Those leaving Boston, or who have left Boston. Do You Have any Regrets? Where did you move? (Cambridge: hotel, construction)

[JustWantedToGiveMy2c]

Originally Posted by lrfox

i can't believe i didn't check back and respond.

I don't think we're on very different pages. I fully agree that the neighborhood association of the back bay mentality of preservation is part of what keeps boston great. I think preserving structures is key. I'm actually a big fan of some of the "facadectomies" taking place in town (russia wharf, filenes if it ever gets off the ground, etc) that allow for the existing external features of old buildings to enhance new buildings while remaining in place. I also think the work being done to preserve some of the most significant boston neighborhoods is excellent. Boston has a charm that is unique and we can't lose it... I cringe every time i look at a picture of dock square, scollay square, or the west end before urban renewal.

I also didn't mean to imply that northeastern cities are quick to approve development. I think the case is the opposite. I think the northeast has the fiercest opponents of it and the best preservation. The nimby culture is more predominant in this part of the country and we're better for it for the most part (with the exception of promoting low-density sprawl, etc).

We all know the west end (government center, bullfinch triangle, etc) were disasters...[continued in the original post]

excellent post!!!

[JustWantedToGiveMy2c]

Whew, this was a good thread. Just a few thoughts to the poster, didn't even really remember his name, who was ranting about "cold women" and "marijuana".

First off, yes it is true that boston women can be quite shrewd. Even the drunk girls at bars don't want to talk to you unless they already know you. I think that can be a bit frustrating and unpleasant on those nights that you just want to go out and meet some new people; it can definitely be hard in Boston.

That said though, being "loose" does not make you "liberal". A girl/woman's politcal views are not determined by "how much she puts out". In Boston, your best bet for fun is to make a few friends. Sorry but that's how it is. If you are a single guy the best way to meet women is to join a club or organization, organize a house party, or otherwise do something besides drunkenly talking to girls at bars. I don't know if this is necessarily a terrible thing.

Like I said, I wish Boston were a little more open and friendly, but I would hardly say the women are frigid because they want you to actually have something intelligent to say or not want to bone immediately upon meeting them.

Unfortunately for some, Boston tends to value intellect. Read a book and figure it out.


As for the marijuana issue, I know it's off-topic so I'll be brief: no one likes pot-head hippies. They are annoying. Not everyone who smokes pot is a pothead just like not everyone who drinks beer is an alcoholic. And yes, here pot smoking is tended to be looked at as something normal because it IS something normal.

I don't think the poster's argument about supply going up is very accurate. Yes demand may slightly increase, but the ease of carrying pot around doesn't mean people are going to get significantly higher, they will just now not feel so sketched-out about carrying it to their friend's house, even though THEY ALREADY DID THE SAME WHEN IT WAS STILL ILLEGAL. You're also still missing the point. Who cares? If people want to smoke more than they should. If I said "repealing Prohibition was a bad idea because now that people didn't have to fear they law, they would drink more. More distribution of alcohol!". Who cares? Did America fall into the 9th circle of hell? Well...due to alcohol at least.

Boston is full of excellent academic culture and the fact that you have to trade "using your brain" and "being a decent person" with "getting laid" really doesn't seem like that much of a deficit.

...I mean I'm ranting now but...that's not even totally true! Your whole paradigm isn't really anything more than a stereotype. If you are somewhat attractive you can definitely go to Allston or something and buy drinks for drunk girls in their twenties. As that game usually goes, if you have the money and superficiality to go along with it, you can do well for yourself.

Anyway, enough with beating a dead horse. Although Bostonians tend to be a bit more neurotic, the post from the guy in the south was just so...well....stupid...and just wrong on so many levels.

[readymade]

It's funny, I was reading an Austin thread about how Austin is "filled with pot users." This is kind of true... but it's also true of a LOT of places. I knew a lot of people in Boston, LA, and Austin who were daily pot smokers. There's probably a "_____ is filled with potheads!" thread for every city.

[JustWantedToGiveMy2c]

Originally Posted by JustWantedToGiveMy2c

... Who cares? If people want to smoke more than they should. If I said "repealing Prohibition was a bad idea because now that people didn't have to fear they law, they would drink more. More distribution of alcohol!". Who cares? Did America fall into the 9th circle of hell? Well...due to alcohol at least....

