Connecticut or North Carolina - YOU VOTE!thread closed. (New Haven: hoa, gated)

[JViello]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Silviodante - I know a three young people that moved to NC, hated it and returned to Connecticut. They told me that it had nothing to offer that Connecticut didn't have. The night life was no better there than here and that at least in Connecticut you could get to New York or Boston easily if you wanted real excitment. They thought the cities they lived in lacked ethnic diversity. As for jobs, all three are well educated and though they had good jobs in NC, they never felt that the job was not very secure and that in a poor economy that they wouldn't be able to find a good job there. They returned to CT, found great jobs, enjoyed a great singles life, two found "northern gentlemen" and got married. None have "looked back". Jay

Add me in that number as well. I lived in FL in my early 20's and NC in my mid 20's and moved back to CT in my late 20's. I'm now 36 and wouldn't go back South unless I absolutely had no choice. For some it's fine. For me it wasn't.

[glenzx2]

Hello,
I came across this thread and just had to join this forum! Here I am in CT, where I have lived since 1979 (before that I was in Philadelphia for many years), and I have had it in my head for the past couple of years to move to NC.

What's wrong with CT? Well, it's expensive, as others have said. The winters are way too long... it's May 9th and the trees are only now leafing out, for petesake! It's getting crowded, and the housing prices are ridiculous. Finally, I live in the SE corner, where the casinos are. The two largest casinos in this hemisphere and I live between them, ten minutes to either one. Not that I ever go to them. Frankly, I am not comfortable living in an area that bases it's economy on such a worthless and hedonistic industry.

OK... so what about NC? Well, it's south, but not too far south. The Asheville area appeals, as I am a craftsperson. I am also attracted by the College for seniors at UNC. Basically, I'm ready for a change! I would miss the water, for sure... but truth be told, we can't get to it all summer anyway cuz it's so crowded and expensive. Well, I'm rambling... sorry...
Just interested in everyones experiences

[skytrekker]

hey glenzx2

ever here of climate change? The climate here is a USA zone 6-7 Philly is a zone 7- it's May 9th and the trees are only now leafing out,
well thats this year- the whole of the northeast had a cold March and April- including Philly- right?

Housing prices too high? Well perhaps Fairfield county- the rest of the state is near the national median- and is lower then Las Vegas, Washington DC, Seattle, Portland Oregon, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami- and actually only a few tens of thousands higher then Philly.
Hartford metro 256K Philly 226K source NAR

Your facts are in fact biased- And about that hedonistic? They have some new casinos in Northeastern PA-right? c'mon

Asheville? Sure its nice- but eastern CT is far better.

[mike0421]

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.



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).



Thanks - any and all input is welcomed.

The part about your being able to have time to spend on your children's education is what makes the decision if I am in your shoes. Too often, we examine the differences in communities, states, etc, and fail to realize the tangible factors which make us decide where to live, namely, our immediate families. I was in a similar situation, having moved from New Jersey to New Mexico, and I can speak to the luxury of also having that extra time that I wouldn't otherwise have being able to dedicate to my children. Forget about the beaches, vs when the leaves are coming out, this is still the prime driver when it comes to these decisions. Unless you are going to have someone back in CT (family or friends) help you pay your bills which in turn frees up that additional time for your kids, then stay where you are. You have to consider your children. Another misnomer is comparing school systems: ultimately, it is the parent with the most influence (in terms of discipline) to be able to prepare the children to learn constructively. Your influence and extra time spent amounts to even more tutoring of your children, which turns them into better students and better human beings in the long run. This is not intended to bash Connecticut, per se, or praise North Carolina. I've been all over both states and each have beautiful as well as depressed areas. My .02

[BigHouse9]

Well if time is the issue, then I had far more time in CT than in NC. I spend a lot more time driving and stuck in traffic here in NC than I ever did in CT. That just comes from packing people in like sardines in certain areas and having them all work in RTP. Just have easier access to almost everything in CT was so mch nicer (exceptions abound for your local strip malls). Even kids are paying the price here with many children being bussed 30 minutes away to other schools when there are schools right up the road from them.

[KIMMIENY]

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.

YOU MUST NOT HAVE EVER VISITED LONG ISLAND. SPANISH IS IMPERATIVE TO LEARN AT THIS POINT...

