Relocating? This isThe Thread for YOU!

[Little32]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

Any opinions of Chicago? A bunch of folks have gotten jobs there from my school. I've never been, but I have one classmate that is originally from Chicago and says she will NEVER go back. What's up with the Chi?

I am from Chicago (raised there anyway) and I think that it is a great city. Lots of cultural activity, museums, festivals, theater, music, a lot of diversity in that respect. Of course, Lake Michigan is beautiful, my family has a home a couple of blocks from the lake. Public transportation is good--you almost don't need a car--and the shopping is pretty good too.
The complaint that I have heard most often about Chicago is the weather--its cold and often gray during the winter which lasts really from November to April (so if you do not like the cold, it is probably not the place for you). Also, housing is becoming increasingly expensive, especially if you want to live anywhere near the city. There are some neighborhoods that are being revitalizing about 15 mins from downtown (on the southside which is where most of us live), but those prices are rising quickly too.
If you enjoy cold weather, and I am probably the only person on the board that prefers cold to heat, Chicago is a pretty nice city to live in.

[SummerChild]

Soror RD,
Being born and raised in Chicago too, I co-sign with everything Little32 has said. It's a great place for AA professionals and tons to do if you like museums, etc. It is often said that there is no better place to be in the summer than Chicago. Now, the emphasis there is "in the summer." If you are ok with the cold, below zero temperatures and gray, dark skies from November to April, as Little32 said, you are good. It is more expensive than down south but it is a very reasonably-priced northern city. It is nowhere near the cost of living (esp. for real estate) as say a DC, a NY or an LA - yet, it is just as cosmopolitan. If you're just interested in renting for now, I could point you to areas that I lived in in Hyde Park over near the lake with one bedrooms from 675-875 per month, radiant heat so you only pay electricity and cooking gas. There are lots of professionals in this area. Also, it is a bit of a student community b/c UChicago is there also, so it can be a bit of a walking community the closer you are to the lake. I took the #2 or the #6 right past my house straight into downtown so it's convenient into downtown. If you want something out in the suburbs, the commute is longer (I think it's about 45 minutes to an hour) but there are nice places out there too. Sububs not so nice if you don't drive, however. There are also other places in the city that you may like. But trust that it is *real* inner city life. My parents live in GA so I know the Atlanta (or other souther inner cities that I have seen) are not quite like what I would consider to be inner city - buses all the time, train stops in walking distance, etc.. This is Chicago so if that's what you like, it may be cool for you.

Chicago is more fast-paced than say any other city in the midwest, if that's what you like. It is also true that you can survive w/out a car. One of our sorors has been doing it for over 5-7 years now and she sees all sorts of plays, etc. downtown regularly. The reason that I moved from Chicago was b/c I got tired of the dark, gray skies for so much of the year. It was kind of dreary and depressing to me. But during that season, the sun does manage to peek through at least once every couple of days for a little while, for a very little while, at least. I also got tired of watching the news each night from Nov to March to see if there was going to be a snowstorm and, hence, I would have to get up even earlier to shovel my car out. Then I got tired of my car getting stuck in the snow on the streets when I parked on the street or my car getting stuck in the main thoroughfare of my gated lot b/c my management was too trifling to have the snow trucks out there at a reasonable hour. It is one thing to deal with snow and bad weather when you have a parent that will go out and shovel your car out for you and warm your car up and scrape the ice off the windows for you, as a teenager, and quite another when you have to do it yourself.

But if you're cool with the cold and gray skies won't bother you, then Chicago is a great place!

SC

Let me know if you have specific questions.

Originally Posted by Little32

I am from Chicago (raised there anyway) and I think that it is a great city. Lots of cultural activity, museums, festivals, theater, music, a lot of diversity in that respect. Of course, Lake Michigan is beautiful, my family has a home a couple of blocks from the lake. Public transportation is good--you almost don't need a car--and the shopping is pretty good too.
The complaint that I have heard most often about Chicago is the weather--its cold and often gray during the winter which lasts really from November to April (so if you do not like the cold, it is probably not the place for you). Also, housing is becoming increasingly expensive, especially if you want to live anywhere near the city. There are some neighborhoods that are being revitalizing about 15 mins from downtown (on the southside which is where most of us live), but those prices are rising quickly too.
If you enjoy cold weather, and I am probably the only person on the board that prefers cold to heat, Chicago is a pretty nice city to live in.

