I lived in Durham and didn't like it. I lasted 3.5 years before I moved away.

Like others have said, I couldn't abide the the politics and churchiness. When Jesse Helms beat Harvey Gantt for Senate in 1990, it was time for me to go.

The cities are tolerable, but the rural areas, which are right at the edge of the cities, are really rural and conservative. I was there for a visit this past weekend and it reinforced to me that I was right to move.

Do your homework.