Moving back to Long Island from NC (New York, Wilson: amusement parks, schools)

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Danomul

Yes, Oil and almost everything else has gone up, but the price of a house and the mortgage have come down from three years ago. I will use a very close friend as an example, who purchased a 330K home in Nesconset last fall. His P/I is 1680 per month, taxes of $533 per month and homeowners of $77 per month for a total housing cost of 2290 per month. He takes home approx 4200 a month, which leaves him with close to $2,000 per month for the other bills. ( Oh, our employer pays for our LIRR passes). Add in the tax savings per month, and it is only a slightly higer total nut per month, than where he was renting in Queens.

Good for him. His taxes are cheap -- if not enviable -- for most of LI.

Employer paying LIRR passes is a real perk, too. As I don't need to use the LIRR, what would a monthly pass cost between Nesconset (ronk LIRR?) and the workplace? Figure most people aren't as lucky.

Coming from Queens he is no longer paying NYC income taxes, (right?), another plus for him.

However $2K left after meeting only housing costs (which are consuming over 50% of his take home income) is a little too close for comfort for some of us. If he is cautious, he'll do just fine.

[Georgie713]

Just wanted to say that I moved off LI over 13yrs ago, and that was a very hard decision. However, now I can say it was the best decision the hubby & I made. Financially...we own things here we would never have been able to afford, or would had to go into huge debt for them (we only make payments on only 1 of our 3 vehicles), vacations...at least 3x a year we take big 7-10day vacations, and alot of 4day weekends (never could we do that on LI), family time...alot (my hubby & I spend alot of time together, & with our children) we don't spend 1-1/2hours commuting like we did before. These thing are important to us, and luckily in Charlotte NC we have them without stress. It takes a while to get use to it, and now-a-days it is better than 13yrs ago when we got here. Do I miss LI? I miss my memories of the my life, & friends, but when I go and visit I see how the struggle & than I am grateful. I miss the beach the most, so I do go to Myrtle Beach as much as possible in the summer. I live right on on of the Lakes in Charlotte, so I feel near the water (but its not really the same). Food, was an issue too, but we've adjusted, and supermarkets are better now too. 13yrs ago, it was hard to find POLLY-O!, now its everywhere. hee hee. Just a little FYI...I grew up in Hicksville, and my hubby in Oyster Bay, worked all over the Island. Miss LI...yeah, move back. Never, even if I win Lotto, I would just stay in the South now, love the weather. Have a great day Long Islanders.. Yes.. I am an Islander/Met/Giant fan...still to this day!

[jb_10009]

Isn't there anywhere that is more pragmatic in a stagflationary economy, but is not so far from LI so as to prevent relatively convenient quarterly visits? I heard Albany thrown around a bit, and I know Hartford and New Haven are less crazy and have some jobs. My wife is a teacher, so we offset the taxes that way. I guess I just need to find a job outside of the NYC in the suburbs and then do a comute from the exburbs. Then my wife teaches in the exburbs at a mild premium, relative to TX (where we are now). We are dealing with NYC to TX back to CT, but LI in Valley Stream looks like a better option than CT, because the commute is 40 min to midtown at the same house price, as CT and better teacher salaries.

Very helpful dialogue, different cities but same analysis. All comments help.

Ideas?

[NYC2RDU]

Originally Posted by jb_10009

Isn't there anywhere that is more pragmatic in a stagflationary economy, but is not so far from LI so as to prevent relatively convenient quarterly visits? I heard Albany thrown around a bit, and I know Hartford and New Haven are less crazy and have some jobs. My wife is a teacher, so we offset the taxes that way. I guess I just need to find a job outside of the NYC in the suburbs and then do a comute from the exburbs. Then my wife teaches in the exburbs at a mild premium, relative to TX (where we are now). We are dealing with NYC to TX back to CT, but LI in Valley Stream looks like a better option than CT, because the commute is 40 min to midtown at the same house price, as CT and better teacher salaries.

Very helpful dialogue, different cities but same analysis. All comments help.

Ideas?

Anywhere in the Northeast presents the relatively same list of issues. Utilities, taxes and cost-of-living feeds (e.g. insurance, cost of services etc.) are high enough to consume any increase income you're likely to appreciate.

The benefit of living elsewhere is in the amount of effort required to live your life and how much of that life you're able to enjoy.

After having passed our one year anniversary as transplanted New Yorkers living in North Carolina I can state with great certainty that life away from Long Island is easier. The pace is slower but not slow, the bigger cost of living factors are much lower and thus the amount of stress we're under is greatly reduced.

As for relative convenience in terms of traveling to New York, we visit at least quarterly and while it's not the shortest drive it's also manageable.

