Relocation to Charleston
I work with a lot of people who want to relocate to Charleston. Every single one has a similar anxiety, quite simply, meeting new friends when they move here. Whether they are retiring to Charleston from the North, have a job transfer from somewhere in the country, are moving up from one neighborhood to another or are just interested in relocating to Charleston, every one I have met is concerned about being able to become friends with their new neighbors.
I’ve been very blessed in my life because I have had the opportunity to live in many parts of the country. If I haven’t lived there, I’ve likely traveled there because I was responsible for the West, South and North for my company. Growing up in the Midwest, I had all parts of the country covered during my career. In late 1991, I was fortunate enough to be transferred to Charlotte North Carolina and I first discovered the Carolina Coast. I knew right then that one day I would live on the Carolina Coast, somewhere between Wilmington, North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, at that point I just didn’t know where or when.
From Charlotte, during the 90’s, I had the opportunity to live in Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta and once again Charlotte, all attractive and growing cities in the country and I enjoyed every one of the locations I was transferred to. My job ended in 2000 and I had just met my wife, Polly, in Charlotte. We talked about whether we should stay in Charlotte or move somewhere and since she had been coming to the Carolina Coast since the late 60’s when her family first visited Hilton Head Island, we decided to relocate to Charleston.
We moved here without knowing a lot of people and were very fortunate that people we met welcomed us to Charleston. I don’t know why the people who live in Charleston are so friendly but we felt very welcome. Maybe it’s just as the license plate says, “Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places”. I know today as I drive through neighborhoods as a Realtor with clients in my car, people smile and wave as we drive by.
Many clients express concern about whether they will be able to meet people in their new neighborhoods. They want to know about organized activities and other opportunities to meet people. They are concerned about moving to a city that is over 300 years old and has long time residents who might not be open to meeting new friends. There likely are a few locals who don’t embrace newcomers but many if not most residents of the Charleston area are very embracing of new people moving here.
Even more importantly to those just moving to Charleston, it seems like half the population of the Charleston area has moved here from somewhere else recently. They were in the same situation as the “newcomers” of today, when they moved here, as they needed to and wanted to meet new friends. They are just as welcoming today as they were when they first moved here and will invite you to join the new friends that they have met.
In my neighborhood, the neighbors at the end of my street all moved in at pretty much the same time. Many became friends because of that commonality. A few of our neighbors have sold their homes since and new neighbors have now moved in but they feel every bit as welcome as the “originals”. So I say to everyone who is thinking about relocation to Charleston, welcome.
This is my 50th post to my blog and it has been a lot of fun. Thanks for reading and please come back often.