Moving back to Long Island from NC (Huntington, St. James: housing, rent)

[ushighlanders]

Okay, I skipped some of the middle pages, but tell me why I should not move to Florida, or Georgia, or South Carolina? (Okay, some of you, stop screaming at your computer monitors.) I grew up on Long Island, went to school there and started a family in Hampton Bays and Southampton, and finally got a husband who would move away from LI. We moved upstate (town the same size, but not as clickish), and I have loved it! NEVER wanted to move back. Now we HATE the winters and want to move to a warmer/hot climate. My husband complains daily about wanting to move. He's a roofer and would rather work in the heat than the cold. I am a teacher. I only earned $33,000.00 last year and seem to see that salaries are comparable in the south. I took the beaches for granted, but visited family on LI enough to want to live near the beach in a warmer climate where I can enjoy the beach more months out of the year than up north. We live near the mountains now, but I don't think there is any place down south near the ocean and the mountains. My problem is that I am afraid to move. I am afraid of the unexpected that I have never encountered, like: fire ants and other harmful creatures, rampant mold/mildew, stronger storms than I have lived through, different/unexpected taxes, crime, and warm weather that enables criminals to live and hide anywhere (is that true?), sink holes, hard grass, plastic objects melting in your car, chlorinated water 24/7 (I am used to well water), and a lot of other things I am forgetting.

But what about the reasons TO move? Like: no snow/cold weather, walking/swimming on the ocean or the gulf, not being freezing cold at night or in the morning when you go out, not having to wear twenty layers of clothes to keep warm, not paying $400.00 a month on heating oil, swimming most days in your enclosed inground pool, your power going out because of a hurricane but you won't freeze to death because it wasn't an ice/heavy snow storm or die from carbon monoxide poisoning because you had to use a kerosene heater to keep one room warm (frozen pipes too! no generator, which won't work whole-house unless you really have a lot of money), the smell of the warm heavy air (I love that smell), your nose hairs not freezing when you try to breath, and a lot of other things I am forgetting.

[nymom]

Originally Posted by ushighlanders

Okay, I skipped some of the middle pages, but tell me why I should not move to Florida, or Georgia, or South Carolina? (Okay, some of you, stop screaming at your computer monitors.) I grew up on Long Island, went to school there and started a family in Hampton Bays and Southampton, and finally got a husband who would move away from LI. We moved upstate (town the same size, but not as clickish), and I have loved it! NEVER wanted to move back. Now we HATE the winters and want to move to a warmer/hot climate. My husband complains daily about wanting to move. He's a roofer and would rather work in the heat than the cold. I am a teacher. I only earned $33,000.00 last year and seem to see that salaries are comparable in the south. I took the beaches for granted, but visited family on LI enough to want to live near the beach in a warmer climate where I can enjoy the beach more months out of the year than up north. We live near the mountains now, but I don't think there is any place down south near the ocean and the mountains. My problem is that I am afraid to move. I am afraid of the unexpected that I have never encountered, like: fire ants and other harmful creatures, rampant mold/mildew, stronger storms than I have lived through, different/unexpected taxes, crime, and warm weather that enables criminals to live and hide anywhere (is that true?), sink holes, hard grass, plastic objects melting in your car, chlorinated water 24/7 (I am used to well water), and a lot of other things I am forgetting.

But what about the reasons TO move? Like: no snow/cold weather, walking/swimming on the ocean or the gulf, not being freezing cold at night or in the morning when you go out, not having to wear twenty layers of clothes to keep warm, not paying $400.00 a month on heating oil, swimming most days in your enclosed inground pool, your power going out because of a hurricane but you won't freeze to death because it wasn't an ice/heavy snow storm or die from carbon monoxide poisoning because you had to use a kerosene heater to keep one room warm (frozen pipes too! no generator, which won't work whole-house unless you really have a lot of money), the smell of the warm heavy air (I love that smell), your nose hairs not freezing when you try to breath, and a lot of other things I am forgetting.

Only you know the answer to that question. Everybody has strongly voiced their opinion here but in the end it's what you consider important that matters. You may be tired of the cold but some people love the cold. I personally prefer the smell of the cold night air over "warm heavy air" (especially when fireplaces are burning or snow is falling). But that's my opinion. There's no right or wrong answer here.
I think the people who are discouraging the move down south are ones who made a mistake by moving for whatever reason and are trying to prevent others from making the same mistake. Heed their advice but make your decision based on your own criteria. And go visit the places you want to live-not just the tourist areas- live among the residents and really get a feel for the place. Best of luck in making your decision.

[amsm196]

Wow! Thats to much , life is way to short to worry about all the things you mentioned.If you really want to move out of NY then you first need to pick a city, state and focus on that, do heavy research, visit the area, get in touch with a realtor and so on.

But we cant tell you what you should or should not do.

Do you drive? If so your more likley to get injured that way then by any of the other things you mentioned. And NO i'm not saying dont drive.

