I'm 50 yo. Will I feel too old for Madison?

[BigCur]

Originally Posted by Nala8

Thank you, BigCur. Your posts make a lot of sense to me, too.

BTW, St. Josephs Church,just off the beltline ,where I was baptized was burgaled today.

I just got off the phone with a Dane Co. Sheriff deputy I know-he says
the Ghetto areas in Madison are now big enough for gangstas from Chicago
and the Twin Cities to lay low in if things are too hot for them in said locals. They lay low , then pull a job or two for traveling money.

[Nala8]

Originally Posted by BigCur

BTW, St. Josephs Church,just off the beltline ,where I was baptized was burgaled today.

I just got off the phone with a Dane Co. Sheriff deputy I know-he says
the Ghetto areas in Madison are now big enough for gangstas from Chicago
and the Twin Cities to lay low in if things are too hot for them in said locals. They lay low , then pull a job or two for traveling money.

So sorry to hear that, BigCur, but I can't say I'm surprised. These "gangstas" come here, wreak havoc in our neighborhoods, prey on the innocent, recruit, do violence, sell drugs, etc., and leave the rest of us being held suspect and up for daily harassment. It's a real shame.

Peace to you.

[Megan1967]

Madison has rough areas of town that are unpleasant to live in (which is why I tell people to avoid them), but the crimes are predominately car break-ins, vandalism. I have to admit that as a white woman I wouldn't feel exactly safe wondering around some areas alone, even during the day, but I could name off areas like that on less than two hands. I've listed the Warner Park/Northport/Packers Av areas for people to avoid when looking for housing, not because they are dangerous (other than the above noted petty crime), but because the apartments in those areas are run down and, petty or not, crime is a pain to live with.

It *would* be naive not to be aware of your surroundings in any city or town. I don't doubt it is true that "ganstas" hide out in other cities when the "heat" is on, but they are just as likely to hide out in a small town as a small city. In fact, Edgerton has had its share of gang problems in the last 10 years.

Allied Drive is a close to a "ghetto" as Madison has, no other areas are even close except maybe Broadway/Lake Point.

You can argue that society as a whole is going to hell in a hand basket, but to target Madison in particular is silly - and I've lived here since 1986. Madison is not declining at a faster pace than the rest of America as a whole.

[BigCur]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Madison has rough areas of town that are unpleasant to live in (which is why I tell people to avoid them), but the crimes are predominately car break-ins, vandalism. I have to admit that as a white woman I wouldn't feel exactly safe wondering around some areas alone, even during the day, but I could name off areas like that on less than two hands. I've listed the Warner Park/Northport/Packers Av areas for people to avoid when looking for housing, not because they are dangerous (other than the above noted petty crime), but because the apartments in those areas are run down and, petty or not, crime is a pain to live with.

It *would* be naive not to be aware of your surroundings in any city or town. I don't doubt it is true that "ganstas" hide out in other cities when the "heat" is on, but they are just as likely to hide out in a small town as a small city. In fact, Edgerton has had its share of gang problems in the last 10 years.

Allied Drive is a close to a "ghetto" as Madison has, no other areas are even close except maybe Broadway/Lake Point.

You can argue that society as a whole is going to hell in a hand basket, but to target Madison in particular is silly - and I've lived here since 1986. Madison is not declining at a faster pace than the rest of America as a whole.

Since Burlington, VT is not,you make my point.
I see the Money mag top 100 towns came out yesterday,Madison was #1 a few years back now its #95.
The only stat I can see that changed much is the crime rate which they show at about the twice the avg. of the top 100 towns.And the down trend of crime and decline of schools is rapid.

[Jimrob1]

I can't give advice on Madison but I can offer this. When you move in your 50's and later years you must really plan it out. A person's needs in these later years, are in most cases different than in younger years. It is not nearly as easy and practical to correct mistakes in our 50's, as in our 20's and 30's. A bad mistake in our 50's can have devastating consequences that we may never recover from.

If you want to leave Mass at this point in your life make sure where you decide on is right for you. Make numerous visits and make sure you have a comfort level, with both the location and its population as well as the local cultures. Definitely have a back up plan and the finances to cover the plan, should the location not appeal to you.

