So, I have to now ask: why would you redo it into Tenn or Western S. Carolina?
First, everyone is different to what they like per geography and weather.
Second, when I was offered to relocate to NC, the only experience I had was the Fayetteville area, which to be honest, was too flat and pretty darn hot (some years prior).
Third, I was young, single, no kids and the company asked me if I wanted to move to NC. Couldn't say no either way. I knew right up that the gun laws were better when the same company wanted to move me back to New York:laughing:
Moved to the Greensboro/Winston area "sight unseen", and honestly, after my mother died and my father was by himself, was going to move back up north. Ended up meeting my future wife down here and stayed, and she's from Vermont.
I love West Virginia and some of my fondest days are kayaking and snowboarding in Winter on the same day. Both my wife and I don't like it flat land.
Raleigh east - Flat and HOT in summer. More west you go, bigger hills and colder winters with more chances of snow in North Carolina.
Western South Carolina and Tennessee seems to be more like the Asheville area with land being a lot less expensive.
Politics aside, I busted out laughing and didn't believe it at first when I heard that Asheville was the lesbian capital of North Carolina (different vibe in Asheville that I could or could not like if I lived there, don't want to move there to find out).
For both my wife and I, with the "mountains" and lack of flat land, Tenn and Western SC seems nice (we're at the base of the foothills in NC so it dosen't feel bad because our property even has some gulley's in it with some hills). ALL that said, for a crap shoot moving to NC when I did, I can honestly say the Greensboro / Winston area is probably the best area I couldn't of ended up. Away from Charlotte, hilly, and not too far away from West Virginia LOL
Unlike Thomas, when we retire, I will probably be posting a topic about Arizona, New Mexico, Western Colorado or Utah. Different strokes for different folks. Idaho would be my first choice, but I know my older bones probably couldn't handle the winters there anymore (to think that in West Virgin and New York and Canada, for about 6 years, the annual tradition was to kayak a good river on new years day, which at this point, would be impossible for me as there is no way I'd find it fun anymore with that kind of weather in a dry suit).
My in laws retired to Salisbury NC after they retired (not to far from us actually). My father in law was a native Vermonter, and other than his stint in the Navy, always lived in Vermont. Both wife and mother in law were worried if he would miss Vermont when he moved to NC. The reality is between their church, gardening and neighbors, he has a bunch of great friends and surprisingly, loves the warmer weather and doesn't miss Vermont one bit.