[cruzrgrl62]

Im right behind you. I cant wait to leave Florida. Ive been here in Melbourne for a year and I so miss my little East Northport. Its nuts down here. The crime rate is rising. Just about everyone has a record or is on probation. Im tired of rednecks and feeling unsafe. I miss the seasons. (and beleive it or not, sweater weather). I miss the feel of small town community and walking into StopNshop and seeing people I know. I miss walking barefoot in the grass and opening my windows to get fresh air. Bakeries, delis and Long Island Railroad. Im heading back up next October after I pay down some bills. The pay stinks down here too. 1980s pay in 2008. well, good luck in your endeavor to escape. You are definitely not alone. -Jen

[threesons]

Originally Posted by georgie713

just wanted to say that i moved off li over 13yrs ago, and that was a very hard decision. However, now i can say it was the best decision the hubby & i made. Financially...we own things here we would never have been able to afford, or would had to go into huge debt for them (we only make payments on only 1 of our 3 vehicles), vacations...at least 3x a year we take big 7-10day vacations, and alot of 4day weekends (never could we do that on li), family time...alot (my hubby & i spend alot of time together, & with our children) we don't spend 1-1/2hours commuting like we did before. These thing are important to us, and luckily in charlotte nc we have them without stress. It takes a while to get use to it, and now-a-days it is better than 13yrs ago when we got here. Do i miss li? I miss my memories of the my life, & friends, but when i go and visit i see how the struggle & than i am grateful. I miss the beach the most, so i do go to myrtle beach as much as possible in the summer. I live right on on of the lakes in charlotte, so i feel near the water (but its not really the same). Food, was an issue too, but we've adjusted, and supermarkets are better now too. 13yrs ago, it was hard to find polly-o!, now its everywhere. Hee hee. Just a little fyi...i grew up in hicksville, and my hubby in oyster bay, worked all over the island. Miss li...yeah, move back. Never, even if i win lotto, i would just stay in the south now, love the weather. Have a great day long islanders.. Yes.. I am an islander/met/giant fan...still to this day!

you said it the best!! Miss the same things. We do the same things now in charlotte.
In addition, when we visit ny, we feel like the king/queen because everyone wants a piece of us.

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by cruzrgrl62

Im right behind you. I cant wait to leave Florida. Ive been here in Melbourne for a year and I so miss my little East Northport. Its nuts down here. The crime rate is rising. Just about everyone has a record or is on probation. Im tired of rednecks and feeling unsafe. I miss the seasons. (and beleive it or not, sweater weather). I miss the feel of small town community and walking into StopNshop and seeing people I know. I miss walking barefoot in the grass and opening my windows to get fresh air. Bakeries, delis and Long Island Railroad. Im heading back up next October after I pay down some bills. The pay stinks down here too. 1980s pay in 2008. well, good luck in your endeavor to escape. You are definitely not alone. -Jen

My mom feels the same way as you and lives in Florida too Naples to be exact. Just waiting it out until retirement so she and my dad can move back.

[rocafeller05]

Its like this.... People who move to a different place will never find it to be like the place where they were born and raised. Its just the way it is. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania and miss it. Thats just the way it works. I miss the mountains, open space, no traffic, etc. But I also have come to like some things about LI. But to be honest the only thing keeping me here is my job. Does it mean LI is bad? No. Its just not for me.
I guess my point is that you cant get an accurate detail of an area unless you live it. Ask the the born and raised Floridians and they will say how they love it. Its just how it is.

[Just Peachy]

I just moved back to LI from NC. The job situation was terrible, the pay was terrible, I had the neighbors from he!!, the police don't do anything to protect you, in my neighborhood all the people were small minded and had only half a brain! I made some nice friends from NY there, and the weather is always sunny and extrememly hot in the summer but overall I loved the weather. Oh businesses never call you back even when you are talking about an $11,000 job for your house, they don't like northerners there, food costs the same if not more in NC, home depot and the like is the same price as NY, the beach was like 5/6 hours away, NCer's can't drive..especially in the rain! I've come to the conclusion there is no perfect place to live but LI is what I know and love and you can come home...without saving all your house profits...as I am proof!!

[threesons]

Originally Posted by Just Peachy

I just moved back to LI from NC. The job situation was terrible, the pay was terrible, I had the neighbors from he!!, the police don't do anything to protect you, in my neighborhood all the people were small minded and had only half a brain! I made some nice friends from NY there, and the weather is always sunny and extrememly hot in the summer but overall I loved the weather. Oh businesses never call you back even when you are talking about an $11,000 job for your house, they don't like northerners there, food costs the same if not more in NC, home depot and the like is the same price as NY, the beach was like 5/6 hours away, NCer's can't drive..especially in the rain! I've come to the conclusion there is no perfect place to live but LI is what I know and love and you can come home...without saving all your house profits...as I am proof!!

You have some very valid points! The biggest mistake people make is coming to NC without securing a job first. You will not be able to live anywhere without income (well at least for most of us). LI does have many good points and I miss it. But things are going good here so there is no need to go back. But I will never say never.