I lost my job this week and I have a potential offer to go there to take a job. I live NW of Chicago and have lived here all my life (46 yrs).

I also understand that Columbia is close to Ocean and mountains and that Lake Murray is the big lake nearby.

Any info you can give me to help me decide if I should go would be appreciated. Our kids are grown, so school is no problem. Wife would also need to find work eventually.

I'm sure cost of living is less there. Is the area growing ??

Thanks !!!

Smitty

Phantom1 lives on Lake Murray. I think he's actually a native.

LAKE MURRAY

just sold my boat to a guy at Lake Murray, I think there website is lake murray powerboats.com, looks like a cool boating scene

very nice place to live the lake murray is the best plus you are half way between the great smokey moutains and the great beaches of S.C. you will love the winters but you might not like the hot and humid summers born and raised here.

Been here all my life, Boat on lake murray from april till sept.
great group of people on the lake! You are very close to the mountains and several nice beaches. The weather is nice mild winters but as said before summers can be hot 90-100 degress in july and august. lakemurraypowerboats.com

I moved from the Chicago Suburbs (Algonquin) to North Carolina almost 17 years ago now. Everytime I go back to visit in Chicago, I can't wait to leave. Lake Murray area is very nice. You are also pretty close to Lake Norman where many boating events take place. Cost of living down south is way cheaper. I would move in a second. Jeff Wurl

you need to come down and take a look , i live in Charlotte which is a little over 1 hr north. Columbia is the capital of SC and has a lot to offer but it will be way laid back from what you are used to up north. For me i don't see how you guys take the weather up there. As was said we can boat from Apr. To as late and Nov.

I lived there for 15 years and loved it! Murray is a great lake, with lots of long runs, and coves galore where you can go hang out and not see anyone all day. Plus areas where you can tie up with others and listen to some bands from time to time. And a couple of decent restaurants/bars.

There are plenty of places to camp on the islands if you are into that, and the homes on the lake are quite reasonable all things considered. One of the things I really miss is getting home from work and walking out on the dock and jumping in the boat for a nice ride. Its like having a 48k acre back yard.

And as others have stated, its about two hours to the mountains and two hours to the beach.

It does get a bit hot and humid in the summer, but just jump in the lake and its all good.

Come on dowm. Just in time for the summer!