Who knows what tomorrow brings, but really life is way to short to stress over that stuff.

Best of luck

Originally Posted by ushighlanders

Okay, I skipped some of the middle pages, but tell me why I should not move to Florida, or Georgia, or South Carolina? (Okay, some of you, stop screaming at your computer monitors.) I grew up on Long Island, went to school there and started a family in Hampton Bays and Southampton, and finally got a husband who would move away from LI. We moved upstate (town the same size, but not as clickish), and I have loved it! NEVER wanted to move back. Now we HATE the winters and want to move to a warmer/hot climate. My husband complains daily about wanting to move. He's a roofer and would rather work in the heat than the cold. I am a teacher. I only earned $33,000.00 last year and seem to see that salaries are comparable in the south. I took the beaches for granted, but visited family on LI enough to want to live near the beach in a warmer climate where I can enjoy the beach more months out of the year than up north. We live near the mountains now, but I don't think there is any place down south near the ocean and the mountains. My problem is that I am afraid to move. I am afraid of the unexpected that I have never encountered, like: fire ants and other harmful creatures, rampant mold/mildew, stronger storms than I have lived through, different/unexpected taxes, crime, and warm weather that enables criminals to live and hide anywhere (is that true?), sink holes, hard grass, plastic objects melting in your car, chlorinated water 24/7 (I am used to well water), and a lot of other things I am forgetting.

But what about the reasons TO move? Like: no snow/cold weather, walking/swimming on the ocean or the gulf, not being freezing cold at night or in the morning when you go out, not having to wear twenty layers of clothes to keep warm, not paying $400.00 a month on heating oil, swimming most days in your enclosed inground pool, your power going out because of a hurricane but you won't freeze to death because it wasn't an ice/heavy snow storm or die from carbon monoxide poisoning because you had to use a kerosene heater to keep one room warm (frozen pipes too! no generator, which won't work whole-house unless you really have a lot of money), the smell of the warm heavy air (I love that smell), your nose hairs not freezing when you try to breath, and a lot of other things I am forgetting.

[goingbackhome]

Moved back from NC . We are happier in Albany New York. Jobs pay better here food does not cost an arm and a leg!. We have lots of culture and attitude here. Schools are better and people are a lot nicer!
I hope those of you that are thinking about leaving NC do so. Dont wait. What you are feeling (not liking NC) about the south is real.
Do not wait. You will never become one of them. They will never accept you. The grass is not greener in North Carolina.

[amsm196]

goingbackhome,

wow thats a pretty strong thing to say " They will never accept you" , what part of NC are you referring to? What city?

And how long did you stay in NC?

But if your happier in Albany then thats all that matters and i agree, being happy is more important then so many other things.

But i was always under the impression that Albany was a very expensive , high taxed and high crime area. Of course i could be wrong.

Stay well

Originally Posted by goingbackhome

Moved back from NC . We are happier in Albany New York. Jobs pay better here food does not cost an arm and a leg!. We have lots of culture and attitude here. Schools are better and people are a lot nicer!
I hope those of you that are thinking about leaving NC do so. Dont wait. What you are feeling (not liking NC) about the south is real.
Do not wait. You will never become one of them. They will never accept you. The grass is not greener in North Carolina.

[ushighlanders]

Originally Posted by goingbackhome

Moved back from NC . We are happier in Albany New York. Jobs pay better here food does not cost an arm and a leg!. We have lots of culture and attitude here. Schools are better and people are a lot nicer!
I hope those of you that are thinking about leaving NC do so. Dont wait. What you are feeling (not liking NC) about the south is real.
Do not wait. You will never become one of them. They will never accept you. The grass is not greener in North Carolina.

That's really interesting. I was born in the Bronx and when I was a baby, we moved to the Hamptons on Long Island. I never felt accepted in, what I would call, my own home town. I lived there for twenty some-odd years and always felt alone. Oh, I went lots of places and interacted with all the kids in school (and adults after I graduated), but if your family wasn't there for the last couple of hundred years (a founding father), you really weren't considered anyone. It's a really strange feeling when it's the only town you've ever known. Like I said before, too snooty. Tourists for the summer don't even notice that the locals take their money, but can't stand them being there. The locals used to be so bold as to throw "glad you're leaving" parties right on the side of the highway, with signs and all, while watching and toasting to the cars as they drove by! Maybe that's why I have no qualms about moving around the country, I have never felt like I had roots anywhere.

