Do you miss massachusetts? (Fitchburg, Westford: transplants, beaches, kindergarten)

[Ronniec78]

I will admit I love Boston. Other than Seattle and Orlando, it's probably my favorite city. Since I'm not a fan of cold weather it's just not for me though.

[tampabutterfly]

Originally Posted by tamiznluv

tampabutterly, did you know Linda or Kenny O'Leary from Rockland?

taminznluv,

Kenny O' Leary sounds familiar. I'll ask my sister in law she may know who he is.

Butterfly

[aomething]

Originally Posted by tamiznluv

Did you know the "Toll House" burnt down, carolynrick? If I remember correctly, it's a Wendy's now! Sad to see.

The sign is still there next to the Wendy's. I believe the actual Toll House is now the Walgreen's that they just built this summer.

Gotta love progress

[Martha Anne]

Originally Posted by my_2_cents

I live in the greater Boston area. Went on a business trip to San Diego and everybody there told me they'd move to Boston in a heartbeat. I'm one to say I'd move to SD- just say the word and I'm there. But the biggest complaint I heard from everybody - including the taxi driver- is that they long for more culture and history. One woman from Romania told me she had a friend from Romania who visited Boston and went back and told her it was just like Europe and then moved to Boston shortly thereafter.

This is what I keep trying to tell everybody! Boston beats out any other place (and I live in NYC) for the cultural/intellectual climate. I don't know why this is so hard for some people to appreciate. I guess that all they hear about is the Freedom Trail and phrases like "Bean Town" but these are just colorful images of a city which is really a cultural and intellectual leader. (I am really including Cambridge here.)

[looch]

Originally Posted by darzz1

Grew up In Natick
So funny my Mom is still there and works at bldg 19 1/5! lol
I have lots of found memories of MA.. going to the cape, gloucester for Lobsta and the penny candy store... I would never move back.. couldn't afford to and winters way to cold for me. THough there are some good points, best seafood anywhere, miss those pretty blue skys, rolling hills and all the quaint little mom & pop stores. Also,, most houses have a lot of character and charm to them- not like the cookie cutters they put up everywere.
SO.. the question. If housing wasn't soo costly and it wasn't soo cold! and there weren't sooo many Illegals - I would consider it.
Everyplace has there problems. I'm in va bch know and crime is really bad, getting worse by the day.
Good luck all

I grew up in Natick too.. still a nice place but I think the penny candy stores are all closed down. My brother still lives there and just got lucky and found a house near downtown for about 250K

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I do love New England and I miss those days when I lived in South Lancaster however at this time of the year I am glad to be here warm in Florida.

[wickedripeplum]

I love Massachusetts and I miss it so much. Are there things I would change? Sure there are. Rents are outrageous, my parents are way too close, and I really wish the T ran 24 hours a day. But Massachusetts is wonderful and I fully hope to move back some day.

[carolynrick2004]

Originally Posted by tamiznluv

Did you know the "Toll House" burnt down, carolynrick? If I remember correctly, it's a Wendy's now! Sad to see.

Hi! I've been on a mini vacation for a week and am just catching up on the messages. Yes, I did know about the Toll House. Went to MA 3 times in 2007. I even wrote a "letter to the editor" of the local paper asking what the "powers to be" were thinking when they put a Wendy's there!!!! (Nothing against Wendy's). I couldn't understand why another "family" restaurant wasn't considered. It could have even been named something that would have connected it to the "Toll House" name. Oh well, as they say PROGRESS!! It's frustrating!!!!!

[carolynrick2004]

Originally Posted by tampabutterfly

Hi Carolyn,
I have a sister who lives in Abington, right next to Whitman. She is looking to do the six month thing also...but just the opposite..coming here to Florida for six months. She wants to be close to me and my son though and we live in Tampa. Deland is too far. If you have any friends/family in the Tampa area who could accommadate my sister in exchange for you staying in her house in Abington that could work out!

Perhaps she would consider renting out her house to you short term if you didn't have a swap for her. Or maybe a room while she is there, I will tell her about your plight. It is a two bedroom home and just she lives there.

Butterfly

Sorry it took so long to answer. Was out-of-town for a week. Did you get to talk with your sister? What I would probably do is touch base with her on one of my 2008 trips to MA. If that would be okay. On my next trip, I'll be staying with a girlfriend who still lives on the same street I grew up on. She works in Abington for some Mortgage Attorney. I'm retired and widowed. (I may have mentioned that before.)

I only have one friend who has a condo in St. Pete, but she's doing the 6/6 thing and is down here when everyone else wants be here.....during the winter months.

I am going to put that ad in the paper though, that was suggested. Will see how that works.

[carolynrick2004]

I love Massachusetts and I miss it so much. Are there things I would change? Sure there are. Rents are outrageous, my parents are way too close, and I really wish the T ran 24 hours a day. But Massachusetts is wonderful and I fully hope to move back some day.[/quote]

Let me know if you come up with a great idea on how to go back. I too, love MA. Cannot afford to move back, but will definitely settle for the 6/6 plan. I'm looking into some of those options now.