[phoenixxphyre]

When I was graduating about a year ago, I wanted to go into editing, but I didn't want to live in NYC and I was wary of the idea of CA. The response of a teacher was that it would be very difficult to make it anywhere else.

Soon, I'm planning to move to FL, check out some of the magazines and opportunities that might be down there, and spend some time with my brother who lives there. My boyfriend emphatically doesn't want to go there, but he's always talking about CT, how great NE in general was and that he might want to go back.

While I think I need to see what I can do for myself while he decides what's going to be best for him and we're taking some 'space' to figure that out, I'm the more adaptable of us and more likely to be able to be happy anywhere I decide I will be. So I told him if he decides he wants to go back to CT and wants me to go, I'll give it a shot.

What I'm wondering is, based on checking out CT in my job searches for the last few months before the opportunity of FL came up, and finding very little for either of us, is there really not much going on for editing, or is it just that it's not advertised? On the other hand I saw quite a bit of jobs in NYC but always avoided them because it never occurred to me that I could live in a different state. I've read that people on here make the commute and I'm wondering if that's the more feasible idea?

Obviously right now it's all up in the air. While I do think CT is intriguing and might check it out at some point even if things don't work out with us, moving there right now isn't a dire need of mine. But since I don't know how long it'll take him to figure out what he wants to do, I want to keep my options open, see what the possibilities are. Any advice/suggestions about where to look, approaches to take, etc. in either option would be appreciated.

[JayCT]

Phoenixxphyre - The southwest portion of Connecticut (Fairfield County) is considered a suburb of New York City. In fact the towns there (Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Westport, Norwalk, Wilton, Weston, Fairfield, Ridgefield Redding) are among the most desirable and expensive of New York's suburbs. There are commuter trains from these towns that provide direct service into Grand Central Station in the heart of midtown Manhatten. Thousands of people make this commute every day. Stamford may be good starting point since it is close to New York, has a lot of major employers and is somewhat reasonable for rentals for singles.

New York is the center of the publishing industry so that is why you are seeing a lot of jobs there. The jobs pay well because New York has such high cost of living.

There are jobs in editing here in CT but there just aren't as many as New York. Mostly local publications and newspapers. Some companies based here that might offer you a job are Connecticut Magazine, Hartford Magazine, The Hartford Courant, The New Haven Register, The Connecticut Post, Taunton Press, Golf Magazine and the Stamford Advocate. You could also check into the various insurance companies based here in the Hartford area. They do a lot of publications. Good luck. Jay

[jjbradleynyc]

Stamford is an ideal place to look for a job in editing. It has a ton of corporate headquarters in the city. It is located 44 minutes by train to Grand Central Station. I live in Stamford and drive into Brooklyn everyday (unless I take the train). It takes me an average of 1 hour to drive in. Not too bad at all. Stamford is safe, has many cultural options, has beautiful homes, parks, and very friendly people. The downside is the cost--which is becoming very expensive to rent or buy. You may also want to check out New Haven--about 45 mins to the north of Stamford.

[phoenixxphyre]

Thanks, both of you I will definitely keep Stamford in mind (actually, when my boyfriend was talking about maybe not looking for the same place--being a fatalist, etc.--and seeing if we end up in the same one anyhow, I wondered..what if it were different cities, say, he ends up in Hartford and I end up in Stanford, just picking it out of the air, but I'm seeing more that might actually be the part of CT that would appeal to me).

While I like to drive, I'm not wild about the idea of driving an hour every day, so the option for a train for part of the commute is appealing. Unless I manage to find something before I decide when to move to FL, I will probably still go there for now, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out on both CT and NYC opportunities. JayCT, I have already checked out a couple of your suggestions, and Taunton is actually looking for a copy editor, so I applied

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by phoenixxphyre

Thanks, both of you JayCT, I have already checked out a couple of your suggestions, and Taunton is actually looking for a copy editor, so I applied

Great, glad I could help! Good luck and I hope you get the job. Taunton publishes high quality magazines like Fine Home Building or Fine Woodworking and better trade books. They are located in Newtown, Connecticut which is northern Fairfield County. It is beautiful there. It is a small town with a more rural character. They have a quaint village center that is characterized by a flag pole in the middle of the main intersection on Main Street. The pole has been there for years. The State wanted to remove it because it has been hit several times but the locals refused and protested. It is still there. The town also has a small movie theater in their Town Hall that has been there for years. I have never been to a movie there but I hear it is kind of quaint and old fashioned.

Unfortunately, I can not say that the area offers a lot for young people though. It is kind of rural. The countryside is beautiful. Danbury, about 15 minutes to the west has a little more going on, but if you are use to big city life, you may be bored. Anyway, I wish you the best and keep us posted on what happens. Jay

[phoenixxphyre]

Yeah I noticed it was rural; as long as it's driving distance to a city, I'd probably be able to swing it, either living in more of a city and driving in, or living there and just driving out when I need to do something (which might be the better option).

The way I figure about anywhere I might end up, I can try it for awhile, and if it's not for me, I can look elsewhere. I come from a 'city' but for all that's going on here it may as well not be, and I know I'm not a fan of 'real' city life (NYC, Chicago) on the daily.

[Thruway]

It's weird because driving on the Merrit or I-95 it seems CT is all suburban NY to New Haven yet looking at a map it seems if you go up rt 8 or 10 miles from the coast it's much less dense, is this true, where does Fairfield become rural and why, and is it still NY country over BOS?
Thanks.

[JayCT]

Connecticut's shoreline is densely developed priimarily because it is such an old and historic area. People tend to live near water (ocean, rivers, etc.) which before the railroads was the major type of transportation. The railroad came through a little further inland in the early to mid 1800's and with it a new line of dense development began. In the early part of the 1900's, Route 1 was built and that created another line of dense development. Generally though Route 1 divides the densest areas from lower density areas. North of Route 1 in Fairfield and Westport for example gets pretty rural because these towns have 2 acre zoning. That is also true for second tier towns like Easton, Weston and Wilton which have large lot (acre +) zoning. It is just the way the area developed. Jay

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by tberg224

It's weird because driving on the Merrit or I-95 it seems CT is all suburban NY to New Haven yet looking at a map it seems if you go up rt 8 or 10 miles from the coast it's much less dense, is this true, where does Fairfield become rural and why, and is it still NY country over BOS?
Thanks.

It is heavily NYY territory, and it's easy to see why: many folks are ex-New Yorkers, many folks still work in New York, many companies now located in Fairfield County were once located in New York, and the New York influence doesn't stop at the border.

[katalin]

I wouldn't suggest you to move to FL. I moved last year and now I am in the process to move back north. Paychecks don't keep up with the cost of living here!!!