[vasinger]

Excuse, me , but North Carolina as plenty of musuems, art, and culture to explore. And New England has plenty of "rednecks".

[silviodante]

Originally Posted by vasinger

Excuse, me , but North Carolina as plenty of musuems, art, and culture to explore. And New England has plenty of "rednecks".

Yeah, really. I don't get people who insist that North Carolina is backwards compared to CT. Maybe in 1957, but not in 2007. I know every inch of both states, and I can tell you there is nothing that Connecticut has that North Carolina doesn't have a better version of.

Beaches? Way better in NC
Mountains? Not even a question
Cities? Raleigh and Charlotte vs. Hartford and New Haven, come on, put yourselves in the shoes of the 99% of the country that doesn't live in CT
Museums? Neither state is Washington, DC, but at least NC has a respectable art museum, science museum, history museum. I don't know what CT has.
Nightlife? Again, one walk down Franklin Street in Chapel Hill is enough to equal all of CT combined. Even Greensboro has a superior nightlife to anywhere in CT.
Schools? CT has Yale. That's it, and almost no one is getting in there. NC has Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, NC State (all superior, and all but NC State far superior to UConn). As for public schools, I went to one in CT. Same pathetic story as public schools everywhere. Go private if you really care about schools.
Culture? North Carolina has its own culture that is still alive, well, and celebrated. People have actual pride (and not "defensive" pride) in their state and history. Bluegrass shows in Asheville, old tobacco farms, Civil War sites, barbeque. Connecticut has no identity except for being a rich, stuckup suburb of New York. For all you that complain about the vast suburbs of NC- that's all Connecticut is- one vast suburb with a few very subpar cities.
People? Both have their share of stupid people. Where the people that make CT the smartest state are, I don't know. Having spent the majority of my life in Fairfield County, they sure aren't there. I was actually thinking about this watching the Sopranos the other night. Their attitudes towards women, minorities, general ignorance level are pretty equivalent to the stereotypical redneck. And I'm not saying all CT people are mobsters, but the people on the Sopranos remind me of back home like no other.

I guess I'm being so defensive because I don't get what is blinding you people? If you were arguing California vs. North Carolina, then I could see where you might have some arguments about the state offering more. But Connecticut doesn't offer anything. Most people not born around there equate it with Delaware in terms of boringness.

Thank you

[beachy keen]

Originally Posted by silviodante

But Connecticut doesn't offer anything. Most people not born around there equate it with Delaware in terms of boringness.

You bring up an interesting point. I noticed many people in this thread saying "Well, Connecticut is close to New York and Boston." Is that all CT offers? I'm just curious. I've only been to CT once, but not to Hartford.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by silviodante

Yeah, really. I don't get people who insist that North Carolina is backwards compared to CT. Maybe in 1957, but not in 2007. I know every inch of both states, and I can tell you there is nothing that Connecticut has that North Carolina doesn't have a better version of...

Moderator cut: personal - off topic Most of what you say is your opinion and your opinion only and not much is based on facts. Also who is saying North Carolina is "Backward"? I don't see that anywhere in this thread. As for your points, again just your opinion. Let me rebut:

Beaches - Maybe they are better in NC, but at least ours are near to the cities and towns we live in and are not eroding at an alarming rate with each storm that batters the area.

Mountains - Litchfield Hills and Berkshires are stunning. I guess the fact that so many people are willing to pay top dollar to live there or have second homes there means nothing.

Museums - Get out and see what CT museums have to offer. Moderator cut: personal - off topic

Nightlife - Check out New Haven's scene.

Schools - You posted this before and as I repled, Yale is not the only desirable school in the state. Moderator cut: personal - off topic
Culture - again just your opinion.

People - Again, you won't find the most educated people hanging out in bars Moderator cut: personal - off topic

Moderator cut: personal - off topic

Beachy - No, Connecticut has a lot more to offer than being between New York and Boston. There are great small cities and beautiful towns, a lot of history and it is very nice, highly desirable, liveable state. Don't let a few posts by others make you think that no one likes it here and there is nothing to do. CT is not one of the wealthiest states in the country for no reason. There are a LOT of people who could live anywhere they want that chose to live here. Read some of the other posts on this board and you will see why. Jay