX and have just about decided to move east. Im still fairly new to nursing (graduated in 2005) and my goal is to get into Trauma and Flight. We are thinking of moving to the Charlotte area. I need info regarding Level One hospitals and/or teaching hospitals in that area. Also, my husband builds hospitals (he's a Super for a Commercial Builder, healthcare division) and we would need to be where theres lots of commercial construction. He likes to build big things. We have a 2 kids and kinda want to raise them not DIRECTLY in the city like we are now. So Im looking for a place where we can both work and where our kids can actually play outside without my constant fear that they are going to be hit by a car or kidnapped from the front yard. Is the Charlotte area and surrounding suburbs where I should be looking? I have family moving to Wakeforest, whats that like? And he's all worked up because he's heard the humidity there is a killer. Anyone have a comment on that one?

Hi! I have no advice, but wanted to say that I understand. We lived in Sierra Vista, AZ, which wasn't too family friendly, and moved to PA and live in the friendliest neighborhood. We have an 8 year-old daughter and I swear every kid is eight in our neighborhood Actually, I do think people in the SE and NE are friendly and more family-oriented. I hope everything works out for you! One shock, after having lived in the desert for about 4-5 years, was actually having to mow a lawn. I forgot how much work that is;)

aimeeinorbit · May 3, 2006

Thank you for your sympathy. There are no kids on our street, and the ones that are around never come out once school is out because of the heat!

supermo · May 6, 2006

Being the native Charlottean that I am, I had to respond. I will try to give you as much info as I can...

PROS:

-New South concept, still say "ya'll" but have NFL, NBA, museums, art shows, fine dining, etc....

-The Charlotte area has some great suburbs-

Northeast - Cabarrus County-Concord, Harrisburg

North - Lake Norman area-Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville

West - Gaston County-Mount Holly, Cramerton, Belmont (personally wouldn't recommend any towns further west than that.)

Southwest - Lake Wylie area-Tega Cay, Rock Hill (SC), Fort Mill (SC)

South - Pineville, Weddington

Southeast - Matthews, Union County-Indian Trail (once again, personally don't recommend any towns further east of there.)

-We are BOOMING. There is construction going on around every corner

-There are several hospitals to choose from in this area. The big learning hospital is CMC. http://www.carolinashealthcare.org/ . Also check out http://presbyterian.org

-Conservatively you will spend 8 months of the year outside. It's cold (below freezing at night) from the 2-3 week of December until the 2-3 week of February and it's hot (mid to high 90s during day) from the 2-3 week of June until 2-3 week August. It is true that the humidity is oppressive sometimes, but at least it's not as bad as Florida. :lol2:

-My 13 & 14 y/o are free to roam the neighborhood, my 11 y/o has freedom of half the neighborhood, & my 8 y/o can ride around on the sidewalks within sight of our house. I feel very comfortable letting them out in this area.

CONS:

-Our school system is a mess (Chrlotte-Mecklenburg Schools). Our schools in the suburbs are overcrowded and the schools in the city do not attract students because of inadequate facilities. If we could move right now I would leave Mecklenburg County and go to one of the surrounding counties. Iredell, Gaston, & Cabarrus are all better school systems.

-I don't know how it is in the rest of the world but in Charlotte, you can drive down the road and go from houses that run 350K to, a few miles later, a neighborhood you don't want to drive through at night. Maybe that's a little exaggerated (sp?) but maybe you get what I mean. There are only a few REALLY bad areas. The rest are bad areas scattered with good areas.

If you want to look at houses in the area go here.

If you want to see the website for the school systems:

http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/ - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schoools (CMS)

http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/ - Gaston County

http://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/ - Cabarrus County

http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/ - Iredell County

General County Information - http://www.charmeck.org/living/home.htm

aimeeinorbit · May 12, 2006

Thank You

navvet · Jun 23, 2008

This person is right, and as of 2008, the crime is getting really bad here as well. There are at least three murders per day in and aroud the charlotte area. Charlotte used to be small town w/big city dreams...They City Counsil got wha they asked for... now with the influx of people from all over the U.S., unless you have a skill, you will not find a good paying job in Charlotte. It is not what it used to be.

celclt · Jun 24, 2008

we live in Mooresville-in Iredell Co schools, doubled sq ftg and taxes cut in half when we left Mecklenburg Co. for same $- very low crime up here- a LOT of traffic but doable- and we have a fab lake!

I am in school in Charlotte- CMC for clinicals, so I drive down-30min+ with no traffic, typical rush hr~add 30'-1hr....

flight nurses are really busy @ CMC-lots of transports (and lake accidents from up here)-hth!

andimp00 · Aug 20, 2008

I feel your pain! I'm a Carolina Girl all the way! Currently living in Phoenix and hating EVERY minute of it. I have family in charlotte. Great place! I never lived there, but grew up in Chapel Hill, lived in Durham and Greensboro. You will absolutely love NC, wherever you move. So much better than this sweatbox. I am in nursing school and will be moving back to the Tarheel state as soon as I graduate! Good Luck!!

st4wb3rr33sh0rtc4k3 · Aug 20, 2008

I moved from the East to Arizona. I don't really like it. The nursing is so slow is the summer.

I can't find anywhere that I want to live, though. It is annoying.

I think I might try Washington D.C.