[JViello]

Originally Posted by jensen beach gal

We are definetly leaving-just have to figure out where we can have a better balance. Good Luck.

I lived in FL for a good long time and know what you mean totally...I then made the mistake thinking half way back (NC) might be a good solution - BZZZT wrong answer, I would rather have been in FL! When and where I lived in FL it wasn't "full" of Yankees yet though but more than NC is to date.

Anyhow, as a side note if you are looking to relocate, take a peak at Eastern CT..."East of the River" as we say in the metro Hartford area. You might be surprised to find close to NC prices and a very very good quality of life.

Taxes are high, I can't deny that...but it's not a deal breaker either.

Best of luck to you!

[debct]

Originally Posted by Limbo

My wife and I moved our entire family to Leland, NC two years ago. Leland is along the coast between Wilmington and Southport. We are having a VERY difficult time deciding on going back or staying in NC.

Both states have pros and cons.

CT (Cons) - high taxes, long winters and honestly we worked to pay our mortgage.

CT (Pros) - Our family lives in CT, higher paying jobs, people are better educated, and the quality of life is higher: parks, topography, musuems, fine dining, hay rides etc. etc. Basically, all the things that make New England, New England.

NC (Cons) - a lot of crime, lower standard of living, education, humid summers, alligators, snakes, bugs, rednecks (comparable to Stafford Speedway on race night) and tons of illegal immigrants. I'm not a person that ever distinguished between black and white, asian or hispanic until I moved here and honestly I feel like a minority. Plus, being a very conservative Yankee from the North doesn't seem to endear you to the locals.

NC (Pros) - Weather, beaches, low taxes and life is more affordable - giving us more time to spend with the kids.

THESE ARE MY OBSERVATIONS and not meant to anger anyone. I've lived in CT for 9 years and lived in NC for 2 years and am simply giving my impression of the differences between the two states. I have people living next door that love it here so I may simply be a malcontent.

I just want to do what is right for my kids and I'm not sure spending more time with them outweights the advantages that I feel CT has to offer. Down here we don't know a soul so we don't have to worry about impressions or what the kids are wearing. In CT it always seemed to matter how much you made, where you lived etc.

I own my own business and my wife works for PPD (largest company in the area) so income doesn't really factor into this decision for us. Also, the schools may be better in CT but our kids are all Honor Roll students and doing extremely well (that is because I have the time to spend on their education).

Ok, based on what I've written or based on your own experiences vote.

Would you go back to CT or stay in NC.

Thanks - any and all input is welcomed.

We are trying to make this tough desion too.Stay here or go to nc. We are also looking at KS and Ne

The pros to ct, the diversity, of people. My dh is from poland and we are still able to giv eourkids lot of polsih culture . Today when are dryer went the repair man was polish. Lots of things to do where I live for the kids, the town the schools the library run wonderful programs. lOts of mussems and other things to do. The schools are great, our famlies are pretty much near by.

The cons to ct housing is expensive. We jsut got notice from the town on fair market value of our home. It would be around 179k , on 912 suqare foot home. 179k would get us more home in nc. the winters can be long and cold too, it was only thirty eight today! taxes are high, on the dinky house I mentioned we pay over 3k in taxes every year.

Cons to Nc, well critters, (although we did have a fox visit us here too) hot summers. Not as many city services, still I think if I netowrk I can find thigs to keep us busy like at the "y" churches ect. Trying to make new friends and get to know people. ajusting to a new way of llife and culture.

The pros to nc saving alot of money on housing and taxes. That could mena a higher quality of life for our kids. Being at a distance form famliy makes us relay be our own famliy in a way.

[debct]

Originally Posted by JViello

Just food for thought - no one pisses off immigrants who migrated here legally more than the illegal ones who didn't care to go through the process.

not realy, my dh is a leagal imaigrant. He realy feels for the ileagels who work here for little money doing hard jobs. He understand how hard it is to leave everything you know to come here and make a beter life for you famliy. he came here when he was ateen and it was not easy coming here as leagel with famlily support here(his dads sisters) some peolple come here with none.

[a_nu_me]

I understand your dilemma. The best thing you seem to have in your favor is that it sounds like you & your wife earn an income that can sustain you in either place. So, by saying that, I would say live where you feel a true connection. Life is too short to be unhappy if you can change something. But keep in mind that things are rarely the same when you go back. My vote is for you to go back to CT. You can always retire to a warmer climate later if you chose to do so.
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[LindaGlover]

LIMBO....I lived in Southport in 1986 and absolutely hated it! Great place to visit, but not live. I had lived in Asheville for 9yrs(loved it) and now Raleigh/Cary for the past 20 yrs and won't leave. What I am trying to say is not every place is for everyone.

