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... even here on LI you can move from one town to another and they can be quite different ... the same goes for anywhere else ... i think everyone, no matter where you reside, is looking for a kind of utopia, there are good and bad no matter where you reside and you can only hope the good outweighs the bad as there is no perfect place
This is my biggest issue with this "beaten to death" thread and topic...When somebody claims that Long Island has changed for the worse, or is in decline, please simply share where you actually lived on long island and what were the changes. Somebody who grew up in south shore nassau county might have little in common with somebody who currently resides in Rocky Point, geographically speaking. One person's view of a decline (while accurate potentially) may have little to do with another long islander who lives 40 miles away. I think these blanket statements do little to allow for an informed discussion. Of course the same should be said for those discussing other states, etc.
Also, which mythical place you're moving to that will somehow withstand American demographic changes. That's something I notice a lot--"I'm moving to Place X which is like LI used to be". And I'm thinking "and in 10 years the immigrants will move in and it will be built out and where will you go then?" Yeah, LI has changed. So has everywhere else and you can't go chasing after 1962.
Also, which mythical place you're moving to that will somehow withstand American demographic changes. That's something I notice a lot--"I'm moving to Place X which is like LI used to be". And I'm thinking "and in 10 years the immigrants will move in and it will be built out and where will you go then?" Yeah, LI has changed. So has everywhere else and you can't go chasing after 1962.
There is truth to that, but one of the factors you have on LI that isn't as much an issue in some other places is land...we're built to the max, and it's an island. In North Carolina or Virginia or Georgia, you can build out in every direction.
The only place left to go in Nassau county, is up!
but one of the factors you have on LI that isn't as much an issue in some other places is land...we're built to the max, and it's an island. In North Carolina or Virginia or Georgia, you can build out in every direction.
Because urban/suburban sprawl is desirable? This is actually one of the reasons I'm GLAD to be leaving the Triangle area, and is a plus for LI, as far as I'm concerned.
Because urban/suburban sprawl is desirable? This is actually one of the reasons I'm GLAD to be leaving the Triangle area, and is a plus for LI, as far as I'm concerned.
There is truth to that, but one of the factors you have on LI that isn't as much an issue in some other places is land...we're built to the max, and it's an island. In North Carolina or Virginia or Georgia, you can build out in every direction.
The only place left to go in Nassau county, is up!
Even where there's unlimited land (rare) you do build out because you hit an effective limit of where people want to live and commute. Density goes down and people start making tradeoffs. That's why people pay Nassau prices even though they could move another 30 miles, pay less and get more land. "Nowhere to go but up" is a universal problem in built-out inner suburbia, and the reason you don't see it yet in the Triangle or Phoenix is because they haven't built out yet. When they do the same problems will start. And one of the frequent complaints about Long Island is how the sprawl doesn't end any more. Think about how much worse that will be when you don't hit a physical limit. I've been to Houston and DFW, and dear Lord, it is not pretty.
Even in NoVA, the more fringe areas in Prince William and Loudoun are having problems. They were/are a lot more marginal than the areas closer in. Sprawl stops being profitable after a while.
Even where there's unlimited land (rare) you do build out because you hit an effective limit of where people want to live and commute. Density goes down and people start making tradeoffs. That's why people pay Nassau prices even though they could move another 30 miles, pay less and get more land. "Nowhere to go but up" is a universal problem in built-out inner suburbia, and the reason you don't see it yet in the Triangle or Phoenix is because they haven't built out yet. When they do the same problems will start. And one of the frequent complaints about Long Island is how the sprawl doesn't end any more. Think about how much worse that will be when you don't hit a physical limit. I've been to Houston and DFW, and dear Lord, it is not pretty.
Even in NoVA, the more fringe areas in Prince William and Loudoun are having problems. They were/are a lot more marginal than the areas closer in. Sprawl stops being profitable after a while.
Well, I'm not fan of sprawl, and as long as you have no control over your population growth..I don't see an alternative.
Because urban/suburban sprawl is desirable? This is actually one of the reasons I'm GLAD to be leaving the Triangle area, and is a plus for LI, as far as I'm concerned.
I'm not sure what the plus is you are pointing out. Many areas still have areas left to build in, but LI does not, because it has already been "sprawled out". Plus, you have a population density on LI that is higher than many counties will ever have, let alone their entire metro areas. Also, as these areas develop, busniess parks develop on thier outskirts, something that is not happening on LI. Not many larger employers are located there, or are locating there, even as compared to Northern NY for example.
