[JoyCA]

I would love to hear feedback if anyone has moved from Southern California to Hartford area (looking at Farmington, Glastonbury, Avon, Simsbury, or Weatogue). Have read on here that people are snootier and it's hard to break into "groups" that have formed. Makes me feel a bit nervous about the move.
This sight has been very insightful on schools...I'm trying to find answers about gate (gifted and talented education) programs (so far have learned Hebron Ave. elem in Glastonbury offers it, Roaring Brook in Avon doesn't). Also learned Hebron Ave. offers foreign language, Avon school system starts language in 6th grade. Can anyone give me any suggestions as to how to find out this info on gate, foreign language offered, music/art programs short of calling every elementary? (I'm considering: Hebron Ave. & Eastbury in Glastonbury, Roaring Brook in Avon, Latimer Lane in Weatogue, Central elem. & Tootin Hills in Simsbury, and East Farms in Farmington). Love to hear comments on any of these schools. PTA, special programs, chess club, art club, etc.
Also I'd like to find out more about what the communities offer - public library programs, parks and rec programs, public pool swimming. Are any better than the rest? Is there a waterpolo program anywhere?
Thanks for any feedback - Joy

[skytrekker]

Joy

Welcome to the area- hope others who have relocated here can give a relatively fair and unbiased answer to your questions.

Many California plates seen locally.

[JayCT]

Hi Joy - Welcome to this site and hopefully welcome to Connecticut. I am sure you will like it here. The Hartford area is great. It has a lot to do and is very liveable. I can fill you in on Glastonbury.

First the schools here are excellent. I wouldn't rule out any of the schools in town because they all follow the same curriculum. All of elementary schools in Glastonbury offer foreign language startiing in 1st grade. It is basically where a Foreign Language teacher comes into the class for 10 to 15 minutes each day and goes through some basic exercises. My kids went to Naubuc and had Spanish which I believe is what most of the elementary schools offer. In 6th grade, students here all go to the same school (Gideon Welles) and they begin with standard foreign language classes. They have a choice in 6th to continue with the language they had in elementary school or switch. I believe Spanish and French are offered. All of the elementary schools offer regular art and music classes every week and there are band and orchestra as well. THe PTO's in every school are VERY activitive and the schools encourage parent participation as much as poosible. It is amazing how much these organizations do every year.

I do not think that people here are snooty, but they can be a bit reserved. There are cliques, but there are so many people moving into and out of town that I am sure you will find people you will like. You may just need to make an effort to get to know them by joining in on activites like the Newcomers Club, PTO, the library.

Glastonbury has four swimming places. Eastbury Pond is a small swimming hole with a sandy beach in East Glastonbury. There are two outdoor pools, the Grange Pool in South Glastonbury and Addison Pool in North Glastonbury. All are very nice and open to town residents for a very small fee. There is also an indoor pool at the high school which is open year round for swimming. It is being remodeled, so it too is very nice. Glastonbury Parks and Rec offers a LOT of wonderful programs. We particularly like the summer day camps they offer for kids. My kids loved them because they did so much and had great well trained counselors.

Glastonbury also has a great public library, Welles Turner with very extensive resources. There are also two smaller charming libraries in town, one in East Glastonbury and the other in South Glastonbury. There are a lot of reading programs offered year round including a bedtime reading hour every week and a summer reading challenge.

I do not think any of the towns you are considering would be a bad choice. I would however recommend considering living as close to work as possible. While traffic here in the Hartford area is no where near as bad as some areas of California, comuting through Hartford can be a challenge. If you will be working in or south or east of Hartford, I would consider Glastonbury. If you are working in or west or north of Hartford then I would consider Farmington or Simsbury.

By the way Weatogue is part of Simsbury. Also note that we have family living in Simsbury (their kids went to Tootin Hills) and they have excellent programs and schools as well. You can't go wrong with any of them. If you need any other information, just ask. Jay

[JoyCA]

Thanks so much for all the insight...my only hesitation on Glastonbury is the high property tax rate. Seems to be the highest around. I figured it must have superior schools or community services compared to Simsbury, Farminington or Avon?
Is there anywhere to live on a lake where you can have jet skis within a 20 minute drive of East Hartford? Would it possible to commute (within an hour drive) and live on the ocean? (I'm guessing the ocean is not near enough.)
Have spent hours reading all everyone here has written for the past month or so and it is invaluable! Thanks!

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by JoyCA

Thanks so much for all the insight...my only hesitation on Glastonbury is the high property tax rate. Seems to be the highest around. I figured it must have superior schools or community services compared to Simsbury, Farminington or Avon?
Is there anywhere to live on a lake where you can have jet skis within a 20 minute drive of East Hartford? Would it possible to commute (within an hour drive) and live on the ocean? (I'm guessing the ocean is not near enough.)
Have spent hours reading all everyone here has written for the past month or so and it is invaluable! Thanks!

