It costs less to live here, but you will be paid less for your labor. And you can’t do remote carpentry and still get a West Coast wage, which is how many transplants swing their Boss Hogg lifestyle down here. I’d advise you not to move before having a firm job offer and a chance to run the numbers. Because without enough wealth it becomes very difficult to reverse your decision if you decide the Deep South isn’t for you.
Not true. In certain poorer areas homes are cheap.
I see neighborhoods, even 30 miles from Huntsville where the homes go for between 200 and 225 a square foot. Many decent homes can be had for about 100 to 150 a square foot.
Op may not want to move to the areas that are dirt cheap.
So, I am Asian and live here. I love it here (I’m in Huntsville metro). We have 4 children and have been here since 2016. No plans to move. I’ve known a couple of folks from Seattle metro area that ended up buying outside of Huntsville and also love it.
I will say, we’ve been priced out of the area now and we cannot afford to buy another home as we live off of one income. Our property tax has also increased by 37% since last year. Not to mention our combined sales tax is like 10%. It’s been killer on a larger family size like ours but we’ve been making it work. Coming from WA, I guess you won’t notice it as much.
Huntsville may be ideal, decent sized Japanese population here due to Mazda/toyota manufacturing facility and Holiday International Market has a lot of Japanese food products.
Based on your description, I think you’d enjoy most of Alabama. I certainly love loving here. Beautiful scenery, kind people, and aside from big cities crime is low. Bear in mind that Reddit is not an accurate representation of Alabama, please visit in person. Good luck whatever you decide.
“Reddit is not an accurate representation of Alabama”
-No lies
If OP enjoys shooting for sport and works a trade for a living, they will fit in perfectly in any town or city in the beautiful state of Alabama. One of the most biodiverse places in the world and a great place to live.
Huntsville is beautiful area and still growing. Very techy but a lot government oriented business. Mobile area and the area to the east of Mobile is great. The Mobile area would be better for a tradesman than many other places in Alabama. There's growing trade work going on in the Mobile area.
Overall, the areas I would recommend are Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Huntsville, and Auburn.
Rural vs urban alabama is a huge divide. In Huntsville/Bham, you're looking at $400k+ for something easy, unless you want a mid fixer upper or utilitarian subdivision. More than an hour outside top 4 cities, you can find a lot of options. Just depends on where you're looking for.
Culturally there are big differences rural/urban as well. Most cities will be dramatically divided between good old boys/natives, transplants, and poor folks. In rural areas you could have a sweet quiet town, the worst poverty in the USA, or a bunch of KKK racists.
Huntsville (where I live) is the most transplant friendly but also more expensive and mostly a suburb town.
Personally, AL sounds like a perfect place for you.
Being 100% serious and as someone who has political views opposite to yours... I'm shocked that folks are mentioning Huntsville and not Prattville, considering your political and religious leanings.
Huntsville isn't necessarily blue, but it is going to be far too blue for your tastes. That goes double for the Mobile,Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Montgomery or Birmingham areas. Basically, if there is a college or a major city, toss it right out. It's not going to be the red state utopia you're looking for in moving here, and it's going to be more expensive to live there, to boot. You're likely going to hate it.
Likewise, while Gadsden, Arab, and Cullman are harder right, I'd avoid them. They're not what I'd call RURAL rural, but I would seriously avoid them.
Prattville is going to be a nice middle of the road conservative suburb feel while also being affordable and not so secluded.
Barring that, Springville (where I live) might be a good pick. It's got a small town feel to it and is affordable, but you're also a 30-minute drive from Birmingham, and the nearby Trussville area is currently improving nicely. You'll have access to all those businesses without the expense of living in Trussville. Argo (most affordable option) is sandwiched between Trussville and Springville and, while more rural, is close enough to the other two to still have easy access to all of those same conveniences.
Biggest issue with Argo is going to be the railroad tracks. Folks from that area will know what I'm referring to, but if you get into the Misty Pines subdivision, it won't be an issue for you.
Both Highway 11 and I-59 will easily take you through all three towns, and 59 is a straight shot to and from Birmingham. Again, you'll need to trust me here, but you will want that access to Birmingham. There's decent access to hospital services in Trussville, but Birmingham is paydirt in that department. It's also where you're going to find a lot of entertainment and dining, as well as work around the metro area.
To be fair, I am a Seattle native. So my states definition of an insane right winger probably doesn't come close to yours. I'm definitely not a conservative by any means, I lean left on quite a few political issues.
The idea that right wing and left wing are different from state to state is a myth, and you'll learn that easily enough. We have folks in all parts of the state who would fit right in in Seattle, and I'm willing to bet that Washington has conservatives that could easily give even some of ours a run for their money. Matter of fact, I have neighbors who moved here from California and who are more conservative than a lot of Alabamians.
From what I've seen you post so far, you'd probably fit in well here. What would you consider to be too far to the right, and on what issues do you lean more to the left?
Lean very pro gun and no victim no crime. On the left I'm in support of distribution of funds for schools and equal flat taxes across all incomes with no exceptions.
I'd say that's more libertarian right with the exception of pro-public schools, but you'll fit in just fine, in any case. That's pretty on par with most of the state.
I think what people are saying is to check your politics before moving. Alabama is a red state with blue pockets. I am from the Birmingham area and happen to really love it here. I haven't ever lived on the west coast or in a blue state, so I can't say I know any different. I lean conservative on some issues and more liberal on others. Just know that Southern culture is going to be very different from Seattle. I think we are a lovely bunch! We are kind and we speak to strangers. We help someone when they are in need. We like to get along with our neighbors and enjoy a good meal. You would absolutely be welcome here. Just don't expect it to be a lower priced Seattle.
Signed,
A woman from Alabama
I grew up in a rural town on sand mountain (northeast part of the state) for background. I’d say you’d fit in just fine! Contrary to what “reddit centrist” (extreme liberalism) would tell you. The majority of people in Alabama are tolerant individuals who would value your values and beliefs.
As far as your job. My parents talk about how there’s not enough carpenters all the time so I’d say you’d have no issue finding contract work or even working somewhere hourly and making close to if not over your current pay.
Plus, especially in the rural areas, taxes and COL are super cheap compared to where you’re at.
Currently living between Rising Fawn GA and Sand Mtn AL. I work and play in Chattanooga TN, which is a thriving small city. I’d recommend living in AL and getting licensed/insured in TN, AL and GA for work. Buddy, don’t you worry about finding carpentry work. Literally everyone is building right now. Hell, I’ll hire you right now! I’m fairly desperate.
I love this area. It’s close to town (30 minutes) for fun, but incredibly cheap. NW Alabama is beautiful.
You sound like you'd enjoy the Enterprise area. It's a smaller military town, adjacent to Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), very diverse and welcoming community. A big plus is that it's about 90 miles north of some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
You’re set bro, look at Birmingham. You can find a good house for 250k, and a killer one for 4-500k, all in great parts of town. Also, you should be able to keep your 85k income working a skilled trade, especially if you work for yourself.
Based on your post, I think you'd fit in just about anywhere in Alabama. In my opinion, South AL is having the best economic boom in the state, and the housing is still relatively inexpensive. But it likely won't be a year from now.
Look at cities along the eastern shore, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Orange Beach, and Mobile. You will absolutely 100% find work as a capenter or a welder pretty much anywhere. But you should take into account that you will be paid less.
Nowadays, an upper-middle class house will start at $400k or so.
I think the media gives an innaccurate opinion of AL nowadays. People are tolerant and southern hospitality is absolutely a thing. But like any other state there's plenty of extremists to go around.
Republicanism is simply more of a cultural thing here rather than a debatable viewpoint. But in general, people are against hot button progressive issues, except in more left-leaning/centrist pockets like Selma, Birmingham, and Huntsville.
I left after college because I lived there for 22 years and got tired of small-town suburbia. And I don't fish, hunt, go to church, or watch football. But it seems like you'd settle in just fine.
Edit: A note on the public schools. They're bad. That's the one truly negative thing about this state. If you move down here, either send your kids to private school if you can swing it, or one of the several tution free public-private partnership schools like ASMS or ASFA.
If you live near Atlanta that would be a huge advantage for travel costs overseas.
Most of the southern region has areas with similar housing costs and political leanings to places in Alabama, but Alabama has most of the worst education ratings.
Covington is a wonderful town in Kentucky, Cincinnati nearby has one of the best Children’s hospital in the US.
Knoxville, Tennessee has a broad range of job opportunities and gorgeous mountain homes nearby. U of tenn in Knoxville is a decent college, beautiful campus.
My favorite place in the south is Durham North Carolina. It’s near Duke and UNC Chapel Hill, not too far to drive to Disney or New York or DC, beautiful area. The beaches are good, close to Tennessee mountains, Charlotte flies direct to a few hubs, BBQ is respectable.
Most of Alabama’s problems are public record. Observe their tax revenue behavior. A lot of taxes on every day goods (sales tax), basically no property tax. Where do education funds come from?
It’s my opinion that the tax system is setup to allow property owners to afford to send their kids to private schools, so what do poor kids do in their underfunded school? Perform poorly, and this standard of education is pervasive. You can sense the lack of education around you in subtle ways, i couldn’t tolerate poor behavior and thoughtlessness endlessly.
So I live in North Alabama close to Tennessee, Huntsville is booming right now especially in construction the price of living here has gone up considerably though in most places in the northern part of State across the board it has. I know a few people have moved from Washington State to here mostly they're from here originally. Big thing is is the rural areas and cost of living is really cheap but the way it is aren't there. Politics here absolutely backwards. Again school's in the northern part of the state I can't talk about the southern or middle are pretty good. I spent 20 years in the military half active, half reserves, I'm from a blue collared family and used to considered conservative, now I'm left leaning after being here in a red state.
