Reviews & Comments
Wilmington, NC
A Diamond In The Rough? -
10/23/2011We moved to Richlands NC from Phoenix AZ about 3 months ago. WE came to escape the heat, the bleaching, skin stripping sun and arid lung burning air of the 5-6 month Phoenix summer. WE seem to have accomplished this, seeing 80's and 90's through the summer and mostly partly cloudy days and rain.
It has been an adjustment, coming from a city that had possibly every major chain in the US, several large malls and every convenience that you could think of, a walk, or a short car ride away, to live in the country, a few miles from a small town.
Jacksonville, 15 miles away, has a small mall, but several of the big box stores and is still trying to develop some shopping and entertainment diversity.
The supermarkets and even Sam's club, offer a limited range of beer for example. National lager brands tend to dominate the beer selections. Bud, Coors, Miller etc. This is an indicator of the population, mostly young Marines who have yet to develop an appreciation for anything else.
Shopping in Sam's club the other day, I inquired as to why the beer selection was so limited? The answer was that most of the folks who shop there do not want the variety and there is little call for anything else. (Sort of narrow minded and sad really).
There are a few bars around Jacksonville and disappointingly nothing in Richlands. The notion of a community focal point where you can drop in and have a beer while meeting your neighbors, is lost, or perhaps never was a part of this society.
So, then there's Raleigh, well we drove through Raleigh yesterday and Cary. Nothing to inspire us there. Raleigh downtown is typically full of govt and office buildings. Almost grid like streets, narrow and old. Cary downtown was smaller and 'apparently' meant to be more 'upscale' but also lacking. Both are mostly boring really. The leafy suburbs are at times almost claustrophobic and driving through many of the more 'apparently' select neighborhoods, feels underwhelming and frankly, although the sun was shining, it was lifeless and depressing.
Then we drove to Wilmington. Old town is old and in need of repair / renovation in many parts. Some buildings and homes have been maintained and / or restored. It's a mish-mash neighborhood. The Presbyterian church for example looks impressive. Some of the houses around it though are feeling their age. Maybe it's quaint or chic to live there? Likely an investment neighborhood since it's deemed historic?
The crime / roudiness reports make it appear like a pretty punkish neanderthal night scene. Or are the views of many folks wrong? The sprawl of urban development is actually remeniscent of parts of Phoenix metro. It is good to see that there is more of an eclectic variety of stores on our first glance. Something that Jacksonville may eventually offer? Together with the climate and the boast of a 'brew-pub' and a quieter Irish pub, Wilmington does seem to be developing more cultural entertainment diversity? Then after reading the many comments preceding mine today, I have quiet reservations. For although it is a developing town, it appears that it may be hamstrung by narrow-mindedness and ignorance. So, should we move to what 'appears' to be an upcoming town, or should we stay amongst the gentle folk of Richlands who have been welcoming with open arms, even though we have to travel to access everything?