Hi Chris,

We live about 60 miles west of Chicago, it's a great city, but gets very cold in the winter. Good luck in your move!

Go Bears!

Hi Chris,
My DH almost took a transfer to Atlanta (actually Hapeville next
to Hartsfield airport) this past yr.
I had researched the Atlanta counties extensively.
I'll tell ya there's a lot to know about the greater Atlanta area!
Here's a link that may help you out: http://www.city-data.com/forum/

Boston is great, but $$$.
Also, do you & your DH like the change of seasons?
That's something to keep in mind also.
Health care is outstanding in Boston-MA, CT, NYC too.

Good luck! ;0

Hello Ewizabeth,
Thank you for the lovely note about Chicago. We plan on going up there towards the beginning of next month I do believe. We were in Atlanta this past weekend and it was quite chilly for a southern state. I felt as if I was back in NYC. Best of luck to your "Bears" next weekend. My husband refused to travel this weekend because of the game. Imagine that!

All the best,
Chris

Hello vlys,
We spent this past weekend in Atlanta. It is quite a lovely city, but the traffic is horrific, and as I stated above it was rather chilly. We spent a good amount of our time looking at homes in the Alpharetta and Cumming areas. It seems as though the schools in Forsythe County are better than they are in the Alpharetta area. The link you gave me seems very helpful. However, it seems that most people aren't quite pleased with the Atlanta area for some odd reason. Could it be the miserable traffic we encountered? Thank you again for your help. I think I'm still leaning towards the Boston area. I do prefer the change of seasons coming from GB. My husband has always lived down here in Fla., and has become quite the spoiled one.

All the best,
Chris

I lived in Chicago when I was pregnant. Winter months pregnant in Chicago--don't mention it! That was one of the worst winters ever, l0 degrees below for a month. I had to move to my in-laws home to be near the hospital, as we were iiving out in the sticks. You can afford the sticks, but you probably don't want to do so.

Have never seen Atlanta. Passed through Boston on several occasions on way to visit son at Cornell. Liked Boston, but I never saw it in deep winter. More brrrr.

NYC I would never consider unless I could afford to live where I didn't have to spend too much time commuting. I don't know where husband will work, but he doesn't want to go too very far to work, I hope? That gets old if you have children. if you can live in the city, near cultural things, this would be a great benefit to your children. I have only seen NY on two occasions, on the way to Europe by boat and coming back.

This is such a hard decision. One thing, I know the medical in Chicago was a step above most places, but that may be true in Boston and NY too. Don't know about Atlanta. If I'd stayed in Chicago after my pregnancy I might have had a quicker diagnosis, I suspect. I spent a week in the old Cook County hospital and then another week, hooked up to an IV while pregnant...it was a good place, but it's gone.

Wherever you are, blessed be.

Mariel

Well Chris, how are things going?

Hello Doydie,
We took this weekend off (SUPERBOWL). We are planning on going to Chicago next weekend I believe. We heard the temperatures were about 6*F today. I'm not so sure about all this. I shall keep you informed. Thank you for your inquiry.

All the best,
Chris

Thank you Mariel. Read the post above.

All the best,
Chris

I'm sorry you've already been to Atlanta. I would have suggested you check out the Emory University area, in Decatur. It's a lovely area, very much a nice place for families but still close to the city. Health care would be excellent with Emory right there, and there are some good schools and colleges. Decatur is a sweet town -- a small town surrounded by the city -- with easy access to plenty of culture, art, and parks.

The comment about needing to be from the south is pretty accurate, but in a university area like Emory you find so many transplants the culture is very eclectic.

The Shepherd Center is a major benefit for people with MS.

However -- the weather is hot. Summer is awful. A big consideration for people with MS.

Where else: Chicago is a lot of fun, with the best ethnic restaurants. You have to love the lake. If you're looking for family neighborhoods, there are plenty of good areas. Be sure to look north at Evanston and check out Northwestern. But the weather is the worst you can imagine -- really awful winters and really horrible summers.

On a subjective note, I also thought the surrounding area was oppressive -- there seemed to be no end to "Chicagoland" -- suburb after suburb and perpetual car dealerships and malls and highways . . .

You are also considering Boston: Great choice for all sorts of reasons, especially as a Brit. But you already know that. Concerned about prices? Well, you get what you pay for.

Enjoy your visits. Good luck with the decisions.

Hello Nola,
Thank you for your lovely note. Yes, we've already been to Atlanta, and after this weekend it's looking a lot better to me simply because of the weather. Can you guess where we were this past weekend? CHICAGO! I've never been so cold in my life. But, what a lively city. We stayed downtown the first night we were there because I had never seen the city, and went to a wonderful restaurant and "tried" to walk around, but it was so cold and windy, I didn't last long.

The next day we spent looking at homes in the suburbs, and although the areas seem nice, the weather put a huge damper on my decision as well as the fact that each suburb seemed to blend into the next.

Next stop; Philadelphia. We shall see. Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. I shall keep you up to date on our escapades in the cold north. Stay warm you lot.

All the best,
Chris