Homesick for NY (New York, Rockville Centre, Brunswick: renter, health insurance, good credit)

[LillieB]

Hello all...

I was born and raised in Rockville Centre. After my mother died in 1987 I left and have never returned. Lived in four other states, never married, and now I want desperately to return home. Being single with probably less than $100,000 to spend on a house now, I wonder if it's possible to even dream of returning to RVC to live again. My field is medical office/transcription/pharmacy. Currently I am a licensed pharmacy tech earning $10/hr in Maine. Dismal place. I am so homesick for NY.

What do you think chances are for purchasing a little home, getting a job and living again in or around RVC again? I'm trying not to dare to let myself dream of this, but I am a little obsessed about wanting to return.

I appreciate your comments... thanks for advice.

LillieB.

[BKATL]

Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. If you have good credit and a down payment for a small house you may be able to work out something. Just stay far away from city if you're looking to save and spend less in cost of living.

[LocalX]

Where in Maine are you?

[LillieB]

I live midcoast, in the Belfast area right now. It can be pretty in spots, but once the novelty of the scenery and quaintness has worne off, it is very isolated and creatively not very stimulating. Most of all, job opportunities are nill.

I am remembering how at least in RVC, Manhattan was just a LIRR ride away. Heaven! You are all so fortunate to be there!

- L

[Coolhand68]

I say go for it. However, take a long weekend there to soak it up and see if it still feels like home. If you're convinced that you'll be happy there start making it happen.

[LocalX]

You could also check out PA, not that far from the city, you still have country life, and you could get a house. I grew up in RVC, its nice, but might not be the way you remember it.
Coolhand68 had a good idea about the long weekend.

[alexei27]

Could not agree more with the long weekend idea. My wife and I did this when trying to settle on a job transfer. A few days in eastern Suffolk and we were hooked...and settled in Sound Beach.

I would assume...that salaries for your field might be higher here? Could you rent for awhile? The housing market is tricky but has cooled considerably.

On another note...we have the Brunswick/Grey area in our sights for a potential move in a few years. I'd be interested in hearing about what you do not like about the mid-coast area. Fell free to shoot me a PM if you don't mind.

[dman72]

Funny, I just came home from a trip to visit friends living in the Richmond VA area....after being tail-gaited the entire length of the Southern State while going 10 MPH over the speed limit in the right lane on the trip home, I really decided that I hate most New Yorkers. The worst part of LI is dealing with traffic and a........s on the road.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by LillieB

Hello all...

I was born and raised in Rockville Centre. After my mother died in 1987 I left and have never returned. Lived in four other states, never married, and now I want desperately to return home. Being single with probably less than $100,000 to spend on a house now, I wonder if it's possible to even dream of returning to RVC to live again. My field is medical office/transcription/pharmacy. Currently I am a licensed pharmacy tech earning $10/hr in Maine. Dismal place. I am so homesick for NY.

What do you think chances are for purchasing a little home, getting a job and living again in or around RVC again? I'm trying not to dare to let myself dream of this, but I am a little obsessed about wanting to return.

I appreciate your comments... thanks for advice.

LillieB.

When you say "less than $100K to spend" do you mean that as the downpayment or the TOTAL you can spend on a home? If the latter, I have to say, absolutely forget it, especially anything in RVC, even a studio apt., even a tiny cottage in the Lakeview section of RVC. If you mean you have $100K as a downpayment, then maybe you can afford to purchase a small apt. in RVC (due to your modest income the monthly payments will have to be the smallest you can get).

Judging from your profession, you will probably end up being a struggling renter here and unless you find an illegal basement apt., all utilities included, will probably not be able to afford to even rent a place of your own. This may be a shock, but employers on "affluent" LI are notoriously cheap, do not like to give health insurance benefits, and you will probably not make much more hourly than you do in Maine! People with lower wage jobs are always better off in places like where you are now than in places like LI, where the cost of living is high. A decent 1 BR apt. around here costs minimum $1K+ a month, not including utilities (and some landlords have rigged things so that you even have to pay your own heat). If you really want to return, the best thing to do is to get educated for a higher paying profession or look for a house/apt. share rental situation. Good luck. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I am realistic and it would be worse for you to pack all your stuff and come here and have a horrible time just surviving due to the cost of living here.

[ClarkStreetKid]

Originally Posted by dman72

Funny, I just came home from a trip to visit friends living in the Richmond VA area....after being tail-gaited the entire length of the Southern State while going 10 MPH over the speed limit in the right lane on the trip home, I really decided that I hate most New Yorkers. The worst part of LI is dealing with traffic and a........s on the road.

So what did you think of the Richmond area? I always like to hear what others think.