[jerseymama]

I find this all very interesting.....I recently moved from the snootiest of snooty....northern NJ to Colchester and honestly, I am pretty content here. Being born and raised in NJ, my hubby considers me a "city girl" used to everything at my fingertips. He, being born and raised in central Maine, definitely understands country life. I would offer Colchester and this part of CT as a sort of in-between our two worlds. Yes, I wish the big box stores weren't all 25 min. away and that Trader Joes was right nearby....I miss my pick of the litter Asian restaurants and think it's ridiculous that no one delivers food here. That being said, I have met some really great people here and so appreciate the slower pace of life. My home is twice as big and brand new and the surroundings are lovely. I find our home to be very convenient to pretty much everything and ten more minutes in the car is no skin off my back. Life is different here, but I certainly don't feel out of place. I have found many things to do with my toddler daughter and would say that is a huge difference from living in NJ. Maybe I will just spend less money eating out and shopping now that I live here.....a positive when you are paying for a new house.

Perception is everything and perhaps the displeased poster had a bad experience. Maybe also, things have grown since he or she lived here.. it wasn't mentioned how long ago that was, I believe. Hey, there is a Starbucks here now, so this Jersey girl is pretty happy....good luck to the family moving in this month!

[skytrekker]

Jersey mama

the pace of life really soothes your mind and body in South eastern CT and Colchester, much as it does in the Northeast part of the state. Takes much in the way of stress away. The the surrounding area is very pretty.

As for Asian restuarants- well from my knowledge there is one in town- but I am sure it is not the quality you have had in NJ. You will have to travel up route 2 to Glastonbury which as some excellent Asian eateries.

Shopping in town is limited- there is a Super Stop and Shop- and a smaller store, plus a CVS, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, some Pizza places and a few Italian restaurants- but its rather limited again. There is a new Cineplex for movies.

But the town is getting better- and as you said it has a Starbucks.

[JViello]

And to further the conversation a bit - isn't the things mentioned from the last two post the very point in the first place?

If it was just like where people were trying to get away from, why move? I find it funny when someone moves from a congested metropolis to say rural NC for the peace and quiet and then complains about the peace and quiet. LOL Or they try and change the place like "back home". Well if "back home" was so great why did you want to move? There are always things one will miss about certain places, but I see a real problem with some folks moving away from X and then trying to turn it back into X. Raleigh NC anyone?

It has also happened in SE FL and Atlanta. Those places have become the very thing many of those in the megalopolis were trying to get away from. High cost of living, crime, congestion etc - only now they get all that with less history and culture and brutally hot climate to boot...but I digress.

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by JViello

And to further the conversation a bit - isn't the things mentioned from the last two post the very point in the first place?

If it was just like where people were trying to get away from, why move? I find it funny when someone moves from a congested metropolis to say rural NC for the peace and quiet and then complains about the peace and quiet. LOL Or they try and change the place like "back home". Well if "back home" was so great why did you want to move? There are always things one will miss about certain places, but I see a real problem with some folks moving away from X and then trying to turn it back into X. Raleigh NC anyone?

It has also happened in SE FL and Atlanta. Those places have become the very thing many of those in the megalopolis were trying to get away from. High cost of living, crime, congestion etc - only now they get all that with less history and culture and brutally hot climate to boot...but I digress.

True

but the costs (in the south) many are finding out are not as cheap as they envisioned. As one pointed out so well here by someone living in the Atlanta area.

Oh well we live and learn.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

True

but the costs (in the south) many are finding out are not as cheap as they envisioned. As one pointed out so well here by someone living in the Atlanta area.

Oh well we live and learn.

Oh I agree. What I'm saying is, at one time I believe the major metros of the South USED to be much different. A lot of escapes from the NE complaining about the quality of life in the NE, got to Atlanta and cried that it wasn't like the NE. DUH!

IOW, someone from say Jersery moving to Colchester for it's quiteness and then complaining there is not instant access to shopping places like "back in Jersey". Yea, we know. That's why it's quiet. Well some can't see that and then vote in a zoning change etc etc and before you know it, Colchester looks like a congested mess that said person tried to escape in the first place.

