Love It or Hate It???? (Boston, Lowell: relocate, real estate, tornadoes)

[FrozenAngel]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

Grass is Greener:

I've always found something to love about every place I've lived. My experience has been that it's never all good or all bad. Often when a person dislikes a place so much, it's something else they are trying to get away from. Do you think this is true for you?

greenie

I hear what you are saying. I have sat at my desk almost all day working and watching the humming birds at the feeder ..... five showed up at once and I feel happy..... but then I haven't left the house today. If the winter was only 2 months, I'd stay. I guess I won't really know till I move.

[Grass Is Greener]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

Grass is Greener:

I've always found something to love about every place I've lived. My experience has been that it's never all good or all bad. Often when a person dislikes a place so much, it's something else they are trying to get away from. Do you think this is true for you?

greenie

Greenie,

In some cases yes. But in my case, MA just wasn't the place for me. I stayed for a long time because I started my own company and I wouldn't want to give it up. After many years, not even that was enough to keep me happy there. The long, cold, dark winters became increasingly unbearable and depressing. And I got very tired of the cold, arrogant, snob, aloof and sometimes rude attitude of people. That's what I was trying to get away from when i left and I believe I succeeded

[Noodle]

The weather is not all that bad here. Take a look today at the whole middle of the country. 100+ degrees. Put that with a dewpoint in the 70s, or other parts burning up, or flooded, and I know where I'd rather be.
And the winters are dark??? I seem to see the sun come up same as the rest of the year. Maybe not as long of daylight. Whatever. I love the snow, love snowmobiling, skiing, and the scenery of it. Hate ice storms though, but that isn't limited to Mass. , of course.
Plenty of other issues here, though. Corrupt politics, liberalism, (yuk), somewhat high tax burden, stupid auto insurance regulation, bad roads, crowded roads inside of 495, and "island people" infestation.
The pay is good here though, but when I retire, I'm outta here.

There is no utopia. There's always a trade off wherever you go. Good luck on your move from Cal.

[pjscdn]

Indeed, after reading all of these posts, and other posts from other forums, that we all have different requirements for where we choose to live. Clearly, one can conclude that MA is not for everyone, and I think that can be said for most any other location. When I moved here in the 80s, it was the high tech boom, and real estate prices went through the roof. Like many of my peers out of college, I struggled to get by, while many locals cashed in. However, with that increase of capital came an increase in the quality of life. While there have been downturns since then, the area seems to always re-invent and re-invigorate itself. Let's face it -this is an area that is dependent upon a highly educated workforce to create jobs; no one moves here for the weather.

I also noticed the somewhat aloof nature of the people when I moved here. It was harder to meet people, and seemed to take longer to make friendships. But I admit those friendships do seem genuine, and to last the test of time.

On my travels in CA, usually Silicon Valley but occasionally SoCA, it seemed people measured themselves by where they lived and what they drove. In the Boston area, it seems to me the focus is more on where you went to school and your degree. I'm sure it has to do with the high number of colleges around here. Just waunder around the area after Labor Day - Boston metro has some 250,000 college students. I sense this is what attributes to our reputation for having an opinion on just about everything!

However, looking ahead, one has to wonder how future graduates will fare. In the past, many fell in love with what area has to offer, and stayed. But with demand for housing exceeding supply, and buildable land being finite, the cost of living is not going to change much anytime soon. It seems only natural that there is an exodus. I'm curious what the thoughts are of people in their 20s, and what they plan to do going forward.

For me, I like the state's progressive attitude. For instance, I like the tough stance and high standards the state enforces on public education, for both teachers and graduating students. It may cause some people to complain and leave, but I think it also has a unifying effect. It's a level of commitment all can agree is valuable and worthwhile. Others complain about our stance on gay marriage. (I never liked the fact that it wasn't put before the voters. A very wise move by the lawyers in letting the SJC decide - no question given our history how the vote would go). But, the sky hasn't fallen here since the decision was made. Has anyone really noticed a difference?

Best of luck for those of you looking to relocate from CA. I'm sure your first winter will assuredly not be easy. But, do not be afraid to venture outside. You may be surprised at how many people will be in downtown Boston on winter weekends. The city has had a New Years Eve celebration called First Night for about 20 years, and tens of thousands of people pack the city and its parks to celebrate.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by pjscdn

Indeed, after reading all of these posts, and other posts from other forums, that we all have different requirements for where we choose to live. Clearly, one can conclude that MA is not for everyone, and I think that can be said for most any other location. When I moved here in the 80s, it was the high tech boom, and real estate prices went through the roof. Like many of my peers out of college, I struggled to get by, while many locals cashed in. However, with that increase of capital came an increase in the quality of life. While there have been downturns since then, the area seems to always re-invent and re-invigorate itself. Let's face it -this is an area that is dependent upon a highly educated workforce to create jobs; no one moves here for the weather.

