Goodbye Long Island...Good Riddance! (Brookhaven, Huntington: relocate, foreclosure, insurance)

[mongoose65]

ooops, meant to say that I cannot begin to make on LI what I get paid in Manhattan. I've looked, gotten sound job offers, but the pay is generally $10-$20k lower.

[LIcowgirl289]

You know what, I love what Andybuilder says...because I can tell you, I've been in Texas just North of Houston for quite some time and while I love it, and was able to afford a house on my own, there are so many things you just can't get here, that I can get back home on LI. Every time I go back I miss it, and you exchange one thing for the other. Yes, Austin is a great place, Lake Travis is a beautiful late, but it's very trendy, very 'granola' is the term I use and people are not as friendly as you think - it's the same everywhere. What I've noticed living her for so long is they have such a stereotype of us NYkers that they don't realize up at home, everyone in our town says hi when you say hello, here, they look at your like you're crazy. Plus, if you think you get humidity up there in the Summer, multiply that 100 times and I mean 100 times, for the months of July and August here. We get a cold winter now and then, but it was 85 degrees and humid in the beginning of November. You think that may sound nice, but it gets old. Just like everything if you're not taking the good with the bad and making the most of it.

I have a great job, probably the best most generous attorneys I've worked for in this city, but the pay isn't the best depending on what you do - and as for transplants, regardless of race, you get a lot of them here too, even in the Woodlands. Plus, go into any gas station or convenience store and you're lucky if you can even understand them - and that's in the nicer parts of town too. If you're talking the Woodlands to a 20ish young person, you're crazy, I couldn't afford it at 40 and single and make a great income...it's much like LI and it's considered upscale, if you want an expensive house with 8K taxes, buy in The Woodlands...and then you get your click there too - it's everywhere, trust me.

I'm actually thinking about moving back to Long Island mainly to be closer to family, but too, because it's just not there...here. You start to miss the things you don't think matter until you don't have them; like 4th of July where every single block is celebrating and having a BBQ, the diners on every corner, the best pizza you can talk about, the best deli's practically in this country, not to mention the best Italian markets I've ever been too. Trust me, it's cheaper in Texas (depending on where you live), but you DRIVE to everything, and the traffic is the worst. The cost of living may be higher back home, but I know I can make more to compensate for it so long as I don't live beyond my means which a lot of people do...and some of my family has never left because they love it up there. When I go back, I see why. I'd take the 4 months of what they think is cold down here and in Florida any day over the unbelievable summers down here. And, I love Texas...I just know that it's what you make of it no matter where you are.

And...Gilda Radner did get it right... it IS always something! I've learned to be happy no matter where I hang my hat regardless of the cost!!!

[Petunia393]

We came to North Carolina 6 months ago, we bought an Old Westbury style house in a beautiful neighborhood for $370k. My kids are so much better off. They can ride their bikes outside, cars not coming by every two seconds. The developments here were designed not to cut through, it is really nice. Life is definately different than LI, but I wouldn't move back. We have so many northerners here. I don't know what will become of Long Island, it is really sad that people have to pay so much in taxes for such little land and homes. My taxes here are $2600 a year. That's $7000 less than what I was paying.

[nancy thereader]

I am planning on moving somewhere when I retire in June. How are the summers ? Are they really hot and humid?

[Petunia393]

Summers are hot here, no one stays outside. Everywhere is a/c though. We are in the 60's now so that is the trade-off. I like the snow, but really like to have fall like weather throughout the winter. If we get snow it doesn't last long. Wish I was retiring!!!

[nancy thereader]

We came to North Carolina 6 months ago, we bought an Old Westbury style house in a beautiful neighborhood for $370k.

Sounds wonderful (no winter). Where are you located , Petunia ? Are there any retirement (over 55) places in NC?

[Petunia393]

I am about 20 minutes from Raleigh in Clayton, NC. There are some retirement communities around here. There are also alot of the athletic club/community center places that were not very common in NY. There are also communities where all your yard maintenace is included. It's kinda cool. We had to get a tractor for our yard, we have a landscaper do somethings, but we cut ourselves. E-mail me any questions, would be happy to answer.

[2kate]

Originally Posted by Petunia393

I am about 20 minutes from Raleigh in Clayton, NC. There are some retirement communities around here. There are also alot of the athletic club/community center places that were not very common in NY. There are also communities where all your yard maintenace is included. It's kinda cool. We had to get a tractor for our yard, we have a landscaper do somethings, but we cut ourselves. E-mail me any questions, would be happy to answer.

Hi! I do have a question- Andy (Andybuildz) & I are thinking of moving to somewhere near Asheville- I see that you are a real estate broker- I've been a RE broker for 27 yrs- betw. Daniel Gale & now Coldwell Banker- are you working in NC now? I know the process is totally different- but besides that I was wondering how it is even possible to start over in a place that you don't know the market & have no contacts. WHat is it like?

[ClarkStreetKid]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

We came to North Carolina 6 months ago, we bought an Old Westbury style house in a beautiful neighborhood for $370k.

Sounds wonderful (no winter). Where are you located , Petunia ? Are there any retirement (over 55) places in NC?

Nancy, if you like the beach and ocean look into the New Bern area.

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by ClarkStreetKid

Nancy, if you like the beach and ocean look into the New Bern area.

Am pretty familiar with New Bern...sticks...beaches in Emerald Isle and Duck, etc are nice, but I have found in my visits to the area that here is a serious service employee shortage...meaning some restaurants have shuttered and shortened their hours due to a lack of employee base? I am curious as to how much that is impacting other areas of NC or these other regions folks seem to be flocking to...