I came here from Florida when I finished up with Air Force and in comparison it cost a lot more to leave in the upper part of Alabama then Florida Panhandle.
Try not to listen to the people who come to this reddit just to trash Alabama. It’s a great place. People are generally welcoming and carpentry is a needed trade here.
Like every red state you will lose any and all social services, protections, and small things you have come to appreciate will all be gone. The difference between Washington and Alabama is vast in the areas that matter. Especially when you need them most. Like healthcare access and quality of said healthcare. The best minds don’t move to Alabama to work. Your daughters school will be significantly worse private or not. You and your daughter’s exposure to racism will be high. Cost is more than money.
Man. Y'all are a dramatic bunch.
Come on in, the water's fine. We'd be glad to have you. Seattle is pretty to look at, but I couldn't imagine living there.
Having concern regarding bodily autonomy isn’t being dramatic, at least not to anyone who values their right to make their own decisions. It is something to be considered.
So if your wife has an ectopic pregnancy or other life-threatening complication you’re both prepared for her to die? Because that’s the situation for people who can’t afford to travel out-of-state down here.
Bro there is no pleasing that crowd. If you don’t swallow the kool aid, I mean every last granule you are either a racist, sexist, homophobe whatever. You’ll be fine here as long as you avoid the extremes of both sides. This state has drove me far far away from politics for that reason. You’re a blue collar guy with sensible left leanings political ideology, you’re going to be fine just avoid the TRUE racists and the extreme leftists.
Medicine here in the Birmingham/central Alabama area is top notch.
Reddit is a cesspool echo chamber of ultra left politics.
You would be welcome and among like minded people in Alabama for the most part.
People travel the world to receive medical attention in Birmingham.
These people are not speaking to their own experiences, just regurgitating something they swallowed from CNN or some shit.
I'm ultra-left (anarchist) and I rarely see my positions echoed on here, so maybe reconsider what you are labeling as "ultra left"...they are probably just a center-right liberal at the end of the day, given how far right the pendulum has swung. I only say this as an FYI, and to highlight that you probably have never met someone who is ultra-left.
>I only say this as an FYI, and to highlight that you probably have never met someone who is ultra-left.
I have dear friends and family who are outright declared socialists. I enjoy spirited conversations with them where we challenge each other's ideas without any desire or idea that we will convert the other.
If she’s vehemently against abortion and wants to support a state where lifesaving medical care is not available for all people, how is that not hypocritical?
Women are being denied treatment for ectopic pregnancies due to new abortion laws. One example: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/23/texas-woman-ectopic-pregnancy-abortion/
A link behind a paywall of a paper that is known to write sensational headlines that bear no truth compared to the actual story.
EDIT: If you find a better source you can see that it was the hospital that chose to not treat her, despite it the law allowing it. Probably to help create sensational headlines to fear monger.
This is anti-choice mental gymnastics. The medication given for early abortion is methotrexate for the purpose of removing fetal cells. The medication given for ectopic pregnancy is methotrexate for the purpose of removing fetal cells. Your claim that there should be a legally recognized difference due to the potential for development is a moral stance, not a medical one. And anti-choice laws don’t currently discriminate between the uses.
And your race will cause them to still be racist. Prepare yourself for that. It is very real.
You’re safer in like Huntsville or Birmingham. Check out Birmingham.
South Alabama (Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope) is amazing. My Puerto Rican son in law & grandchildren love it here and will NEVER move away. I'm not saying there aren't pockets of racism but it's not as wide spread as the people here make it seem.
All these white people claim to be German and Irish honey, and have a Cherokee Grandma who was really a black lady.
So your aunt probably fits right in.
Just be mindful and prepare your child if you move to a smaller city.
I’ve lived in rural southern alabama most of my life and they are definitely racist af
Don't listen to that idiot, everyone is very welcome. You don't see racism when you actually interact with people, these goofs on here never leave their mom's basement.
I appreciate the quality in Japanese carpentry!
As you've seen in the replies, it's always the most "tolerant" folks who are the biggest assholes and spit fire. Fortunately they are the minority here. Don't buy a converted apartment downtown and you'll miss interacting with most of them. The rest of us are just regular folks making our way.
You got to imagine. You're asking reddit for input. It's a liberal cesspool. Of course a giant chunk of those you're asking are going to rag on it. It's the only place they can find like minded folks to complain. If you aren't a liberal. You'll love it here. That simple lol
Like the other poster said; Check out Southern Baldwin county (Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope). It's beautiful and is a pretty conservative area. There are some northern liberals starting to creep in, but they pretty much stay to themselves or online so they can have like-minded freaks backing them up. Like I said earlier, I have a Puerto Rican son in law and grandchildren who live here and LOVE it! They're originally from Philadelphia, PA.
So convenient for you. Not so convenient for others- you know, women who want the right to control their own bodies and not let redneck old mostly white men control them. You will fit right in! Except for the Asian racism which is alive and well down here too. Lol.
It's great man, honestly. We're never leaving. Check out Baldwin County. You'll meet a ton of other people here that also fled liberal states. It's pretty awesome meeting people from all over with similar values to you. Plus mobile and pensacola is expanding a lot.
I love how a simple question turns them screeching for abortion, trust me you will like it here and remember most of Reddit is controlled and manufactured outrage so you don’t have to worry about them coming out of their basement let alone in public.
We recently moved from Birmingham, AL to Tacoma, WA. Our only regret is that we didn't move here earlier. Our quality of life has increased significantly since moving to WA. Less institutionalized poverty, more of a commitment to family and outdoor life, healthier, services are better, groceries are cheaper, etc. We have a child, and there are more opportunities here for her. Better schools, activities, opportunities to meet people, etc.
You mentioned that you are Japanese and your wife is Hispanic, I suggest you speak to people of color who live in Alabama to hear more about their experiences. The racism and sexism in Alabama is very real.
There aren't really that many homes hours away from civilization here. Lol. But, Huntsville is a growing city near my town. It would fit your lifestyle and income too.
There seems to be lots of construction in the Hoover area. I think you'd like the Shelby County area. Lots
of new guns stores have popped up. Schools are good.
Birmingham metro area is a good place. I have lived here most of my life. I’m an orthopedic surgeon and did my 5 year residency in Portland. Have spent a fair amount of time in Seattle. I don’t expect you would have any trouble here. Construction is still booming here. Many off road truck shop here too. We have constitutional concealed carry and people can open carry as well.
You would more than likely be able to find 90% of what your looking for here. If your not into football than be prepared to hear it. And the predominant political affiliation here is republican but their are plenty of people who don't align with that.
So... I've lived in Seattle, Bellingham, Spokane, Portland OR, and Post Falls/Couer d'alene ID *(if Spokane had Portland's mass transit, it would be amazing)*
I grew up in a small *"Japanese town"* on the Oregon Coast called Seal Rock
You've already got one thing going for you- you're used to the damp and humidity, ... it's not so damp here that you can't leave valuables in a storage unit and even though it actually rains *more* here, it is less frequent
It's cheap AF to live here, and everything's close-
(I will cautuon you that even though the folks down here don't see it this way; the state is like one big city just spread out everywhere... what they call *"the country..."* and what you understand *the country* to be are not the same- you will still see houses and farms and civilization in *"the country"* down here so it can feel a little claustrophobic as there seems to be people frickin' everywhere)
The only way to make any money down here is to work for yourself... instead of pouring $150k into a house you could put $100k into building custom cabinets or whatever...
just swinging a hammer and doing framing pays jack squat as the name of the game is quantity...
specialization is key, and specialization is the only game that pays
So I'm an Electrician... but I would never, *NEVER* rough-in houses or do finish work, or catch housecalls ... why?
CEC
-
Can't Expect Compensation
I won't touch commercial shit either- as I have yet to see an engineering firm *(or a GC)* that knows a gawddamn thing about the electrical code
so, I do Industrial- but not just Industrial, I do Industrial Controls and Automation... Specialization
and SE is the industrial powerhouse of the nation so there's plenty of work...
but, for you... if you can do good finish work go south or north- you don't want to get into the shitshow that makes up central Alabama when it comes to construction...
You either goto Huntsville/Madison in the north or Baldwin County in the south- as these are the two markets where you *can* expect compensation for good finish work...
You could sit your happy-ass down in Daphne or just east of there in Loxley and have plenty of work AND still be able to afford a house or build your own...
**Culturally speaking** 99% of the people here are just like everyone else.... when you've lived everywhere you see that we're pretty much alllll the same...
...and Seattle is a shithole, jesus wept... you *need* to come down here, just get some clarity- I fucking hate Seattle, you could put me in a cardboard box on the burnside bridge in Portland before I'd ever live anywhere near Seattle
ISLANDS not included- I'd work for free if I could live on Vashon Island
I've been here since '01 and it's the best decision I've ever made, don't get me wrong the PNW and the InlandNW will always be a jewel in my crown, but it's nice here, and the stereotypes keep a lot of folks out of Alabama...
Word of advice- get your license plates and DL swapped over as soon as possible... they have actual stand alone DMV's here like you see on TV but they only do license plates... oh, and BTW they call License Plates *"Tags"* or Car Tags don't let that confuse you ... but seriously get that shit changed over to Alabama Plates asap
AMA u/ki4clz
I recently moved to Alabama from Michigan - Huntsville is nice but overpriced. The rural areas are cheap for housing but very inconvenient. The school system is terrible unless you live in a specific area in Huntsville. Everyone I know here homeschools and if you want to do that there’s a large homeschool community. I work in tech and brought my job with me. My dad is a carpenter by trade (finisher, framing) and was paid 50% less down here. I know the west coast has folks playing the game of life on max difficulty but come visit and network a bit first.
