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Has anyone lived in Atlanta and care to share your experience? Dh has been offered a job at the CDC facility located there. We've both lived most of our lives in Northern California and we've been spoiled by the weather, and that would probably be the biggest drawback. Specifically, the humidity in the summer.
One of the big pluses is the ability to live close to work. Here, we cannot afford to live anywhere near his work; he's in non-profit research and his work is in one of the most expensive cities in the Bay Area. It looks like Atlanta is more affordable. The other big draw is the green (we both love trees), the open spaces, and the rainfall. If the rain would just would restrict itself to cold weather, then it would be perfect! :)
Has anyone lived in Atlanta and care to share your experience? Dh has been offered a job at the CDC facility located there. We've both lived most of our lives in Northern California and we've been spoiled by the weather, and that would probably be the biggest drawback. Specifically, the humidity in the summer.
One of the big pluses is the ability to live close to work. Here, we cannot afford to live anywhere near his work; he's in non-profit research and his work is in one of the most expensive cities in the Bay Area. It looks like Atlanta is more affordable. The other big draw is the green (we both love trees), the open spaces, and the rainfall. If the rain would just would restrict itself to cold weather, then it would be perfect! :)
The job sounds wonderful, for sure. I think that from what I have read of your posts that you would not care for it, but I am basing that on what I know of Atlanta from years ago, and I never lived in Atlanta. If you could go and visit and hang out with some of the CDC people and see what they are like, and where they live? Metro Atlanta is horrific, with awful traffic. I think you would not like the weather or the people.
Sorry to be discouraging. Atlanta is my idea of hell, and I am a native Georgian.
Teacher Terry
5-27-20, 7:52pm
We have moved a lot for jobs so weather was never really a consideration for us. Basically we looked at salary versus COL. We have lived in some crappy places. Was on vacation 40 years ago to Atlanta.
I have visited and know people who live there. The traffic is bad, though maybe not now during a pandemic. Despite this the people I know do not like or use the mass transit system.
The city will be blue but the state is red. Depending on your political beliefs that may be a welcome or unwelcome change from California.
There are typical big city concerns, including safety in certain neighborhoods, but also big city amenities. I went with XBF and we saw the King sites and the Tanger Outlet Mall. We also went out to eat with friends at a TGI Friday's that had a DJ, which you don't get up my way. There are definitely opportunities to party if you are into that.
One resident I know is Jewish and he found the city very tolerant.
I'm surprised the CDC is hiring, or even that it still exists, these days.
iris lilies
5-28-20, 11:00am
I would think you would hate the weather in Atlanta.
Many years ago we had a library conference in Atlanta. I met up with an old friend from New Mexico who is in very good shape since he’s an outdoorsy guy. Me, never in really good shape because I am not Miss Athletic had less trouble than he did because I was from the sweltering lower midwest. He had obvious trouble acclimating.
I’ve heard that Houston is worse than Atlanta so it could be worse
i guess.
The job sounds wonderful, for sure. I think that from what I have read of your posts that you would not care for it, but I am basing that on what I know of Atlanta from years ago, and I never lived in Atlanta. If you could go and visit and hang out with some of the CDC people and see what they are like, and where they live? Metro Atlanta is horrific, with awful traffic. I think you would not like the weather or the people.
Sorry to be discouraging. Atlanta is my idea of hell, and I am a native Georgian.
Tybee - what is it that makes you think I wouldn't like the people? The only thing I've read online is that people are friendly. I've also read that traffic is bad, though I doubt it's as bad as here. If we did move there, it would be just until dh retires and then we would move to a small town.
What part of Georgia are you from? I've always wanted to visit Savannah. And Charleston, for the gardens.
iris lilies
5-28-20, 11:11am
I'm surprised the CDC is hiring, or even that it still exists, these days.
Yes, a popular notion if we only read headline news from CNN et al. for confirmation of our biases ( always satisfying, I know!)
This budget analysis of The CDC by the Cato institute suggestS a different agenda of recent presidential budgets then CNN would lead you to believe.
I realize that Cato is, of course, poisonous anathema to you, but I like it, not surprisingly.
