Welcome to the Bible Belt!
I totally get it. My daughter and I can meet in the middle, but nobody else in my family understands how I can cope WITHOUT god.
Vent away, if you’re stressed, many of us here to listen and offer support.
I hope the stress decreases as you settle in. Hang in there!

You have my sympathies. Boundaries!!!!! Maintaining strong ones will be very important moving forward.
I find it helpful to keep the focus on whatever project is at hand, cleaning, cooking all the physical aspects of caring for an elderly parent. Put your foot down - nicely of course - that there is no need to discuss your personal choices and that you have no interest in hers.
That said, no snow but humidity is terrrible!!
You can ALWAYS vent on this site and everyone is here to support you!

Wow, CO to SC … and I thought my move from OR to VA was a shock.. You must be totally surrounded by dripping religion & southern drawl. At least you can vote/ campaign against Lindsey Sounds like …Hell ..though, as mentioned - you can’t even use that!

Cost of living is something, isn’t it? The Portland metro area back in OR had gone nuts! Over here, SW Virginia, I likely spent a third of what I’d have paid for a comparable house ‘back home.’ And if it weren’t for: the bugs, humidity, churches and trumpers, it’d be near perfect.

But you’re even further down there… Don’t know how SC produced Stephen Colbert, though he’s got a foot in religion, too..

I’ve always recognized it being harder on a daily basis for we Atheists, having to deal with everything in a realistic way. But it’s when we ‘hit the wall’ that we shine! Religionists appear to happily bob along, but when hitting that same wall - they burst Not accustomed to viewing reality straight on, when their god-tainted glasses break, so do they. We struggle, but trudge ahead ..like we always have.

Thought I might break, having lost a lot.. But through the tears, emerged … into ..a land of bugs, humidity, chur… Stay real ~

You are welcome. Sometimes we just have to walk away when they start rambling.

Thoughts: Originally from the open minded diverse parts of CA, I wound up in Idaho, which most don’t realise is as biblebelt (though more LDS), right wing trump stupid as the south, complete with confederate flags and a drawl. But as others have said, there are like minds hidden in corners, or if not minds than hearts who will accept you for your obviously good one (taking care of Dad despite the drawbacks). And yes, to find peace/happiness it is incumbent on us to find our purpose in life without the aid of a fairytale or promised payback. Right now, your Dad is that too, but is seems you know yourself well enough to find more of the inner “happy place” to balance the outer BS that will come at you from your sister et al. I do animal volunteer stuff and it muffles much of that BS noise so I don’t focus on it. Allow the beautiful weather, or cost of living that can allow you more comfort, or whatever other positives come from your new digs to our weigh the negatives. And when the noise eeks in, use this site to remind yourself you’re not alone...we understand, empathise, and have your back.

I traveled to Greenville on business until recently, frequently, over 15 years. Yes, it is heavy-duty Bible Belt, and solidly right-wing politics. But despite me being hardcore liberal and non religious, I developed many good friendships. Enjoy the good food, good music, and warm climate. Make the best of it. Most of all, know that you are following your heart in supporting your father as he ages, and be strong in your commitment to him. Be kind to your sister, and if that proves impossible because of her behavior, then go about your business and find ways to make yourself happy. I wish you well.

I know it’s tough. I haven’t moved physically but have moved religiously and emotionally. That changes interactions with friends and family. I’m still in North Carolina but night as well be hundreds of miles away.

@CopperPenny

You have my sympathy. Hang in there.

Being an atheist, you will still curse at deities when it involves humidity. I do wish you the best.

Welcome to the asylum. Enjoy your stay.

Hang in there.
It may feel like you're all alone, but there are more atheists here in the South than most people realize.
Some of us just don't let everyone know we're here.
Not me, of course, I'm completely out and defiant about it, but not everyone is.

This is a great place to come and be yourself.

Hang in there!!!

Welcome to the site. We hope we can give you a little stress relief.

I think i understand,I live in sheltered accommodation In Northern Ireland, It is beautiful here, before we came out I used to think it was always dark and people were always letting off firecrackers and bobs & being very noisy. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was and I love it here in Ballycastle.So I am wishing an hoping for you that you get some time off without your sister and don't ever think of becoming a drudge

Hope things settle and become less stressful. Yes, being the adult is not easy. Your father is lucky to have you as a part of his life.

Dear CopperPenny,

I have only been on this site for a few months and have found it very comforting and reassuring to know that there are like-minded people.
I live in Virginia and moat people I know are very religious. So I can empathize.
Please come here to vent, express your feelings, frustartions, and joys. Whatever.
I have found that people will listen and respond on this site.

HumanistJohn

Go back! Lol you only have one life..

Welcome! Always nice to import another atheist to the bible belt! I moved to Greenville from Detroit in 1998. It's changed a lot since then. Hope you and your family are doing well. I'm sure your dad is glad to have his daughters nearby.

Yes, being fully responsible is difficult at times, but the balance, on the other end is wonderful too. Take a deeper breath, be outside when you can and it's all good! Hugs!

Congratulations on your move, I hope it will be a positive change for you! Remember to take some time for yourself; it sounds like you're in a stressful situation. Having some time to just relax and decompress will make a big difference in your well-being, especially during this adjustment period.

I hear you. I grew up in the relative sanity of the Pacific Northwest(Seattle), though my parents were wingnuts. I have been in the Deep South the past 30 years. Believe it or not, there are a few atheists over here. ...I might just know all of them, lol. It is very helpful to connect with the freethinkers wherever you are.

But you mentioned wishing you could blame a deity for shit. Funny, because Christians I see who are in therapy for depression and anxiety torture themselves over the notion that their god must be cruel to put such suffering into his "master plan" or else they fret over what they must have done to deserve their suffering...yes, they blame themselves for shit that had nothing to do with anything they did or chose.

As for loving where you are, I embrace the weather, as it gives me long seasons for gardening, my personal resource for exercise and meditation with nature.

Good luck

I had live near Pickens which is not far from Greenville when I was a senior in high school I enjoyed the sweetness of the southern community back then.

never backward only forward. Cant look backward because youve been there you can't go back. Cant look to hard at the present because as soon as you do youre looking backward. Always forward.

Keep plugging away. I know it doesn't help to say it, but many of us are in a similar boat. If it helps to express yourself here, feel free to do so. Let us be an outlet.