I'll put my vote in for the Charlotte, NC area. No, it is not near the beach, though Charleston is only 3 hours away, and the NC Outer Banks (some of the most beautiful scenery in the eastern seaboard) is 5 hours away. Charlotte, however is bordered by two lakes; the smoky mountains are only 1.5 hours away; the winters are mild, the summers are long (but hot and humid); the city is clean, safe and very livable; AND you can have a five-bedroom house with a yard for that $2,000 a month.

Charleston area is nice, but do not move TO Charleston: the old town is beautiful, but the rest of the city is, unfortunately, in a sad state (almost slum-like); this is something that most tourists do not see. Charleston also has the highest housing costs in SC; you'd never get a house in Charleston for 2K a month.

Good luck!

Juan

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