“Real NIH spending soared from the mid‐1990s to 2011. It was then cut under President Obama but has rebounded under President Trump. Real CDC spending soared from around 1990 to 2010 but has been roughly flat since then. New legislation tackling the coronavirus will increase spending above these levels going forward.“
https://www.cato.org/blog/coronavirus-nih/cdc-funding
It is a glorious time to be a CDC fundraiser.
I would think you would hate the weather in Atlanta.
Many years ago we had a library conference in Atlanta. I met up with an old friend from New Mexico who is in very good shape since he’s an outdoorsy guy. Me, never in really good shape because I am not Miss Athletic had less trouble than he did because I was from the sweltering lower midwest. He had obvious trouble acclimating.
I’ve heard that Houston is worse than Atlanta so it could be worse
i guess.
Yeah, the weather. The other place we've been thinking of moving to, here in California, is very hot in the summers - over 100 many days for about 7 months of the year. And it's dry, 10" of rain a year. There's definitely a corollary between weather and cost of living!
IR - I was in St. Louis many years ago for a friend's college reunion and it was during the summer I think and I was surprised that the humidity was not too uncomfortable. Of course, I was in my late 20's then. Beautiful university, by the way. How do you cope with the weather in your area? Is the humidity an issue just in the summer, or year-round?
Tybee - what is it that makes you think I wouldn't like the people? The only thing I've read online is that people are friendly. I've also read that traffic is bad, though I doubt it's as bad as here. If we did move there, it would be just until dh retires and then we would move to a small town.
What part of Georgia are you from? I've always wanted to visit Savannah. And Charleston, for the gardens.
Georgia is red, red, red. I don’t remember your political affinities. Atlanta is blue like many big cities, but if you lean anywhere left, I can’t imagine you’d like the rest of the state.
When I was considering moving elsewhere some years back, GA was on my list of possibilities, but it was a final no due to the climate. I’ve got close friends who are GA natives. I visited once and the parts I saw were very pretty. I made sure to go in November, as it would be cooler.
GA is very religious, as well.
Tybee - what is it that makes you think I wouldn't like the people? The only thing I've read online is that people are friendly. I've also read that traffic is bad, though I doubt it's as bad as here. If we did move there, it would be just until dh retires and then we would move to a small town.
What part of Georgia are you from? I've always wanted to visit Savannah. And Charleston, for the gardens.
My dad grew up in Savannah, my mom in coastal Georgia, and we lived on St. Simons.
I shouldn't have said that about the people, but I get a PNW vibe from you, and Georgians are not like that. It's hard to put into words. I could see you finding a crowd in say Athens, but I looked on a map and that is an hour and a half from the CDC. But I am guessing the CDC people are like that, and you would probably like them a lot, and they might have a wide social circle.
Georgians tend to be very down to earth, practical, and socially and politically conservative; often they are religious; they tend to be kind and friendly, but there is a mistrust of people coming in from up north and acting superior. And believe me, people from up north do that all the time.
They think it's good that they have reopened the state, for example, and probably don't agree with you on how to handle the virus. But then again, if he's working for the CDC, you can probably find many like minded people.
But the local society tends to divide itself by things like what church you went to, who your family is, etc. But I doubt you want to get in with those people anyway.
I think you'd like Athens.
All of my observations are based on things from growing up, and Atlanta is probably very different now, very open to outsiders. When I went there last time a couple of years ago, the traffic was so horrendous I would never live there. Growing up, it was known as Hot-Lanta, and that wasn't a compliment, and it wasn't about the weather--it was considered rowdy, dangerous, and a big drug scene.
It is also hotter than hell in the summer, with no breezes, and I can't breathe there. I once went on a bike trip with my cousins as a 15 year old and almost died of heat stroke.
Ugh.
Edited to add: You really have to go down there and see for yourself. And go in the summer, now, since you will be living there. Check it out; the state is open, and you will have motels and restaurants and be able to get the vibe for yourself. Then you can see what the summer is like and what the people are like.
You may be right. Dr. Redfield (who's responsible for the guidelines that "wouldn't see the light of day") denies he's been muzzled.
"CDC Director Robert Redfield on Thursday denied reports that the White House rejected his agency's draft guidelines for reopening the country and wouldn't commit to resuming regular briefings as states continue lifting coronavirus lockdowns.
