Florence, South Carolina. Tell me about the area, DUers.

[Blue-Jay]

I was offered a transfer to Florence by my employer today. The only thing I know about the area is that it's within easy driving distance to Myrtle Beach. (good thing, that. I can get a weekend/evening music gig in no time)

If I accept it'll be a small raise in salary, but nothing major. Someone give me some insight about the area from a DU perspective.

Thanks in advance.

[carpetbagger]

1. Deep, deep south.

It's pretty decent as far as rural areas in the southeast, but remember that you'd basically be moving to a foreign country, something you won't be prepared for unless you've lived in the south previously.

[Blue-Jay]

2. The South is no stranger to me.

My undergrad degree was from a Southern Baptist college. What can I say? They offered me a free ride due to my SATs and my musical aptitude. That said, I was stupid and mostly apolitical when I was in undergrad school, so I'll likely be more pissed off at the political landscape.

Will the place drive me insane, now that I know what's what? Are there any cultural refuges there? Can I get good Indian food?

I'm still not close to being "sold" on the idea, but I'm single and not a big fan of cold weather, so I'm considering it. The good news is that there's no big rush to accept or decline the offer.

[carpetbagger]

5. Well, it's about an hour from Columbia.

And as you mentioned about an hour from Myrtle Beach. I can't remember too well, but the town's probably big enough to have one or two hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurants, and probably big enough to have small, semi-organized groups of poeple who constitute some type of cultural refuge, although I don't know of any offhand.

As to insanity, it all depends on what type of people you need to find, and what you need. If you can't get it in Springfield, you probably won't get it in Florence, and you're giving up the easy access to small and large cities like Dayton and Columbus that you now have.

The other issue is that of being single. I have absolutely no idea how that impacts on the whole thing. I know that I'd probably have a hard time finding people in semi-rural South Carolina, but then again, you probably gained much better dating skills in college than I got in my rural experience as a married professional in West Virginia.

[Bossy Monkey]

3. Speaking as a South Carolinian born and bred...

I'd say don't do that. Florence is a very big town almost devoid of charm. Good Indian food is possible but not likely. It's the center of the Pee Dee region, much dominated by tobacco farming and the tobacco trade. The Pee Dee was one of the last strongholds for SC Democrats (home of the Galivant's Ferry Stump Meeting and, uh, John Jenrette) but I have a notion that this has probably changed.

As to music, unless you like playing either country or old Motown (called in these parts "beach music"), you might have a little trouble finding gigs in Myrtle Beach. MB wants to be the next Branson, but this extends stylistically only from Alabama (the band) to Legends shows with Blues Brothers lookalikes. At least the latter always need sax players.

My girlfriend's best friend lives in Florence. PM or email me if you'd like me to contact her for all the dirt on the town.

[Blue-Jay]

4. On being a sax-player:

I vacation in MB frequently(every other Spring), and have been offered several gigs there based on "sitting in" with some bands, ranging from full-time to weekend-only. I don't really care for making it a full time job anymore. I've done that, and despite the "fun factor", I've found that I prefer playing for the thrill of playing only. The extra cash is nice, though. I won't lie about that, nor will I play for free anymore.

I guess I'm just wondering if it's a decent place to live. Musical opportunities aside (I can get a band gig anywhere, to be honest), does the area suck or not? Are there outlets for rogue liberals to feel "at home"?

[Blue-Jay]

6. Morning kick.

:)

[kodi]

7. i used to live in florence, here 'tis

the land is flat.........flat flat flat.

florence is about 1/2 the way from NY City to Miami via I-95, so it is a lodging center for that traffic.

it is a good hour to myrtle beach, (and there are speed traps along the way on hiway 76 east. so day trips are great fun if you dont spped.

the city is a regional medical center so there are good hospitials, doctors and specialists.

the economy is moving from farming to insurance, auto making, engineering services, and again, medical services. this means that there is a rising white collar work force edging out the blue collar and farm ethic and culture.

francis marion university is just due east and adds to a more upbeat scene

some good resturants, and as mentioned above, a few good indian ones (they're downtown, and "downtown" is easy to navigate, really easy.

they have a nice, acoustically very good concert center, a very good muscial store and some fine, fine, hometown musicans

public schools? that depends on the side of town you live. and you will have to check that out for yourself.

generally, the red necks live outside the "loop."

you have darlington race track just up the road running nascar 2x a year.

and apple annies is (was) the best place for live music, and the best local hang out for meeting plain folk is "The Wooden Nickle" and if John H. is bartending that night, tell him a guy with a kuvasz named kodi sent you.

[Misinformed01]

8. You forgot to mention shopping at the local

Piggly Wiggly.

:)

I wish I could add more to this post, but I have only done the "on the way to Myrtle Beach" drive through Florence...you know, the winding one: "Where WAS the sign? Did anyone see the damned SIGN???"

I guess most people use the highways now, but I was born in '64, and we used to have take the scenic route on the way to the house in Garden City- Sometimes, I still take the back route, and count turtles on logs.

On edit...thinking about turtles on logs reminded me of something else. You can probably get Blenheim Ginger Ale there too--

[Bossy Monkey]

9. Kicking, and a PM head's up

I PMed you what my girlfriend's best friend (who lives in Florence) said about it. In a nutshell: Run away!