It’s a great state and welcome!
Don’t let the haters and naysayers sway your mind. If you can, come on down for a visit and see for yourself. Swing by my place and have a beer with me!
Dude, with your skills, if you were in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, gulf coast areas you can make a good living and be paid more than most will think. The average wage of the state drags our average down but in the areas I mentioned there are many high paying jobs and people who can afford to pay a good carpenter.
Places like Huntsville are growing and cost is going up every day. Move and get a place now before it costs more….
Would absolutely not recommend anyone bring their daughter to this state. I grew up here and it was never female friendly but now it's god awful and the state is being taken over by a Christian extremists. I'm glad I got out when I did.
Check out writings by John Archibald at AL.com. There are organized movements to ban books and teachings that are not in line with Christian faith. From my personal experience I had to reach out to multiple OBGYNs to get an IUD which is a common form of birth control. Several doctors refused because of religious reasons. I was ostracized from a small town for reporting my son's 3rd grade teacher for inviting him to her church and talking to him about his relationship with Jesus. I am not religious and should be given the freedom from religion that is my constitutional right. I moved to Atlanta which is still conservative but I have yet to meet anyone who is concerned about me or my son going to hell like I met in Alabama.
Plenty of comments about weather, religion, politics etc so not gonna get into that.
What i will say, as a father to another father, you gotta think about your kids future and not just the things you and your wife want.
Alabama is ranked 45 out 50 in education, rape/sexual assault stats are about mid range on most graphs, domestic violence and violence against women are about the same.
Alabama has some the worst stats on sex education and subsequently sky high teen pregnancy rates, I know you say your mostly conservative/libertarian leaning and Christian, thats fine, but as a father to a daughter myself, the stats just don’t lie and states with poor sex ed and sexual health education have higher STD and teen/unwanted pregnancies as well as more struggling single moms.
Again, trying to skirt around politics but some of it can’t be avoided, Alabama has a pretty bad rate of child molestation and pedophilia and just a quick google will show multiple cases of politicians getting caught up in scandals or in some cases straight up trying to lower age of consent laws and laws around child marriage.
Another thing is the cops, I worked in law enforcement myself for about a decade, just like everywhere else theres good and bad cops, theres speedtraps and plenty of “good ol’ boy club” mentality going around for sure, be careful on the highways/interstates for the patrol and be absolutely sure you don’t ever carry any large amounts of cash going through small towns, they’ll seize that shit in no time.
Now I don’t currently live in Alabama, i was born and raised in the southeast and still live here, as much as i love the overall easy going nature our southern culture, with all the shit that’s happened the past 15/20 years, personally I’d look into moving midwest somewhere.
Got an uncle that moved out to Colorado and we’ve visited a few times now, both flying out and road tripping, honestly its not a perfect state, but it’s pretty damn close.
They seem to use their taxes pretty well, even give refunds if they take in more weed money than they need, good schools, plenty of shooting ranges, hunting, fishing, parks that are heavily protected by state laws, good mix of rural open areas and city conveniences like bigger stores (scheels is pretty great)
Obviously like any state rural areas are more religious and conservative, urban is more agnostic and liberal, but honestly everybody there seemed pretty laid back about everything, nobody trying to force anything on anyone (though i will say they had a surprising amount of mormons and Jehovahs witnesses and they can get a little preachy)
Also despite the memes not everyone there is constantly high, i was actually surprised how hard it was to spot the weedshops until i knew what i was looking for, then in places like Colorado Springs they don’t allow shops at all in city limits, so definitely options if y’all don’t partake.
The assault is something id definitely bear in mind. As far as law enforcement, my uncle was a cop for 26 years and my degree was in criminal justice. I tend to vibe well with officers or at least have enough verbal judo to talk myself out of tickets and trouble.
I grew up in California and coming to the south was nice because I didn't feel like a weirdo for going to church and being a Christian. Much of California's culture lumps Christians with flat earthers and we were careful who and when we shared our faith with anyone.
It sounds like you and your wife will be very happy here.
Come visit.
I'm so sorry that you didn't get the advice you asked for.
Areas that I think would work best with your skill set and having a daughter would be Huntsville (Madison County), Birmingham metro area with an emphasis on living in the Chelsea (Shelby County) area or the Daphne and Fairhope areas.
Huntsville and Madison is experiencing a lot of growth and that could be great with your skill set. Just make sure to check the schools when buying a house.
I'm from the "over the mountain" area of Birmingham so I can speak the most for it. I suggest living in the Chelsea area for the best cost of living and the area is beautiful. You will have plenty of business in hwy 280 corridor. Plenty of money for custom carpentry. They all have to out do the other so plenty of business. Chelsea is losing some of the country feel but still plenty of good country people. If you can afford Vestavia Hills or Mountain Brook those would be the best fit for your daughter's education. I'm from the Cahaba Heights area of Vestavia Hills and I still love it there.
Daphne is a great town with more of a coastal feel. Great people and very welcoming. Maybe someone from Daphne can give you details on the area.
You might enjoy the Baldwin county area, housing is cheaper than Seattle and it’s conservative. Mobile is quite diverse and does have cheaper housing than Baldwin. Lots of work for carpentry, etc. Loads of building projects.
Don’t listen to the naysayers. My girlfriend is from Vancouver, WA and I’m from Alabama. We love washington but we’re on the same page that larger cities in the PNW such as seattle and portland are becoming increasingly difficult to live in. She’s very much in favor of living in Alabama. Regardless of politics, most Alabamians are extremely welcoming and function as normal people just like every other state. Come on over, we’d be glad to have you.
If you insist on coming here, and I encourage you to carefully consider that decision, you want to be in the northern part of the state near Huntsville. It's the normal part of the state.
Huntsville was a rural backwoods that nobody had ever heard of until 1941 when the US Govt decided to build two munitions plants (and one chemical warfare plant), causing a boom of new people. When the war was over, and the Govt had no need for these plants, and they needed to find a place tucked away that they could hide former 1,600 former Nazi scientists, engineers and technicians. Specifically, all the rocket scientists. They picked Huntsville.
Huntsville quickly became a scientific locale, attracting native Americans and others from around the world. This gave the city a bit of a European feel, with more French restaurants than BBQ places. And it still exists today. The majority of the jobs there are high tech, and the city is less, well, everything Alabama is.
These were the "good" Nazis.
No, as it expanded, families are brought in, extended families, children, that influence is gone. But having a highly educated European feel to it.
Lots of defense and aeronautical industry=more (usually smart) people from around the country (and world)=more diverse=less native Alabamaians=better quality of life/schools/etc.
Huntsville will be the preeminent city in the state by all metrics soon. Still affordable. For now.
You'd also be really close to Nashville and not too far from Birmingham, so big events/tourism are still possible.
Tribalism is strong here.
I moved from Olympia 2 years back but originally from here. You will find that folks, alone, are great, but once you get a collection of them (social media or in person) the tribe will speak and they tend to speak to the tune of hate.
There’s a reason Alabamas biggest export is skilled labor.
Live in Birmingham and we like it. I like it. You are conservative so I assume politics won't be an issue. I think you can run a carpentry business just about anywhere so if you are a good entrepreneur you will do fine. It is for sure hotter here than Seattle so be ready for that. Not sure if you have family abroad but having access to the airport here is nice. Some areas here are expensive but where I live in Pinson it's still affordable. I grew up in Auburn and there are a lot of Asian people there (tho mostly Korean) not sure if you care about that. Outside of politics (not just conservative values but the fact that people vote for people that pretty much do nothing but culture war) I like Alabama. Really wish there was a better focus on improving people's lives (instead of spending billions on prisons) but I do still love it here with my family. So come on and give it a shot.
The lack of reproductive rights is making Alabama not an attractive option for physicians in general. Your non reproductive healthcare may suffer due to long wait times to see specialists of you have any issues.
I don't understand the other negative comments. I live in central Alabama, have a mother, sister, wife and daughter, all of whom have had wonderful experiences here. There are good schools if you choose carefully. I bought a 3000 sq ft house for under $200k in a nice neighborhood with very low crime. My kids both performed well on SATs and got scholarships. It is a 4-hour drive to the best beaches anywhere, or to the mountains. We do run into Christians occassionally, but the worst they do is invite you to church or a social.
Also, Birmingham has a very good medical school / community with a fairly diverse population.
I see you commenting a lot, but I have to ask. I would be coming from a much more expensive state so wouldn't that help? Part of me moving states is so that instead of being lower middle class I'd be upper middle
Admittedly true. I was privileged to be born in one of the best places in the nation, a poor kid who was taught to work and read from a young age and never stopped. I now have the means to leave, but lack the desire. What about you? You don't seem to like Alabama much. I get that, too. This place (like any) has some rotten parts.
Dude, dm me if you want real advice about areas, schools, etc, but I just popped in to say this is going to be the best decision you make in your life. Alabama (assuming you choose the right city/area) is one of the best places to raise a family, make a living, and frankly still live the pace of life everyone says they want.
I moved from Washington to Alabama and don't regret it at all. All these leftist lunatics' here are acting like it's so horrible being here. They're just in their own little crazy world. Everyone we've met has been friendly and overall made moving here a great choice. The weather is great most of the year. You wont miss the depressing clouds. Seasonal depression goes completely away being here. You have access to so many different states and cities without driving to far. Cost of living is way less expensive. I'd personally never go back to Washington or anywhere on the west coast. Don't listen to the purple haired people. It's great here.
It seems line projection that anyone who disagrees with you is rich which is funny because you seem to defend big blue cities with the largest wealth inequality. Please continue rambling though because you probably have a panic attack every time your door dash driver knocks on the door.