I also noticed the somewhat aloof nature of the people when I moved here. It was harder to meet people, and seemed to take longer to make friendships. But I admit those friendships do seem genuine, and to last the test of time.

On my travels in CA, usually Silicon Valley but occasionally SoCA, it seemed people measured themselves by where they lived and what they drove. In the Boston area, it seems to me the focus is more on where you went to school and your degree. I'm sure it has to do with the high number of colleges around here. Just waunder around the area after Labor Day - Boston metro has some 250,000 college students. I sense this is what attributes to our reputation for having an opinion on just about everything!

However, looking ahead, one has to wonder how future graduates will fare. In the past, many fell in love with what area has to offer, and stayed. But with demand for housing exceeding supply, and buildable land being finite, the cost of living is not going to change much anytime soon. It seems only natural that there is an exodus. I'm curious what the thoughts are of people in their 20s, and what they plan to do going forward.

For me, I like the state's progressive attitude. For instance, I like the tough stance and high standards the state enforces on public education, for both teachers and graduating students. It may cause some people to complain and leave, but I think it also has a unifying effect. It's a level of commitment all can agree is valuable and worthwhile. Others complain about our stance on gay marriage. (I never liked the fact that it wasn't put before the voters. A very wise move by the lawyers in letting the SJC decide - no question given our history how the vote would go). But, the sky hasn't fallen here since the decision was made. Has anyone really noticed a difference?

Best of luck for those of you looking to relocate from CA. I'm sure your first winter will assuredly not be easy. But, do not be afraid to venture outside. You may be surprised at how many people will be in downtown Boston on winter weekends. The city has had a New Years Eve celebration called First Night for about 20 years, and tens of thousands of people pack the city and its parks to celebrate.

Bravo on a wonderful post. Hope to read more from you!

[connkid]

I moved to Northern Calif. (San Francisco Bay area) from Windsor, CT (Hartford area) and it is definitely a culture shock, to say the least, especially regarding the people in CA vs. CT and New England.

People in CA, for the most part, tend to be very superficial and shallow. They are very much from the school of me-me-me, and to blazes with you! CA is the embodiment of a hedonistic and narcissistic society, where people are so keen to keep-up wth the Jones', and measure other people, not by their character, but by what vehicle they are driving, or the $150.00 designer jeans you're wearing! The almighty dollar in CA is God, and they use the dollar sign as a measure of the individual. They are friendly, but for the most part it's a facade.

Heather made the comment about how she has found people in CT to be more genuine. She has hit the nail on the head when it comes to people in CT, or from the Northeast, for that matter. New Englander's may appear to be a bit stand-offish at first when you meet them, but what you find is that once they get to know you -and you are genuine in character-you have a friend, not an acquaintance, or fair-weather friend as you find in CA folks! Since living out here, I always remember this statement quite frequently: 'In CA it's easy to have a lot of acquaintance's, but true friends are hard to come by!'

There is one statement that I'll always remember as long as I live in CA, and I believe succinctly sums-up the Golden State. I hadn't been living in CA very long when I met a gent from NY (Brooklyn). We were comparing notes on the people in CA vs. the Northeast. After we had finished discussing-and agreeing on our 'laundry list' of items about the 'right coast' vs. CA, - (one of which is the lack of genuine friendliness on the part of Californians') -he turned to me and said 'I've found the unfriendliness to be an inherent part of the state's landscape, and I know why the people act the way they do here' I asked him what he had found in this vast cultural wasteland. He stated: 'You know what? California is a lonely mans' paradise!" A truer statement one could never make about the mass of humanity they call California!!!

Footnote: The above comments/impressions are based on living out-here since 1974, having travelled through-out the Golden State, trying to find-out what makes these people tick, least someone get's the impression that I've just stepped off the Greyhound bus and am homesick! (I may live in California, but my home is Connecticut!)

[puffle]

Originally Posted by connkid

I moved to Northern Calif. (San Francisco Bay area) from Windsor, CT (Hartford area) and it is definitely a culture shock, to say the least, especially regarding the people in CA vs. CT and New England.

