Home My husband got the job! We''re moving to NC!!

[princesss]

Date: 5/13/2009 12:16:04 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries

Date: 5/13/2009 9:51:27 AM
Author: swimmer

My dream has been for a few years to move to NC in the Raleigh area, anything to get away from the snow and traffic (they complain about traffic down south but they have NO IDEA what it is like with the Big Dig).

Raleigh is great!! That''s where I am. As long as you know when to not drive up or down I-40 (rush hour, only in one direction at a time) you''re fine. The traffic is annoying sometimes, but I''d NEVER want to try traffic up north. We''ve taken trips up there, and it was IN-SANE. Don''t know how yall do it sometimes!

It''s the same in Charlotte - just learn when to not drive the certain directions with rush hour, and you''ll normally never have a problem (accidents being the exception, of course).

Yeah, like don''t drive 485 towards Matthews from 77 at 6 PM. UGGGGGH. You Will. Not. Move. Same with 77 through the city and especially getting off around Concord Mills. I hate driving to VA straight from work because I get caught in that mess every time.

And Zoe, feel free to pick my brains anytime.

 

[Winks_Elf]

I lived in Charlotte for five years, around Arrowwood Road. I also lived in Fort Mill, SC (first exit in SC off of 77). The rents down there weren''t bad back then (been back in NJ for 9 years now). If your husband works close to the southern end of Charlotte, looking into Fort Mill may not be a bad idea. Lower taxes, cheaper homes, and not a far drive.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 5/13/2009 12:47:12 PM
Author: princesss

Yeah, like don''t drive 485 towards Matthews from 77 at 6 PM. UGGGGGH. You Will. Not. Move. Same with 77 through the city and especially getting off around Concord Mills. I hate driving to VA straight from work because I get caught in that mess every time.

And Zoe, feel free to pick my brains anytime.

Ugh! I don''t know how people stand sitting in that. It''d drive me absolutely NUUUUUUTS.

I also learned not to drive weekday mornings into Charlotte down 85 South from Raleigh - once I passed the Concord Mills exit, I hit traffic every single time. That''s when the back ways to UNCC came in handy!

And I purposely stayed off 277 ALL the time... I think I drove it just twice in all the years I was there, and swore it off after each time.

Princesss - I didn''t know till this that you were in NC! How cool!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 5/13/2009 12:57:09 PM
Author: Winks_Elf
I lived in Charlotte for five years, around Arrowwood Road. I also lived in Fort Mill, SC (first exit in SC off of 77). The rents down there weren''t bad back then (been back in NJ for 9 years now). If your husband works close to the southern end of Charlotte, looking into Fort Mill may not be a bad idea. Lower taxes, cheaper homes, and not a far drive.

That''s exactly what a couple I knew did when they graduated - they both work in Charlotte but bought a house in Fort Mill (they only graduated 2 years ago).

 

[princesss]

Date: 5/13/2009 12:59:09 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries

Date: 5/13/2009 12:57:09 PM
Author: Winks_Elf
I lived in Charlotte for five years, around Arrowwood Road. I also lived in Fort Mill, SC (first exit in SC off of 77). The rents down there weren''t bad back then (been back in NJ for 9 years now). If your husband works close to the southern end of Charlotte, looking into Fort Mill may not be a bad idea. Lower taxes, cheaper homes, and not a far drive.

That''s exactly what a couple I knew did when they graduated - they both work in Charlotte but bought a house in Fort Mill (they only graduated 2 years ago).

Back roads are the way to go.

I work pretty much right on the border, and about half our office lives in Rock Hill and Fort Mill. Way better gas prices. But I have to say, I do like living in Charlotte. I definitely make the drive across the border for gas, though!

LTS - I didn''t know you were in NC, either! How funny.

 

[icekid]

congrats, Zoe! Crossing my fingers that you are able to get a job down there as well!

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks Onedrop and Swimmer!

Onedrop -- yeah, I''m sure my social calandar will "just happen to" fill up quickly!

Swimmer -- you rock! Thank you so much for taking the time to look into the certification process and post the steps. I''ve been following the steps, and I''m in the middle of gathering paperwork and getting a few recommendations. The amount of hoops you have to go through is amazing. Oh yeah, you mentioned the Praxis. I took the Praxis II to become highly qualified three years ago, so I don''t think I need to take any additional test. Thank goodness. I''m a terrible test taker! I laughed reading about the big dig comment. I say that until you''ve experienced THAT, you can''t say you''ve been in bad traffic. I''ve heard rumors of the traffic in the Charlotte area, but I think I''ll be fine.