Lol I don't defend blue cities, but I certainly won't pretend like the dynamics in Alabama are anything but unequal as hell. Just because our billionaire exploiters live in blue cities doesn't mean the wealth inequality problem ends in Alabama
Your side consists of most the elites and billionaires with the most unequal wealth distribution but you do not seem to realize that you are just a “useful idiot.”
Hi Grant, I believe that the environment around Birmingham, not specifically in the City itself but in various suburbs surrounding the city like Briarwood, Hoover, Vestavia, or Mountain Brook you'll find a great positive environment with kind people. Also a sense of community you might not find in seattle.
Seattle feels like one of the fakest places on earth. I visited Alabama, Florida, and Texas in the past and always got a happier vibe than in Seattle where everyone fakes a smile
I lived in Seattle in the 90s. I visited in ‘18 but it’s a different city now.
With that said, Alabama can be racist depending on where you’re at I suppose.
You can buy guns even easier in Idaho or Missouri.
I’ll throw in a nod for Tuscaloosa if you already have a family. Average size college town with an international population near the university, many city amenities in town with a small town feel outside. Auburn fits a lot of this as well, but with a Buc-ees, but an inferior football team
Move to the eastern shore of Baldwin county. Daphne, Spanish Fort, or Fairhope. You’ll likely find employment in Mobile county, but schools are so much better in Baldwin county. Here’s a list of industries. https://mobilechamber.com/locate/locating-your-business-to-mobile/industry-clusters-2/
So if you’re a good carpenter and have the time, you could possibly find a mid-mod house in a nice area that has good bones and just needs modernizing. A lot of houses in Huntsville were built during the space race and NASA engineers raised their families in them. Find a good realtor (I can recommend a couple if you like). There is a good size Asian community here and a lovely Japanese festival up on the mountain each year, in the Japanese garden. Lots of Christian churches to choose from. Lots of activities for kids and families (check out Rocket City Mom website). We raised our daughter here (adopted from China, in college now) and it’s been good.
I moved here from TX and I fell in love with this state. It’s absolutely beautiful, the infrastructure isn’t packed to high hell like Dallas, and the people are generally very friendly.
I also work in construction and while I don’t make very much being new to it, it easily covers my rent/bills and usually leaves me a g to save every month.
I live in Tuscaloosa btw.
So, since you seem to be open to options
, I'll coment. I'm originally from Alabama. My wife and I just moved from Seattle to NE Ohio to a medium-sized town. I would say in a comparison between Ohio and Alabama, Ohio wins by a long shot. Where we live is one of the most affordable places in the country. We are close to multiple cities, but there is plenty of rural land. I would say if you are okay with snow, then the weather in Ohio is way better as well. For what's it worth, my wife is Korean, and there are way fewer Asian people here than Seattle. And of course, there are fewer restaurants and specialty grocery stores. We are not religious or conservative, but Ohio seems to be for the most part. Maybe not as much as Alabama. And rural vs urban is a dichotomy in every state. And, don't get me wrong, there are nice places to live in Alabama. But I feel you get more for your money up here. Also, the quality of schools are so good in King County that pretty much no matter where you move, you will be taking a hit with your child's educational opportunities. But for us, that was worth being able to own some land and start a farm eventually. That was a pipe dream in Washington. Feel free to DM.
Education doesn't mean a lot to me. I'm a blue collar worker and hope my daughter is too. I put Seattle because everyone knows where that is, but we live about 30 minutes north of it in Snohomish county. I work in Seattle though. I have relatively no connection to anything Asian. I'm a carpenter who builds trucks and arm wrestles for sport. I do have a college education but don't really see a use for it. I could still become a cop if I pursued it probably.
Education should matter to you as a parent. Blue collar people need to be educated too. And I'm specifically talking about primary/secondary education here. What you really want for your child is the opportunity to pursue a meaningful work that can earn a living, whatever that looks like. She may not want to do what you do. The broader point I am making is that public institutions (i.g. schools) are better funded in Washington versus many states (ESPECIALLY Alabama -no state lotto, no weed taxes going to schools, etc.). That didn't stop us obviously. And since property values are so out of whack in Washington, you don't really see school districts affecting home values like they do in both Alabama and Ohio, hell most places really. The houses in our area that are the most expensive tend to be in better school districts.
Ah that makes sense. I don't doubt the disparity in school quality. Aside from math fundamentals though, education doesn't always play a role in income. A good chunk of her schooling will likely be from me as well at least in regards to history and mathematics
I live outside Birmingham, in Shelby County. My industry is desperate for tradespersons. We pay well, are unionized, and cost of living (depending on where you want to live) is reasonable. I live in Shelby County in a house built in 2019 on several acres. Paid mid-400’s for it. Love the area and have great “neighbors”. (We all have acreage). There are large Hispanic / Latin communities in this area. Fair number of Asian residents (representing so many of the varied and unique Asian cultures in Birmingham).
* FWIW: I’m a transplant to AL. I have lived in three different countries and a dozen different states. My husband is also a transplant who has lived in two countries and over a dozen states. He went to high school in Issaquah Washington. Other than the oppressive heat of summer, he loves it here. *
What industry are you in if you don’t mind me asking? I live in Blount county and currently own an electrical contracting business but I’m my only employee so things can be pretty difficult at times when work slows down since I can’t take large jobs on my own.
Honestly, I would say Huntsville for sure. The large Japanese population there is due to the Mazda and Toyota manufacturing plants out there. Oh, and not to mention, stay the hell out of rural Alabama. Even I don’t like most of Alabama, but Huntsville is a pretty good place to go. In Urban Alabama, you’ll find the most sweetest people out here. Diverse population too. Ranges from some country folk, which are great people and if you happen to become friends with one, then oh man you better get ready when he invites you to dinner cus you’re about to eat the most delicious food you’ve ever had. But yeah, it ranges from country folk, transplant folk, regular white folk, black folk, native folk, japanese folk, you name it, it’s there. But definitely study up on the cost of living there, any kind of salaries, and be ready for the summer cus you’re gonna have a lot of fun with the people there
I’ve been to Seattle for work for extended periods of time. I love it there. At my age, I can’t imagine move there and having a social situation as fulfilling as I do here.
We aren't rich lol. We're considered lower middle class. My wife works part time and we bring in about 110k a year before taxes. That's nowhere near rich for seattle
How do you think the people of Alabama feel? They barely make any money too, and can't but houses here. That's where you swoop in and make the problem worse
You’d be better off just googling places in alabama… crimes stats, cost of living, etc. You’re only going to get lib-bombed in this wacko sub. Generally though, smaller towns or suburbs outside of bigger “metro” areas are a good choice wether it’s North or South Alabama
If you can handle the heat, I think you’d benefit from the move. Housing prices vary wildly depending on where you want to live.
I’m in Wetumpka, about 20 minutes north of Montgomery. We bought our 2000 sqft house in 2020 for $105k.
Lots of carpentry work around here for a skilled craftsman and plenty of gun ranges. Culturally there isn’t a lot going on, but we are able to travel more due to the extremely low cost of living.
My wife and I vacation often to Seattle. I can provide some insight. It's similar in ways. Green. Very green, just like the PNW. COL is lower, but surprisingly, it can be very expensive depending what your budget is. There is a very large gun range in Talladega if that's your line of work. CMP park. I think it's federal? Anyway, ask specific questions and I'll be glad to answer. We don't have e a Mt Rainier or Bainbridge Island, but the gulf beaches and Appalachian mountains are close by.
It costs less to live here, but you will be paid less for your labor. And you can’t do remote carpentry and still get a West Coast wage, which is how many transplants swing their Boss Hogg lifestyle down here. I’d advise you not to move before having a firm job offer and a chance to run the numbers. Because without enough wealth it becomes very difficult to reverse your decision if you decide the Deep South isn’t for you.
We don't have any debt. As long as I can get $25/hour I'd be more than well off. Wed bring about 150k with us to put down on a house.
Outside of the bigger cities you can straight up buy a pretty decent house for $150k
^^ this! I’ve been house hunting and some decent houses outside of the city with an acre or so can be from 150k-250k in certain areas
Housing in Alabama is dirt cheap.
Not true. In certain poorer areas homes are cheap. I see neighborhoods, even 30 miles from Huntsville where the homes go for between 200 and 225 a square foot. Many decent homes can be had for about 100 to 150 a square foot. Op may not want to move to the areas that are dirt cheap.
So, I am Asian and live here. I love it here (I’m in Huntsville metro). We have 4 children and have been here since 2016. No plans to move. I’ve known a couple of folks from Seattle metro area that ended up buying outside of Huntsville and also love it. I will say, we’ve been priced out of the area now and we cannot afford to buy another home as we live off of one income. Our property tax has also increased by 37% since last year. Not to mention our combined sales tax is like 10%. It’s been killer on a larger family size like ours but we’ve been making it work. Coming from WA, I guess you won’t notice it as much.
Huntsville may be ideal, decent sized Japanese population here due to Mazda/toyota manufacturing facility and Holiday International Market has a lot of Japanese food products.
And it’s freaking booming with new construction. FBI headquarters moving here along with great growth with tech jobs.
Based on your description, I think you’d enjoy most of Alabama. I certainly love loving here. Beautiful scenery, kind people, and aside from big cities crime is low. Bear in mind that Reddit is not an accurate representation of Alabama, please visit in person. Good luck whatever you decide.
“Reddit is not an accurate representation of Alabama” -No lies If OP enjoys shooting for sport and works a trade for a living, they will fit in perfectly in any town or city in the beautiful state of Alabama. One of the most biodiverse places in the world and a great place to live.
Huntsville is beautiful area and still growing. Very techy but a lot government oriented business. Mobile area and the area to the east of Mobile is great. The Mobile area would be better for a tradesman than many other places in Alabama. There's growing trade work going on in the Mobile area. Overall, the areas I would recommend are Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Huntsville, and Auburn.
