Page 11 - Wilkes County NCG

Wilkes County

IS A
Relocation Destination

by Michael Hall
W live after Fred’s retirement subdivision are walkers,” Fred
hen Fred and Linda Costello
“Many of the neighbors in our
considered where they would

from a 43-year career as a
dentist, Linda took the lead. Costello said. “So in the period
of about two months, we knew
“She said, ‘you picked where we lived when all of our neighbors very, very
you worked. I get to pick where we live well. In Florida we knew
when we retire,’” Fred Costello chuckled.
hundreds of people, but none
It didn’t take Linda long to settle on Wilkes of them were our neighbors.”
County, where the family had already
maintained a vacation home for 17 years in That showed Costello their move from
the Moravian Falls community. That was in movement of people leaving major cities for
early 2020. By the time the couple and their Ormond Beach, Fla., to Wilkes County was more relaxed and bucolic settings. Combined
six-year-old grandchild arrived, COVID-19 the right call. with the No. 12 lowest cost of living in North
pandemic restrictions had been imposed The Costellos are not alone. Wilkes County Carolina, according to Niche.com, and
on gatherings and how nearly everyone has seen an influx of people moving to ample outdoor recreation opportunities,
conducted business. So, to entertain the area to take advantage of the lifestyle Wilkes County has become a popular
themselves, the Costellos took to the streets. here. The pandemic only accelerated the relocation destination.
“Wilkesboro is relaxed, laid back, friendly,”
Costello said. “It’s not the hustle and bustle of
where we used to live. What made me want
to move here was the community feeling.”
Since arriving, Costello, a former Ormond
Beach mayor and Florida state representative,
said his family has found a strong faith
community and good people they can trust.
“It makes us feel at home,” Costello said. Linda
has joined a local quilters group. Fred joined
the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce, the
North Wilkesboro Rotary Club, and has gone
through the Leadership Wilkes program.
“Everyone is here to support each other, and
we like that,” Costello said. “It has a feeling of
home. When you come here, you’ll spend a
couple of days and let your blood pressure go
down a little bit. Take a short hike. Take a bike
ride on the (Yadkin River) Greenway, go visit
FRED & LINDA COSTELLO the museum, and you’ll end up meeting
people and never wanting to leave.”

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