After 4 Years, My Impression of Roanoke (Charlottesville, Salem: appointed, legal, versus)

[Watchful]

I am glad, however, that we don't have the hideously ugly freeway frontage roads (feeder roads) as is the norm in Houston.

[MedvedActual]

Originally Posted by Rickcin

I guess people here have their own spin on how to drive, however it’s like the cars here don’t have horns since it’s a rarity to ever hear one when driving. After spending most of my years driving in NY and NJ, the sound of horns was constant background noise and it’s definitely a sound that I don’t miss.

That said, talking on a non hands free cell phone here is still legal, so perhaps that leads to some of the yellow line wandering since some drivers let their emotions play out as they are attempting to drive

Oh NY especially is terrible on the horn front; lived there for quite some time. Toss in the constant sound of sirens as well... It is like the immediate action for the drivers when something is going against their personal desire. I definitely agree with you it is quite a big difference compared to VA or some other areas.

[PaulFromHouston]

Originally Posted by MedvedActual

Oh NY especially is terrible on the horn front;

Yep. I have heard a good definition for the term "New York Second" It's the amount of time that elapses between when the light you're sitting at turns green and when the car behind you lays on the horn.

[PaulFromHouston]

Originally Posted by Watchful

I am glad, however, that we don't have the hideously ugly freeway frontage roads (feeder roads) as is the norm in Houston.

Me too. It would just be another place where people would drive half the speed limit.

[MedvedActual]

Originally Posted by PaulFromHouston

Yep. I have heard a good definition for the term "New York Second" It's the amount of time that elapses between when the light you're sitting at turns green and when the car behind you lays on the horn.

Definitely holds true. Of course same people who are in a rush to get through the light are the a&*holes who double and triple park just down the street totally disregarding anyone else's need to get from point A to B expeditiously.

[PaulFromHouston]

Originally Posted by Watchful

Moved here from Texas in 2013! We really need to have a meetup PaulFromHouston and ExAustin!

LOL, it just dawned on me! We've already met! We had dinner at Local Roots about 5 years ago while my partner and I were checking out the area.

Small world around here.

[HokieFan]

Thanks for the review! Roanoke is on our short list for relocation in about 5 years.

[ExAustin]

I must say there really is something special about the topography here. I drove to Charlottesville last week and the temps/humidity noticeably increased while the quality of scenery decreased. Just less special/more ordinary somehow.

Roanoke seems to be deliberately perched right at the point where the scary winter lows cascade off the west mountains before hitting us, the eastern humidity evaporates before reaching our border, and year-round temps are kept ideally positioned for all four seasons.

I can't think of many other places in the USA with such a favorable four-season climate and scenery. Maybe the Oregon coast? Darn few, that's for certain. Every time I come back, I just feel "ahhhh, home again".

[Clevelander216]

Originally Posted by PaulFromHouston

Medical Care A What can I say? Roanoke is a great place for medical services. The facilities and the people who staff them are top notch. Carillion rocks, in our experience. There is even a very fine Veteran’s Administration Hospital that I go to in Salem. The care I get there and the quality of staff are far superior to what I experienced in Houston.

This is very good to know. I am in Cleveland and I am considering moving away and Roanoke has popped up on my list recently as a possible landing spot. I am a vet and utilize my VA hospital a TON. I need the health care and Cleveland is known to have one of the better facilities in the country, so it is good to hear the Roanoke area has a good facility too.

[Trail Dreamer]

"Drivers F-"

I would never have thought Roanoke could be worse than PHX!

That part of Virginia is pretty! I miss the green!

Thank you for the review Paul.