Randolf,
Good luck with everything... Hope it all turns out good...but, yeah, the change of scenery will definitely help your situation. I wasn't sure if you had a job, but that was just because we've got quite a few students on this forum. I'm working now, but I do go back for classes now and again (mostly community college).
I haven't been to D.C....yet...but from what I've heard about working there, most of those who work in D.C. live outside of the D.C. metro area, and take commuter trains in/out of the city.
A good starting off suggestion is to make friends wherever you're heading...or head where some you have are...and try to split rent with them, get a job, and whatnot.
Which reminds me I need to look into a 5 bedroom house for sale for some friends of mine.
Char's got an excellent idea. For instance, my brother-in-law is recently divorced, and has moved back to CT, but he still needs to pay off the mortgage to his house in Dallas, TX (that's where his ex is, too). So, he has a few people renting, and I think all of them have like $400/$500/$600 a month rents, which is cheaper rent than an
apartment there.
I'm over toward Pittsburgh, PA. The mass-transit was good with tons of trolleys and buses (some neighborhoods were once called "streetcar suburbs", since one didn't need a car, and could travel wherever by trolley). However, these days, the PATransit system is only good if you're close to the city. The roads around the city aren't really good, but travel a half-hour North/South/East/West, and the road system is much better. (Wait - I actually live south, and a half-hour doesn't seem long enough. You'll probably need to travel an hour south to see better roads). There wasn't much crime before, however, that's changed... I think we're still low crime, though. As for job opportunities...hmm...I would say computers (my field), medicine, engineering, culinary, and probably several service jobs. Did I mention that the current mayor is young? Even younger than...me...Darn! Now I really feel old. Although old attitudes still exist, Pittsburgh has quite a bit of diversity, just no official "little Italy" or "Chinatown" neighborhoods. However, the food district is awesome as far as international foods go.
I haven't been to Gettysburg, but we took up lodging around Harrisburg, and that sucked...
I've been to Atlanta, GA and they have the MARTA commuter trains, new buildings, and lots of businesses, but I've heard from others that it's not the kind of city where you can escape racist talk...
Dallas, TX is nice, but expensive - and definitely steer clear of Pittsburg, TX and Longview, TX. My brother-in-law is still recovering from his experiences there...
We met a couple from Branson, MO, and they seem happy there.
Sorry, I don't mean to confuse you with all these cities. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Good luck with your move...