Redfield, in an interview with POLITICO, said reports of the White House stifling his agency are inaccurate and that the coronavirus task force gave constructive criticism on the draft guidelines that were revised and quietly released this week."
iris lilies
5-28-20, 11:22am
Yeah, the weather. The other place we've been thinking of moving to, here in California, is very hot in the summers - over 100 many days for about 7 months of the year. And it's dry, 10" of rain a year. There's definitely a corollary between weather and cost of living!
IR - I was in St. Louis many years ago for a friend's college reunion and it was during the summer I think and I was surprised that the humidity was not too uncomfortable. Of course, I was in my late 20's then. Beautiful university, by the way. How do you cope with the weather in your area? Is the humidity an issue just in the summer, or year-round?
In my old age I have come to loath and despise the month of September. In my little mind, September is hell because it should not be hot in September. I’m from Northern Iowa where Septembers cool down for school attendance and we wear school clothes, not sweat clothes.
I put up with the heat and humidity of July and August because those are summer months where God intended things to be hot and muggy in the Midwest because that’s just where we are! It’s how we grow fat vegetables. My lily garden is producing all through the month of July so I’m very fond of July, and by August I’m still out working in the garden but I’m kind of over it.
So if September is, in my mind, supposed to be cooling off, hot weeks in October make me ragey. Last year on October 1 it was in the 90s. I was already sick and I had to put on a dumb block party because we had moved National Night Out from August to October so it would be cooler. Yeah not by much we probably saved 3° of heat.
I’m hatching a fantasy in my mind where I skip off to New England for four weeks of September. I would think by then rentals would be plentiful because all those East Coast people Are back home with her children in school and rentals might be a little cheaper? The only piece I can’t quite figure out is how do I walk away from all my gardens for four weeks and not come back to a jungle of weeds. I don’t trust people I hire to weed, And it’s bloody impossible to get people to do that kind of work anyway.
Is Reynolds rentals or a town in New England? I'm fascinated.
iris lilies
5-28-20, 11:48am
Is Reynolds rentals or a town in New England? I'm fascinated.
it should be “rentals“
Teacher Terry
5-28-20, 12:45pm
When I lived in humidity I was used to it. Now that I have been away I find it horrible. The 2 worst places I lived were Texas and Kansas. Very conservative red religious states. It was hard to find my tribe. The weather was awful. I exercised inside in summer and outside in winter which was the opposite of the locals. I have heard that people are superficially nice in the south but aren’t going to be your good friends.
Simplemind
5-28-20, 1:59pm
Have only visited in May. Thought I was going to die from the heat and humidity. I am fairly heat intolerant and I was beyond miserable.
We do a lot of market research in Atlanta because it's a city of transients so we get a good geographical representation of different attitudes all in one place. I like Atlanta because it is a growing city, but still affordable; to me the weather is not bad at all (compared to New England); the people are friendly; it's a very cosmopolitan vibe; there are a lot of "suburban" neighborhoods that are reasonably close to the city; it's very easy to get to many places in the country from Atlanta Hartsfield.
OTOH, the traffic is horrible. As bad as the 405 in LA during peak hours, although "peak" is not as long as it is in LA. It certainly doesn't have the "cool" vibe California has. Because it is filled with transients, yet as others have said, outside of Atlanta, you get conservative, religious people, it might be difficult for you to find your "tribe." I think I'd have a hard time because I don't put make up on every day and have nicely coiffed hair. Atlanta is a smidgen like Dallas that way. I'm not sure about the arts scene, but I don't get the feeling it's a top city in that regard.
If you think you would be happy in a Southern city, Atlanta is a good one to pick. Otherwise, it could be culture shock.
Has anyone lived in Atlanta and care to share your experience? Dh has been offered a job at the CDC facility located there. We've both lived most of our lives in Northern California and we've been spoiled by the weather, and that would probably be the biggest drawback. Specifically, the humidity in the summer.
One of the big pluses is the ability to live close to work. Here, we cannot afford to live anywhere near his work; he's in non-profit research and his work is in one of the most expensive cities in the Bay Area. It looks like Atlanta is more affordable. The other big draw is the green (we both love trees), the open spaces, and the rainfall. If the rain would just would restrict itself to cold weather, then it would be perfect! :)
Do some research on where you might live there, go spend a week in the heat/humidity, spend the appropriate drive time getting to work to experience the commute. Get a feel for what it's like before you uproot the beauty of NW life.