Glastonbury does have high taxes- and yes its school system is rated 'superior'.

As for your need of a lake that allows Jet Skis- try Bashan lake in East Haddam- about 30-35 minutes SE from Hartford.
Bashan Lake of Connecticut

[JayCT]

I do not know that I agree that the taxes are high in Glastonbury. It depends what you compare them to. I believe West hartford's taxes are higher, but Farmington's are probably lower (there is alot of tax base there). I would also guess they are comparable to Simsbury.

Anyway, since you are talking about working in East Hartford, I would stay east of the river. Homes here are generally less expensive. There are a couple of lakes in the area you could check out. Glastonbury has one small lake, Diamond Lake but I do not think they allow motor sports. Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton is probably the closest to East Hartford. It is fairly large (512 acres) and does allow motor boats. Schools in East Hampton are considered good but I have heard both good and bad about them.

Another lake nearby would be Amston Lake in Hebron and Lebanon. They do not allow motor boats but I am not sure if they allow jet skis. The schools in Hebron are considered to be very good. People I know there like them a lot and Hebron is a beautiful rural community.

Other lakes nearby include Coventry Lake and Andover Lake. Not sure if they allow skis or not. Jay

[JayCT]

Forgot to add that you could probaly get to the Connecticut shore (Long Island Sound) in about an hour depending where you are living and the time of day. There are a lot of people that do this. Jay

[chionactis]

We moved this June from Phoenix, AZ area (not So. Cal but similar) and now live in Hebron/Amston, CT.
I can tell you that I do not miss AZ at all, after living there for 7 years!
I have not come accross any snobby/snooty people either - in fact, everyone I have come accross have been very welcoming and friendly.
My children are young though my oldest will start 1st grade this fall. She will attend school at Gilead Hill School. I have been told right from the start of our search to live in this area of CT that the schools are excellent in this area.
My husband is working in Glastonbury. We could not afford housing in Glastonbury but found a great house in Hebron/Amston for $400K. This area is rural - nothing at all like it was in Gilbert, AZ where we lived. Where we lived in Gilbert, for example, there were 4 major grocery stores, 2 Wal -Marts, a Home Depot and a Lowes - all within 4 miles of our house. We find ourselves having to drive a bit now to get to such places, but we live right off route 2 and it isn't really all that bad - I don't mind - we just plan our trips better now.
Besides, it is BEAUTIFUL here! I can only imagine what it will look like when the leaves turn color in the fall.
I really believe our quality of life will be so much better living here.

[heather1223]

I moved to Glastonbury from Southern California four years ago with my husband and love it here! The people are different here, but I find them to be more genuine than people in southern california, and there is no comparison with the schools. Connecticut schools are amazing!

Just so you know...Glastonbury has gifted and talented programs on a district basis. All schools in Glastonbury have a gifted program that begins in 3rd grade. In Glastonbury, all of the schools are amazing. I have heard that there is better diversity and that it is more "down to earth" at Naubuc and Hebron Avenue Schools in Glastonbury, but you will be happy with any school in this town.

[connkid]

I agree with Heather 1223's comment's. I moved to Northern Calif. (San Francisco Bay area) from Windsor, and it is definitely a culture shock, to say the least, especially regarding the people in CA vs. CT.

People in CA, for the most part, tend to be very superficial and shallow. They are very much from the school of me-me-me, and to blazes with you! CA is the embodiment of a hedonistic and narcissistic society, where people are so keen to keep-up wth the Jones', and measure other people, not by their character, but by what vehicle they are driving, or the $150.00 designer jeans you're wearing! The almighty dollar in CA is God, and they use the dollar sign as a measure of the individual. They are friendly, but for the most part it's a facade.

Heather made the comment about how she has found people in CT to be more genuine. She has hit the nail on the head when it comes to people in CT, or from the Northeast, for that matter. New Englander's may appear to be a bit stand-offish at first when you meet them, but what you find is that once they get to know you -and you are genuine in character-you have a friend, not an acquaintance, or fair-weather friend as you find in CA folks! Since living out here, I always remember this statement quite frequently: 'In CA it's easy to have a lot of acquaintance's, but true friends are hard to come by!'

There is one statement that I'll always remember as long as I live in CA, and I believe succinctly sums-up the Golden State. I hadn't been living in CA very long when I met a gent from NY (Brooklyn). We were comparing notes on the people in CA vs. the Northeast. After we had finished discussing-and agreeing on our 'laundry list' of items about the 'right coast' vs. CA, - (one of which is the lack of genuine friendliness on the part of Californians') -he turned to me and said 'I've found the unfriendliness to be an inherent part of the state's landscape, and I know why the people act the way they do here' I asked him what he had found in this vast cultural wasteland. He stated: 'You know what? California is a lonely mans' paradise!" A truer statement one could never make about the mass of humanity they call California!!!