A few weeks ago, our kids were playing in the waves and having the time of their lives. I remember thinking and telling Judd, “This is where we’re supposed to be! This our place!” He said back, “I know! We actually did it.” #allthetears We have officially lived in Charleston for over a year so, I think it’s time to finally write about how we feel about living in the South…the good and the bad!!

Just a little back story in case you haven’t been reading my blog for very long. I was born and raised in Ohio where my husband was also raised. We are high school sweethearts but our goal has always been to move south because we wanted to escape the long Ohio winters and be closer to the beach! In 2018, we finally had the opportunity and we jumped at it! Were we nervous? YES! Did we question this decision? YES, a million times! Are there things that were hard for us to adjust to in the South or things we’d change? Absolutely! But overall, it was worth it…here is everything we’ve learned.
The Good
There are SOOO many reasons why we love the South and it trumps all the reasons we don’t “LOVE”.
The Beaches
Need I say more? We are surrounded by beautiful beaches! Need I say more? Our plan is actually to move closer to the beach before the kiddos start school.


Weather
Besides July-August, the temperature here is perfect!!

Southern Hospitality
The people in Ohio are great but southern hospitality is huge here and everyone is helpful and very friendly!!
The Food
Oh, the food! Some of the best seafood in the world + southern cooking = perfection
The City
Charleston, I just love you! You have everything we need to be entertained.
Family Friendly
It’s a great place to raise a family! There is so much to do here and the people are wonderful!!


Job Situation
Another reason why this town is great for us, is they have an Air Force Base. I spent 10 years working as a civilian for the Air Force in Ohio and when my kids go back to school, I plan to go back! Not every city has a base so I’m very thankful we have one here!
The Bad
The Cost
Overall the cost of living in Ohio (I’m using this because this is where we’re from and what we’re used to) compared to South Carolina is very different. The house prices are a little more, our car insurance is almost 3x what it was, our grocery bill is more than double, and basically everything is a LOT more expensive.
We Miss Our Family and Friends
We’re pretty blessed to have parents that are retired so we get to see them a lot but we really wish they’d move down here or buy a second place. It’s hard not having much help with the kids. My aunt and uncle (JoeJoe and Sassy) also visit once or twice a year which really helps feel connected with family.

No Help
This goes along with our family not living here. Raising twin toddlers without any help isn’t easy, we definitely miss out on things because of this.
Traffic
Traffic in Charleston is horrendous! We knew this before moving here but it’s part of living in a popular city that people want to live in and vacation to.
The Grass
Ok, I know this sounds crazy but we grew up with green and soft grass in Ohio. South Carolina grass is just crunchy!
Basically, we love it here and are blessed to call Charleston home!