People in CA, for the most part, tend to be very superficial and shallow. They are very much from the school of me-me-me, and to blazes with you! CA is the embodiment of a hedonistic and narcissistic society, where people are so keen to keep-up wth the Jones', and measure other people, not by their character, but by what vehicle they are driving, or the $150.00 designer jeans you're wearing! The almighty dollar in CA is God, and they use the dollar sign as a measure of the individual. They are friendly, but for the most part it's a facade.

Heather made the comment about how she has found people in CT to be more genuine. She has hit the nail on the head when it comes to people in CT, or from the Northeast, for that matter. New Englander's may appear to be a bit stand-offish at first when you meet them, but what you find is that once they get to know you -and you are genuine in character-you have a friend, not an acquaintance, or fair-weather friend as you find in CA folks! Since living out here, I always remember this statement quite frequently: 'In CA it's easy to have a lot of acquaintance's, but true friends are hard to come by!'

There is one statement that I'll always remember as long as I live in CA, and I believe succinctly sums-up the Golden State. I hadn't been living in CA very long when I met a gent from NY (Brooklyn). We were comparing notes on the people in CA vs. the Northeast. After we had finished discussing-and agreeing on our 'laundry list' of items about the 'right coast' vs. CA, - (one of which is the lack of genuine friendliness on the part of Californians') -he turned to me and said 'I've found the unfriendliness to be an inherent part of the state's landscape, and I know why the people act the way they do here' I asked him what he had found in this vast cultural wasteland. He stated: 'You know what? California is a lonely mans' paradise!" A truer statement one could never make about the mass of humanity they call California!!!

Footnote: The above comments/impressions are based on living out-here since 1974, having travelled through-out the Golden State, trying to find-out what makes these people tick, least someone get's the impression that I've just stepped off the Greyhound bus and am homesick! (I may live in California, but my home is Connecticut!)

Connkid, I have lived here my whole life and couldn't have summed up California better than you have, in a nutshell.

[Livewire]

I have friends out there (in Quincy) and he loves it. Never been there (other than passing through) but havent ruled out visiting. I LOVE the style of homes out there on the east coast.

[pjscdn]

Puffle,

Thanks for the kind comments. I stumbled across this page by accident. I travel a bit, and was looking for a good source of objective information, and this iste is very good. I recently visited friends and relatives in SoCA, and we often swap a lot of notes comparing our lives raising our children. I decided to post a few ideas.

Like many people on this site, you're in a quandary. Let us know how you're doing.

[UrbanMom]

I can't comment on living in the suburbs, because I've never done so. I've lived and worked in several urban parts of the Boston Area, and I just love it. I grew up in Los Angeles, and I prefer Boston, handsdown.

Something that bears repeating about the city: Laid out great. Easy to get around without a car (conversely, challenging to get around with a car.)

For young and single people, fewer places offer more than this college/post college city (not town. City.), with a huge huge population of young people, and the infrastructure that caters to them.

On the other hand, this is a GREAT place to raise kids because of LOTS LOTS going on, and real integrated diversity. (City is 50% White, 50% everyone else.) Schools are an issue, but savvy parents can always make the systems work.

Dwellings are smallish, older and expensive, but there is no "Keeping up with Jones'" attitude. In fact, people in the city are really friendly and helpful, and depending on your particular neighborhood, you can have a neat little community where you do know everyone in the few surrounding blocks.

Despite being an urban area, Boston has lots and lots of public greenspace. Gardening, biking, skating, running, and leisurely strolling are huge pasttimes. If you actually LIKE winter, there are lots of urban opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, ice-skating, not to mention the majical appearance of Downtown Crossing, the Boston Commons, or Harvard Square in a snowfall!

Having a good job is helpful, because real estate/rent is more expensive than in other parts of the country. I know many families for whom staying is financially difficult, but who sacrifice to stay in the city because of all it has to offer.

As far as the seasons go: Urban winter isn't so bad because your roads get plowed, but snow that sticks around a long time gets kinda ugly looking. Spring/Mud Season isn't so bad in the city. Kinda wet. No biggie. Summers can be uncomfortable, but the whole city turns into a veritable festival, with lots of fun (often cheap or free) entertainment for everyone all summer long. Fall is my favorite. The air is crisp. The leaves are pretty. Christmas/Winter holidays can look straight of a story book.

Not for everyone, but the city is ideal if: (1) you love a relaxed but urban lifestyle, (2) you like winter, (3) you're OK living in a smaller dwelling, and (4) driving isn't your greatest passion in life. If this is you, COME ON OVER.

If these four things aren't true for you, you may still like it, but you won't LOVE LOVE LOVE it like I do.