[connecticut]

If yes, here's some sound advice from someone who's travelled around the U.S. & abroad, many times. I've also relocated (for different reasons,) many times. Of course, a great place to visit may not be a great place to live, at all. Prioritize what's important TO YOU. If someplace has a lot going for it, generally speaking, it probably has high taxes and crazy real estate prices. While it's good to talk to locals who've lived in a place most or all of their lives, it is a thousand times better to talk to people are "transplants" or who have at least lived for substantial periods of time in a few other places outside of the region. They will be the most objective & well-rounded with their praise & criticism. Sperling's Best Places (2003) is a great source for hard data & they disclose ALL of their sources & methodology. When it comes to climate, seasons can be very different in places that have changing seasons. For example, out west winter can be extremely cold & windy but it is usually short & sunny with long dry spells. Relatively speaking, winter may typically not be as cold in the Northeast but "wintery-weather" drags on for most of the year; it starts early, ends late & often it is very wet & gloomy. And, it is still cold. The central third of the U.S., East to West, basically has balanced seasons. Another piece of advice > From my experience, where effort is made by most people to be polite & display manners, there is more respect, friendiness and cooperation, with less stress. This expectation fosters civil interaction, not abrasiveness & hostility. This value is not to be mistaken for "chit-chat" or a lack of efficiency or honesty. There are friendly, polite people everywhere therefore, I am referring to a cultural/regional value where a majority of the people in a place expect each other to display manners & courtesy on a regular basis when out in the community (out in public.) I would also recommend NEVER relocating anywhere you can't visit for a week first ... seems like I may be giving a lot of no-brainer advice but maybe someone can use some of it somewhere. Only best wishes, to all.

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by connecticut

If yes, here's some sound advice from someone who's travelled around the U.S. & abroad, many times. I've also relocated (for different reasons,) many times. Of course, a great place to visit may not be a great place to live, at all. Prioritize what's important TO YOU. If someplace has a lot going for it, generally speaking, it probably has high taxes and crazy real estate prices. While it's good to talk to locals who've lived in a place most or all of their lives, it is a thousand times better to talk to people are "transplants" or who have at least lived for substantial periods of time in a few other places outside of the region. They will be the most objective & well-rounded with their praise & criticism. Sperling's Best Places (2003) is a great source for hard data & they disclose ALL of their sources & methodology. When it comes to climate, seasons can be very different in places that have changing seasons. For example, out west winter can be extremely cold & windy but it is usually short & sunny with long dry spells. Relatively speaking, winter may typically not be as cold in the Northeast but "wintery-weather" drags on for most of the year; it starts early, ends late & often it is very wet & gloomy. And, it is still cold. The central third of the U.S., East to West, basically has balanced seasons. Another piece of advice > From my experience, where effort is made by most people to be polite & display manners, there is more respect, friendiness and cooperation, with less stress. This expectation fosters civil interaction, not abrasiveness & hostility. This value is not to be mistaken for "chit-chat" or a lack of efficiency or honesty. There are friendly, polite people everywhere therefore, I am referring to a cultural/regional value where a majority of the people in a place expect each other to display manners & courtesy on a regular basis when out in the community (out in public.) I would also recommend NEVER relocating anywhere you can't visit for a week first ... seems like I may be giving a lot of no-brainer advice but maybe someone can use some of it somewhere. Only best wishes, to all.

Then I guess the last half of your 'advice' would pretty much ELIMINATE all of the NYC metro area (including ALL of Long Island), and ALL of Fairfield County in Connecticut. Abrasiveness & Hostility are the norm in NYC outside Manhattan and are even worse on Long Island, Westchester & Fairfield county which are the epitome of extreme sickening shallow consumerism.

Of course, it is great if you have an extra $50,000 or so to throw around so you 'shop' other parts of the country to determine where to move to.

[Dragondog]

Connecticut your ...'winter begins early and drags on for most of the year' is sheer baloney...

It is mid November here, we have had a few nights of frost, NO Snow- and of late it has been 65-70- degrees, with no days or nights in the next week going below freezing. You may have lived in many places- but from my observations you cannot tell winter from summer and autumn from spring. Your 'opine' about winter 'dragging on for most of the year' in Connecticut/the NE is a total gross exaggeration.

And as far as using Sperlings guide to the best places to live- or 'Places rated Almanac'- use these guides carefully. I know of a couple from the northeast, who followed these and 'found the perfect place' using the criteria set fourth- trouble is when they moved to their 'dream location' they hated it. The people treated them as outsiders, and they where very unhappy with the 'cultural element'- an intangible component that these 'experts' and books fail to use. When I use the word 'culture' I do not mean arts and theater etc- but the prevailing 'social mood' of a specific region.

Also I would rather have someone be honest with me, then give me a phoney smile and idle 'chit chat' any day.

[smarty]

Originally Posted by CelticLion

Connecticut your ...'winter begins early and drags on for most of the year' is sheer baloney...

It is mid November here, we have had a few nights of frost, NO Snow- and of late it has been 65-70- degrees, with no days or nights in the next week going below freezing. You may have lived in many places- but from my observations you cannot tell winter from summer and autumn from spring. Your 'opine' about winter 'dragging on for most of the year' in Connecticut/the NE is a total gross exaggeration.

.

Did you see the snow storm Buffalo NY had a few weeks ago?

Checkout the Rocky mountain states. They had snow even earlier.

My take is people look at the same thing differently. To some people 60F is COLD and others mean WARM. If I do not want snow, I would probably live in AZ, CA, FL.

[Dragondog]

Smarty

there is a distinct difference between 'winter being the predominate climate year round' and 60 degree weather. Winter is the predominate climate in Boreal climates- such as Siberia. Southern New England is a warm version of a Humid continental climate type- meaning a warm to hot long summer, with a moderately cold winter.

70 degrees is considered the 'optimum' temperature for humans. So 60 degrees is hardly 'uncomfortable' unless you are a coconut palm.

The average high temperature in San Francisco in July is 69 degrees, in Hartford it is 83. While 6 months later the average high temperature in San Francisco is 59, while in Hartford it is 37- those differences predicated on one city located on the west coast- a Mediterranean/marine climate, that is not subjected to continental polar cold air masses- which Hartford is. Nonetheless Hartford has 4 months when 'unpleasant weather' can occur- December- March, when there can be cold and snow- with intermittent thaws, that include mild temperatures.

To say that the weather in southern New England is winter like most of the year is totally incorrect. The writer above enjoys writing gross distortions to suit his/her own prejudiced views of the region.

Lastly, because of global warming, changes have already happened in southern New England and California as well. For New England those changes include hotter summers with more 90 degree days, shorter and milder winters with less snow cover. These climatic changes now allow for the growing of plant species to be grown that 30 years ago that where 'marginal' in the region. In southern New England these include giant sequoia and southern magnolia, among others. Today many types of yucca and even cold hardy palms (Sabal minor, Trachycarpus) the latter semi hardy along the Connecticut shore, Rhode Island and Cape Cod, can be experimented with.

[mels]

Originally Posted by CelticLion

To say that the weather in southern New England is winter like most of the year is totally incorrect.

I agree. Here in CT, we usually don't see measurable snow until December, and it is gone by March. January and February are the only real brutal months in CT. I guess by some standards, anything below 60 degrees is cold. If that is the case, stop whining and move out of New England. Where you live is a choice.