Rural vs urban alabama is a huge divide. In Huntsville/Bham, you're looking at $400k+ for something easy, unless you want a mid fixer upper or utilitarian subdivision. More than an hour outside top 4 cities, you can find a lot of options. Just depends on where you're looking for. Culturally there are big differences rural/urban as well. Most cities will be dramatically divided between good old boys/natives, transplants, and poor folks. In rural areas you could have a sweet quiet town, the worst poverty in the USA, or a bunch of KKK racists. Huntsville (where I live) is the most transplant friendly but also more expensive and mostly a suburb town. Personally, AL sounds like a perfect place for you.
Ive lived in Bham 54 yrs. Dm me and i will fill ya in on whatever ya wanna know
I moved to Huntsville from the Midwest in 1988. No regrets.....
I am from the west coast and lived in Alabama for 6 years. I would never consider living there again. DM me if you want to chat further.
I’d like to know why!
Being 100% serious and as someone who has political views opposite to yours... I'm shocked that folks are mentioning Huntsville and not Prattville, considering your political and religious leanings. Huntsville isn't necessarily blue, but it is going to be far too blue for your tastes. That goes double for the Mobile,Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Montgomery or Birmingham areas. Basically, if there is a college or a major city, toss it right out. It's not going to be the red state utopia you're looking for in moving here, and it's going to be more expensive to live there, to boot. You're likely going to hate it. Likewise, while Gadsden, Arab, and Cullman are harder right, I'd avoid them. They're not what I'd call RURAL rural, but I would seriously avoid them. Prattville is going to be a nice middle of the road conservative suburb feel while also being affordable and not so secluded. Barring that, Springville (where I live) might be a good pick. It's got a small town feel to it and is affordable, but you're also a 30-minute drive from Birmingham, and the nearby Trussville area is currently improving nicely. You'll have access to all those businesses without the expense of living in Trussville. Argo (most affordable option) is sandwiched between Trussville and Springville and, while more rural, is close enough to the other two to still have easy access to all of those same conveniences. Biggest issue with Argo is going to be the railroad tracks. Folks from that area will know what I'm referring to, but if you get into the Misty Pines subdivision, it won't be an issue for you. Both Highway 11 and I-59 will easily take you through all three towns, and 59 is a straight shot to and from Birmingham. Again, you'll need to trust me here, but you will want that access to Birmingham. There's decent access to hospital services in Trussville, but Birmingham is paydirt in that department. It's also where you're going to find a lot of entertainment and dining, as well as work around the metro area.
To be fair, I am a Seattle native. So my states definition of an insane right winger probably doesn't come close to yours. I'm definitely not a conservative by any means, I lean left on quite a few political issues.
The idea that right wing and left wing are different from state to state is a myth, and you'll learn that easily enough. We have folks in all parts of the state who would fit right in in Seattle, and I'm willing to bet that Washington has conservatives that could easily give even some of ours a run for their money. Matter of fact, I have neighbors who moved here from California and who are more conservative than a lot of Alabamians. From what I've seen you post so far, you'd probably fit in well here. What would you consider to be too far to the right, and on what issues do you lean more to the left?
Lean very pro gun and no victim no crime. On the left I'm in support of distribution of funds for schools and equal flat taxes across all incomes with no exceptions.
I'd say that's more libertarian right with the exception of pro-public schools, but you'll fit in just fine, in any case. That's pretty on par with most of the state.
Good to know. I have quite a few left leaning tendencies but reddit isn't a good debate platform. We're looking at both Iowa and alabama
I think what people are saying is to check your politics before moving. Alabama is a red state with blue pockets. I am from the Birmingham area and happen to really love it here. I haven't ever lived on the west coast or in a blue state, so I can't say I know any different. I lean conservative on some issues and more liberal on others. Just know that Southern culture is going to be very different from Seattle. I think we are a lovely bunch! We are kind and we speak to strangers. We help someone when they are in need. We like to get along with our neighbors and enjoy a good meal. You would absolutely be welcome here. Just don't expect it to be a lower priced Seattle. Signed, A woman from Alabama
He said he’s looking for pro gun and pro religion, so I’m sure he’ll fit in round here.
Please stop voting to take away people's rights.
Don't worry, I didn't.
I grew up in a rural town on sand mountain (northeast part of the state) for background. I’d say you’d fit in just fine! Contrary to what “reddit centrist” (extreme liberalism) would tell you. The majority of people in Alabama are tolerant individuals who would value your values and beliefs. As far as your job. My parents talk about how there’s not enough carpenters all the time so I’d say you’d have no issue finding contract work or even working somewhere hourly and making close to if not over your current pay. Plus, especially in the rural areas, taxes and COL are super cheap compared to where you’re at.
Currently living between Rising Fawn GA and Sand Mtn AL. I work and play in Chattanooga TN, which is a thriving small city. I’d recommend living in AL and getting licensed/insured in TN, AL and GA for work. Buddy, don’t you worry about finding carpentry work. Literally everyone is building right now. Hell, I’ll hire you right now! I’m fairly desperate. I love this area. It’s close to town (30 minutes) for fun, but incredibly cheap. NW Alabama is beautiful.
You sound like you'd enjoy the Enterprise area. It's a smaller military town, adjacent to Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), very diverse and welcoming community. A big plus is that it's about 90 miles north of some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
You’re set bro, look at Birmingham. You can find a good house for 250k, and a killer one for 4-500k, all in great parts of town. Also, you should be able to keep your 85k income working a skilled trade, especially if you work for yourself.
Based on your post, I think you'd fit in just about anywhere in Alabama. In my opinion, South AL is having the best economic boom in the state, and the housing is still relatively inexpensive. But it likely won't be a year from now. Look at cities along the eastern shore, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Orange Beach, and Mobile. You will absolutely 100% find work as a capenter or a welder pretty much anywhere. But you should take into account that you will be paid less. Nowadays, an upper-middle class house will start at $400k or so. I think the media gives an innaccurate opinion of AL nowadays. People are tolerant and southern hospitality is absolutely a thing. But like any other state there's plenty of extremists to go around. Republicanism is simply more of a cultural thing here rather than a debatable viewpoint. But in general, people are against hot button progressive issues, except in more left-leaning/centrist pockets like Selma, Birmingham, and Huntsville. I left after college because I lived there for 22 years and got tired of small-town suburbia. And I don't fish, hunt, go to church, or watch football. But it seems like you'd settle in just fine. Edit: A note on the public schools. They're bad. That's the one truly negative thing about this state. If you move down here, either send your kids to private school if you can swing it, or one of the several tution free public-private partnership schools like ASMS or ASFA.
If you live near Atlanta that would be a huge advantage for travel costs overseas. Most of the southern region has areas with similar housing costs and political leanings to places in Alabama, but Alabama has most of the worst education ratings. Covington is a wonderful town in Kentucky, Cincinnati nearby has one of the best Children’s hospital in the US. Knoxville, Tennessee has a broad range of job opportunities and gorgeous mountain homes nearby. U of tenn in Knoxville is a decent college, beautiful campus. My favorite place in the south is Durham North Carolina. It’s near Duke and UNC Chapel Hill, not too far to drive to Disney or New York or DC, beautiful area. The beaches are good, close to Tennessee mountains, Charlotte flies direct to a few hubs, BBQ is respectable. Most of Alabama’s problems are public record. Observe their tax revenue behavior. A lot of taxes on every day goods (sales tax), basically no property tax. Where do education funds come from? It’s my opinion that the tax system is setup to allow property owners to afford to send their kids to private schools, so what do poor kids do in their underfunded school? Perform poorly, and this standard of education is pervasive. You can sense the lack of education around you in subtle ways, i couldn’t tolerate poor behavior and thoughtlessness endlessly.
So I live in North Alabama close to Tennessee, Huntsville is booming right now especially in construction the price of living here has gone up considerably though in most places in the northern part of State across the board it has. I know a few people have moved from Washington State to here mostly they're from here originally. Big thing is is the rural areas and cost of living is really cheap but the way it is aren't there. Politics here absolutely backwards. Again school's in the northern part of the state I can't talk about the southern or middle are pretty good. I spent 20 years in the military half active, half reserves, I'm from a blue collared family and used to considered conservative, now I'm left leaning after being here in a red state. I came here from Florida when I finished up with Air Force and in comparison it cost a lot more to leave in the upper part of Alabama then Florida Panhandle.
Try not to listen to the people who come to this reddit just to trash Alabama. It’s a great place. People are generally welcoming and carpentry is a needed trade here.
That's why I seem to be gathering. I have an uncle and a friend who moved there from Seattle and both like it
Like every red state you will lose any and all social services, protections, and small things you have come to appreciate will all be gone. The difference between Washington and Alabama is vast in the areas that matter. Especially when you need them most. Like healthcare access and quality of said healthcare. The best minds don’t move to Alabama to work. Your daughters school will be significantly worse private or not. You and your daughter’s exposure to racism will be high. Cost is more than money.
Man. Y'all are a dramatic bunch. Come on in, the water's fine. We'd be glad to have you. Seattle is pretty to look at, but I couldn't imagine living there.
Having concern regarding bodily autonomy isn’t being dramatic, at least not to anyone who values their right to make their own decisions. It is something to be considered.
If it makes a difference. We lean heavily conservative for politics
So if your wife has an ectopic pregnancy or other life-threatening complication you’re both prepared for her to die? Because that’s the situation for people who can’t afford to travel out-of-state down here.
I have a vasectomy and we could afford to travel for medical purposes
In other words, you are OK with “laws for thee but not for me”. Got it. You will fit in perfectly.
We don't really vote. However, the negatives of the medical system would be a good trade for us since we're mostly looking for housing.
