Dana, Durham sounds ideal for you. Townhouses are more likely to be new development, i.e. a bit outside the city proper, though there are also repurposed tobacco warehouse lofts for those who don't like a yard that are smack dab in the urban bit. Chapel Hill would be good, too, I think (I know it much less well). As far as jobs go, there's a lot of University employment in the area (Duke, NCState and UNC) as well as tech/RTP jobs. Southwest flies out of RDU = cheap tix. People here complain about the traffic sometimes, especially the Raleigh to RTP commute; those of us from places where they actually have traffic laugh at them. Beach at Wilmington is 2.5 hours; Outer Banks is 4-5. Mountains are 4-5 also. So is Washington DC.

I think you need to plan an exploratory trip - we'll show you. It's a great place to live; if I didn't hate the weather at least 1/3 of the year (it's 99 degrees right now) I'd love it here.

PLUS - the F2F next year might be in Durham!

if I didn't hate the weather at least 1/3 of the year (it's 99 degrees right now) I'd love it here.

Yeah, I noticed that Dana's list included not too cold, while yours is not to hot: I wish it were otherwise (in your case, that is), but for her, I figured the weather wasn't going to be as much of a factor.

Also, they finally fixed the AC in my building. I'm far happier with the climate today than I was yesterday!

I think I passed up the opportunity to taste the famed fernet on Sunday. But my hosts had already fed me wine, sake, and tequila.

Hrrm.

Beach at Wilmington is 2.5 hours; Outer Banks is 4-5. Mountains are 4-5 also.

In high school, I met a guy from North Carolina who took great pains to tell me he was from the beach, not the mountains -- he didn't want Yankee me to think he was too country. Made me laugh, since I clearly had no idea what he was talking about. And he was wearing a suede jacket with fringe on the arms.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, y'all! And Happy Birthday, Jen!

NYC mani/pedis are one of the few things cheaper here than anywhere else-- there's lots of competition

Amen. I am so jealous--not only are they cheap, they're all OVER the place! Though there are some places near my work that aren't too bad.

And randomly, HI NILLY!

Want to pimp your city to me?

Raleigh-Durham is cool! And I get to go there sometimes! So I might get to see Dana if she moved there! So she should.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday meara and Jen K!

WorldCon was good, but exhausting. Still readjusting to the time zone difference, which is probably why I'm so tired today.

Hello all!

Despite the name Brainstorming, I ended up as "Coordinator, Center for Lifelong LEarning", which, while a little silly is a step up from Secretary, or even Program Assistant (which I was using) or Office Manager (which the other Sec IV uses). They like Program Assistant, however, and are going to use it for the new Sec III. So it is nice that boss and big!boss think I am better than an assistant, even though they are not yet able to bump my grade, although boss is pushing for it.

That's a good title, Sophia. And really good that you're so well thought of!

I want to move to Raleigh-Durham or Chapel Hill (for two thirds of the year) now. Thanks a lot, Natter.

And he was wearing a suede jacket with fringe on the arms.