How hard is it to navigate once you move to MB? (Socastee: house, buying)

[pvjd]

I have submitted several posts about me and the wife's plans to move to the MB area, and after much research and input from locals, we are pretty well set on it. I am a social worker, so wherever I work I will be needing to do quite a bit of driving, as a lot of it is outreach based. When we move, do you think we will have trouble locating resources? I will need to know how to locate the various social service agencies, social security building, DHR, mental health hospitals, shelters, etc. The beach areas and highways/routes leading to them seem self-explanatory, but we did not do any real in-depth exploring of the major business routes, downtown areas, etc. Thanks for any input, as you all have been quite helpful thus far.

[Global Friend]

Very easy. There are only a handful of major hwys and the rest is simple. The only problem that I have found is that in some rural areas, GPS, maps and online maps can't keep up with new roads that are added all the time. I have been lost quite a few times because of wrong directions I obtained off the internet and even my GPS.

You had said you were considering Conway....if you decide to move there and work in MB there are a couple hwys you can take depending on what part of town you will be.

Even though my GPS got me lost a couple times, I still think it's worth buying. The prices have come down and you can get one that tells you when to turn, helps a lot.

[pvjd]

Yeah, Conway will probably be where we move to. I suppose I am generalizing a bit by stating MB--just figured that wherever I work will probably be closer to there. We looked at both Carolina Forest and Conway, and liked them both a lot. We would still consider MB or NMB, or even Socastee area. Just depends on what house we fall in love with, and whether we can afford it I guess.

Is there a "downtown" area, like where all the government buildings, food stamp office, VA, etc. is? Do you know?

[rrufast]

Conway has a centralized area downtown, but MB is a bit more spread out.. if I'm not mistaken..

You'll find that Horry County is a rather large county, but it's pretty easy to find your way around, no matter where you are. A GPS is a great idea.. I bought one for use while up North where I really didn't know where I was.. but i do use it every once in a while here..

[Global Friend]

Originally Posted by pvjd

Is there a "downtown" area, like where all the government buildings, food stamp office, VA, etc. is? Do you know?

Yes, Conway in the downtown area you will find most of that if not everything.

[pvjd]

Great, thank you. I didn't realize Conway had so much--when I visited, I mostly looked around and did the tourist thing. Thanks.

[SatTerra]

Just follow the Hurricane evacuation routes and you can't get lost!

[sheena]

Originally Posted by pvjd

I have submitted several posts about me and the wife's plans to move to the MB area, and after much research and input from locals, we are pretty well set on it. I am a social worker, so wherever I work I will be needing to do quite a bit of driving, as a lot of it is outreach based. When we move, do you think we will have trouble locating resources? I will need to know how to locate the various social service agencies, social security building, DHR, mental health hospitals, shelters, etc. The beach areas and highways/routes leading to them seem self-explanatory, but we did not do any real in-depth exploring of the major business routes, downtown areas, etc. Thanks for any input, as you all have been quite helpful thus far.

Really really easy once you know what freeway connects to what.

[pvjd]

Originally Posted by sheena

Really really easy once you know what freeway connects to what.

I hear ya. In Birmingham, I work downtown and have patients who are scattered everywhere, but it is mostly on a grid. Such as n. Birmingham, s., w., etc., with avenues 1-..., intersecting with streets 1-..., which is fairly self-explanatory. It's where I get to acually having to deal with street names that I get confused.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by pvjd

I hear ya. In Birmingham, I work downtown and have patients who are scattered everywhere, but it is mostly on a grid. Such as n. Birmingham, s., w., etc., with avenues 1-..., intersecting with streets 1-..., which is fairly self-explanatory. It's where I get to acually having to deal with street names that I get confused.

I went miles out of my way for awhile until I learned the secret passages. LOL