Thanks Bia, Kimberly, and D&T! It is an exciting relief. It''s so many things all at once -- relieving, nerve-wracking, scary, sad, exciting, etc. Can you tell I don''t deal with change that well?

Thanks Chiquitapet and NEL! NEL -- Oh don''t worry, I still plan to go to the GTGs when I''m up here. Actually, if I don''t find a job in NC right away, I''ll be up here through next year anyway.

Thanks so much for the info and the heads up, luv!

It sounds like a very confusing situation, but then again, so many things are. Grrr... We can''t wait to begin taking day trips this summer and explore the state. The Charlotte area is beautiful, and we intend to go on MANY day trips.

Thanks Burk! Gosh, that pic of T. still makes me laugh every time I see it.

Thanks Princesss!

Melissa -- thanks for the recommendation for Fort Mill. That''s a name we''ve heard often, and we may look into it. We didn''t realize how close SC was to Charlotte -- we ended up in SC by accident one day. We must have driven through or near Fort Mill because we did take a quick tour of Tega Cay, which is beyond that point I think. Right?

Thanks so much Icekid!

I REALLY appreciate the well wishes and congrats! I''ll pass them along to Mr. Zoe.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yay!! Congrats to your hubby!!!!!

We''ll hope for the best on the teaching job situation. There isn''t much hiring going on now because the state hasn''t yet decided whether to raise the maximum class size yet. Charlotte may be laying off teachers if that happens. But I''ll be keeping my eyes open for you!

(luvthemstrawberries, those of us paid for 10 months get the .5% reduction all in the next paycheck.

)

Good luck with renting your current home and finding a place down here! We''ll look forward to seeing you soon!

 

[chrono]

This is great news! Congratulations. I''m sending dust your way to find a job soon so the family can be together again soon.

 

[Sabine]

Yay!!! Congrats to Mr. Zoe! What an exciting time for you! Sending major dust that you find an awesome teaching job there soon!

 

[Burk]

Thanks Zoe! I''m glad T is able to put a smile on someone''s face besides mine.

 

[Skippy123]

Yay for your hubby and I pray you can be out there with him soon!!! huge hugs Zoe. congrats!!!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 5/13/2009 10:29:46 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Yay!! Congrats to your hubby!!!!!

We'll hope for the best on the teaching job situation. There isn't much hiring going on now because the state hasn't yet decided whether to raise the maximum class size yet. Charlotte may be laying off teachers if that happens. But I'll be keeping my eyes open for you!

(luvthemstrawberries, those of us paid for 10 months get the .5% reduction all in the next paycheck.

)

Good luck with renting your current home and finding a place down here! We'll look forward to seeing you soon!

Oh yuck!!!!!!

Yeah the reduction is really screwing up our budget. Some things are getting REALLY tight. I heard on the news today about them possibly cutting some teachers, depending on what the school boards decide. It's terrible things are coming this far.

That's right, aren't you near Charlotte too? I loved it there. Still like to go back. My FI's never been to Concord Mills - haha I want to take him once just for the Bass Pro Shops.

And to show him how much insanely bigger the mall is than ours around here. I just loved how you could be in Concord, then head to downtown Charlotte in just 20-30 mins, or be out in the country at my grandparents in 15 minutes. The area's growing so much too. I probably won't recognize much next time I go back.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/14/2009 12:07:06 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries

Date: 5/13/2009 10:29:46 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Yay!! Congrats to your hubby!!!!!

We''ll hope for the best on the teaching job situation. There isn''t much hiring going on now because the state hasn''t yet decided whether to raise the maximum class size yet. Charlotte may be laying off teachers if that happens. But I''ll be keeping my eyes open for you!

(luvthemstrawberries, those of us paid for 10 months get the .5% reduction all in the next paycheck.

)

Good luck with renting your current home and finding a place down here! We''ll look forward to seeing you soon!

Oh yuck!!!!!!

Yeah the reduction is really screwing up our budget. Some things are getting REALLY tight. I heard on the news today about them possibly cutting some teachers, depending on what the school boards decide. It''s terrible things are coming this far.

That''s right, aren''t you near Charlotte too? I loved it there. Still like to go back. My FI''s never been to Concord Mills - haha I want to take him once just for the Bass Pro Shops.

And to show him how much insanely bigger the mall is than ours around here. I just loved how you could be in Concord, then head to downtown Charlotte in just 20-30 mins, or be out in the country at my grandparents in 15 minutes. The area''s growing so much too. I probably won''t recognize much next time I go back.

