Columbus, Georgia

Okay ... something went horribly wrong!  The city that was fifth in alphabetical order was somehow omitted from my blog.  I remember preparing the information about a week ago, but either it didn't upload properly or I somehow inadvertently deleted it.  I don't think it was a Freudian slip, but I'll invite your thoughts on that after you've read about ...

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus was founded in 1828 and lies at the beginning of the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River, about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta.  The city's population is just over 300,000 within a metropolitan area of about 465,000.  Like Augusta, Columbus is a fall line city, meaning that the Chattahoochee River begins a steep descent just below the city.

In common with the other Sun Belt cities, Columbus has a humid subtropical climate, meaning hot, humid summers and mild winters with only occasional light snow flurries.  Daytime summer temperatures often reaches a high in the mid 90s, and low temperatures in the winter average in the upper 30s. Columbus is often considered a dividing line or "natural snowline" of the southeastern United States with areas north of the city receiving snowfall annually, with areas to the south typically not receiving snowfall every year or at all.

The largest employer in the area is nearby Fort Benning.  For its relatively small size, Columbus boasts a large number of public parks, museums, and cultural attractions.  More about Columbus is available in the Wikipedia article at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus,_Georgia.

Advantages

Columbus offers a low overall cost of living, as well as a relatively large number of affordable houses in fair to excellent condition.

The city has its own regional airport, in addition to which it is within a 2-hour drive of Atlanta's international airport or the Birmingham, Alabama airport.

With Fort Benning nearby, it appears to offer a solid market for a traditional Japanese dojo.

Topping off its advantages are its several affordable golf courses.

Disadvantages

Other than its hot, humid climate -- which is shared by nearly all the cities I'm considering -- the only notable disadvantage seems to be Columbus' relatively high crime rate, which is 75% above the US national average.   Property crimes account for the majority of this, with burglaries, larceny and motor vehicle thefts nearly double the national average.  Murders, muggings, and robberies are about 10% above the national average, while rapes and aggravated assaults are significantly below nationwide figures.

So once again, I'd like to know your thoughts about Columbus ... Is moving there a good idea or a bad idea for me?  What are your impressions of Columbus?  If you know me, would you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Columbus than you would in Marion ... or any of the other locations I'm considering?

Carrollton, Georgia

Continuing my series analysing the merits of possible new home towns, and reviewing them in alphabetical order, we cross the state of Georgia to its western side to find ...

Carrollton, Georgia

Carrollton can probably best be described as a college town.  It is home to the University of West Georgia and has a population of only 25,000, of which about half are the students, faculty, and staff of the university!  But it is not so much the city of Carrollton that I am considering as it is the surrounding county, which has a population of about 110,000.  The climate in Carrollton is slightly milder than Augusta, due to its higher elevation at 1,160 feet.  Carrollton has a humid subtropical climate, with short winters and an very humid summer. High temperatures in July average 88 °F (31 °C) but occasionally approach 100 °F (38 °C). Temperatures at or above 90 °F (32.2 °C) occur more than 40 days per year. January averages 51.5 °F (10.4 °C), with temperatures in the suburbs slightly cooler. Overnight freezing can be expected 30 nights annually, but high temperatures below 40 °F (4 °C) are very rare. Extremes range from −9 °F (−23 °C) in 1985 to 103 °F (39 °C) in 1980.  For more information about Carrollton, see the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrollton,_Georgia.

Advantages

Carrollton offers a number of homes in my price range, but many of those homes are in poor condition and would require significant repair or renovation.  One of Carrollton's major advantages is its proximity to Atlantic, which is only 45 miles away -- about a one-hour drive.  Atlanta has a metropolitan population of over 5 million, making it a source of business opportunities, including a dojo.  Atlanta also has a major international airport, although it is an extremely busy airport and subject to substantial delays and congestion.  On the other hand, the Atlantic airport is served by the MARTA rapid transit system, which offers a park-and-ride service directly to and from baggage claim.

Summers in Carrollton are slightly milder than in Augusta, due to the higher altitude, yet Carrollton affords the same opportunity to grow hot weather fruits and vegetables, including:  peaches (of course!), grapes, berries, melons, citrus, corn, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, okra, sweet potatoes, and squash.  Since Carrollton is a more rural area, most houses have at least 1/4 acre of property and many include an acre or more.

