So what's living in NC like?

I'm looking at a possible move in a few years from Texas. I'm quite familiar with NC, having done some part-time postdoc work at UNC, and having travelled all over the state while living elsewhere in the Midatlantic. But I've got a few practical questions I'd like to chew on for a while. I'm looking at several locations throughout the state, excluding Durham, Chapel Hill, Greenville and Charlotte due to the specifics of our work. Answers to any or all of these, or other comments, would be welcomed.

How uncomfortable is it for yankees and yankee children? How far does the "Kickers and Freaks" mentality (it's a Texas term dealing with adolescent peer pressure) go in NC?

Where will and won't my kids be able to socially do ok as unchurched, unitarianish Christians?

How many problems will my daughter have with trying to achieve something on her own, i.e., how much pressure would be there for her (and for my wife as well) to act as lesser people based on gender?

How are the schools? (I'm thinking the best 1-2 high schools in each city.) Is the university system as good as it seems?

Is there life in Fayetteville? (I hang around military circles, but is it anything more than a base town?)

I know about Asheville's Highland counterculture (I have a step-grandmother who's part of it), but what's the mainstream culture like there? Generic small Appalachian city or fundie Vatican?

Bonus off-topic question: What about life in Roanoke VA, Hampton Roads VA, and Johnson City TN?

a good spot. Same town for question three.

Note: Carrboro and Chapel Hill are divided by a railroad track.

Finding work for my wife and I around Chapel Hill would be quite difficult, though.

I don't have adolescents, so I can't speak to that. There are so many northern transplants here that I doubt that would be much of a problem.

I do know that Myers Park High School has one of the best International Baccalaureate programs in the country. It is a magnet program, so I guess there is a lottery to get in, plus IB is a hardcore academic program with lots of home work, and not all kids are up to it. As far as regular high school programs, what I have heard is that Myers Park and East Mecklenburg are the two best. But I don't know from personal experience.

As far as the un-churched thing, we are too, and it is not a problem if you stick to the right neighborhoods. We are in a relatively affordable 1st ring suburb in SE Charlotte. The elementary school is excellent and very diverse. My daughter has two best friends, one Jewish and one Muslim. We are Unitarian-ish, too, and feel very comfortable in our neighborhood and school.

around the research triangle, many colleges. We have a huge amout of baptist, and other conservative churches BUT also some Unitarian ones.
AND North Carolina had 14 World Can't Wait rallies (actually some more at colleges)second only to California in number of listed rallies.
Bush in Greensboro tomorrow BTW-and many plan to come greet him.

is having a problem w/ over crowded schools, especially elementary and middle schools. My family is not christian, we are Jewish and have no real problems w/ people who live here...most people are transplants from NY or S. Florida (what I call little NY ;) I'm actually a transplant from S. FL via upstate NY) Most HS are good in the area - Green Hope, Cary, Panther Creek (Brand new) and Apex High. My son attends Green Hope and so far so good. I only hear good things about NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Wilmington.

Would love another Progressive in Cary!!! BTW it's becoming a buyers market here...

my SIL from upstate NY is happy there in the C ontainment A rea for R elocated Y ankees :) I assume that's a local joke. I think they have hockey.

Having said that, just about any urban area in NC would be OK.

Also I like Hampton Roads, VA very much.

is the proper joke. ;-)

However, you should be aware that CARY is experiencing such explosive growth that they are usually the first community around here in the summertime to suffer water use restrictions during dry times.

Cary is suffering those effects of rapid growth such as inadequate water, and let's face it the traffic is formidable. Lately I've heard that people are actually saying they would support a real mass transit system--ie. commuter trains. I think that would be the best thing that could happen to the area. It's at the point where it's a vital necessity now.

I live in Charlotte and was wondering what you do that would preclude you from here.

Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill High schools consistently in the top 50 in the nation.
It's friggin' expensive to live here however. It helps if you live outside the city limits but within the school district like me.
Lots of people from other places due to UNC and UNC med center as well as RTP.
Most liberal area of NC.

And I think any university town is "kind" to Yankees (whatever that means)! I went to school in Raleigh and miss it sometimes, but I'm really a small-town kinda guy. Everyone else has told you about Chapel Hill and Cary, but you also mentioned Asheville. Asheville is beautiful, funky, hip, and a mix of bohemian artists and old-time Appalachian down-home types. It's also a liberal oasis in a sea of conservative counties, although the congressional district it's in is becoming more and more progressive. From everything I've heard, it's also an expensive place to live. I'm in the northern mountains near Boone, and we also have our problems with affordable housing. Come on and join us... we need some more progressives!