What is the difference in living in North Carolina vs. Long Island?
By Frank M
Wilmington, NC
BENEFITS OF LIVING IN North Carolina
1. Wilmington is a historic–resort city… all in one
2. Taxes are much lower—NC $4,300 vs. LI $26,000
3. People are much friendlier—“Yes sir….yes ma’am”
4. Wilmington NC is the 3rd largest film producing city in the country—we are making 6 new movies including Iron Man III
5. When celebrities walk the streets in the city or various locations…they are not hassled by people for autographs like in NY…they are treated like anyone else—politely
6. Wilmington is lined with cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages, trolley cars, restored mansions with Spanish moss hanging from the trees
7. No office building in the city of Wilmington can be higher than 7 floors
8. Boating is much better up and down the Intracoastal Waterway and easier access to the ocean
9. No traffic—“radio or TV report….”we have 5 cars tied up at the light…once the light turns green…the traffic will be moving”
10. A Plantation is a Plantation
11. Traveling through the farmlands you see cotton fields….tobacco fields…tomato fields, potato fields and they are not being turned into housing developments
12. Universities are ranked higher in basketball and baseball than any other city in the country
13. Speed limits on most highways are posted at 70 mph
14. I have not seen one Kawasaki motorcyclist doing wheelies on any highway vs. the ones going down Montauk Highway in LI NY
15. People are not really in a rush down here like LI/NY
16. When driving people give the right of way in the south
17. People do not flick ‘the finger’ in anger here in the south…people are much more polite
18. Not as many diverse cultures—especially here in Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach North Carolina
19. Women wear their hair in pony tails –the casual look—it is the look at the resorts
20. Young adults much more polite here in North Carolina—yes ma’am
21. Ride along the highways there is no garbage on the side of the roads—much cleaner—even in the cities…much cleaner
MORE BENEFITS OF NORTH CAROLINA
22. Seems that everything is newer—shopping centers are more modern
23. No Piggly Wiggley’s in the north
24. No Scotchman’s or The Pantry gas stations—much cleaner
25. No Seven/Elevens in the south
26. Waiters and Waitresses are young and you can understand their language when asking questions
27. Pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ food is much better
28. Security in office building is no hassles when entering to visit clients as NY
29. Golf courses are much more available and there is no wait to play like NY courses
30. Great surfing at Wrightsville Beach
31. More varieties of catching fish in the ocean/lakes
32. Energy charges are cheaper in the south—Progress Energy vs. LIPA
33. Fuel/Gas prices are lower due to less taxes
34. Better climate—less harsh winters—NO SNOW
35. Safer cities than the north
36. People still do not lock doors fearing break-ins
37. Church and family life is very important
38. Politics is not a big thing down here
39. We watch overhead the snow birds that fly OVER US to go to Florida
40. Seems to be a much younger population here in North Carolina
41. Lot of good transplants of people that move from NY, CT, NJ, MA
42. Feel protected from invasion with Camp Lejeune 30 minutes away—Camp Lejune is the US Marine Base
43. Some of the people living in the neighborhood—Linda Lavin (Alice’s Restaurant), Andy Griffiths (just passed away), Dennis Hopper, Pat Hingle, Walter Cronkite (passed away TV anchorman), Johnny Mack (CEO Morgan Stanley, Mayors of Wilmington and Raleigh, John Travolta—summer home on River Rd., and Michael Jordan’s mother…Michael went to High Scholl here and on to UNC-Chapel Hill…. and many others
44. The slogan is, “once you come down to Wilmington….you will never want to go back home”….we are living proof
BENEFITS OF NEW YORK
Benefits living in Long Island New York
1. Italian food is better—better pizza
2. No threat of serious hurricanes or tornadoes
3. Women always have to have their hair perfect—much more visits to the beauty salon
4. Tomatoes and ‘salt and pepper’ corn seems to be better
5. Theatre/plays/music concerts are much more available
6. No Crocodiles or Alligators in ponds or lakes
7. More availability of jobs
8. More/better professional sport teams—football/basketball
9. Professional baseball teams==the best in the Yankees and Mets
10. Schooling-Grade Schools are better in the north