Thinking of Saratoga

[convergent]

We lived in the Albany area for over 20 years and just relocated to NC. We lived in Clifton Park for 13 years and Loudonville (Town of Colonie) for 8 years. I much preferred being closer to things in the Town of Colonie, but it really depends on where you will work and what you do when you are not working. If you are coming from a desert, you will be having a pretty extreme change in climate. One of the reasons we moved was that we were tired of the very long winters. From November through March it is usually pretty brutally cold. The snow will just pile up, so its not actually that big of a problem as it is too cold for it to melt usually. We had a snowblower and I prefer that over plowing or shoveling. The folks that seem to enjoy it more up there are folks that get into winter sports... sking, snowmobiling, sledding, etc. If you don't do those things, then you will find that you are stuck indoors from the cold, just like you are stuck indoors because of the heat where you are now. Personally, I like the seasons, but the winter is way to long up there for me, which is why we moved. There are other states along the eastern seaboard that have four seasons as well, that aren't as heavily biased toward the winters.. but you have to decide what you want. Albany is a great location, central to the whole northeast. You can bein NY City in a couple of hours, or Montreal in a couple of hours. You can get to the coast in about 3 hours, although we found that we needed to go down to about Maryland to find beaches that the water was warm enough for our taste... but that depends on your preferences. Just think through the weather... it will be a big change from where you are.

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by convergent

If you don't do those things, then you will find that you are stuck indoors from the cold, just like you are stuck indoors because of the heat where you are now. Personally, I like the seasons, but the winter is way to long up there for me, which is why we moved.

We moved north instead of south as we prefer the snow to heat and humidity. Also found the south lacking in friendliness and in all honesty wasn't no financial bargain. Family is in VT, so since we are retired we can take off to the beach for a month or two to break up the winter. There are lots of winter sports or organizations/community to get involved in which will pass those five months. The weather in spring, summer and fall is beautiful in the North Country. Life is what we make it.

[convergent]

Originally Posted by Ellwood

We moved north instead of south as we prefer the snow to heat and humidity. Also found the south lacking in friendliness and in all honesty wasn't no financial bargain. Family is in VT, so since we are retired we can take off to the beach for a month or two to break up the winter. There are lots of winter sports or organizations/community to get involved in which will pass those five months. The weather in spring, summer and fall is beautiful in the North Country. Life is what we make it.

Well you are talking about someone moving from a desert, so that's why I posted that. I totally agree that life is what you make it. I agree that the spring, summer, and fall are wonderful in the north country, but those three seasons occur in about 6-7 months. The rest is a pretty harsh winter. If someone is looking for 4 full seasons, then a little farther south (not THE south, but just farther south... say Pennsylvania) is going to give a more balanced four seasons, although I've never lived there. My wife is from Vermont, so I'm somewhat familiar with it... but never lived there. It is a beautiful state.

The only thing I'd disagree with you on is the friendliness comment. Not sure where in the south you lived, but we just moved to North Carolina and its night and day different (more friendly) than the Albany area for us. That isn't a reason alone why I'd move somewhere though.

My main point of my post was to point out that the Albany area winters are harsh. It is not a matter of a few snowfalls. I remember a particularly harsh winter where it didn't go above freezing once for about four months. They aren't all like that, but it does get to be long, come the end of January, I was pretty much done with it and looking for spring. Even though life is what you make it, life up there is MUCH more happy if you enjoy winter sports. We don't, and it took us a while to figure that out. There are plenty of people that love winter sports and would never move.

[adkmtngirl]

Hi,

I was born in central NY, but spent my first 8 years outside Las Vegas, NV. My family moved back to upstate NY in '88 and lived in several different places in the state since. I currently have an apartment in Ballston Lake, about 8 miles north of Clifton Park center. I would highly recommend this area and the surrounding Ballston Spa and Round Lake towns. They are convienant to both the Northway (I-87) and Rt. 9 (which runs parallel), have that small town feel, yet are a quick ride to Albany, and Saratoga. Besides the lakes, there are several bike trails very close by that are just beautiful. One even goes right through a park/playground with tennis courts, soccerfield, volleyball and basketball courts. It also has large grassy areas perfect for frisbee! Lots of historical sites; and central NY has the Farmers Museum and the Erie Canal Village. There are forts and museums to visit all over the state!

I highly doubt you would regret moving here. My family has always been big on outdoor activities and with the Adirondacks so close, the kids shouldn't ever be bored for lack of things to do. I and my sister were 8yrs. when we moved back to NY and we adapted very well to the weather. I think the hardest part of winter is learning how to drive in slush, but even that comes with patience. They are pretty good when it comes to clearing the roads, so just take it easy and don't rush. I think Jan-March is probably the coldest, and 20's-30's is normal daytime temps. Layer your clothes and you'll be fine.

I hope this helps a little. Sorry it's so long, but I'm moving to Bangor, Maine in January and I'm getting homesick already!

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by convergent

The only thing I'd disagree with you on is the friendliness comment. Not sure where in the south you lived, but we just moved to North Carolina and its night and day different (more friendly) than the Albany area for us. That isn't a reason alone why I'd move somewhere though.

We now live in Saratoga, Quaker Springs area. People are very friendly. Neighbors and people we have met are extremely helpful to the point of helping install a 40+ post fence. We found SC people still resent the northerners and although friendly to our face not sincere.