I''m in a small town NW of Charlotte, actually. So we have the advantage of small town life with Charlotte 45 min. to an hour away. We hope to move closer to Lake Norman in the next year or so, though, which will put us 20 min. closer.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 5/14/2009 10:25:47 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

I''m in a small town NW of Charlotte, actually. So we have the advantage of small town life with Charlotte 45 min. to an hour away. We hope to move closer to Lake Norman in the next year or so, though, which will put us 20 min. closer.

Neat! My grandparents and other family are in Kannapolis. Even that area''s growing like crazy - all that research institute coming in and such. Unfortunate part is my uncle worked in the mill there when they closed it to bowl it down and bring in the institute - I think that messed up a lot of families there.

Lake Norman is a beautiful area! So gorgeous.

 

[luckystar112]

How exciting Zoe! I bet you''re excited to get away from the nor''easters, huh?
I''m trying to get TOO them, but I''m insane like that.

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks DS and thanks again for the advice about teaching down there. I''m not optimistic about finding a job by the time school begins in the fall, but I''m going to keep my eyes open. Thanks for doing that as well!

Thanks Chrono and Sabine! Sabine -- good luck to you as you and your husband make your big move!

Thanks Skippy and Lucky! Lucky -- you know, I may actually miss those nor''easters!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

any updates? I am so excited for you guys!

 

[tlh]

Congrats! What fantastic news!!!

 

[dianne]

Congrats to Mr. Zoe!...and this means I will definitely get to meet you! That''s wonderful! I am so excited for Mr. Zoe and his new job and I''m sure you will be here soon!! I''m sure it will all work out...and quickly! Welcome to NC!!

 

[zoebartlett]

Update:

Our house is a complete mess, and I have NO IDEA how we''re going to have everything packed and ready to go. D''s getting the truck tomorrow and then my dad and a few of my mom''s high school students are going to help us load the truck in the afternoon. I''m taking the cats to the vet tomorrow to get a check up and meds (sedatives and motion sickness medicine -- just in case!). The vet apt. was actually yesterday but D. couldn''t get them in their crates. Anyway, we''re leaving on Thursday, and we plan to be in Charlotte before 2pm, which is when we have movers meeting us to help with that end of the trip. I''m staying until Tuesday and then I''ll fly back home to finish out the year in school and get things in order to come down to NC. We need to find renters to rent out our condo, and we need to find someone to manage it. I have to look for a job too, which I''ll squeeze in somewhere. Ack!!!


Thanks tlh and Dianne! Dianne -- I''m looking forward to meeting you!

I''m nervous about driving such a long distance by myself (15 hours), but I''m sure it will go well. We''ll just stop along the way as needed. Okay, gotta run to school. Tacori, do you still have my #? Feel free to give me a call if you''d like to get together while I''m down there. I''ll have my phone on during the trip.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Zoe, we might be going to raleigh this weekend but I will call you (if I still have your number...errr...) if not! Have a great week!!!

 

[zoebartlett]

Tacori -- check your e-mail.

Have fun if you go to Raleigh!

The truck is packed and we''re exhausted, but we''re looking forward to getting to Charlotte.

 

[Bia]

Safe trip Zoe.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I didn''t get anything yet...have a safe drive!

 

[swimmer]

Drive safely!!! good luck!

 

[butterfly 17]

Hi! I didn''t read all the posts but I just wanted to congratulate you guys! I think you will love NC. I am thinking about moving there myself in a few years when DH retires.

I was thinking Charlotte or Raleigh myself. Let us know what you guys decide!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 5/21/2009 9:48:43 AM
Author: butterfly 17
Hi! I didn''t read all the posts but I just wanted to congratulate you guys! I think you will love NC. I am thinking about moving there myself in a few years when DH retires.


I was thinking Charlotte or Raleigh myself. Let us know what you guys decide!

They are moving to Charlotte

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks Bia, Swimmer, and Butterfly!

Well, we made it to NC. Actually, I''m back home in New England already (flew back today) and we''ve moved my husband into his new apartment in Charlotte. We left NE on Wednesday, stayed over twice along the way to NC, and we made it to Charlotte on Saturday. The movers worked HARD to move all our stuff up two flights of stairs, but at least everything''s in now (and in one piece!). It''s such a strange feeling, knowing that my husband is now living down there and I''m living up here. I''m going back in early July for much of the summer, and if I get a job down there, it will be for good. We''ll have one more round of moving but at least most of our things are down there now. THe drive was beautiful but I can''t say that I''m looking forward to doing it again soon.

Thanks for all the well wishes!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Whew! I know you are glad to get that behind you! Aren''t you glad for air travel??? I would hate to make that drive very often!

Have a good ending to your school year, and hopefully we can have a get together once you''re down here again for a longer time!