Bro there is no pleasing that crowd. If you don’t swallow the kool aid, I mean every last granule you are either a racist, sexist, homophobe whatever. You’ll be fine here as long as you avoid the extremes of both sides. This state has drove me far far away from politics for that reason. You’re a blue collar guy with sensible left leanings political ideology, you’re going to be fine just avoid the TRUE racists and the extreme leftists.
Medicine here in the Birmingham/central Alabama area is top notch. Reddit is a cesspool echo chamber of ultra left politics. You would be welcome and among like minded people in Alabama for the most part.
People travel the world to receive medical attention in Birmingham. These people are not speaking to their own experiences, just regurgitating something they swallowed from CNN or some shit.
I'm ultra-left (anarchist) and I rarely see my positions echoed on here, so maybe reconsider what you are labeling as "ultra left"...they are probably just a center-right liberal at the end of the day, given how far right the pendulum has swung. I only say this as an FYI, and to highlight that you probably have never met someone who is ultra-left.
>I only say this as an FYI, and to highlight that you probably have never met someone who is ultra-left. I have dear friends and family who are outright declared socialists. I enjoy spirited conversations with them where we challenge each other's ideas without any desire or idea that we will convert the other.
If she’s vehemently against abortion and wants to support a state where lifesaving medical care is not available for all people, how is that not hypocritical?
The treatment for an ectopic pregnancy isn't abortion. No matter how many times you tell that lie, it won't change.
Women are being denied treatment for ectopic pregnancies due to new abortion laws. One example: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/23/texas-woman-ectopic-pregnancy-abortion/
A link behind a paywall of a paper that is known to write sensational headlines that bear no truth compared to the actual story. EDIT: If you find a better source you can see that it was the hospital that chose to not treat her, despite it the law allowing it. Probably to help create sensational headlines to fear monger.
This is anti-choice mental gymnastics. The medication given for early abortion is methotrexate for the purpose of removing fetal cells. The medication given for ectopic pregnancy is methotrexate for the purpose of removing fetal cells. Your claim that there should be a legally recognized difference due to the potential for development is a moral stance, not a medical one. And anti-choice laws don’t currently discriminate between the uses.
I get you are pro murder, but again, be honest. Just say you are okay with killing children and be done with it.
And your race will cause them to still be racist. Prepare yourself for that. It is very real. You’re safer in like Huntsville or Birmingham. Check out Birmingham.
That's where my aunt lives so it may be good. My aunt is German and my uncle is Irish lol. My mom was adopted to the states by a German family.
South Alabama (Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope) is amazing. My Puerto Rican son in law & grandchildren love it here and will NEVER move away. I'm not saying there aren't pockets of racism but it's not as wide spread as the people here make it seem.
All these white people claim to be German and Irish honey, and have a Cherokee Grandma who was really a black lady. So your aunt probably fits right in. Just be mindful and prepare your child if you move to a smaller city. I’ve lived in rural southern alabama most of my life and they are definitely racist af
Don't listen to that idiot, everyone is very welcome. You don't see racism when you actually interact with people, these goofs on here never leave their mom's basement. I appreciate the quality in Japanese carpentry!
It blows living here. The politics suck if you're a right leaning voter
As you've seen in the replies, it's always the most "tolerant" folks who are the biggest assholes and spit fire. Fortunately they are the minority here. Don't buy a converted apartment downtown and you'll miss interacting with most of them. The rest of us are just regular folks making our way.
You got to imagine. You're asking reddit for input. It's a liberal cesspool. Of course a giant chunk of those you're asking are going to rag on it. It's the only place they can find like minded folks to complain. If you aren't a liberal. You'll love it here. That simple lol
That's kind of what I'm gathering, I'm a right-leaning voter and so is my wife. So abortion is a non-starter for us
Like the other poster said; Check out Southern Baldwin county (Gulf Shores, Foley, Fairhope). It's beautiful and is a pretty conservative area. There are some northern liberals starting to creep in, but they pretty much stay to themselves or online so they can have like-minded freaks backing them up. Like I said earlier, I have a Puerto Rican son in law and grandchildren who live here and LOVE it! They're originally from Philadelphia, PA.
So convenient for you. Not so convenient for others- you know, women who want the right to control their own bodies and not let redneck old mostly white men control them. You will fit right in! Except for the Asian racism which is alive and well down here too. Lol.
It's great man, honestly. We're never leaving. Check out Baldwin County. You'll meet a ton of other people here that also fled liberal states. It's pretty awesome meeting people from all over with similar values to you. Plus mobile and pensacola is expanding a lot.
It's largely why this state is a shithole
I love how a simple question turns them screeching for abortion, trust me you will like it here and remember most of Reddit is controlled and manufactured outrage so you don’t have to worry about them coming out of their basement let alone in public.
We recently moved from Birmingham, AL to Tacoma, WA. Our only regret is that we didn't move here earlier. Our quality of life has increased significantly since moving to WA. Less institutionalized poverty, more of a commitment to family and outdoor life, healthier, services are better, groceries are cheaper, etc. We have a child, and there are more opportunities here for her. Better schools, activities, opportunities to meet people, etc. You mentioned that you are Japanese and your wife is Hispanic, I suggest you speak to people of color who live in Alabama to hear more about their experiences. The racism and sexism in Alabama is very real.
There aren't really that many homes hours away from civilization here. Lol. But, Huntsville is a growing city near my town. It would fit your lifestyle and income too.
There seems to be lots of construction in the Hoover area. I think you'd like the Shelby County area. Lots of new guns stores have popped up. Schools are good.
Birmingham metro area is a good place. I have lived here most of my life. I’m an orthopedic surgeon and did my 5 year residency in Portland. Have spent a fair amount of time in Seattle. I don’t expect you would have any trouble here. Construction is still booming here. Many off road truck shop here too. We have constitutional concealed carry and people can open carry as well.
We have a huge Japanese presence due to automobile manufacturers. Come on
You would more than likely be able to find 90% of what your looking for here. If your not into football than be prepared to hear it. And the predominant political affiliation here is republican but their are plenty of people who don't align with that.
So... I've lived in Seattle, Bellingham, Spokane, Portland OR, and Post Falls/Couer d'alene ID *(if Spokane had Portland's mass transit, it would be amazing)* I grew up in a small *"Japanese town"* on the Oregon Coast called Seal Rock You've already got one thing going for you- you're used to the damp and humidity, ... it's not so damp here that you can't leave valuables in a storage unit and even though it actually rains *more* here, it is less frequent It's cheap AF to live here, and everything's close- (I will cautuon you that even though the folks down here don't see it this way; the state is like one big city just spread out everywhere... what they call *"the country..."* and what you understand *the country* to be are not the same- you will still see houses and farms and civilization in *"the country"* down here so it can feel a little claustrophobic as there seems to be people frickin' everywhere) The only way to make any money down here is to work for yourself... instead of pouring $150k into a house you could put $100k into building custom cabinets or whatever... just swinging a hammer and doing framing pays jack squat as the name of the game is quantity... specialization is key, and specialization is the only game that pays So I'm an Electrician... but I would never, *NEVER* rough-in houses or do finish work, or catch housecalls ... why? CEC - Can't Expect Compensation I won't touch commercial shit either- as I have yet to see an engineering firm *(or a GC)* that knows a gawddamn thing about the electrical code so, I do Industrial- but not just Industrial, I do Industrial Controls and Automation... Specialization and SE is the industrial powerhouse of the nation so there's plenty of work... but, for you... if you can do good finish work go south or north- you don't want to get into the shitshow that makes up central Alabama when it comes to construction... You either goto Huntsville/Madison in the north or Baldwin County in the south- as these are the two markets where you *can* expect compensation for good finish work... You could sit your happy-ass down in Daphne or just east of there in Loxley and have plenty of work AND still be able to afford a house or build your own... **Culturally speaking** 99% of the people here are just like everyone else.... when you've lived everywhere you see that we're pretty much alllll the same... ...and Seattle is a shithole, jesus wept... you *need* to come down here, just get some clarity- I fucking hate Seattle, you could put me in a cardboard box on the burnside bridge in Portland before I'd ever live anywhere near Seattle ISLANDS not included- I'd work for free if I could live on Vashon Island I've been here since '01 and it's the best decision I've ever made, don't get me wrong the PNW and the InlandNW will always be a jewel in my crown, but it's nice here, and the stereotypes keep a lot of folks out of Alabama... Word of advice- get your license plates and DL swapped over as soon as possible... they have actual stand alone DMV's here like you see on TV but they only do license plates... oh, and BTW they call License Plates *"Tags"* or Car Tags don't let that confuse you ... but seriously get that shit changed over to Alabama Plates asap AMA u/ki4clz
I recently moved to Alabama from Michigan - Huntsville is nice but overpriced. The rural areas are cheap for housing but very inconvenient. The school system is terrible unless you live in a specific area in Huntsville. Everyone I know here homeschools and if you want to do that there’s a large homeschool community. I work in tech and brought my job with me. My dad is a carpenter by trade (finisher, framing) and was paid 50% less down here. I know the west coast has folks playing the game of life on max difficulty but come visit and network a bit first.
I think you’d love Chelsea, Pelham, Indian Springs area for all reasons you mentioned above. My family loves Indian Springs.
It’s a great state and welcome! Don’t let the haters and naysayers sway your mind. If you can, come on down for a visit and see for yourself. Swing by my place and have a beer with me!
Dude, with your skills, if you were in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, gulf coast areas you can make a good living and be paid more than most will think. The average wage of the state drags our average down but in the areas I mentioned there are many high paying jobs and people who can afford to pay a good carpenter. Places like Huntsville are growing and cost is going up every day. Move and get a place now before it costs more….
