[Skatergirl]

We've got a new mini van and a newer passat. The op is correct with the cost assesement.

Originally Posted by mels

I have to agree, no way is anyone paying $3K in car taxes unless you are driving a really sweet ride that set you back a couple hundred thousand. I lived in a very high tax city for a brief time and even my car tax there on a brand new vehicle was no more than $700. Not every place is for everyone and to each their own, but there is no reason to just make up reasons why it is so terrible here when there are plenty of legitimate gripes to be made about CT!

[Sierra2Caden]

Ok, I am from CT. Moved out in 98 to NC (the Mountain area). I have lived in 2 different counties and hated both of them. I have never met the most unfriendly, judgmental, shove our religion down your throat, people in my life. My husband who was born and raised in NC, can't even stand it and could not wait to get out. He agreed with me on how the people were. It was not just him, most everyone I talked with said the same thing. And mind you that all these people either lived there or came from some where else. I even had one woman I worked with tell me that maybe if I went to church I would have friends. Huh? Sorry, but if I have to go to church to have friends, then your not worth having.
I have found in my 8 years of living there, I had no friends, it took 45 min to go out to eat at a nice place, that is not BBQ, There are more churches then people, you need to drive the right SVU, wear the right clothes, live in the right house, and go to the right church to be anybody and have friends. The high light of the day is sitting on your front porch watching everyone drive by and wondering where they are going or came from. The food selection sucks and you can't get any good seafood or Pizza. The Education sucks and on the top list for things for kids to do was what drug, drink or guy to get knocked up by, Sorry, but not what I want for my kids. We live in SC right now and it's just as bad. Oh and lets not forget about the snow! OMG, I about died laughing when it snows. Everyone drives under 5mph with just a dusting of snow on the ground and forget about getting Milk, Eggs, and Bread. There is none.
I have finally talked my husband (who is a mama's boy), to move up north. I want to go back to CT, but hearing about expense, I am not so sure. I love everything CT has to offer.

[markablue]

Keep it on topic, please. Politics and religious issues belong elsewhere in these forums, local problems included.

[wanderintonc]

Maybe a larger city would be a better setting for you. I know for me, it is-I would not be happy living either in rural CT or NC.

[jensen beach gal]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

NYS or NYC?

New York State, Poughkeepsie.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

When considering a move to NC from a Northeast state, I suggest you concentrate on the Raleigh and Charlotte Metro areas. Most people I hear of tha complain about their move to NC made the mistake of moving to more rural and undeveloped areas like Rocky Mount, Creedmoor, or Zebulon. It is in these more rural areas that you have poor job prospects, weaker schools, and very limited entertainmens options.

Raleigh and Charlotte on the other hand have strong job markets, good schools overall and lots of entertainment opyions. If you stick to exploring these areas you will be better prepared to make an informed decision. Beware of folks who wright off the entire state of NC just beacause they choose a small rural town and that lifestyle didn't work out for them. All of NC is not like that and to make such braod generalizations is a big mistake.

[cherylsass123]

CT? or NC ?

well the pros and cons , for myself anyway; on SSDI and a poor transsexual woman in transition from the " he lie" for too long, she lived ; to the SHE she always was. with my mom, whom I've been living with here in southbury for the past 8 years getting sick and now in assisting living ; the condo soon to be sold; I had considered moving to NC for a while ; as well as upstate new york; because it is cheaper to live and NOT nearly as COLD IN WINTER as even here is.

connecticut
pro- here I got my driver's license with my " new gender" on it , even though I have not yet done the SRS sugery ; with just a psycologist's letter of gender identity disorder

con- CT people seem to be very cliquish and making friends is not easy unless " you are one of them" and fit in. [ at least here in the southbury-waterbury area ]

pro- my low cost transgender clinic is in manhattan,NYC - from southbury that is about 35 min drive to southeast NY and then, 1-1/2 hrs on the TRAIN!
pro- CT has hate crimes laws

con- on just $643 a month , everything in CT is expensive , and the sect 8 lists are long, and even if I could get that ; what landlord in any safe area of CT will take that??? I'd have to live in waterbury, bridgeport, willimantic, torrington and in the ghettos of those places!

con- traffic sucks and many of the drivers tend to be rude, tailgaters, on these overcrowded two lane " country roads"

pro-I have my brother here in bridgeport and sister in long island,NY ; both who seem to accept me , sort of.

pro- even if people think I'm " ***** " in CT ; they pretty much leave me alone; except in the " hoodish" cities like new haven, etc. [ working class straight black and hispanic MEN into hip hop act just like the worst rednecks do! worse actually! LOL]

NORTH CAROLINA .

pro- those blue ridge mtns around asheville and boone are as pretty as here

PRO-mobile homes on land rent from $400-500!