Hello all, I know i'm a bit late on responding to this posting but I do have my share of stories for everybody here. Now I moved just like a LOT of other New Yorker's because it was just so much money for me to live in NY with my fiance. I looked at Charlotte, my mother was moving down with my family and I figured i'd give it a shot, I'll have some family down here with me, I'll be able to afford it, it will be easier living for me and wow, 760/month for a one bedroom in ballantyne with a washer/dryer included! Gated community?! Oh my goodness how can I turn this down?!?! I cannot believe how wrong I really was. Now granted I have met a LOT of friendly people down here, but I have yet to make friends with one Southerner. I have however made 5 friends from NY/NJ/CT and MD. I feel that there was a lot of hostility twords all of us "yankees" in the Charlotte metro area. There's a common joke around the south...."Do you know what the difference between a yankee and a damn yankee is?.....A Damn yankee never leaves!" I've seen escalades that were bigger than 20yr old mobile homes they were parked infront of. I tried ordering a Bacon Egg and Cheese in a resturaunt and the waitress looked at me and told me they don't make that, because i'm in the souf now sugah but she'd reccomend the corndog with grits. Now i'm not poking fun at the southern way of life at all, but i'm just stating facts that i've witnessed. The crime in Charlotte seems to be a lot worse than in NY, there are a lot of gun shootings, My friend got robbed point blank down here in his office with an uzi. Someone I knew since i've been down here for a year was murdered in his shop. Also at work, I notcied that there was never any room for imporvement. If a strategy wasn't working for the company, why not try something else? It wouldn't fly, they were set on they're ways. There's bumper stickers that say "We don't care how you did it up north". I am moving back to NY, however, i'm moving to Long Island, over in West Babylon...very soon. I know it's going to be an arm and a leg, but i'm tired of seeing strip malls after strip malls, I'm tired of having to drive to get the littlest things, What ever happened to walk-to shopping? Charlotte is a very beautiful city, and while it may work for some, it may not work for others.
I know that in the last few years many Long Islanders moved down South to places like North Carolina and Florida. I also know that many could not adjust and decided to move back to NY. If that is you, where did you go, how long were you there and what made you decide to come back? More importantly, now that you are back, do you feel you made the right decision? I think your answers will help alot of people, like myself, that are still contemplating on what would be the best move.
Please, let's try to keep it civil and not bash the state that you left. State the facts, as best you can, about the reason why you left. Thanks.
Having left LI back in 1984, I recently moved back and have no regrets thusfar.
First move was to Jacksonville, FL.- Had a stalker within the first month. Within first 5 months had a guy stoned out of his mind break into my home. Thank God, I wasn't home at the time. Nut case made a return trip after I had a fellow transplanted LI friend guard me with a shutgun. Police later found nutcase in a dumpster at the corner mini mart. Both cases would call me Miss. New Yorker. I swore I would never,ever live anywhere in FL. again. Best friends to this day are from Mass.
Then onto Willmington, DE.- actually a nice place and not a bad drive to NY. No sales tax was a plus.
Philia., PA.- Lived right dab smack in the city. Much like the city, but on a smaller scale. Neighbors were from somewhere in Georgia. Best friends.
White Sands, NM.- talk about a cultural shock! First place I actually cried when I left. Best friends were our neighbors from Canton, NY. A dusting of snow and everything gets shut down. LOL
North Chicago, IL. -This area reminded me more of parts of Brooklyn. There were only 4 white people on the block and we were two of them. But we never had any trouble. Had to call police one time and was asked by the operator if I wanted a white or black officer. HUH!? I asked her if color made a differance in handling my call? She said, no. I asked, will one color get here quicker than the other? She said, no. I said, then just send me any color cop! LOL She sent one of each. LOL Loved all of the SNOW! From Oct. til April. Most impressed with the speed and great job done with snow removal.
Oahu, HI. Another cultural shock~! Beautiful land and native people. Crime is not very common on the islands. But when it does happen 99% of the time it was committed by a family member. The natives live by the spirit of Aloha. Get further away from the tourist areas and you will find it very relaxed way of living. If only they had snow. LOL This would be my ideal paradise. Was there for Hurricane Inikki, aide was there right as the storm conditions began to die down. Everyone helping one another strangers or not. It just did not matter.
San Diego, CA.- Was happy this was less than a year living here. Still don't understand what all the hoopla is about living in CA. And yes, I do have family in the state for over 30 years. My least favorite place to live. Would make any New Yorker appreciate our rush hour madness.
