Setting the Record Straight - Dix Hills (Islip, Babylon: apartment, mortgage)

[dh98]

I have read numerous posts about Dix Hills and the "attitude," "snobbery," "lack of neighborliness" etc. I would like to set the record straight as a resident who has lived there for 10 years with two small children, one of whom is in the HHH elementary schools and the other who is a toddler. Hopefully this can help posters who want first hand information.
To be totally frank - yes, I earn a lot of money. I am, however, none of those adjectives. There are pros and cons of the town, but I have chosen to stay there despite the fact that I could move wherever I want. First off, there are different sections of the town - the extreme southwestern and southeastern portions have smaller lot sizes (1/4 to 1/2 acre) - the vast majority of the town is 1 acre zoning or more. Is there more of a sense of neighborhood in the sections with smaller lot sizes? Absolutely. Living in the 1 acre zoning section I can tell you it is logistically difficult to have a "Hi Neighbor!" relationship. When I lived in E Northport, on a smaller lot and closer to my neighbors, it was much easier. Are some people snobs? Absolutely. But it has been my experience that there are people living in the town that are spending everything they have to live there, and there are others whose mortgage payment (if they have one) and taxes are a pittance to them. The arrogant people almost always fall into the first category. Have I considered moving? Absolutely - but where and why? I believe that most upscale towns have their share of arrogance, and, frankly, I like the proximity of the expressways. Also, growing up in Queens in an apartment I want to give my kids property, but one acre is more than enough - they don't need 2 or 3 or 5. In my 10 years here, I have quickly been able to detect the arrogant people, and I just have nothing to do with them. There are, however, many, many very down to earth, friendly people - it is the showy, loud people that tend to get the attention and give the town its bad rap. I love the schools, and I like that we have diversity and that other neighboring towns like Wheatley Heights are in the school district. I want my kids to interact with all types of children so they don't grow up thinking that everyone has a pool or tennis court. The only major con is that we don't have a downtown; on the flip side, no commercial zoning keeps things very residential. I hope this helps people who are considering moving to the town.

[Glad2BHere]

Great post. Always nice to hear from residents of a town. I appreciated your post for sure.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by dh98

I have read numerous posts about Dix Hills ...

For those who may not be familiar with Dix Hills:

Dix Hills is a hamlet (an unincorporated area) in the southeast part of the Town of Huntington, in the west part of Suffolk County, along the Huntington/Smithtown, Huntington/Islip and Huntington/Babylon town lines.

Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Dix Hills in the Town of Huntington is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of Elwood and the Hamlet of Commack in the Town of Huntington; on the east by the Hamlet of Commack in the Town of Smithtown (the Huntington/Smithtown town line) and the Hamlet of Brentwood in the Town of Islip (the Huntington/Islip town line); on the south by the Hamlet of Deer Park and the Hamlet of Wheatley Heights in the Town of Babylon (the Huntington/Babylon town line); and, on the west by the Hamlet of Melville and the Hamlet of South Huntington in the Town of Huntington.





The Hamlet of Dix Hills has a different border than does the "Dix Hills, NY 11746" ZIP Code postal zone (i.e., a place can have a "Dix Hills, NY 11746" mailing address and not be in the Hamlet of Dix Hills and a place can have other than a "Dix Hills, NY 11746" mailing address and be in the Hamlet of Dix Hills): places that have a "Dix Hills, NY 11746" mailing address that are not in the Hamlet of Dix Hills are in the Hamlet of Huntington Station, the Hamlet of Elwood, the Hamlet of Commack, the Hamlet of Deer Park and the Hamlet of Melville; and, at the same time, there are places in the Hamlet of Dix Hills with a "Brentwood, NY 11717" mailing address.


For a good set of town-by-town maps showing all the villages and hamlets in each of LI's 13 towns (3 in Nassau County and 10 in Suffolk County): http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html

[Dix Hillian]

Really an excellent post The flashy and snobby residents are usually, in actuality, the poorest. The upside of the supposed lack of neighborliness: you don't have to interact with anyone you don't have to.

So what if your neighbor is a snob? In Dix Hills, it's highly possible you don't even know his name.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by Dix Hillian

Really an excellent post The flashy and snobby residents are usually, in actuality, the poorest. The upside of the supposed lack of neighborliness: you don't have to interact with anyone you don't have to.

So what if your neighbor is a snob? In Dix Hills, it's highly possible you don't even know his name.

Great point
All show and no go.

Old money rarely feels the need to flaunt it.

Nonetheless I think not knowing ones neighbor is sad.

Crooks

[corky101]

Interesting you talk about the less affluent being snobby - my friend and I were JUST saying that we noticed the same thing. Our theory is that the less affluent are "wannabees" - and they have low self-esteems and feel they need to prove themselves. These are the people who immediately ask you what your address is (they have to evaluate your worth before you even open your mouth).

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by corky101

Interesting you talk about the less affluent being snobby - my friend and I were JUST saying that we noticed the same thing. Our theory is that the less affluent are "wannabees" - and they have low self-esteems and feel they need to prove themselves. These are the people who immediately ask you what your address is (they have to evaluate your worth before you even open your mouth).

I have a friend who's an estate attorney in Rocky Point.We have some old money tucked away out here.You'd never know it beacuse they live modestly and dont want to draw any attention to themselves, but theyre here.Theyre just little old "Millionaire next door" types, who had a summer cottage out here who eventually sold the brownstone and called RP home.

I remember seeing the same thing as a kid in Three Village. The real old money was tucked away in the smaller, older homes. The new money gathered in the McMansions.
My best friend father died a multi millionaire in Stony Brook.He never found it necessary to leave Strathmore or to trade the Chevy for a Caddy but he lived very richly in other ways.

Again real money is confident and secure and has nothing to prove.

crooks