Phew! LOL

I think jerseymama hit is spot on and her attitude is a welcome one.

I also see a lot of the issues that plague the major metros in the NE corridor have now made a home in the South as well.

[jerseymama]

Yes, we have discovered Glastonbury, thanks!! A short shoot up route 2 and you most certainly have much to choose from in the way of eateries and shopping. There are two Asian rest. in Colchester....they are okay...good for those nights when you must have some Chinese! But, to head up Rt. 2 is no big deal....in the end, I enjoy coming home to the peace and quiet of where I live. It really is worth it, and my family and I would never want to turn this place into a mini-NJ....then, we would be looking to get out again. I agree with JViello....people complain about the noise and congestion, but then complain that things are too far away. It is sad what has happened in the south...it is like no one respects space and privacy anymore....one Target nearby is fine for me....I don't need to choose from 4. Anyway, I hope the new folks in town stay positive about where they are moving to....we are very happy here and feeling like we made the right decision about moving to a more family-friendly and laid-back place to raise our kids. We did the city thing for awhile....it gets old REAL fast!

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Jersey mama

the pace of life really soothes your mind and body in South eastern CT and Colchester, much as it does in the Northeast part of the state. Takes much in the way of stress away. The the surrounding area is very pretty.

As for Asian restuarants- well from my knowledge there is one in town- but I am sure it is not the quality you have had in NJ. You will have to travel up route 2 to Glastonbury which as some excellent Asian eateries.

Shopping in town is limited- there is a Super Stop and Shop- and a smaller store, plus a CVS, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, some Pizza places and a few Italian restaurants- but its rather limited again. There is a new Cineplex for movies.

But the town is getting better- and as you said it has a Starbucks.

[jerseymama]

(I think jerseymama hit is spot on and her attitude is a welcome one.)

Thanks, JViello....we NJerseyans have such a bad rep. for having bad attitudes! LOL

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by jerseymama

Yes, we have discovered Glastonbury, thanks!! A short shoot up route 2 and you most certainly have much to choose from in the way of eateries and shopping. There are two Asian rest. in Colchester....they are okay...good for those nights when you must have some Chinese! But, to head up Rt. 2 is no big deal....in the end, I enjoy coming home to the peace and quiet of where I live. It really is worth it, and my family and I would never want to turn this place into a mini-NJ....then, we would be looking to get out again. I agree with JViello....people complain about the noise and congestion, but then complain that things are too far away. It is sad what has happened in the south...it is like no one respects space and privacy anymore....one Target nearby is fine for me....I don't need to choose from 4. Anyway, I hope the new folks in town stay positive about where they are moving to....we are very happy here and feeling like we made the right decision about moving to a more family-friendly and laid-back place to raise our kids. We did the city thing for awhile....it gets old REAL fast!

Well even though Glastonbury is a short drive up route 2- to some really excellent restaurants and shopping- it can still be congested. I fully understand how you enjoy 'coming back' to peace in Colchester.

[design]

I love Glastonbury as a place for shopping, dining, activities and had looked into getting a condo there, but prices are so expensive!... but the charm of Colchester...I've just seen such a huge change within the past 2 years or so...it's becoming really crowded as opposed to how quiet it used to be. Even the backroads are now booming...kind of sad to me, since I wish we could hold on to the quiet charm I grew up with out this way, but it looks like things are really picking up in a lot of areas out in eastern, CT. Colchester was named one of the best towns to live in in CT a couple of years ago and I would swear since then I've seen more and more of a boom...even with traffic! I expect traffic when I drive outside of the little towns around here, but just not used to it out this way I guess!

[skytrekker]

Eastern CT; the counties of Tolland and Windham, and parts of New London are the fastest growing in the state- around 1.3% expected between now ans 2012. That is about the double the whole state in the next half decade. Connecticut's population growth is expected to be very small.

However- this amount of growth is still small, and while there has been more traffic, it is nothing overwhelming.