David

has written 5 SperlingViews. Currently, David is living in Elkridge, MD and has a little something to say:

Overall a wonderful place but it does have its dra Posted On: 8/2/2010 10:55:38 AM

I am from Maryland but have vacationed in Charleston several times over the past 15 years. The area has an appeal and charm that keep you wanting to come back. Truth is, my experiences have all been good there. People are flawlessly polite and kind, unlike many other places. They are interested in who you are and take the time to talk. The city itself is beautiful as are the outlying areas and the cost of living isn't too bad. It's full of history if you like that and natural beauty - tons of flowers, trees, birds - it's a delight. On the flip side, there are some surprisingly ugly, run-down, dangerous areas, especially in North Charleston. Crime is shockingly high in those parts. There is also a very real conservative bent that is a bit too far right for my tastes. It's best to avoid politics around here if you don't see things that way. And finally, I think the oddest thing about this place is that, for all its charm, grace and well-mannered living, there's a surprising amount of "dirt" in people's personal lives that goes on behind the scenes that most of the world never sees but if you stick around long enough, you'll see and hear things about people that are shocking. Everything is kept under wraps though and appearances are always kept in place! I realize no place is perfect though, I've yet to find one, and overall, I like Charleston a little, quirky flaws and all. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone back so many times. I do recommend it as a great place to visit although I have to admit, I don't know what it is to actually live there, since I never did.

Great place to live! Posted On: 8/2/2010 10:35:40 AM

I've neevr actually lived right in Columbia but I've lived in the general alrea for close to 17 years. I enjoy it very much and am very happy here and doubt I'd ever leave. Columbia is relatively safe and has something for everyone. It's attractive and well developed. My only objections are, it's VERY expensive to live here and forget about buying a decent home and housing options are very limited unless you have tons of money to spend. Likewise, there are too many red light cameras everywhere these days and traffic is pretty congested everywhere. I also strongly believe when they developed Columbia, they made a grave mistake in letting in the section 8 (low income) housing. May not be "p/c" to say but in truth, it let in a very undesirable element in certain areas that Columbia would be far better off without. Otherwise, I enjoy it and am happy to be here.

Long winters but overall a very nice place. Posted On: 8/2/2010 10:28:48 AM

I spent a year in Binghamton 20 years ago and admittedly, I've only been back once, so I really can't speak for how it is today but I found it to be a very likeable city. It is quite safe and has some very attractive areas. There's actually more to do than you might think for a city of its size. People were very pleasant and I enjoyed the time I was there. My only thing was I found the winter to be very long but who knows? I was only there one year, maybe it isn't like that all the time.

Terribly congested Posted On: 8/2/2010 10:17:50 AM

Laurel as a whole is not a bad place to live. Housing is considerably cheaper than in many parts of the DC/Baltimore area. There are some nice shops and restaurants and it has a feel of an older community that isn't so generic and "sterile" in nature. The only problem with it though is it has some of the very worst traffic congestion anywhere in Maryland. The roads were never built to carry the amount of traffic they do and navigating around there is hellish. The recent proliferation of red light cameras doesn't make it any easier either. There are also some cheap, sort of sleazy looking areas along Route 1 that should be avoided. By and large though, if you can get a place in a decent, quiet residential area, it's not a bad place to live.

Terribly congested Posted On: 8/2/2010 10:16:26 AM

Laurel as a whole is not a bad place to live. Housing is considerably cheaper than in many parts of the DC/Baltimore area. There are some nice shops and restaurants and it has a feel of an older community that isn't so generic and "sterile" in nature. The only problem with it though is it has some of the very worst traffic congestion anywhere in Maryland. The roads were never built to carry the amount of traffic they do and navigating around there is hellish. The recent proliferation of red light cameras doesn't make it any easier either. There are also some cheap, sort of sleazy looking areas along Route 1 that should be avoided. By and large though, if you can get a place in a decent, quiet residential area, it's not a bad place to live.