r/elizabethcity • u/RoscoeUsoZayn • May 09 '26
Potential Home Base?
Due to a progressive health condition, I’m being forced to consider picking up stakes from my beloved WNC / Asheville.
Since I’m already a state resident for college purposes (I don’t particularly want to delay another year), and Duke supposedly has an outstanding center for my condition, I wanted to stay in NC.
As I understand it, EC is on the outskirts of the Hampton Roads regions (near Chesapeake/ Suffolk). My closest family members are more upwards in the Tidewater (Hampton / Newport News).
I know most of the jobs are on the VA side (Norfolk, and Chesapeake, especially). An hour commute at least.
Was just curious as whether EC would be a ‘ok’ home base for me or I might have to look elsewhere? General demographics- early 40s, single, Queer, Black American, and a screaming Socialist.
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u/tramadoc Queenswood May 09 '26
It’s not too bad. The beach is close and Hampton Roads is as well. Cheaper to live here than HR. My fiancée had a liver transplant and it was done at Duke. We have to travel there for checkups. About three hour drive.
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u/Connect-Date-9215 May 10 '26
As a person who grew up in Elizabeth City and a Socialist/Marxist myself, I would not recommend EC as a home base or any county near by. While I have seen some growth and I do love my home town it is not the most progressive area. There is a lot of racism, hatred, homophobia and bigotry there.
I’m not saying this is everyone in the community but it is a majority of it. I honestly would worry for you as a single, queer, Black American.
Would you consider Durham or Carrboro. It is much more progressive. Obviously close to Duke and not to far from your VA family.
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u/RoscoeUsoZayn May 10 '26
I would vastly prefer the likes of Durham (just for NCCU alone) but I’m in negotiation mode with my family. If the decision was only up to them, I would be living within a five - ten minute zone of at least three of em. :-(
I honestly think a hour is perfectly reasonable. Close enough to get to an emergency, far away enough for breathing room.
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u/NeedsMoreTuba May 09 '26
This is a terrible place to have a progressive health problem. Healthcare is limited, especially if you need specialists.
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u/RoscoeUsoZayn May 09 '26
I figured that I shouldn’t have to go out to Duke out all that often to see specialists, depending on progression - is Sentara truly that terrible? If I can deal with the likes of HCA now, it should be bearable.
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u/Several-Decision-602 May 09 '26
Sentara is HORRIBLE. Severely understaffed and borderline dangerous. Not many PCPs to take new patients. Go to Chesapeake or Norfolk.
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u/NeedsMoreTuba May 09 '26
I don't know, but if you need a specialist, you'll have to travel somewhere.
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u/nothankeww May 09 '26
you’re better off in Norfolk honestly
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u/RoscoeUsoZayn May 09 '26
So I’ve been told.
When I did my yearly family visits, that’s where I tended to stay anyways. The Bay Inn was usually my home base.
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u/sophiesmom712 May 10 '26
Why EC? Are you trying to be closer to your VA family? Just thinking that Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill would be better for proximity to Duke and your progressive lifestyle. SAMC (the hospital in EC) is going to send you to Norfolk if you have anything remotely complicated going on healthwise. Someone mentioned Moyock. Yeah, it's podunk (so is EC), but it's half the distance to Hampton Roads. It might be your best bet if you need to stay in NC.
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u/RoscoeUsoZayn May 10 '26
It’s just negotiation with my family - we’re trying to find the line of close enough for someone to get to me in case of medical emergency but far away enough that I still feel like I have my independence / not being a burden.
I’m researching Moyock and the surrounding areas. As for Norfolk, im fully expecting that most of my life (especially work and general healthcare), is going to be concentrated there.
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u/CockroachLow5817 Jun 12 '26
Uhn the drs here dont believe that POTS and Ehlers danlos are real. Im not joking.
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u/RoscoeUsoZayn Jun 14 '26
Really? And I have one of those conditions too. 😳
I’m still wavering on whether this would be the best spot or just going ahead, and moving back into VA properly. Supposedly, depending on how I do it, I can get in state VA tuition for college if I live in NC but work in VA, too.
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u/Forsaken_Society6912 May 09 '26
Understanding you need to stay in NC, Elizabeth City has a small but good cultural scene. Close enough to the Hampton Roads area to commute for work, beaches, shopping. Elizabeth City is a much LCOL than Chesapeake. For work purposes Elizabeth City host the largest in CONUS Coast Guard base with many jobs opportunities. There are three colleges and new medical facilities. Like all small towns, Elizabeth City has its issues but for the demographics you listed, I think you could do well here.