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Janet Carothers lived in Pittsburgh her entire life, raised four children there and saw eight grandchildren born there. And then in summer 2007, she left her city and family for a new life in the Charlotte area.
“I think sometimes you (as a family) get closer that way, amazingly enough,” said Janet, 64. “When they know you are right down the street … they take you for granted.”
She and husband, Jim, 66, a retired truck driver, settled in Mint Hill. They had never been to Charlotte. They started researching North Carolina after hearing that a friend of a friend liked living here. They wanted something different – and warmer. As Janet put it: Why wait six months every year for the weather to get nice?
Jim prefers to relax on his own – going out for coffee and sticking around the house. But Janet enjoys being with people and says she's made friends faster here than she did back home. She thinks that's because nearly everyone here seems to be a newcomer.
Janet joined the Levine Senior Center in Matthews right away. She started with yoga classes and then aerobics. And recently she joined a line dancing class. The line dancers are taking a break from their standard routines to practice a marching routine they will perform before a group of veterans next month.
Janet, who has an interior decorating business, also joined the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce for networking.
Her advice to other newcomers: “Just get out there and meet people,” she said. “There's no reason to be lonely.”
Got a question or comment about Living Here? Let me hear it. abaldwin@ charlotteobserver.com, 704-358-5179.
