Greensboro, North Carolina - Home?

How can you not love some place so green and lush?

The search continues.  So far we've visited Grand Junction, CO (see blog post https://grannyburkes.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-search-begins-grand-junction-home.html) and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (see blog posts for all of October and November of 2017).  

George has ruled out moving to Mexico but has promised we can visit often and stay for extended periods after he retires.  That's good enough for me.  I actually have a long list of other places in Latin America that I also hope to visit - Agentina and Uruguay are next on my list.

We're concerned about the cost of living in Colorado and the continuing drought.  The fires started near Grand Juncion in early spring and continue off and on.  Homes have been lost.  We are financially contributing to the campaign of a terrific Democratic female candidate running against a Republican climate change denier and unethical scumbag.  Even his fellow Republicans have called him before the Ethics Committee twice during his two terms in office. Our candidate actually has a Ph.D. in environmental studies.  The Republicans control the western slope and have not developed any contingency plans for the drought continuing.  They have less than one year's worth of water in reserve.  This kind of head-in-the-sand stupidity will help turn the state blue, but I fear not soon enough.  I do like the fact you can already smoke what you want and die when you want.  Of course, as part of their hypocrisy, Republicans claiming to love freedom, are against these 2 policies.  But I digress.

Why Greensboro?
I spotted one sentence in a lengthy article in the Washington Post about areas of the south turning blue.  Greensboro was included.  I did some research and found a city with good medical care, and lots of higher education entities:  UNC - Greensboro, UNC A and T, Guilford College, and several more!  LLI (Life Long Learning) and AAUW (American Association of University Women) have active chapters there and since I'm currently involved in those groups that should overcome the fact that we would be moving to a place where we don't know anyone.

Just to get things started, before our trip, I contacted the president of AAUW and asked if she could arrange a meeting for me to find out what the branch (what chapters are called) is like.  She put me in touch with a real dynamo!  Millie is a former national treasurer and currently very active in Greensboro.  She also runs her own non-profit providing tutoring services to high school students.  She's a retired high school chemistry teacher who moved to Greensboro from Maryland in 1990.  George and I are so grateful for the hour and a half she spent with us.  She should also work for the local Chamber of Commerce - she's a great spokesman for her city.

Millie and me

We also met a real estate agent who gave us great information on the local market.  I think when the time comes he will be a great help in finding a new home.

After driving around to see different neighborhoods, we found a lovely winery.

Stonefield Winery

First winery I've been to with a chicken coop.  Lovely red hens.

One of several bi-racial couples we saw on the trip.

Thank goodness the south is changing.

Every winery needs a cat.

Gato assumes you're there to scratch the cat.

We plan to return soon.  This area of the country looks promising.