Carroll County, with a population just over 100,000, is barely large enough to sustain a dojo.  However, with its proximity to Atlanta's population base and transportation hub, it could serve as a location for regional or even national seminars, gasshuku, tournaments, etc.

Three of the four nearest golf courses are private country clubs, so golf opportunities in Carroll County are limited.  However, the country club in nearby Villa Rica has dues as low as $110.00 per month, so playing twice a week would cost under $15.00 per round.

Disadvantages

Summers are hot and humid, and I have a low tolerance for heat and humidity, so I will enjoy few outdoor activities during the summer in Carrollton.  It is probably a little more comfortable than Augusta, but I will still have a difficult time motivating myself to do lawn care, gardening, and other outside chores in oppressive heat and humidity, which means in summertime my garden will suffer along with the curb appeal of my house!

So, what are your thoughts about Carrollton?  Is moving there a good idea or a bad idea?  What are your impressions of Carrollton?  If you know me, would you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Carrollton than you would in Marion?  Or the other locations I'm considering?

Augusta, Georgia

As 2013 begins, I'll start my review of the Top Ten cities I'm considering for my new home.  In order to avoid any appearance of favouritism, I'll review them in alphabetical order, beginning with ...

Augusta, Georgia

Augusta was founded in 1777 at the fall line of the Savannah River (the farthest navigable point upstream from the Atlantic Ocean).  The city's population is roughly 195,000 but the metropolitan area includes several suburbs in both Georgia and South Carolina totaling about 550,000.  Augusta has a humid subtropical climate, with short winters and an extremely humid summer. The average high temperature for the summer months is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C), but summer daytime temperatures can soar to 100 or above. The average low temperature is 67.8 °F (19.9 °C). The average high temperature for the winter months is 58.9 °F (14.9 °C), with an average winter low temperature of 34.4 °F (1.3 °C).  Light snow flurries are common in December, January, and February, but the freezing rains that are more common also create more hazardous driving conditions.  More about Augusta can be found on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta,_Georgia.

Advantages

Augusta's primary advantage for me is affordable housing.  It is second only to Jackson, Mississippi in the number of homes available in my price range.  Although electricity rates per KWH are about 16% higher in Georgia and natural gas rates are almost 30% higher per therm, my usage of electricity would be slightly lower in Augusta and my natural gas less than half what I use in Marion.  Cable Internet is $20.00 per month cheaper in Augusta than Marion, but water and sewer are $6.00 per month more, and rubbish collection is $16.00 per month more, so the other utilities roughly even out. 

There appears to be a viable market for a traditional Japanese dojo in Augusta.  There is a well-established Motobu-Ha Shito-Ryu dojo in the area, but no mainstream Shito-Ryu nor any iaijutsu, kenjutsu, jojutsu, Ryukyu kobujutsu, or aiki-jujutsu dojo listed.

The climate in Augusta is well suited to growing several hot weather fruits and vegetables, including:  peaches (of course!), grapes, berries, melons, citrus, corn, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, okra, sweet potatoes, and squash.  Most houses have 1/4 to 1/3 acre of property, which is ample for home gardening.

There are also several moderately-priced golf courses in the Augusta area, so I will be able to afford to play golf at least a couple of times per month there.

Disadvantages

Summers are hot and humid.  I have a low tolerance for heat and humidity, so I will enjoy few outdoor activities during the summer in Augusta.  It may at first glance seem a minor inconvenience, but I know myself too well ... I will have a difficult time motivating myself to do lawn care, gardening, and other outside chores in oppressive heat and humidity, which means in summertime my garden will suffer along with the curb appeal of my house!

Augusta does not have a large "international" airport, but a regional airport serviced primarily by commuter airlines.  So I will either face higher airfares and additional connections or a 2.5-hour drive from Augusta to either the Atlanta airport or the Charlotte, SC airport.  Either of these drives is nearly an hour longer than my current drive to the Indy airport.  And from Augusta it will be a five-hour flight plus layovers to visit my family in Scottsdale, San Diego, or Seattle -- even longer than my current travel time from Marion!

Many of the homes I can afford in Augusta are in neighbourhoods that many would consider "undesirable".  While this is not an issue for me, it might discourage some friends and family from visiting me as often as they otherwise might.

So, what are your thoughts?  Is moving to Augusta a good idea or a bad idea?  What are your impressions of Augusta?  If you know me, would you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Augusta than you would in Marion?  Or the other locations I'm considering?