Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and is located roughly in the geographic centre of the state. The city itself has a population of about 130,000, but it is surrounded by a metropolitan area of approximately 775,000, the largest in the state. Columbia was founded in 1786, so (like several other cities I'm considering) it has over 200 years of rich history and culture. The city is located at the "fall line" of the Congaree River. This fall line location is a feature shared by Augusta, Georgia. And, like most other cities in my Top Ten list, Columbia has a humid subtropical climate, with mild winters, warm springs and autumns, and very hot and humid summers. The area averages 56 nights below freezing, but extended cold is rare. The city's current promotional slogan describes Columbia as "Famously Hot" -- and, frankly, that's not a slogan that endears me to it! You can learn more about Columbia from this Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_South_Carolina.
Advantages
The chief advantage of Columbia is its relatively large inventory of affordable houses and low cost of living. It's about a two-hour drive to either Myrtle Beach or Charleston if I want to go to the coast for the sea breeze, and there is affordable golf all around the area.
Columbia also appears to have a viable market for a traditional Japanese dojo.
Disadvantages
Despite being the state capital, Columbia airport is only served by a handful of carriers, so while it is conveniently located, typical airfares to San Diego, Phoenix, and Seattle are at least 30% more expensive in Columbia than Indianapolis. Airfares from Columbia are slightly less expensive than from Augusta, Georgia, but the flight and layover times are longer, making it one of the more distant locations from the family members I visit most often.
It is hot and humid ... and by now you know how I feel about hot, humid summers!
So, as with the other cities on my Top Ten list, what do you think? Is moving to Columbia a good idea or a bad idea? What are your impressions of Columbia? If you know me, would you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Columbia than you would in Marion? Or the other locations I'm considering?
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