[lynnsprufera]

We moved to Raleigh in July 06 and the difference in bills are as follows:

My utilities are 1/3rd less in the summer and 1/2 less in the winter months. Gas heat in Raleigh and Oil in St. James.
Water bills are larger here. This is one reason why people often enjoy smaller properties. Probably double but ithis bill was one of my smaller bills.
Property txs run around .60 cts per 100 assessed value. Example 500,000. would run $3,000. and in Cary and the city limits of Raleigh it is 1.05 per 100so the same 500,000 house would be 5,250.
Salary depends on what you relocate to do. The Research Triangle Park hosts many large pharmacutical firms, Cisco, SAS, IBM. So the high tech people get paid very well. My sister-in-law is a paralegal and she would earn 5,000. more than she does on the Island along with those benefits that she doesn't have now. Blue collar work is a different story, it seems a bit lower. Teachers are non union and make around 40,000 to start. Police make around the same to start. Food is about the same. Some say it's higher but I don't see this. The schools are different. More diverse socioeconomically but offer sound educations. Some of the High Schools in the are enjoy much higher average SAT scores than good school districts on LI and they offer students a block schedule allowing them opportunites to go quickly pass their grade level in HS. Schools are a bit crowded, some more than others but they are trying to keep pace with rapid growth. My 6th grade son is in a trailer but the whole school is being remodeled and rebuilt. It doesn't bother him or me and when he switches classes he is in the new building. He is allowed to take elective courses in Astronomy and other interesting subjects. The big thing is the food. People from NY( which is almost everyone ) complain about certain favorites but usually seem to find some new places that make them happy. No butchers- but there is a Fresh Market that has nice meats. Car are taxed with a vehicle property tax - it is based on the car's value. My husband's 06 Ford Pick up truck was 234.00 for the year. It really is cheaper to live, no doubt.

[lynnsprufera]

We moved to Raleigh in July 06 and the difference in bills are as follows:

My utilities are 1/3rd less in the summer and 1/2 less in the winter months. Gas heat in Raleigh vs. Oil in St. James.
Water bills are larger here. This is one reason why people often enjoy smaller properties. Probably double but this bill was one of my smaller bills.
Property txs run around .60 cts per 100 assessed value. Example 500,000. would run $3,000. and in Cary and the city limits of Raleigh it is 1.05 per 100so the same 500,000 house would be 5,250.
Salary depends on what you relocate to do. The Research Triangle Park hosts many large pharmaceutical firms, Cisco, SAS, IBM. So the high tech people get paid very well. My sister-in-law is a paralegal and she would earn 5,000. more than she does on the Island along with those benefits that she doesn't have now. Blue collar work is a different story, it seems a bit lower. Teachers are non union 40,000 to start. Police make around the same to start. Food is about the same. Some say it's higher but I don't see this. The schools are different. More diverse socioeconomically but offer sound educations. Some of the High Schools in the area enjoy much higher average SAT scores than good school districts on LI and they offer students a block schedule allowing them opportunites to advance past their grade levels. Schools are a bit crowded, some more than others but they are trying to keep pace with rapid growth. My 6th grade son is in a trailer but the whole school is being remodeled and rebuilt. It doesn't bother him or me and when he switches classes he is in the new building. He is allowed to take elective courses in Astronomy and other interesting subjects. The big thing is the food. People from NY( which is almost everyone ) complain about missing certain favorites but usually seem to find some new places that make them happy. No butchers- but there is a Fresh Market that has nice meats. Cars are taxed with a vehicle property tax - it is based on the car's value. My husband's 06 Ford Pick up truck was 234.00 for the year. It really is cheaper to live, no doubt.

[cdcbsmom]

My husband and I are planning on moving our family further east on Long Island and we're having a hell of a time deciding where to go. the furthest we want to go is Nesconset/Smithtown. We are not the Rockefellers by anymeans, would like to get a nice house in pretty good condition for under 600k. i have 4 children, the oldest of which is nine, so the school district is very important. does anyone have any suggestions?? We're thinking Kings Park, but are a little worried about that whole land issue that they are having. i would really appreciate any input

[rperreta]

Originally Posted by ushighlanders

That's really interesting. I was born in the Bronx and when I was a baby, we moved to the Hamptons on Long Island. I never felt accepted in, what I would call, my own home town. I lived there for twenty some-odd years and always felt alone. Oh, I went lots of places and interacted with all the kids in school (and adults after I graduated), but if your family wasn't there for the last couple of hundred years (a founding father), you really weren't considered anyone. It's a really strange feeling when it's the only town you've ever known. Like I said before, too snooty. Tourists for the summer don't even notice that the locals take their money, but can't stand them being there. The locals used to be so bold as to throw "glad you're leaving" parties right on the side of the highway, with signs and all, while watching and toasting to the cars as they drove by! Maybe that's why I have no qualms about moving around the country, I have never felt like I had roots anywhere.

Let me tell you something - We moved from Queens to Hicksville LI and we have been living here now for about 14 years and my wife and I to this day still feel like an outcast. Why? Well, lets start with the stuck up mothers in the schools that think there sh*t don't stink because there driving a Benz or BMW... Everyone is so superficial, they pretend to be friendly and the minute you turn around the gossip starts... I had my fair share of the bull and I can't wait to the day I say goodbye to LI!