Reviews & Comments
Asheville, NC
re: True Southerners Beware! - 10/3/2006 -
7/10/2015There's much truth in this review--see my write-up "Not what I was hoping for" 5/13/2015. However, Michael's attitude is so antiquated and his viewpoint so narrow that he'd find it impossible to be happy outside of a small Southern town where people
were still fuming over the Civil War. Always striving to be open-minded, I fully understand how devastating the War and Reconstruction was to the South, it's economy and it's attitude towards the industrial North. But, if an ex-California beach boy like me can be so accepting and tolerant, why can't "true Southerners"? It is true that Asheville has grown into a crowded and diverse
city that can be rather wearing on those seeking a slower pace to their lives. It's hard for people to connect when they're struggling
to get from one place to another and trying to get things done in this environment. That's the reality that I've had to accept. I've had
to also realize that it's my responsibility to greet and hold out my hand to strangers. Though it's paid off, I think that at some point
I will move to a smaller town. I love the deep South aesthetic and, in my early teens, read a lot of books on Southern history. But, if
"true Southerners" are going to regard me with contempt as being an outsider, I might as well stay put.
Los Angeles, CA
re: Born in LA, raised in LA, would have probably -
7/6/2015I'm also a native of Los Angeles who left after 58 years because it was too expensive, superficial and corrupt. The great climate doesn't make up for it. After my last family member died, I was able to escape. I landed in Asheville, NC which has a lot of the same problems, but on a much smaller scale. But, I'm glad to be on this side of the country and am keeping my eyes peeled for for a town
or small city that will satisfy my desire for a slower-paced, quieter lifestyle and a strong historic aesthetic.
Asheville, NC
Not what I was hoping for. -
5/13/2015In moving to Asheville from a Los Angeles beach community where I'd lived all my life, I was hoping for some-
thing considerably different. I had previously visited the city in 2002 and found it pleasant and slow-paced. I
thought that it would be a nice place to retire to. Since then, development and revitalization have created a bustling city like so many others. People here are astonished when I tell them that the vibe is now very much like
Los Angeles except, of course, on a much smaller scale. People here are intolerably rude when rushing around in their vehicles--many talking on their cell phones which North Carolina law allows them to do. Traffic is terrible in the afternoon and early evening. In essence, the stress of getting from one place to another is similar to that in L.A. When out and about, it's hard to appreciate the beauty of the mountains. Naturally, many are attracted to
Asheville because of the amenities it now offers--many restaurants and entertainment venues. Personally, I don't like going out that much and prefer quiet evenings at home. If you're looking for Southern hospitality and
graciousness, you'll have to excavate to find it. After almost two years, I hardly know any of my neighbors and have found that those who have stepped forward to befriend me were only users. Finally, getting contractors to do work on my house has been a nightmare. Nobody returns calls or will commit themselves. Though I've been
researching smaller North Carolina towns where the winters are milder than here, I've not started packing yet until I'm absolutely certain that Asheville isn't for me.