Maybe a move is right for you at this point in your life. Perhaps Madison is the right place, just make sure it is before calling the mover.

Best of Luck.

[Nala8]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

I can't give advice on Madison but I can offer this. When you move in your 50's and later years you must really plan it out. A person's needs in these later years, are in most cases different than in younger years. It is not nearly as easy and practical to correct mistakes in our 50's, as in our 20's and 30's. A bad mistake in our 50's can have devastating consequences that we may never recover from.

If you want to leave Mass at this point in your life make sure where you decide on is right for you. Make numerous visits and make sure you have a comfort level, with both the location and its population as well as the local cultures. Definitely have a back up plan and the finances to cover the plan, should the location not appeal to you.

Maybe a move is right for you at this point in your life. Perhaps Madison is the right place, just make sure it is before calling the mover.

Best of Luck.

Brilliant post. Thank you. I am in my late forties and have no regrets about choosing to try to make a go of it here in Madison. Still, if I were to do it all over again I would have not bought so easily into the sentiments of even well-meaning people in online forums who have fixed opinions of Madison, a city that is changing, probably so much in ways that forum participants could not realize unless they actually spend time in certain neighborhoods on a regular basis.

I am thinking though that if moving here at 50 turns out to be a mistake for the OP, the effects will not be devasting if the OP does not burn any bridges or finds a way to make it a trial move, as I did. It might be a learning experience in that case but, again, not devastating.

[bostonguy1960]

Thanks for all the feedback. Hadn't checked back here for awhile...checking out all the other interesting forums on CD, and got sidetracked.

Seems that the University doesn't have to dominate one's life, unless one really needs or likes to take advantage of this resource. In a way, it would be a shame not to learn the architecture of the campus as well as taking in a sporting event.

A couple of years ago, I met a visitor to Boston from Madison who didn't seem to like Boston or its people. Raved about Madison when I expressed my interest in relocating there. Said she didn't even lock her doors, in a community outside town. Met another person recently who had lived there a few years but misses it.

I think it's neat to have both Chicago and Milwaukee nearby. Not sure if enough people on this particular forum truly enjoy or take advantage of Milw., or just drive further to the bigger city?

Planned to come July 4th weekend at the last minute, but didn't. Seems flights to Milwaukee are much cheaper than into Madison. Is this usually true?

Thanks.

[r_k]

Yes, flights to Milwaukee are usually (not always) cheaper than to Madison. It's a bigger airport there with more flights and more direct flights. Figure about a 90 min drive from Milwaukee to Madison.

Crime in the small towns and countryside around Madison is quite low. I live in the country, and have never had any reason to think that someone might steal something. I don't leave the door unlocked, but used to know people who did. That said, crime in the country is not unknown, esp since Madison has expanded a lot in the last 20 years, and crime within Madison itself is way, way up compared to 40 years ago (but still below national averages).

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Thanks for all the feedback. Hadn't checked back here for awhile...checking out all the other interesting forums on CD, and got sidetracked.

Seems that the University doesn't have to dominate one's life, unless one really needs or likes to take advantage of this resource. In a way, it would be a shame not to learn the architecture of the campus as well as taking in a sporting event.

A couple of years ago, I met a visitor to Boston from Madison who didn't seem to like Boston or its people. Raved about Madison when I expressed my interest in relocating there. Said she didn't even lock her doors, in a community outside town. Met another person recently who had lived there a few years but misses it.

I think it's neat to have both Chicago and Milwaukee nearby. Not sure if enough people on this particular forum truly enjoy or take advantage of Milw., or just drive further to the bigger city?

Planned to come July 4th weekend at the last minute, but didn't. Seems flights to Milwaukee are much cheaper than into Madison. Is this usually true?

Thanks.

It's also possible to fly to Chicago, and then catch a puddle-jumper to Madison; this is true for both United and American Airlines..

Milwaukee is certainly worth a few visits; great art museum on the shore of Lake Michigan, great restaurants downtown ( try Mader's for good German food), the Bucks play downtown ( the Brewers play a little further out), Brady Street, and it's always fun to walk along the fringe of Lake Michigan ( fantastic views)...