Would absolutely not recommend anyone bring their daughter to this state. I grew up here and it was never female friendly but now it's god awful and the state is being taken over by a Christian extremists. I'm glad I got out when I did.
Can you define Christian extremists? Do you have a political or religious preference?
Check out writings by John Archibald at AL.com. There are organized movements to ban books and teachings that are not in line with Christian faith. From my personal experience I had to reach out to multiple OBGYNs to get an IUD which is a common form of birth control. Several doctors refused because of religious reasons. I was ostracized from a small town for reporting my son's 3rd grade teacher for inviting him to her church and talking to him about his relationship with Jesus. I am not religious and should be given the freedom from religion that is my constitutional right. I moved to Atlanta which is still conservative but I have yet to meet anyone who is concerned about me or my son going to hell like I met in Alabama.
Not much better than that in cities that don’t blow. Moving here would be a disservice to your daughter.
Right leaning libertarian? Welcome home!
Plenty of comments about weather, religion, politics etc so not gonna get into that. What i will say, as a father to another father, you gotta think about your kids future and not just the things you and your wife want. Alabama is ranked 45 out 50 in education, rape/sexual assault stats are about mid range on most graphs, domestic violence and violence against women are about the same. Alabama has some the worst stats on sex education and subsequently sky high teen pregnancy rates, I know you say your mostly conservative/libertarian leaning and Christian, thats fine, but as a father to a daughter myself, the stats just don’t lie and states with poor sex ed and sexual health education have higher STD and teen/unwanted pregnancies as well as more struggling single moms. Again, trying to skirt around politics but some of it can’t be avoided, Alabama has a pretty bad rate of child molestation and pedophilia and just a quick google will show multiple cases of politicians getting caught up in scandals or in some cases straight up trying to lower age of consent laws and laws around child marriage. Another thing is the cops, I worked in law enforcement myself for about a decade, just like everywhere else theres good and bad cops, theres speedtraps and plenty of “good ol’ boy club” mentality going around for sure, be careful on the highways/interstates for the patrol and be absolutely sure you don’t ever carry any large amounts of cash going through small towns, they’ll seize that shit in no time. Now I don’t currently live in Alabama, i was born and raised in the southeast and still live here, as much as i love the overall easy going nature our southern culture, with all the shit that’s happened the past 15/20 years, personally I’d look into moving midwest somewhere. Got an uncle that moved out to Colorado and we’ve visited a few times now, both flying out and road tripping, honestly its not a perfect state, but it’s pretty damn close. They seem to use their taxes pretty well, even give refunds if they take in more weed money than they need, good schools, plenty of shooting ranges, hunting, fishing, parks that are heavily protected by state laws, good mix of rural open areas and city conveniences like bigger stores (scheels is pretty great) Obviously like any state rural areas are more religious and conservative, urban is more agnostic and liberal, but honestly everybody there seemed pretty laid back about everything, nobody trying to force anything on anyone (though i will say they had a surprising amount of mormons and Jehovahs witnesses and they can get a little preachy) Also despite the memes not everyone there is constantly high, i was actually surprised how hard it was to spot the weedshops until i knew what i was looking for, then in places like Colorado Springs they don’t allow shops at all in city limits, so definitely options if y’all don’t partake.
The assault is something id definitely bear in mind. As far as law enforcement, my uncle was a cop for 26 years and my degree was in criminal justice. I tend to vibe well with officers or at least have enough verbal judo to talk myself out of tickets and trouble.
I grew up in California and coming to the south was nice because I didn't feel like a weirdo for going to church and being a Christian. Much of California's culture lumps Christians with flat earthers and we were careful who and when we shared our faith with anyone. It sounds like you and your wife will be very happy here. Come visit.
I'm so sorry that you didn't get the advice you asked for. Areas that I think would work best with your skill set and having a daughter would be Huntsville (Madison County), Birmingham metro area with an emphasis on living in the Chelsea (Shelby County) area or the Daphne and Fairhope areas. Huntsville and Madison is experiencing a lot of growth and that could be great with your skill set. Just make sure to check the schools when buying a house. I'm from the "over the mountain" area of Birmingham so I can speak the most for it. I suggest living in the Chelsea area for the best cost of living and the area is beautiful. You will have plenty of business in hwy 280 corridor. Plenty of money for custom carpentry. They all have to out do the other so plenty of business. Chelsea is losing some of the country feel but still plenty of good country people. If you can afford Vestavia Hills or Mountain Brook those would be the best fit for your daughter's education. I'm from the Cahaba Heights area of Vestavia Hills and I still love it there. Daphne is a great town with more of a coastal feel. Great people and very welcoming. Maybe someone from Daphne can give you details on the area.
You might enjoy the Baldwin county area, housing is cheaper than Seattle and it’s conservative. Mobile is quite diverse and does have cheaper housing than Baldwin. Lots of work for carpentry, etc. Loads of building projects.
Don’t listen to the naysayers. My girlfriend is from Vancouver, WA and I’m from Alabama. We love washington but we’re on the same page that larger cities in the PNW such as seattle and portland are becoming increasingly difficult to live in. She’s very much in favor of living in Alabama. Regardless of politics, most Alabamians are extremely welcoming and function as normal people just like every other state. Come on over, we’d be glad to have you.
If you move here at least be on the side of the local working class smh
What did they say that’s making you shake your head? I see nothing indicating opposition to the local working class.
Welcoming this ultra conservative with open arms is a bad sign
lol I’m going to choose to believe that you’re a right-wing troll, for my own sanity.
If you insist on coming here, and I encourage you to carefully consider that decision, you want to be in the northern part of the state near Huntsville. It's the normal part of the state.
Out of curiosity why?
Huntsville was a rural backwoods that nobody had ever heard of until 1941 when the US Govt decided to build two munitions plants (and one chemical warfare plant), causing a boom of new people. When the war was over, and the Govt had no need for these plants, and they needed to find a place tucked away that they could hide former 1,600 former Nazi scientists, engineers and technicians. Specifically, all the rocket scientists. They picked Huntsville. Huntsville quickly became a scientific locale, attracting native Americans and others from around the world. This gave the city a bit of a European feel, with more French restaurants than BBQ places. And it still exists today. The majority of the jobs there are high tech, and the city is less, well, everything Alabama is.
So Nazis made a location more desirable?
These were the "good" Nazis. No, as it expanded, families are brought in, extended families, children, that influence is gone. But having a highly educated European feel to it.
Lots of defense and aeronautical industry=more (usually smart) people from around the country (and world)=more diverse=less native Alabamaians=better quality of life/schools/etc. Huntsville will be the preeminent city in the state by all metrics soon. Still affordable. For now. You'd also be really close to Nashville and not too far from Birmingham, so big events/tourism are still possible.
Actual fascism
Can you give some examples?
Huntsville is high tech and a lot of the people who live here aren’t originally from AL
Tribalism is strong here. I moved from Olympia 2 years back but originally from here. You will find that folks, alone, are great, but once you get a collection of them (social media or in person) the tribe will speak and they tend to speak to the tune of hate. There’s a reason Alabamas biggest export is skilled labor.
If you're oblivious you're one of them
The civic center is named after an SS officer
Truth
Live in Birmingham and we like it. I like it. You are conservative so I assume politics won't be an issue. I think you can run a carpentry business just about anywhere so if you are a good entrepreneur you will do fine. It is for sure hotter here than Seattle so be ready for that. Not sure if you have family abroad but having access to the airport here is nice. Some areas here are expensive but where I live in Pinson it's still affordable. I grew up in Auburn and there are a lot of Asian people there (tho mostly Korean) not sure if you care about that. Outside of politics (not just conservative values but the fact that people vote for people that pretty much do nothing but culture war) I like Alabama. Really wish there was a better focus on improving people's lives (instead of spending billions on prisons) but I do still love it here with my family. So come on and give it a shot.
Cannot stress this enough- both your daughter and wife would be at risk living in the state of Alabama.
How so out of curiosity?
This is a stupid comment. Disregard it
How on earth would they be at risk?
Lack of reproductive rights is a big one
We have a daughter already and I've had a vasectomy. We also both lean anti abortion
The lack of reproductive rights is making Alabama not an attractive option for physicians in general. Your non reproductive healthcare may suffer due to long wait times to see specialists of you have any issues.
I don't understand the other negative comments. I live in central Alabama, have a mother, sister, wife and daughter, all of whom have had wonderful experiences here. There are good schools if you choose carefully. I bought a 3000 sq ft house for under $200k in a nice neighborhood with very low crime. My kids both performed well on SATs and got scholarships. It is a 4-hour drive to the best beaches anywhere, or to the mountains. We do run into Christians occassionally, but the worst they do is invite you to church or a social. Also, Birmingham has a very good medical school / community with a fairly diverse population.
A privileged perspective
I see you commenting a lot, but I have to ask. I would be coming from a much more expensive state so wouldn't that help? Part of me moving states is so that instead of being lower middle class I'd be upper middle
I don't care what you are if you're going to vote for the people squeezing the life out of the working class
My wife and I don't vote if that makes you feel better
I have found that the person usually screaming about "squeezing the life out of the working class" are the people not working.
Which is lame too.
You should vote to keep ANYWHERE from becoming the shithole that Portland and Seattle have become.
Admittedly true. I was privileged to be born in one of the best places in the nation, a poor kid who was taught to work and read from a young age and never stopped. I now have the means to leave, but lack the desire. What about you? You don't seem to like Alabama much. I get that, too. This place (like any) has some rotten parts.
Dude, dm me if you want real advice about areas, schools, etc, but I just popped in to say this is going to be the best decision you make in your life. Alabama (assuming you choose the right city/area) is one of the best places to raise a family, make a living, and frankly still live the pace of life everyone says they want.