[Obsession8]

Originally Posted by Little32

I am probably the only person on the board that prefers cold to heat.

No, you're not, soror. It's the lesser of the two "evils" for me, which is one of the reasons I can't wait to go back home to AK once my "stay" here in The 5th Circle of Hell is over. If I were to stay here in LA, it'd have to be in Baton Rouge (where most of *my* fam ended up post-Katrina). As far as other options go, I'll co-sign with the majority in considering Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas (in that order).

Now, back ttt...

[RedefinedDiva]

How did you wind up in Louisiana ALLLLLLL the way from Alaska?

[Obsession8]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

How did you wind up in Louisiana ALLLLLLL the way from Alaska?

LOL, soror! I get that a lot. I'm originally from LA (Kenner; most of my fam on both sides still lives here), but moved to AK when I was little. So, it's "home" for me.

Originally Posted by SummerChild

Soror would somebody PLEASE tell me the fascination with Atl? My parents caught the Atl bug and moved there back in 1990 and even then people had been flocking there. So I've lived there but, um, why are the masses going there? I might just move on back to be with family, especially now that i have a niece, but here's my viewpoint:

1. it's hard for many people (ex: teachers) to get a job b/c everybody and their mother is moving there and market is oversaturated to some extent
2. the ratio of single and heterosexual AA men to AA women is approximately 3 to 10 (lol) or something like that - does anybody know a woman who was not in college at the au who moved to atlanta and actually found a man that wasn't already married to somebody else?
3. it's not that scenic - there's no water, no mountains, no beaches
4. it gets kinda cold in the winter for it to be the south

so really ya'll, what gives? i love seeing that AA girl in the mural when I come up the escalators at the airport and i love the numbers of AAs. is that basically it?

do tell b/c a sister has been going there at least 5-6 times a year since i graduated from college there in 97 and i don't see it.
what.is.the.fascination?
SC

I see where you're comin' from, soror. I see those as (relative) weak points as well (I'll add bad traffic/gridlock as #5). But, I have fam there...lived there during my junior high school years...went to Spelman for a year (94-95), etc. So, I have roots there as well. I'm always chomping at the bit to go visit, especially now that I'm an auntie (and anything to get out of Monroe for a while ). I guess my personal fascination with The ATL can be summed up in two words: SHOPPING (i.e. Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza) and EATING (i.e. The Cheesecake Factory {my fav restaurant, Olive Garden is a close second}, other local and franchises not in LA or AK, etc.), namely the former. I'm just shallow that way. As long as I have those things, I can make do.

[icebrAKA]

Sorors yall read my mind!

Alaska to Louisiana, Wow. Baton Rouge is a great city in Louisiana. I know that I couldn't live in Northern Louisiana. For some reason Atl is not on my "to-do" list. I'm sorry yall but I prefer to be in diverse settings. Not in settings in where one race is the dominant race. Plus the hetero rate to homo rate is a lil scary for me.(I'm just being real)

[SummerChild]

Soror would somebody PLEASE tell me the fascination with Atl? My parents caught the Atl bug and moved there back in 1990 and even then people had been flocking there. So I've lived there but, um, why are the masses going there? I might just move on back to be with family, especially now that i have a niece, but here's my viewpoint:

1. it's hard for many people (ex: teachers) to get a job b/c everybody and their mother is moving there and market is oversaturated to some extent
2. the ratio of single and heterosexual AA men to AA women is approximately 3 to 10 (lol) or something like that - does anybody know a woman who was not in college at the au who moved to atlanta and actually found a man that wasn't already married to somebody else?
3. it's not that scenic - there's no water, no mountains, no beaches
4. it gets kinda cold in the winter for it to be the south

so really ya'll, what gives? i love seeing that AA girl in the mural when I come up the escalators at the airport and i love the numbers of AAs. is that basically it?

do tell b/c a sister has been going there at least 5-6 times a year since i graduated from college there in 97 and i don't see it.
what.is.the.fascination?
SC

Originally Posted by Obsession8

No, you're not, soror. It's the lesser of the two "evils" for me, which is one of the reasons I can't wait to go back home to AK once my "stay" here in The 5th Circle of Hell is over. If I were to stay here in LA, it'd have to be in Baton Rouge (where most of *my* fam ended up post-Katrina). As far as other options go, I'll co-sign with the majority in considering Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas (in that order).