Also living in PNW, I barely survived a week of heat/humidity and traffic for a simple vacation experience back in 2014. Anything west of the Rockies is not an option for me. I'll take dry heat any day! But that's me.
I'm guessing the South and I would be a bad match. Having to constantly fend off religious overtures, stifle my political inclinations, dissemble, and try to survive heat, humidity, and large flying insects would be too much for this old bat.
All you life long northerners and westerlies make the south seem like a foreign country. The only thing I'll say about it is that southern folks are not likely to adjust to you so please don't hold it against them, they're mostly good people as long as you don't expect them to think you're special.
All you life long northerners and westerlies make the south seem like a foreign country. The only thing I'll say about it is that southern folks are not likely to adjust to you so please don't hold it against them, they're mostly good people as long as you don't expect them to think you're special.
Well, it is true that the "United" States are very different from place to place. I like Northerners, Southerners, Westerlies, PNWs, Midwesterlies, and Southwesterlies. But when you live in one place and you adopt one set of cultural attitudes and behaviors, it's hard to feel comfortable in a new place. I think it's easier for people who moved from place to place throughout childhood, like Army kids, but some of us get set in our ways. I feel like I"m pretty adventurous in some ways, but I know myself now, and I'll never leave the Northeast. I don't think I'm special. It's the place that's special--it's home.
Teacher Terry
5-28-20, 6:57pm
People want to live where they fit in and feel good. Nothing wrong with that.
Simplemind
5-28-20, 7:54pm
Alan the east and the south ARE foreign countries to me - and I love that about them. We have now traveled the entire east coast and I have loved every inch of it. Very very different than the west coast in almost every way. The only thing I had a difficult time with was the humidity, it flattens me. I'm a girl from the land of tall trees and mist. I have moss between my toes. The only other times I have experienced that type of oppression was in southern Texas and the sauna at my gym.
All you life long northerners and westerlies make the south seem like a foreign country. The only thing I'll say about it is that southern folks are not likely to adjust to you so please don't hold it against them, they're mostly good people as long as you don't expect them to think you're special.
My niece that grew up here prefers the south. She loves the heat/humidity and hates our dry world and cold winters.
I have no issue with southerners either coming here or vacationing there. Although SEC fans? Well, that's a whole 'nother breed of nasty when you're from the West supporting a team here. But that's not the discussion!
rosarugosa
5-29-20, 7:00am
In my old age I have come to loath and despise the month of September. In my little mind, September is hell because it should not be hot in September. I’m from Northern Iowa where Septembers cool down for school attendance and we wear school clothes, not sweat clothes.
I put up with the heat and humidity of July and August because those are summer months where God intended things to be hot and muggy in the Midwest because that’s just where we are! It’s how we grow fat vegetables. My lily garden is producing all through the month of July so I’m very fond of July, and by August I’m still out working in the garden but I’m kind of over it.
So if September is, in my mind, supposed to be cooling off, hot weeks in October make me ragey. Last year on October 1 it was in the 90s. I was already sick and I had to put on a dumb block party because we had moved National Night Out from August to October so it would be cooler. Yeah not by much we probably saved 3° of heat.
I’m hatching a fantasy in my mind where I skip off to New England for four weeks of September. I would think by then rentals would be plentiful because all those East Coast people Are back home with her children in school and rentals might be a little cheaper? The only piece I can’t quite figure out is how do I walk away from all my gardens for four weeks and not come back to a jungle of weeds. I don’t trust people I hire to weed, And it’s bloody impossible to get people to do that kind of work anyway.
IL: We always take our summer vacation in September, and we almost always stay in New England. The weather is good and the kids are back in school, so typically no crowds and easier to get reservations. You might like the Berkshires. There are some great historic homes to visit: Edith Wharton's Mount, Naumkeag, Chesterfield. There's the Berkshire Botanical Gardens and some great museums: MA MOCA, The Clark. We've never been to the Rockwell Museum, but a lot of folks say it's great. OF course, there are lovely places in the coastal areas as well.
