Why do people leave Long Island & then comment how the grass is so much greener?

[PROFGH]

I can honestly say that I know a few Long Islanders that live in other states who are truly happy(They are prior Law Enforcement though and retired).Two guys are in Florida,but have no kids and love it !!! One guy golfs, works out,goes boating.Living the life.The other guy details boats part time and goes drag racing once a week.My old radio car partner is in NC and loves it.Born and raised in Suffolk.I don't think he has worked in a year.I know a retired Sgt who lived a few bocks from me,born and raised in Suffolk is also in NC and said its the best thing he did for him and his family.He has been down there for 6 years.He works part time,he is saving money and can breathe financially.Their biggest gripe is the cost of living on the island and the rush ! rush ! rush ! way of life.We just ran into people from SC while in Disney,they were transpalnts from Long Island as well.The main reason they did it was due to the taxes and general cost of living.Both were teachers.They said they were not making the L.I. saleries but did not need to.As far as education they all said the schools were great.We have looked into seveal school systems in the Carolinas and I was very impressed.We will be going back in the summer for some house shopping !!! I hope to be a transplant soon !!!

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by PROFGH

I can honestly say that I know a few Long Islanders that live in other states who are truly happy(They are prior Law Enforcement though and retired).Two guys are in Florida,but have no kids and love it !!! One guy golfs, works out,goes boating.Living the life.The other guy details boats part time and goes drag racing once a week.My old radio car partner is in NC and loves it.Born and raised in Suffolk.I don't think he has worked in a year.I know a retired Sgt who lived a few bocks from me,born and raised in Suffolk is also in NC and said its the best thing he did for him and his family.He has been down there for 6 years.He works part time,he is saving money and can breathe financially.Their biggest gripe is the cost of living on the island and the rush ! rush ! rush ! way of life.We just ran into people from SC while in Disney,they were transpalnts from Long Island as well.The main reason they did it was due to the taxes and general cost of living.Both were teachers.They said they were not making the L.I. saleries but did not need to.As far as education they all said the schools were great.We have looked into seveal school systems in the Carolinas and I was very impressed.We will be going back in the summer for some house shopping !!! I hope to be a transplant soon !!!

As others have posted, many who do leave LI for southern climes do so in areas in which there aren't such strong unions. My dad is retired NYPD in Florida -- his local PD does not have union protections like the small departments up here do. The men and women on that department can be fired at will.

Conversely, the county school system was listed as a top ten. One thing I have noticed there is that it is somewhat similar in terms of location and desirable schools. They might be county wide, but the richer people who live near the water have the better schools within the county. The county solution is to do some busing.

[nickygirl12]

My husband and I have lived on long island our whole lives. We both have family who have moved off the island and LOVE IT and a few that came back. Everyone can have their opinions about living in the south and how everything is better on Long Island...but for me personally if I don't at least try to live down south and make a better life for myself I feel like I will never forgive myself if I stay here and have to struggle the way I am now for the rest of my life. Maybe I will hate it...maybe I will love it! But thats for me to decide and find out on my own. People we talk to say good get out while you can and others are so against us moving...but it's up to us! So to anyone considering moving...go for it!!!!!! you can always come back

[just_sayin']

why is it that y[SIZE=-1]ou l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ong islanders think the only areas you can go is down south? This is a huge country with many unique areas; but you all flock to the same places like herds of sheep.

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by I'minformed2

why is it that y[SIZE=-1]ou l[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]ong islanders think the only areas you can go is down south? This is a huge country with many unique areas; but you all flock to the same places like herds of sheep.

Because anyone who has chosen to move to the mid-west is afraid to admit it publically..

[nickygirl12]

I personally pick the south bc i would like to stay on this side of the country where im still close to family here and i want to be in warm weather