Now, back ttt...

[Eclipse]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

Soror would somebody PLEASE tell me the fascination with Atl? My parents caught the Atl bug and moved there back in 1990 and even then people had been flocking there. So I've lived there but, um, why are the masses going there? I might just move on back to be with family, especially now that i have a niece, but here's my viewpoint:

1. it's hard for many people (ex: teachers) to get a job b/c everybody and their mother is moving there and market is oversaturated to some extent
2. the ratio of single and heterosexual AA men to AA women is approximately 3 to 10 (lol) or something like that - does anybody know a woman who was not in college at the au who moved to atlanta and actually found a man that wasn't already married to somebody else?
3. it's not that scenic - there's no water, no mountains, no beaches
4. it gets kinda cold in the winter for it to be the south

so really ya'll, what gives? i love seeing that AA girl in the mural when I come up the escalators at the airport and i love the numbers of AAs. is that basically it?

do tell b/c a sister has been going there at least 5-6 times a year since i graduated from college there in 97 and i don't see it.
what.is.the.fascination?
SC

LOL I wish I knew what the facination was with Atlanta. I hope people soon realize it is all hype and stop moving here. Traffic is bad enough as it it.
Here are my thoughts on your comments from someone who went to college in Atlanta, moved to Minnesota for a while and then moved back.
1. I can't really speak to teaching jobs, but I do know there are a lot of other jobs in Atlanta. Atlanta's housing is also cheaper than the Northeast, hence people moving here and buying mini mansions.
2. Yeah, supposedly there are a lot of down low/homosexual brothers in Atlanta. I have heard (not sure if it is reliable) that ATL is only second to San Francisco for per capita gay men. I am not sure, but I can tell you that I know plently of folks who have met and fallen in love out side of the AUC. I'm talking young (and not so young since that is now my demographic), professional black women who met and married young black men.
3. You are right about that. No water, unless you count the Chattahoochee River or Lake Lanier. No mountains, unless you count Stone Mountain.
4. I don't think it gets that cold here and when it does, it does not stay cold for that long. You could have a cold spell where it is in the 20s for a few days, but don't be surprised if it is in the 60s or 70s a few days later.

I love Atlanta. There is plenty to do, people are friendly and the salaries are decent given the cost of living. I was out of work 2 years ago and seriously considering relocating. I could have made the same amount that I am making now in cities like LA or DC, but my cost of living would have been dramatically reduced.

[Sugar08]

I know that the South and the Midwest are getting most of the love here, but let me put in a plug for the Bay Area of CA... I grew up in California and went to school in D.C. (LOVED it there), and now I live in Central NJ.

But California has a sizable population of upwardly mobile black professionals in both L.A. and the Bay. I do prefer the Bay slightly.

As for Atlanta, I went there once in high school and hated it, went back in college and liked it... but I don't think I "get it," either.

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by Sugar08

I know that the South and the Midwest are getting most of the love here, but let me put in a plug for the Bay Area of CA... I grew up in California and went to school in D.C. (LOVED it there), and now I live in Central NJ.

But California has a sizable population of upwardly mobile black professionals in both L.A. and the Bay. I do prefer the Bay slightly.

As for Atlanta, I went there once in high school and hated it, went back in college and liked it... but I don't think I "get it," either.

Los Angeles and the Bay are pretty much the only places you can go to have somewhat of a breadth of black professionals now. If that's the key for relocation, I can't recommend California. You need two incomes to buy a house, unless you're going to inherit (which is my situation). Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.
I lived in Charlotte in 1993-94. I did like the city, very attractive and with sophistication when it came to restaurants, shopping, upscale groceries (loved Harris Teeter in wealthier neighborhoods) but left because of a horrible work situation. But I would rather live in a drier place with no rain.

