From AZ to N. MA - snow problems! (Boston, Pepperell: house, neighborhood)

[Sirathiel]

Okay so.. I'm a British expat who has been living in Phoenix for 4.5 years. My husband is an ex cowboy from Colorado who is well used to copious amounts of snow! We moved to the outskirts of Pepperell, MA in late October and absolutely love it. My only problem is that I have:

a) a very steep, long driveway - the snow plows are estimating 80 - 100 dollars A DAY to plow it when it snows
b) tires from Phoenix - great at wicking away monsoon rains but terrible in snow
c) a 45 minute drive to work in even the best weather

The combination of the three is difficult, but we're struggling through it, little by little. Because we just relocated, we've got very little money to be buying copious quantities of rock salt (where's the best place to buy rock salt anyway?) or to have the drive plowed. We're working out a way to get some more money but in the meantime, I'm having issues with all my workmates making serious fun of me for being cautious about navigating the snowy / icy roads near my house - I live on quite an out of the way street and it's a little steep in places, and even though all the rest of the roads I've been on have been clear enough, my street is still covered with snow, ice, salt and sand, even a week after the snow last Monday. I bought tire chains to allow me to get up my driveway, and they work (as long as there's snow for them to dig into) and are much cheaper than snow tires. I plan on buying snow tires as soon as I can afford them. But I'm constantly getting ribbed or told that I just need to be more hardy and 'get on with it'. Am I really being such a scaredy cat or am I right to be cautious?

Also, the crust of ice on everything this morning made things even more difficult - how often do we get this kind of ice in northern MA? Should I be expecting this every week or two throughout winter, or did we just get unlucky?

[capecodcathy]

Sirathiel, I am a native and ice is still the scariest thing to me. Anyone who has grown up in this area and doesn't have a healthy respect for walking or driving on ice is just being foolish. I'd rather drive in a blizzard than on ice. Even the best tires will not help you on sheer ice. I do, however, recommend getting good tires for snow.
My recommendation for a good traction agent is.....kitty litter! It can be bought in bulk and is relatively inexpensive. Buy the cheapest you can find at Wal-Mart or other discount store. It doesn't melt the ice but it does give you better traction. Toss a big bag of it in your trunk, too, with some kind of a scooper. It adds some weight and gives you an emergency supply if you get stuck.

[smarty]

I don't mean to scare you... but near NH border and along Rt2 area... snow and ice occur more often. If Boston is raining, you will have ice. Don't let your co-worker get to you. It is better being cautious than not.

Since you live remote, I suggest you call your town's department of public works(DPW) to complain. You may get a response. (Hope your road is not private.)

Regarding your driveway, you have the option of not driving all the way to your house. Just park near the entrance and walk to your house. forget about plowing. Let the warm weather take care of it. The other option is to hire a neighborhood kid and pay him $10-20. Plowing do not work very well on slope driveways.

As to salt and sand... local hardware store, home depot, sometimes wholesale warehouse like Costco carries them. You do need at least sand to give your car traction. They are cheap $2/bag. Just use it sparingly. If you have a truck, you may be able to get some salt/sand free from your town DPW. Just get a big trash can.

Tires... if you switch to snow tire... you want the studed snow tire. Again, go to costco or BJ. They are a lot cheaper.

[remember-voltaire]

ignore your co worker or anyone if they make fun of you for being cautious about driving there the problem with some in that state is that they think they can drive and blame everyone else for accidents or near accidents.

take the road cautiously, drive safely and try to keep your distance from the idiots who actually think because they have a 4b4 they can drive at fast speeds , inthe end it's they who cause accidents.
have you noticed the traffic there every time a car is parked on the side everyone has to slow down to nosy thus causing a traffic jam, yet everyone blames it on everyone elseHave you noticed too how so many people never clear the snow off their cars and it seems everyone has a 4b4 or a minivan there

by the way I am from manchester england too but I left that state thankfully
your winters will be long very long there, your day light will be short, here it's still light and it's nearly 6 o clock.
it's not like england too in the summer where it goes dark at ten o clock

[bingo08]

Sira,

I hear your pain, lol. I use to live just north of Boston and the snow amt was always larger. I now live south of Boston and there is a difference in the amt we get here. Everywhere west along rte. 495 gets clobbered. Someone had suggested parking at the end of your driveway, good suggestion. I think your winter will feel a wee bit longer in your area due to the amt of snow your area gets and how long it takes for it all to disappear. But, I have to say I do like our New England Seasons. Just as your getting sick and tired of one season the next one rolls right in and you are so ready for it. The ice storms and black ice are treacherous and I still fear it. It does not happen often, but when it does we all feel the same, we all mutter "sick of the winter" and then we soon forget aboout it til the next storm.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by bingo08

Sira,

I hear your pain, lol. I use to live just north of Boston and the snow amt was always larger. I now live south of Boston and there is a difference in the amt we get here. Everywhere west along rte. 495 gets clobbered. Someone had suggested parking at the end of your driveway, good suggestion. I think your winter will feel a wee bit longer in your area due to the amt of snow your area gets and how long it takes for it all to disappear. But, I have to say I do like our New England Seasons. Just as your getting sick and tired of one season the next one rolls right in and you are so ready for it. The ice storms and black ice are treacherous and I still fear it. It does not happen often, but when it does we all feel the same, we all mutter "sick of the winter" and then we soon forget aboout it til the next storm.

You are right, there is a snow/temperature line in Massachusetts - areas north of the turnpike get a lot more snow. In our previous home, my husband actually did park his car at the end of the driveway (if we knew in advance that a storm was coming) so he could get out in the morning. Of course, I had to shovel the rest of it.

[remember-voltaire]

so he could get out in the morning. Of course, I had to shovel the rest of it



sorry but that made me smile

what's worse is that you turn your car on, you shovel your drive way , you go in to get a drink whatever and when you leave for work you find the ploughs have come and pushed all the snow back on your drive way

this is when you say forget this florida here I come or at least south, then you spend the entire time fuming over the road conditions, the snow, the ploughs and the traffic

n o wonder when I left m health got better, blood pressure is great now and the wife is happy

[capecodcathy]

Voltaire, I'm just curious.....if you don't live in MA anymore and despised it so much when you were here, why are you commenting on the MA forum so much?

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by Sirathiel

a) a very steep, long driveway - the snow plows are estimating 80 - 100 dollars A DAY to plow it when it snows

Sounds like you need a Subaru. A four-wheel drive vehicle should get you over your driveway no problem.

[remember-voltaire]

cape

what a curious bizarre question and who said I dispise<very strong word> the place .

why not? I don't like those elected yet I talk about politics

do we have to still live there in order to talk about a state?

as for your question getting to know others opinions is interesting no matter if I agree or disagree , do you not feel the same? <I know some only want to read or hear what they want to ,mother in law being one and yes she's in massachusetts> My wife is from there I have family there , I have many friends there,l I lived for some years there . my kids were born there.

Not only that I also like to help people and isn't what this forum is all about helping others to know where they relocate? the good and the bad of a place.
Nothing worse than moving across the country based on half truths then finding out it wasn't the place for you. I'm sure you as a estate agent would feel the same yes?
Besides there are some nice people on here, not seen ogre but always looked forward to reading his posts same as leaving ma, casey etc
BTW I like the cape and I don't dispise it, hope this clears it up for you and this fully answers your question.