Posted on 10/11/2011 10:13:07 AM PDT by kosciusko51
I work for an engineering company that would like me to relocate to Huntsville AL from the Pittsburgh PA area. It is a big decision for my wife and I. I grew up near where I currently live and my extended family is nearby. Other than one co-worker and a few business acquaintances, I know no one in the Huntsville area.
Are there any locals that can give me advice on the area? Schools, churches, neighborhoods, activities, places to avoid, etc?
Thanks,
K51
If you are a shooter I can probably hook you up with range info and contacts with other shooters. I have a friend who lives there and another friend who used to run matches up there. I’m in Hoover myself.
Not specific advice, as I’ve never been to Alabama: our family made a similar move for a job 10 years ago (10+hour driving distance) away from all our family.
Start sinking roots in right away! We played the outsider far too long, busy with kids and work, spending every time we had two days free trying to get back “home”, Christmases, baptisms, etc.
It took us this long to accept that where we live now is home, and trust me, it’s much easier trying to integrate into a community when you can preface conversations with “Yeah, I’m new here” rather than “Well, we’ve been here a decade, we just couldn’t be bothered”.
Whatever you do, make sure you make your new “home” home.
I’ve only been to Huntsville a couple of times, but it’s a lovely area. Freeper MamaB lives there, so I’m pinging her to the thread.
I spent most of Christmas (left the 23rd, returned the 26th) the following year in New York City. I spent most nights either at work, or in the hotel room. Quite a contrast.
One redeeming feature was a small all-night diner that was right close to where I worked in the City. Guy who owned it was a prince of a fellow, never got his name (and wish I had) once I figured out how to get around his thick Greek accent. Anyway, I'd schlep through there after work at around 3am. He'd either ask for help cleaning out the prior days' leftovers ("Here! Try This! Is Good!!" and it always was) ... or he'd experiment on me for the next day ("Here! Try this! Is good????? and it usually was).
If I was living life right, I'd get there just as he was taking the baklava out of the oven. I can still taste it, man that was good. A bright spot in an otherwise unpleasant experience.
I'm glad I don't have that job anymore. Nice to be home at night with the family.
Visit the EWTN complex that Mother Angelica founded.
War Eagle!!
Go Gators!!! (Although I’m not optimistic)
I'm sure that they'll appreciate it, but doubt they'll be surprised. "Well, why wouldn't we?" :-)
My fiancee’s nephew lives in Huntsville. he is a high level NASA consultant. Huntsville is a very concentrated area of highly paid professionals. Its pretty and has a good climate. You will probably love it.
Neither are we about Auburn. It’s as though they have two teams, one great, the other not, and they flip a coin before each game to see which one plays that day.
What? Move to an area with conservative God fearing bitter clingers, who love to hunt and fish all the while hating Big Gubmint? No man, stay put.
It’s a young team, the defense showed a lot of improvement against South Carolina, we’re young too, kind of tough to play the #1 and #2 teams back-to-back, and now having to play the defending National Champions at their place....but it will toughen them up for the future. This is the year for teams to get their licks in on the Gators.
I appreciate the offer. That would be very helpful.
When I first move to Alabama I started hearing dialectis I had never heard: "ustacould": something you used to be able to do. "mash": press (something) "fixin' to": something you are about to do "dreckly": something you are fixin' to quickly "sweet tea": ice tea with so much sugar your teeth melt "drop cord": extension cord
Been to Huntsville, AL, I didn’t see anything bad except the screwy US 231 in the middle of some other highway, really weird. I’d move, and get away from the Pittsburgh area.
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