[Sugar08]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.

Ok, you definitely have me there. I was in Northern California over Mother's Day Weekend, and I was complaining to my sister about that very issue.

Nonetheless, CA is home to me, so I'll always recommend it. And as far as the housing market, prices are being forced down, so if there were a time to buy, it's going to be now or in the near future.

I've lived in both North and South, and I've found that the cultures are vastly different. (Although, Soror, I did notice that you live in San Diego... and I'm pretty sure it's heaven, so if you don't love that city, I can't see you liking any other part of the state. )

[Obsession8]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.

That's the predominant situation where I'm from (and, something I'll have to "grapple" with when I go back). I agree with Soror icebrAKA about wanting to live where there's diversity, but that can be a personal drawback when you're not looking "elsewhere" to date. I guess it's a good thing I'm not the "marrying kind".

ETA: More about my take on Atlanta...

My fam (and I, back in the day) lives on the "outskirts" of ATL (Lithonia, Decatur, Riverdale, the Cascade area, etc.), not in the heart of the city where (most of) the problems that have been mentioned exist. So, that's why I wouldn't mind going back if need be. The whole dating scene issue *would* be a concern, but that seems to be the issue no matter *where* I am (just MHO; refer back to the "marrying kind" statement).

[Wonderful1908]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Los Angeles and the Bay are pretty much the only places you can go to have somewhat of a breadth of black professionals now. If that's the key for relocation, I can't recommend California. You need two incomes to buy a house, unless you're going to inherit (which is my situation). Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.
I lived in Charlotte in 1993-94. I did like the city, very attractive and with sophistication when it came to restaurants, shopping, upscale groceries (loved Harris Teeter in wealthier neighborhoods) but left because of a horrible work situation. But I would rather live in a drier place with no rain.

I co-sign. I am from the Bay Area and I wouldn't recommend it either, I LOVE being from California but all the reasons you stated above are why I will never move back. It's funny my Dad's wife is from Thailand, and don't get me started there. I wouln't call it teh Oriental Syndrome its the anything not a sista syndrome.

[SummerChild]

Hi Soror,
So the weather in Charlotte is really rainy? How did you find the social scene in Charlotte? Do they get a winter with snow up there?
SC

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Los Angeles and the Bay are pretty much the only places you can go to have somewhat of a breadth of black professionals now. If that's the key for relocation, I can't recommend California. You need two incomes to buy a house, unless you're going to inherit (which is my situation). Quite a few men, particularly those who are born/raised out here, have Orenthal syndrome.
I lived in Charlotte in 1993-94. I did like the city, very attractive and with sophistication when it came to restaurants, shopping, upscale groceries (loved Harris Teeter in wealthier neighborhoods) but left because of a horrible work situation. But I would rather live in a drier place with no rain.

[SummerChild]

Soror, let's see ... where do I start with the left coast... lol.

I went to grad school in the bay area and so I lived up there (Bezerkeley and Oakland for 2.5 years) and have been living in LA for almost 2 years.

Ok, where do I start.

1. First, the housing is ridiculous. You get a raggedy piece of a 2 bedroom CONDO for half a million dollars -just b/c the land is sitting in the state of California. The house will be only 30 years old if you are lucky and it will require work more than likely. The.housing.market.is.ridiculous. I am a lawyer and if *I* think that it's ridiculous - and we are some of the highest paid folk in the country - then how is anyone else supposed to really live there - w/out the need to get married just to be able to afford a mortgage. Perhaps people don't understand that a half a mil condo means almost 4K per month - just for housing expenses, when you add in taxes, 300/month hoas, plus the other stuff that you pay in addition to the 2600/month mortgage...oh, unless you just want an interest only loan or a loan on which you have the option to not even pay the interest..let alone the principal.