PRO- southern " soul food " is delicious[ not for those on some stupid diet!] and the restaurants are cheaper in NC

PRO- even in asheville [ which is more expensive with rentals starting at $550 up for 1BR apts] the winters are half as long as here in CT

PRO . more courteous drivers and a better freeway system. with more four lane country roads.

PRO/CON all one from here in CT [ or any other state, canadian province] to prove who they are is their out of state driver's license . for me, this would mean doing the makeup just right and that F in CT = F in north carolina [ so far??? {but for how long?}they will not ask for my NY state birth certificate which still says " M" on it as secondary " proof of identity" !

CON- no anti-discrimination or hate crimes laws for GLBT people or anybody of " diversity"

CON- landlords can and will discriminate based on their " moral religious convictions"

CON- social services are not nearly as good as either connecticut or new york

CON- employers can also discriminate against me in NC [ it is not california!]

CON-there is probably nothing available as far as low cost transgender clinics like callen lorde are concerned

CON- food stamps would be lower

CON- no rental help for the low income [ unlike CT ,NY or CALIF. ]

alternative plan: rural humboldt and siskiyou counties in california have many places;apts, small homes and trailers which rent for $450 -$600 or less the same for OREGON . NEW MEXICO IS CHEAP and mobile homes in the " country" rent for under $500 easily- all three are transgender-friendly states just like connecticut and have that laid back western lifestyle!

[poodlecamper]

Another interesting thing is that while the cost of public college education in NC is lower, it is very common for students to go to school longer that the traditional 4-years. Other friends that went to NC State schools found that it was necessary to go an extra year to complete their degree because it they were unable to get into certain classes. This was due to no fault of theirs, the classes just were not open and they had to stay that extra year. Their mother noted that when all the costs were added up, the final cost was comparable to UConn or othe Connecticut State Universities. Jay[/quote]

I have to comment on this: my son, and my neighbor's daughter will both be attending Southern CT Univ for 5 years because 1) There are not enough "required" classes available for the number of students needing to take them, and 2) both have been misdirected by student advisers and taken unnecessary classes. My son registered on day 1 for a class and received a letter 5 WEEKS LATER that the class was cancelled---too late now to find a suitable repalcement class. So all is not rosy in CT education either.

[jeremeyk482]

Originally Posted by poodlecamper

Another interesting thing is that while the cost of public college education in NC is lower, it is very common for students to go to school longer that the traditional 4-years. Other friends that went to NC State schools found that it was necessary to go an extra year to complete their degree because it they were unable to get into certain classes. This was due to no fault of theirs, the classes just were not open and they had to stay that extra year. Their mother noted that when all the costs were added up, the final cost was comparable to UConn or othe Connecticut State Universities. Jay

I have to comment on this: my son, and my neighbor's daughter will both be attending Southern CT Univ for 5 years because 1) There are not enough "required" classes available for the number of students needing to take them, and 2) both have been misdirected by student advisers and taken unnecessary classes. My son registered on day 1 for a class and received a letter 5 WEEKS LATER that the class was cancelled---too late now to find a suitable repalcement class. So all is not rosy in CT education either.[/quote]

Wow, you have hit it on the head! College students in the state univ. system are subject to horrible advisers who, as you said, misdirect students. This tacks on another year or so for school. It's ridiculous!

[ACDelgado]

Hello Limbo,

I just read your post and had to respond. I didn't grow up in CT but my children did (my “baby” is 17). I have lived in Norwich, CT for about 18 years. I grew up in Bloomington, IN and moved to CT 23 years ago this summer. I have lived a couple of years in VA, New Port News/ York Town area and spent a little time on a couple of occasions in NC. I've been to Greenville, NC and Goldsborough, NC. I have a son, 24, that is Fayetteville, NC at the moment. If I were to consider living in NC I would consider Goldsborough, from what I know. The people were very friendly and the town seemed very nice. I would say it is worth some research. I don't plan to move out of Norwich at this time though. I have considered it because of the growing traffic but that is the only reason. I find there is a setting you can call home no matter what you are looking for here.
You can get in a situation where you are working to pay the mortgage anywhere. You can also make it work so that you have time for your children anywhere. I love this area and see that it has a lot to offer a growing family. I especially like our local High School, Norwich Free Academy (NFA), and at least two of my children have mentioned how happy they are that they went there on more than one occasion.
My daughter (left for college and doesn’t like winter) has said many times that even if she lives someplace else she would want to move back so that her children could go to NFA, My son, in Fayetteville, NC., is looking forward to moving back to CT. Another son, 21 who has considered moving to VA beach (likes the beach front area) has found a place he likes just as well in Waterford, CT.

I like CT because it has so much to offer with in a short driving distance. It is rich in things to see, do and learn from. The question would be what works best for you and your family on a daily basis. I believe you could find a home in CT that fits for you if this is where you want to be.
I hope this helps.