Columbia, South Carolina

Fourth in my alphabetical listing of potential new hometowns is ...

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?

Charleston, South Carolina

Continuing my alphabetical survey of potential new hometowns, we now arrive at ...

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston was founded in 1663 and has a rich history that stretches from the Colonial and Revolutionary periods through the US Civil War to the present.  The city has a population of about 120,000, but the population of the Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area is over 650,000.

Like the other cities I am considering, Charles has a humid, subtropical climate, but being on the Atlantic coast its summer temperatures are about the lowest of my Top Ten.  It is a picturesque city, with more historic and scenic attractions that most of the others I'm considering.  You can find more details about Charleston in the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina.

Advantages

In some ways the major advantage of Charleston is its slightly milder climate than most other cities in the Sun Belt -- particularly its cooler summers.  It does have a major airport and reasonable air fares, but it is the farthest from San Diego, Phoenix, and Seattle of the feasible cities I am considering.

The market in Charleston seems ripe for a traditional Japanese dojo.

Coastal South Carolina is a golfer's paradise, also some of the nicest courses are either private or well out of my price range.  There are ample opportunities for frequent and affordable golf outings!

There is no shortage of affordable housing in the Charleston area.  However, many of those affordable homes are in areas subject to frequent flooding or hurricane damage, so the overall cost of housing (including insurance, storm repairs, and upkeep) is not the lowest of the cities I'm considering.

Disadvantages

Although Charleston has a convenient major airport, it is the farthest from my kids, grandkids, and other key family members of any of the U.S. locations I'm considering.  This results in slightly higher travel costs, but significantly longer travel times.

Charleston is frequently struck by major hurricanes and sustains heavy damage every five years or so.  This would put my collection of first edition books and family heirlooms at significantly higher risk than most other locations I'm considering.

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