2. Second, the human dynamics out west are just WEIRD plain and simple. The AA guys - the only ones that are normal are the ones who aren't really from there. I have NEVER seen AAs that will avoid the eyes of other AAs on the street. WEIRD. Um, hello, I have news for you scary man, you're AA too. So stop tripping.

3. Third, if I have to go outside or go anywhere one more time and only see AA guys with latinas, I may have to scream. Oh, ok, it's ok b/c they are "ethnic minorities" too. Give me a break. 20 years ago, AA guys were trying to date caucasian women. That didn't go over too well so now they are trying to date latinas. These men will do whatever they can get away with. Cali is the only place in the country that I know of where it is such a "coincidence" that so many AA men fall for non-AA women. Maybe the coincidence is caused by something in the water in LA. Not sure. But I think that we would all agree that the coincidence is just uncanny, isn't it?? Who are our sisters out there supposed to date if they want an AA man? marry? The pickings are real slim.

It is a beautiful place (esp. northern) but it depends on what you're looking for I guess. I have enjoyed Cali but again, I had a boyfriend already (who had been normalized by leaving Cali and going to an HBCU), and I didn't care about building any kind of financial wealth. I was ok with paying $50/week to get my hair washed and wrapped, $50/night to board my dog at his cage free boarding place, $1846/month for my 2 bedroom apartment. Now...I's tired.

4. Fourth, everyone is so worried about promoting how great "diversity" is that AA are LANGUISHING - absolutely LANGUISHING - in LA while AAs there are so busy trying to talk about how great a diverse environment is. How is it great when AA are struggling so much? I looked at an LA Urban League report and do you know that AAs in LA have the fewest numbers of businesses, least wealth in terms of home ownership rates, lowest pay??? Now who is diversity helping. Even the immigrants that migrate to the US, like the latino and asian populations in LA have a greater number of business and own a greater number of homes. What gives? This SUCKS for AAs yet we are the first to talk about how great some place is b/c it is diverse. To me, we are so busy trying to get with everyone else and are afraid unfortunately to just be by ourself, ack that there is nothing wrong with that and address the problems of AA, support our own businesses, etc. What is wrong with that? Cali is so diverse yet AA are struggling so much. I'm not convinced that diversity is so great. It's like the segregation, integration arg. I just don't know.

And another thing. What is so diverse about having a population that is mostly caucasian, latino and asian and AAs are only 9% of the population - and even that's just in Oakland and LA- literally. What's so diverse about that? When you travel the six hours between Oakland and LA, you may not see one AA face. What is so diverse about that? From my perspective, it's NO WONDER that these little AA girls in school in LA hate themselves and think that they are ugly. They have no real sense of anyone telling them that they are beautiful and no body at school even looks like them except for in the worst of the worst schools. Why would you want to send your child to school in an environment where they will be isolated and no one even looks like them? It's ludicrous to me...and it's no wonder they are afraid of me and other AAs. It's no wonder that they think that the symbol of beauty is the valley girl - b/c that's who they see in school b/c we are so out of touch with reality that we are sending out kids to schools where there aren't even anymore AA kids. These AA kids come to HBCUs and are amazed - b/c some of them have never even spent any time around me or other AAs...b/c there aren't any in the neighborhoods - unless you live in Inglewood or LA proper, Inglewood of which has one of the worst high schools in the NATION...yes, nation.

Cali has a lot of work to do from my perspective.

It has served it's purpose for me but now it is time to move on. While I am paying 1800 per month for a 2 bedroom apt, I could have a house and 2 others to rent out (literally) almost anywhere below the Mason Dixon line.

It's a beautiful and fun place and if you've got some money to spend, it's a fun time. You just gotta bring your man with you (lol) and ignore everyone else.

SC

Originally Posted by Sugar08

I know that the South and the Midwest are getting most of the love here, but let me put in a plug for the Bay Area of CA... I grew up in California and went to school in D.C. (LOVED it there), and now I live in Central NJ.

But California has a sizable population of upwardly mobile black professionals in both L.A. and the Bay. I do prefer the Bay slightly.

As for Atlanta, I went there once in high school and hated it, went back in college and liked it... but I don't think I "get it," either.