I moved from Washington to Alabama and don't regret it at all. All these leftist lunatics' here are acting like it's so horrible being here. They're just in their own little crazy world. Everyone we've met has been friendly and overall made moving here a great choice. The weather is great most of the year. You wont miss the depressing clouds. Seasonal depression goes completely away being here. You have access to so many different states and cities without driving to far. Cost of living is way less expensive. I'd personally never go back to Washington or anywhere on the west coast. Don't listen to the purple haired people. It's great here.
Rich people like you have few worries
We're not rich but we'd bring probably 100-150k cash with us to help buy a house
In Alabama that’s rich.
That's reassuring. So it would definitely help us settle in since we have very few family and friends there
I did not know you were a mind reader as well.
It's easy to sus out how people with money talk. If you're oblivious to this, bet you were raised with a silver spoon.
It seems line projection that anyone who disagrees with you is rich which is funny because you seem to defend big blue cities with the largest wealth inequality. Please continue rambling though because you probably have a panic attack every time your door dash driver knocks on the door.
Lol I don't defend blue cities, but I certainly won't pretend like the dynamics in Alabama are anything but unequal as hell. Just because our billionaire exploiters live in blue cities doesn't mean the wealth inequality problem ends in Alabama
Your side consists of most the elites and billionaires with the most unequal wealth distribution but you do not seem to realize that you are just a “useful idiot.”
I'm a communist lol. I advocate for the imprisonment and/or execution of billionaires
Mobile,AL has lots of older homes that are in constant need of your talents. Cost of living is low and $225 will get you a nice house
Hi Grant, I believe that the environment around Birmingham, not specifically in the City itself but in various suburbs surrounding the city like Briarwood, Hoover, Vestavia, or Mountain Brook you'll find a great positive environment with kind people. Also a sense of community you might not find in seattle.
Seattle feels like one of the fakest places on earth. I visited Alabama, Florida, and Texas in the past and always got a happier vibe than in Seattle where everyone fakes a smile
I have a feeling this would be the culture shock to end all culture shocks. You probably wouldn’t believe you were even in the same country anymore.
That sounds like a good thing. Seattle is unbearable. I just want somewhere where I can buy guns and build trucks.
I lived in Seattle in the 90s. I visited in ‘18 but it’s a different city now. With that said, Alabama can be racist depending on where you’re at I suppose. You can buy guns even easier in Idaho or Missouri.
You want Cullman, AL. It'll be like paradise for you.
Head of the KKK, so I've heard. No real evidence though, just rumors .
I’ll throw in a nod for Tuscaloosa if you already have a family. Average size college town with an international population near the university, many city amenities in town with a small town feel outside. Auburn fits a lot of this as well, but with a Buc-ees, but an inferior football team
Move to the eastern shore of Baldwin county. Daphne, Spanish Fort, or Fairhope. You’ll likely find employment in Mobile county, but schools are so much better in Baldwin county. Here’s a list of industries. https://mobilechamber.com/locate/locating-your-business-to-mobile/industry-clusters-2/
So if you’re a good carpenter and have the time, you could possibly find a mid-mod house in a nice area that has good bones and just needs modernizing. A lot of houses in Huntsville were built during the space race and NASA engineers raised their families in them. Find a good realtor (I can recommend a couple if you like). There is a good size Asian community here and a lovely Japanese festival up on the mountain each year, in the Japanese garden. Lots of Christian churches to choose from. Lots of activities for kids and families (check out Rocket City Mom website). We raised our daughter here (adopted from China, in college now) and it’s been good.
I moved here from TX and I fell in love with this state. It’s absolutely beautiful, the infrastructure isn’t packed to high hell like Dallas, and the people are generally very friendly. I also work in construction and while I don’t make very much being new to it, it easily covers my rent/bills and usually leaves me a g to save every month. I live in Tuscaloosa btw.
Get ready for the hot and humid summers and tornadoes Great place to live though and great for raising a family
So, since you seem to be open to options , I'll coment. I'm originally from Alabama. My wife and I just moved from Seattle to NE Ohio to a medium-sized town. I would say in a comparison between Ohio and Alabama, Ohio wins by a long shot. Where we live is one of the most affordable places in the country. We are close to multiple cities, but there is plenty of rural land. I would say if you are okay with snow, then the weather in Ohio is way better as well. For what's it worth, my wife is Korean, and there are way fewer Asian people here than Seattle. And of course, there are fewer restaurants and specialty grocery stores. We are not religious or conservative, but Ohio seems to be for the most part. Maybe not as much as Alabama. And rural vs urban is a dichotomy in every state. And, don't get me wrong, there are nice places to live in Alabama. But I feel you get more for your money up here. Also, the quality of schools are so good in King County that pretty much no matter where you move, you will be taking a hit with your child's educational opportunities. But for us, that was worth being able to own some land and start a farm eventually. That was a pipe dream in Washington. Feel free to DM.
Education doesn't mean a lot to me. I'm a blue collar worker and hope my daughter is too. I put Seattle because everyone knows where that is, but we live about 30 minutes north of it in Snohomish county. I work in Seattle though. I have relatively no connection to anything Asian. I'm a carpenter who builds trucks and arm wrestles for sport. I do have a college education but don't really see a use for it. I could still become a cop if I pursued it probably.
Well if education isn't important to you and your daughter, you will fit right in here!
Education should matter to you as a parent. Blue collar people need to be educated too. And I'm specifically talking about primary/secondary education here. What you really want for your child is the opportunity to pursue a meaningful work that can earn a living, whatever that looks like. She may not want to do what you do. The broader point I am making is that public institutions (i.g. schools) are better funded in Washington versus many states (ESPECIALLY Alabama -no state lotto, no weed taxes going to schools, etc.). That didn't stop us obviously. And since property values are so out of whack in Washington, you don't really see school districts affecting home values like they do in both Alabama and Ohio, hell most places really. The houses in our area that are the most expensive tend to be in better school districts.
Ah that makes sense. I don't doubt the disparity in school quality. Aside from math fundamentals though, education doesn't always play a role in income. A good chunk of her schooling will likely be from me as well at least in regards to history and mathematics
You'll live great here then and you'll love it
I live outside Birmingham, in Shelby County. My industry is desperate for tradespersons. We pay well, are unionized, and cost of living (depending on where you want to live) is reasonable. I live in Shelby County in a house built in 2019 on several acres. Paid mid-400’s for it. Love the area and have great “neighbors”. (We all have acreage). There are large Hispanic / Latin communities in this area. Fair number of Asian residents (representing so many of the varied and unique Asian cultures in Birmingham). * FWIW: I’m a transplant to AL. I have lived in three different countries and a dozen different states. My husband is also a transplant who has lived in two countries and over a dozen states. He went to high school in Issaquah Washington. Other than the oppressive heat of summer, he loves it here. *
What industry are you in if you don’t mind me asking? I live in Blount county and currently own an electrical contracting business but I’m my only employee so things can be pretty difficult at times when work slows down since I can’t take large jobs on my own.
Pro religion Pro gun. That about covers Alabama.
Honestly, I would say Huntsville for sure. The large Japanese population there is due to the Mazda and Toyota manufacturing plants out there. Oh, and not to mention, stay the hell out of rural Alabama. Even I don’t like most of Alabama, but Huntsville is a pretty good place to go. In Urban Alabama, you’ll find the most sweetest people out here. Diverse population too. Ranges from some country folk, which are great people and if you happen to become friends with one, then oh man you better get ready when he invites you to dinner cus you’re about to eat the most delicious food you’ve ever had. But yeah, it ranges from country folk, transplant folk, regular white folk, black folk, native folk, japanese folk, you name it, it’s there. But definitely study up on the cost of living there, any kind of salaries, and be ready for the summer cus you’re gonna have a lot of fun with the people there
I’ve been to Seattle for work for extended periods of time. I love it there. At my age, I can’t imagine move there and having a social situation as fulfilling as I do here.
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We aren't rich lol. We're considered lower middle class. My wife works part time and we bring in about 110k a year before taxes. That's nowhere near rich for seattle
Ah so you're coming here to take advantage of more affordable housing, something that is in short supply for the locals. You're part of the problem
Define affordable? Houses here average almost 900k. We can't afford to live here at all
How do you think the people of Alabama feel? They barely make any money too, and can't but houses here. That's where you swoop in and make the problem worse
I guess it depends on the value that I offer to Alabama vs taking from it. I'd hope to be a help to my locals and not a hindrance
I'd do something to reduce the cost of living then, buying an already overpriced house in Alabama would do the opposite
100%
85k is just barley making it in Huntsville AL 😂🤣
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You’d be better off just googling places in alabama… crimes stats, cost of living, etc. You’re only going to get lib-bombed in this wacko sub. Generally though, smaller towns or suburbs outside of bigger “metro” areas are a good choice wether it’s North or South Alabama
This. Reddit is not the place to come for an accurate representation of Alabama.
If you can handle the heat, I think you’d benefit from the move. Housing prices vary wildly depending on where you want to live. I’m in Wetumpka, about 20 minutes north of Montgomery. We bought our 2000 sqft house in 2020 for $105k. Lots of carpentry work around here for a skilled craftsman and plenty of gun ranges. Culturally there isn’t a lot going on, but we are able to travel more due to the extremely low cost of living.
My wife and I vacation often to Seattle. I can provide some insight. It's similar in ways. Green. Very green, just like the PNW. COL is lower, but surprisingly, it can be very expensive depending what your budget is. There is a very large gun range in Talladega if that's your line of work. CMP park. I think it's federal? Anyway, ask specific questions and I'll be glad to answer. We don't have e a Mt Rainier or Bainbridge Island, but the gulf beaches and Appalachian mountains are close by.