Claude,
Got to get used to flat land. If you get bored by the horizon and have to have a hill in the distance, not your place. Also have to like pine and black gum trees.
Roaches are not that bad. Just a part of the South. Keep the dishes washed and the trash taken out and the floor mopped and have the exterminator come by once a month. Also, no brown wingtip shoes. They have an affection for brown wingtips, and decoy to them with love in their hearts.
If you really have to have a dose of big city, Houston is only three hours away. A day there will cure you and your wife from having to have a mall down the street. Hey, Lafayette is bad enough traffic-wise, but nothing like Houston, Austin, or San Antone.
Never been to Syracuse or Albany myself, but if you are an urban type, you will have no problems finding what you need in the Lafayette or Lake Charles area. Just like the rest of America.
Humidity? There are a few dry cool days. Learn to enjoy them.
I say head on down.
JB

Just to expand on what JB was saying...

The Lafayette area would be the perfect place for you to move to if you decide to move down to Louisiana. IMO, it is nowhere near as bad down here as many people have made it out to be on this thread. Just this weekend I was talking to a lady from Massachusetts and she told me she had been debating for years whether or not she should move down here until finally she took the plung and she told me it was the best decision she had ever made and is loving it down here.

Claude, Quel courage! You will get used to the humidity Cher. Keep your kitchen or food stuff area clean and an occasionally spray of insecticide and you will be fine. I haven't seen a roach in years. In the evenings I would suggest using mosquito spray (deet)because of the threat of bird flu. Let us know what you decide. Bonne chance, Wm.

Wash. DC/ Metro area. 6/8/07
99 Deg. High humidity, hazy. Traffic, air quality poor.
Louisiana sounds better to me now.

Craig

Poo-Yie! (Wow! for you) sounds like Louisiana in mid August. Drink plenty of beer......or other...... liquids to stay hydrated. Mais, venir nous voir, cher.

LA isn't for the faint at heart. If it is any consolation, I wouldn't move up north simply because I dont wanna play in the snow. The heat aint so bad all the time. As far as da hurricanes, they come and they go. but all, and all I wouldn't live any where else but southwest louisiana. As far as I am concerned the world stops at the Texas line. LOL

Hehehehe. David J you are correct, I had chances of moving to Houston, Lufkin and Oak Ridge, Oregon. Oregon!? Do they even have rice there? I declined the offers. There's no place like home.