Always nothed this about people in Del. (housing, move)

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

Given my goals for retirement, when I compared 15 different states in a variety of categories, Delaware was the clear choice for me. New York was fine during my work life, but not for retirement.

Charley

You mean you're not gonna go somewhere to warm up your frozen bones in retirement, Charley?! You ought to be on your merry way over here!

[Charley]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

You mean you're not gonna go somewhere to warm up your frozen bones in retirement, Charley?! You ought to be on your merry way over here!

We did consider Arizona at one point, but most of my family is on the east coast so I want to stay on this side of the country. I also happen to enjoy the change of seasons (although I can certainly do without the cold days and frequent snowstorms in New York's Hudson Valley.)

Charley

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

We did consider Arizona at one point, but most of my family is on the east coast so I want to stay on this side of the country. I also happen to enjoy the change of seasons (although I can certainly do without the cold days and frequent snowstorms in New York's Hudson Valley.)

Charley

Oh, I also like looking at snow - preferably sitting by a fire place with a glass of red wine in hand! Alright, couldn't recruit ya... We've got a lot of houses for sale, you know... Gotta fix this darn market! Thankfully, we have plenty of warm-up wannabes. Apparently they're flocking now even from Canada considering the Looney got quite strong...

[Charley]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Oh, I also like looking at snow - preferably sitting by a fire place with a glass of red wine in hand! Alright, couldn't recruit ya... We've got a lot of houses for sale, you know... Gotta fix this darn market! Thankfully, we have plenty of warm-up wannabes. Apparently they're flocking now even from Canada considering the Looney got quite strong...

No, I think recruiting me would be a waste of time HOWEVER, you absolutely have the right idea of sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine in hand. That's the best way to watch the snow!

The market will correct but the experts think it won't happen until mid-2009. That's OK for me ... I have time.

Charley

[maryCh]

Rlrl,

I know the work world of which you speak... as I have 2 brothers with downs and a teenage son with autism. And what you mentioned about conditions in the south for folks with mental illness/conditions (or what have you) is right on the money. Part of why we felt we had to get our of NC while the getting was good.

Sadly, I think the issues you have found comes with the "southern" mind set. At least that is what it seemed to me, in exploring our options of other places to live beside central NC. While a lot of other aspects of the southeast are wonderful (reasonable cost of living, nice weather, etc), we had to put our son's future much higher on our priority list because of his autism. We feel our move to DE has been the smartest thing we have done in years, given our family dynamics.

I did A LOT of research on several forums prior to our move, including City-Data. Other forums were more "special needs" related, and there was a common thread in many states in the U.S. Mental health is an amazing field, and I applaud those willing to work in that industry. Growing up with my brothers, and now with our son, I know it takes a special person to commit to that population. Thank you for what you do!

Mary

[maryCh]

Charley,

Before moving to DE, we strongly considered "upstate" NY, probably not far from where you are for now. But I am glad we did not go any further north... it gets cold enough for me here in DE! And we've gotten enough snow to realize it is winter, but not like the snows I know of as a girl back in Ohio! BRRRR!

Mary

[rlrl]

mary--thanks for the co,mpliment, not many consider my line of work to mean much, as new yorkers go.

I work in a day program for the chronic mentally ill and the other side of our building is a program for the developmentally disabled. we have a lady at our place who is a big advocate for those with disabilities and has personally met with bill clinton several times. i guess this typifies the spirit in ny about people with disabilities. 30 years patients were seen strapped to chairs and neglected for hours. today it's totally different

i believe my sister in law works with the developmentally disabled hooking up families or kids with services or case managers in the atlanta area

there is something about ny--once it gets into your blood it's hard to get rid of. i suppose it has affected me more than my parents and brother because they left ny without missing it. but i am still here and still enjoy it. it's just the awfully cold winters i am getting to dislike, but so far it's been ok

i'll post again later in the week time to prepare for the grind again

rl

[maryCh]

I know I am going "off topic" in my reply, and this is mostly directed to rlrl. As I have mentioned several places on C-D, we lived in central NC for almost 15 years; in fact, our son with autism was born and ultimately diagnosed in Greensboro. He was just shy of his 3rd birthday when we received the initial diagnosis, and just turned 13 recently. So for the last 10 years, we have known concretely for a long time.

My big concern over all this time, is how slowly many areas in the south respond to making changes. There has been a TON of advancement in research and interventions with children and/or adults with autism, yet you would not know it by following what local and state governments are doing to work with this population. Almost like a hurricane stalling off the coast for days... not calming down, yet not moving out to sea, etc. But this reality has been going on several years, not just a few months or what have you.

I know what you mean about NY... we thought long and hard about moving to NYS before coming to DE. But our gut told us to stop here, and try it on for size. So far, it is working for us. We have no guarantees it will be the place for us in 5 years, but no one ever knows that.

Again, thank you for doing what you do... and if you are interested in talking about your profession off post, send me a direct message. I don't want to obsess over this issue... and I can do that!

Mary

[rlrl]

mary-I'd like to talk about the field when I get a chance. we're preparing for an inspection but when it's done with i will send you a direct message

[rdlr]

Sounds like Delaware got a "Good" Report Card, judging from the many comments. I can't be objective, as I was born and raised here. 99% of the people I've met coming from other states, are very nice. There are a couple families, not related, but both families came from Massachusetts and are quite suspicious. I don't mean, as in, "crooked", I mean...stand offish, reserved, seem more comfortable observing from afar, little or no eye contact. Of course, they don't get away with that, with me!

About the real estate market.....This is what I know, Charley. Being in the "business" I can tell you I've been slower, than slow. Not since 1990 was my business so slow. The slow down, for me, began about the second week of November. On Friday, 1/25/08 the Good News Hit the Fan! You might have thought somebody turned on a switch, and my schedule is now packed full until the middle of February. I'm so busy, I don't have time for posting on DC or here very much. but because of $$$$$. It could be the after Christmas bounce, the lower interest rates, the talk of a stimulus package, or turning the corner into Spring. It's better here, much better!