I wrote this really late at night, and I'm not sure if you can edit a post or not, so here is what this SHOULD say.

"Who cares? If people want to smoke more, THEN they should! If I said "reapealing Prohibition was a bad idea because it caused people to drink more, because they no longer had to fear the illegality of alcohol. This lead to an increase in the supply of alcohol." it would be obvious that I was totally missing the point. Prohibition was repealed, and alcohol supply increased, because people LIKE drinking alcohol AND (very important and) it is socially acceptable. Now we can still ask "Who cares?" Who cares if the supply of alcohol or marijuana increases? Who cares if the supply of tomatoes increases because people are eating more sandwiches? It is a stupid point to consider and really a rediculous paradigm.

That all being said, I STILL think that the fact that marijuana has been decriminilized in Boston will not account for a large increase in supply as means of supplying marijuana are still illegal. That hasn't changed. However, and to keep this somewhat on topic, the attitude towards what is actually important in life from a government perspective (healthcare) and what is not (what plant you smoke or what person you marry) is outwardly changing in this city, making it a great place to live. It's hard to leave Boston because it is great on many levels.

[Martha Anne]

Originally Posted by TheseGoTo11

You've got to be kidding me. Cobb County's "Evolution is only a Theory" stickers on biology textbooks made it a laughingstock in education. Would never send my kids there, and I'm a Republican.

There are many great school districts in Central Mass., far better than the what you get down there in strip mall paradise.

"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered.
Approved by
Cobb County Board of Education
Thursday, March 28, 2002"

Gulp! They call that education??

[Martha Anne]

Originally Posted by neil0311

For those who care, check the Newsweek list of top public high schools, check GreatSchools.com, or look at other source. Cobb County and specifically the schools in East Cobb are some of the highest performing public schools in the country. Walton HS made the top 100 on Newsweek's list and half a dozen others in Marietta made the list. More than the entire amount from MA.

But they teach that evolution is only a theory ...on par with "intelligent design", I guess!

What do you think of that? You never said..

[Martha Anne]

<<Boston residents seem to have a complete irrational fear of height in buildings. They cite the "Manhattanization" of Boston which is almost laughable. Boston won't ever be Manhattan. Even so, Manhattan is one of the most desirable urban places in the world. The South side of Boylston and the Financial District are perfect areas for high-rise development. Boston has historically had one of the lowest vacancy rates for class A office space in the country so demand is there (maybe not temporarily due to the economy though) otherwise people wouldn't want to build. Furthermore, high-rise residences (which most of the newest proposals include) could really help ease the demand for market rate housing close to downtown. Furthermore, continually shooting down proposals and making it difficult for developers to build is a bad way to keep business in Boston. We already have a hard enough time competing with the Sunbelt (not>>

I really, a New Yorker who lived in Boston (and whose family is from Cambridge, originally), find your point of view to be absolutely tragic. No wonder Boston has lost so much of what it was.

You know, buddy, not everyone wants high rise buildings all over the place. My husband works in lower Manhattan every single day. You call Manhattan super desirable? Are you serious? If that were so, why do so many tourists say: Nice place to visit but I sure wouldn't want to live there! And my husband has worked in Manhattan for decades and is a native New Yorker and does not feel as you do at all.

Nor do I. Boston was drop dead fantastic until the tall buildings all went up. Terrible loss and ruination of a wonderful town.

[1979]

Originally Posted by BostonMedic

I am born/bread Boston suburbs. Grew up in Newton (poor side). I have worked in and around Boston for 20 years.I moved to Charleston about 3 months ago for the following reasons:
Home affordability : 200K now vs. 400K there.
People
Weather
Getting sick of hearing Deval and how poor Massachusetts is.
Same political run around , except Sen.Kennedy RIP

Everyday I open my door to how nice everything is down here and I havent regretted it yet.I still havent found a decent seafood place that will serve steemeahs and chowda.But still looking.

You found a place in Charlestown for 200K?? If so, is it a tiny studio??

Also, you actually had a house in Newton you sold for ONLY 400K? How much work did it need ??

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by 1979

You found a place in Charlestown for 200K?? If so, is it a tiny studio??

Also, you actually had a house in Newton you sold for ONLY 400K? How much work did it need ??

Charleston, South Carolina

[Martha Anne]

The post said "Charleston" not "Charlestown". In other words, out of state.