Hey, it’s Mike. So you’re thinking of moving, huh? I see that look in your eyes every single day. People come into my office here at the storage facility, stressed out, excited, scared – you name it. They’re usually surrounded by boxes, and they always end up telling me why they’re coming or going.
Let me tell you what I’ve learned from 15 years of this. This isn’t from some travel blog – this is from real people living real lives.
You’re Chasing a Career
Look, if you’re trying to make it big, you’re probably looking at New York or maybe Austin.
My nephew moved to New York last year. He’s a smart kid – works in finance. He video-called me from his “apartment” and I swear to god, I thought he was in a walk-in closet. He pays $2,800 a month for what’s basically a studio with a hot plate and a bathroom down the hall. He keeps his winter coats and his guitar with me because there’s literally no space. But he told me he met his current boss at a random coffee shop. That’s New York – opportunity everywhere, but no room to breathe.
Then there’s Austin. My buddy’s daughter moved there for a tech job. She loves the vibe – says it’s like college but with money. The food is incredible; she sent me some BBQ that was honestly life-changing. But she also said last summer, her car’s AC broke and it was 115 degrees. She had to take an Uber everywhere for a week because it was unbearable. And the traffic? She says I-35 is where dreams go to die.
Just Need to Be Outside
Maybe you’re like my wife – you need trees and mountains to feel human.
We have customers who moved back from Denver. They loved the hiking – said you can be on a mountain trail in 30 minutes. But they also said every beautiful spot has about fifty other people there taking Instagram photos. The cost of living shocked them – they were paying $900,000 for what would cost $300,000 here. And the dryness? She said her skin felt like parchment paper the whole first year.
Asheville, North Carolina, is different. We have family there. It’s gorgeous – like something out of a movie. The town has this artsy vibe, great breweries, and amazing food. But my cousin works two jobs there – one at a hotel and one at a restaurant. The job market is tough unless you’re in healthcare. And it rains. A lot. Like, “we haven’t seen the sun in two weeks” a lot.
Building a Family
This is when everything changes. Suddenly, school ratings matter more than bar ratings.
The Raleigh-Durham area is popular with families. The schools are great, it’s safe, and there are parks everywhere. But it’s… well, it’s kind of boring. There’s no nice way to say it. It’s a bunch of suburbs. You’ll spend half your life driving kids to soccer practice.
Greenville, South Carolina, surprised me. I visited last fall. Their downtown has an actual waterfall running through the middle of it. It’s stunning. The schools are good, and it feels safe. But the airport is tiny – you’re always connecting through Atlanta. And it’s getting so popular that the traffic is becoming a real problem.
Here’s the Truth Nobody Wants to Say
Every place has its crap. Every single one. There’s no perfect city. You’re just choosing which set of problems you can live with.
- Can you handle living in a shoebox?
- Can you stand the heat?
- Are you okay with rain?
- Can you deal with traffic?
That’s really what you’re deciding.
And here’s what I’ve learned from my side of the desk: life is messy. Moves get complicated. You might need to store your furniture for a few months between houses. You might downsize and not be ready to get rid of your mom’s old dining table. That’s why we’re here. We’re not just a storage facility – we’re the in-between space while you figure your life out.
The Bottom Line
My advice? Visit the place first. Not for a vacation – go on a random Tuesday. See what real life feels like there. Talk to people at grocery stores. That’ll tell you more than any article ever could.
Wherever you end up, I hope it feels like home. And if you need a place to store your stuff during the transition, you know where to find me. Good luck out there.
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