Lafayette, IN.- Bought first home here including a business. Lived within the city limits on a 1/2 acre of land in a 108 year old 3 bedroom house. All for the hefty price tag of $72,000.00. Taxes just about $600.00 (six hundred dollars), a year. Many friends were made here. But the locals all thought New York was another country. lol
Newport News/VA. Beach/Nofolk, VA.-This is a strange state/area. First time I heard of paying property taxes on your vehicles. In addition to safety inspection, registration and a city sticker fee in various locations of the State. Depending on the type of car all of this can, and did for us, exceed one month car payment. Most looked at you oddly if you even acknowledge them. And you only knew your neighbors by sight. Suffered through two hurricanes and flooding of home. Let's just say, what happened in the Gulf coast after Katrina does not surprise me one bit. Hurricanes Floyd and Isabel were just a fraction of the destruction, but aide was very slow in coming. Would only go back to visit the couple of friends I have there. Would never go to a shelter run by the American Red Cross ever again.
Mobile, AL.- LOL Mobile was a fun place. The people were always sweet and with a good day. Once they heard me talk they became NY experts. LOL Hurricane Ivan and Katrina I survived here as well. Again, you all know what happened in New Orleans. While the attention was all on LA., Miss. and AL. were forgotten. Aide did not come to us until a week after the fact. Here I lived in the front yard of the largest hospital complex in the area. Was told not to worry if power went out. Being so close to the hospital would have my power back up within hours. HA! 8 day's later is when we saw the lights and ac back on. Same with the hospital. Notices were in the media NOT to go to the hospitals in the area unless you were dying. If injuries were not life threatening you were told to try to find a local clinic or wait until further notice to seek medical attention at the hospital's. Good friends there are from CA.,AL. and Texas.
North Little Rock, AR.- transplanted here after Katrina. Never recieved aide from FEMA in Mobile or AR. Took me 5 months to get some aide from the Salvation Army and local churches. Katrina Aide Today was totally outstanding with their assistance. They also, gave me the option to move to Mobile or NY. And so, here I am!
One thing I have learned about every location I have lived in these past 20 odd years is this, you might as well be an alien to these folk's. No one other than a fellow yankee gets our sense of humor. We talk to fast for them. And New Yorker's in general are known for being hard shelled, un-caring people. Our criminals make national headlines and so, we become crimnals ourselves to the outside world. Let's not forget they just don't understand our accent either. lol
I always take the time and effort to get to know the people and cultural of the area I live in. It helps to warm folk's up to the hardness of the yank when they know something about the area and history. My ex-in-laws use to kid me about knowing more about the Alamo and Texas than they did. LOL
My friend from MI., visted the city for the first time years ago. She was amazed how she got into a lengthy chat with the ticket agent in the subway about cats. She never knew NY'ers to be so friendly. LOL
Shortly after 911 I had to come home to see the devestation for my own eyes. I tried to get into the city via the Brooklyn Bridge. After getting lost in Brooklyn a police car pulled me over. With VA. tags on my car I sort of stuck out like a sore thumb. When all was done and said, these officer's gave me a police escort to a Micky D's with a clean rest room. LOL They then escorted me into the city and told me where to stay clear of. For the first time in 30 odd years I didn't automatically lock my car doors. The people on the street looked you in the face and greeted you. Ya know what, this is exactly how they are down south. They always look you in the face with a greeting. It reminded me of growing up in Brooklyn many years ago... No one was a stranger. You may not know their name, but you knew their face.
Whenever I would come home for a visit I would always get off at the first exit in Staten Island and go down to the shore. Down past the zoo and there is a little park down there. I would spend sometime looking across the harbor and the towers. This time I wanted picture's of the now hole in the sky with the fire still burning. There were other folk's there this time and in silence we walked along the fence reading the memorials. Another couple and I, then took a seat on the bench and sat quietly for some time. When we looked at each other we all had tears streaming down our faces. Stranger's sharing memories and grief without a spoken word. These are the pictures I took with me that day. Not on film, b ut in my heart.
We are New Yorker's, the proud and strong and those Damn Yankee's! LOL
The best part about moving back to LI is you can not go anywhere without someone yelling out your name. LMAO I'm still adjusting to that one. LOL And only in NY has this ever happened to me. LOL Now I understand the strange looks I use to get from people when I would do this to them. LMAO
No matter where you might call home, you are bound to have changes. Hell, haven't you changed over the years? And home is where everyone knows your name, eventhough it may be Damn Yankee. LOL
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the south IMHO
And home is where everyone knows your name, eventhough it may be Damn Yankee. LOL
