Northern Virginia south of D.C.
I am from that area and have recently visited so I feel confident about my expectations for there; taxes, traffic, crappy weather, and angry people. Ahhh home.
Norfolk area.
My work will revolve around a Naval or Marine Corps base and there is a significant presence here, I was born there, lived there when I was a young Maddy, and it has an emotional attachment for me. Anybody from Norfolk proper, Viginia Beach, Hampton, or Newport News could give me an idea of what the life's like there these days.
Jacksonville Florida.
I have never been there. I have no idea what to expect. Like Norfolk, there is a sizable military presence there, it's a coastal area, and there is no state income tax. Beyond that, I haven't a clue. I am ready to expect that the state finds other ways to suck about the same amount of money out of your pocket in the form of other taxes and fees. Hopefully a native can get me up to speed on that.
The things that are important to me when considering a place to set up shop are:
Weather.
Snow is fun, but it also sucks. NOVA gets dumb amounts of the white death, but I wonder about Norfolk. I would expect JAX gets next to none. I don't like super hot and I hate humidity. I would expect JAX gets downright humid in the summer time, Norfolk, I don't know. I already know NOVA summers sit on you like a fat sweaty chick. Mad likes his sunny breezy days with light cloud cover.
Crime.
I've been out of the states a loooonggg time. I'm in no mood for and do not want to put my wife in the middle of a crime zone. Wherever you are repping, how safe are you? How safe do you feel? Do you find yourself feeling a bit uncomfortable walking the streets at night, parking your car on the street, leaving your windows open at night etc. Mad has his CC and will armor the crib so I mainly worry about car theft and someone scumbag putting my wife in danger.
Economy.
Is your area doing ok during this recession? I know in NOVA, when I passed through, I saw definite signs of a contracting economy with shuttered shopping malls once lucrative and busy during the boom cycle shrivelling up after the bust. Do you know a lot of people in your area hurting and unemployed or are they hanging in there and doing ok? Are more people leaving the area or coming in? What does your infrastructure look like? Is the city fixing the potholes, staffing the police and fire departments and keeping the utilities up to spec?
People and housing.
How are the people? It's broad question I know, but what do you most frequently see around your area in behavior? Are people freindly? Do they keep to themselves? Are there any demographic tensions to be aware of, any parts of town to steer clear of? What are the predominant paradigms for housing? Are there suburban neighborhoods with single family homes, mostly apartments and condos, townhouses? What style of construction is prevalent, wood frame, concrete, etc.
Entertainment.
If someone only had a few days in your area to do something fun what immediately comes to mind? One of the reasons I like these two areas is their oceanfront location. Mad's going to get his boat and do some sailing. I would love to have a drag strip and/or a road course nearby. Live events like concerts and sporting events are of interest to me.
Any other cool stuff you think makes your area cool, speak on it!