Geila, I know we share similar tastes in literature. To understand what I am talking about with the North/South thing, check out the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story "The Ice Palace." I thought he got it right. Very accurate. But the South of my childhood is not the South of Atlanta. But when I read that story about about the age of 18, I thought it was absolutely true.
The people were different then. Don't know about now--you'd have to go spend a couple of weeks there and see what you think!
Teacher Terry
5-29-20, 11:45am
When we lived in upstate New York we were instantly accepted because my husband grew up there and his family still lived there. Others that moved from a different state took 10 years to be accepted if they lasted that long.
I lived in Atlanta for 25 years, including a 3 year stretch less than a half mile from the CDC. PM me if you have any specific questions. Cheers.
I lived in Atlanta for 25 years, including a 3 year stretch less than a half mile from the CDC. PM me if you have any specific questions. Cheers.
Good to hear from you, Yossarian! It's been a while.
We were planning a trip to check out Atlanta but with the riots decided to postpone it. Even here in our normally quiet city we've had violence during the protests. We're far enough out that it didn't impact us much but our friends who live close to downtown had protesters one block away smashing cars. I think we had about 300-400 protesters on Friday night and this is the most violence we've ever had during a protest. Best to sit things out until everything calms down and Atlanta can repair some of the damage they've had over there. I don't want this to color our experience of the city. It's a horrible situation all around. I don't think violence is the answer, but I understand people's frustration at the lack of change. I can't imagine having a black child, especially a son. How do you explain this world to them? How do you keep them safe?
Anywho. I will reread all the great comments on here and chat some more later.
And yes, Yossarian, I would love to pm you. I'll gather my thoughts and send you a message. Thanks!
Dh says I have to stop looking at houses.... :|( So guess what? You guys get to hear about it!
Less than 2 miles from CDC:
1.) https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1978-Fisher-Trl-NE-Atlanta-GA-30345/14549796_zpid/?
2.) https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1955-Shalimar-Dr-NE-Atlanta-GA-30345/14551987_zpid/
5 miles from CDC:
3.) with a separate unit that can be rented out: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1934-Edinburgh-Ter-NE-Atlanta-GA-30307/14520373_zpid/?
4.) https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/112-Chelsea-Dr-Decatur-GA-30030/59932029_zpid/?
For comparison, this house is close to dh's work now. And it's on SALE! $400.2k price cut!
5.) https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1003-Newell-Rd-Palo-Alto-CA-94303/19468600_zpid/?
(https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/112-Chelsea-Dr-Decatur-GA-30030/59932029_zpid/?)
Athens looks like a great place to retire - a bit to far from CDC at 60 miles, but looks like a lovely city if you don't have to commute:
6.) https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/172-Grady-Ave-Athens-GA-30601/54373800_zpid/?
I like the second one: roomy, unpretentious and close to work!
The second one is probably what we would go for. But #3 is the one I'm partial to. I like the aesthetics and the rental cottage. It would be nice to be able to travel and not worry about leaving the house empty. Also, we could probably convince the tenants to pet sit for us when we're on holiday! That's been a big issue here.
The second one is probably what we would go for. But #3 is the one I'm partial to. I like the aesthetics and the rental cottage. It would be nice to be able to travel and not worry about leaving the house empty. Also, we could probably convince the tenants to pet sit for us when we're on holiday! That's been a big issue here.
That's a handsome one. The MIL cottage could be a boon or a burden.
The second one is probably what we would go for. But #3 is the one I'm partial to. I like the aesthetics and the rental cottage. It would be nice to be able to travel and not worry about leaving the house empty. Also, we could probably convince the tenants to pet sit for us when we're on holiday! That's been a big issue here.
OH I am drooling over #3. The outdoor living space? Deck, backyard, trees.....oh yummy!!!!
iris lilies
5-31-20, 4:39pm
I’ve noticed in the Seattle market they are doing digital staging.
I was looking at a particular West Seattle neighborhood. It was very popular at least before the closing of the bridge, and so much of the furniture in those listings are digital images.
I’ve noticed in the Seattle market they are doing digital staging I was looking at a particular West Seattle neighborhood it was very popular at least before the closing of the fridge and the furniture in it is all digital images.
I looked there when I moved to the Seattle area. I liked the semi-isolated beachy vibe of it, but was wary of that bridge--rightly so, as it turned out.
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