What you need to decide is what do you want your children to remember about their home life and you as parents? Is it time spent with them playing ball or reading a book? Or working to buy them a new car at the age of 16 and you implement hard work values?

Nothing can take away what family time is worth.
We are the biggest advocate in our children's life and we all want the best for our kids. Your asking for our imput..ask the children what they want and what would they like to remember. Kids are honest!

Ask yourself...how did you come away feeling about it? It is obvious Leland is not for your family. You already know you will be a workaholic if you return to CT as you stated. Some will say you thought it would be greener on the other side while I say it is never the same 2nd time around.

Research other areas of NC within driving distance and see if something fits your family lifestyle. A town about 90 minutes from you is Clayton. Many people coming in from the NE, where Leland doesn't have many moving in. Maybe a town where many are moving like you are and can relate to how you are feeling is a bonus in itself.

Its hard, but I am sure you will make the best choice for your family.
Good Luck

[jensen beach gal]

Thank you Jviello! Can you give me the names of any cities in that area? The "halfback" thing is definetly not working out.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by jensen beach gal

Thank you Jviello! Can you give me the names of any cities in that area? The "halfback" thing is definetly not working out.

No problem!

I'll start about 10 minutes East on the traffic free interstate of DT Hartford and continue fanning out Eastward.

South Windsor, Manchester
Ellington, Vernon, Coventry, Bolton
Tollland, Willington, Ashford

You can find a lot of home for the money in those areas, in some feel like you are in the North woods of Maine but are 5 minutes to the interstate and 10 minutes from major shopping areas and 20 into DT Hartford.

You also have the RT2 corridor heading Southeast from the City. Glastonbury is very very nice town but it's not cheap. Heading down RT2 into Marlborough, Colchester etc is very nice and affordable too.

They are the fastest growing areas of CT for a reason - but not crazy uncontrolled slap it up as fast as you can and make it congested type growth like you see down there.

Access to DT Hartford and all it offers is a breeze. All the shopping you can handle is at your door. Ton's of history, tons of culture, rolling hills, quiet drives, ocean in 20-30 minutes, 1.5 hours to Boston or NYC if you want to day trip etc etc...simple, elegant quality of life.

Feel free to PM if you need want any guidance. I've been where you are in many regards and am finally settled and happy.

Here is a link to a CT River Valley visitors guide that has a lot of "to do" info - and it's not a masked marketing piece of material IMO - it's pretty solid in what's actually here.

http://www.visitctriver.com/pdf/Visi...ervalleyct.pdf

And a link to a recent conversation where I posted some more links and info:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/conne...hebron-ct.html

Best of luck to you!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by debct

not realy, my dh is a leagal imaigrant. He realy feels for the ileagels who work here for little money doing hard jobs. He understand how hard it is to leave everything you know to come here and make a beter life for you famliy. he came here when he was ateen and it was not easy coming here as leagel with famlily support here(his dads sisters) some peolple come here with none.

I wasn't speaking of European immigrants from 20+ years ago.

I'm speaking of somone like my El Salvadorian come US citizen clients I was speaking with last week who went through a lot to get here and were just "jumped" in line by someone with no respect for our borders and process of entry. But this thread isn't about immigration. I was just making an observation.

As for your tax rate and value - it's sounds like you are near FFC or in FFC. FFC and close by do NOT represent the whole state. Please keep that in mind. My much larger home, on probably 8 times the property has a town valuation less than yours and I'm literally 15 minutes from my "rural" door to the streets of Hartford.

[BigHouse9]

Limbo - where did you want to move back to in CT? I know that living in Fairfield County can be expensive but living in the Hartford area is much easier. After doing some research, Glastonbury Schools are higher rated than here in Wake County plus you don't have to worry about the over-crowding, your kids being in a modular classroom or the "teaching to the test" that so many people complain about. Granted Glastonbury is a little higher priced than some of the other surrounding towns but we were actually paying less to live there than here in NC. Costs for everthing here are increasing! Not to mention Glastonbury is so convenient to everything. The other thing is that you cannot put a price on is lifestyle. So much more hectic here in Wake County, NC.

Have you made any decisions yet?

[debct]

Originally Posted by JViello

I wasn't speaking of European immigrants from 20+ years ago.

I'm speaking of somone like my El Salvadorian come US citizen clients I was speaking with last week who went through a lot to get here and were just "jumped" in line by someone with no respect for our borders and process of entry. But this thread isn't about immigration. I was just making an observation.

As for your tax rate and value - it's sounds like you are near FFC or in FFC. FFC and close by do NOT represent the whole state. Please keep that in mind. My much larger home, on probably 8 times the property has a town valuation less than yours and I'm literally 15 minutes from my "rural" door to the streets of Hartford.

help the slow girl here, what is FFC?