smilingjaws did write: *If you want to avoid air pollution avoid Raleigh–they have very bad ozone problems. I got asthma from living there. * [as far I as know it’s no worse that what you find in any other major metropolitan area, and certainly much better than the Washington, DC area] Traffic is horrible… [it’s getting worse, but still not as bad as DC, Atlanta and Charlotte] and rents are outrageous. I was paying $600/month for a 2 bedroom dump. [I just signed a one-year lease for $620/month for a very nice two-bedroom apartment in fashionable Cary, convenient to everything]
http://choosetocruise.com/americathree.html has some good information on better-than-average towns and cities…
Raleigh is rated as one of the cities with the worst air quality in the nation.
You are right about the traffic–people who move from more populated areas feel like it’s much better than where they came from. People who grew up in Raleigh or came from less densely populated areas get really frustrated by the traffic which has been getting measurably worse in the past few years due to the extremely intense growth in the area.
Raleigh does have lots to do and people are friendly–even all the yankee transplants 
I’ve narrowed it down to NC,Atlanta,or Tex. I’m reading some guides. I understand all the streets in Atlanta are named Peachtree! 
Will try to visit on Spring vacation so my son wont miss school. I could be a transplanted doper next fall!
We have Kroger supermarkets in Raleigh-Durham! Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it is physically impossible to “Go Krogering” in the metro Atlanta area. (They do have Publix supermarkets, but to me that sounds like the name of a herpes medication).
I don’t know about Birmingham or Atlanta, but it hasn’t gotten that cold down here yet, especially during the daytime. This week’s weather is supposed to have lows in the mid 50’s, highs in the uppers 70’s to low 80’s. I’ve got a leather jacket; that and jeans is about all the cold weather clothing you need down here, and that’s for three or four months at the most.
you asked about public transportation, orangecakes. Well, I hate to say it, but you really do need a car in Houston. It’s kinda spread out around here.
Melatonin: Come on, now. Houston is a pretty nice place to live!
You say “cheesy” like that’s a BAD thing.
Frankly, I can recommend Houston without reservation. There’s lots to do, mucho employment, getting around is pretty easy…
I live in a nice part of town (next to St. Thomas University - Montrose) and pay $325/mo. for a one bedroom duplex. It gets hot here in the summer, but the winters are mild.
Galveston and the ocean are an hour away and Austin and the lakes of the Hill Country are about 2 1/2 hours away. Hell, consider Austin, as well.
There’s no state income tax and Houston is gloriously unzoned - makes for some really neat parts of town. Lots of nightlife, if that’s important to you, and people are just plain friendlier here than any city of comparable size that I’ve ever visited.
I remember the old thread where somebody slammed Houston - he mentioned where he’d lived here and it really made me think that you can name any city in the world and I’m sure I can find its armpits and its asshole.
Oh yeah, you can “Go Krogering” here, as well.
Sorry to dump on Texas, beatle, but there is something that would bother me there. I liked it as a tourist, but it’s the “western” mentality.Some places of employment need metal detectors at the door. So you know that those employees must hide their weapons in the car.
If you aren’t from Texas, I’ve met several people who gave up after a few years and left.
On the other hand, I’d prefer it to Ohio, where I have lived! From Ohio, go to a more northern or southern state, and the change is refreshing.
Whitetho
you can go Krogering in Atlanta. Heck, that store was the only one I went to. And if you think Publix is bad, just visit your local Piggly Wiggle store.
Well, shut my mouth. It’s also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.
Yeah, Sealemon, someone in Colombus, Ohio is going to rate the quality of our lives!
On what basis - oh! who knows?
Mullinator–it’s Piggly Wiggly (with a “y”) Don’t mean to be smart, it’s just with a name that ridiculous you want to get the full effect!
Born O.K. the first time…
If you are born again, do you have two belly buttons?
I lived in Tulsa, OK for a few years, and enjoyed it.
Although it may have been because it was my first time away from home. But the winters aren’t bad, if you get any snow at all it’s unusual.
Summer of 1980 was rough though. Rained in June, but not again until January. We spent over a week with highs around 114º and lows around 90-95º. But it wasn’t a dry heat.
I think that may be where I’ll go for retirement.