Life in the farthest reaches of the Berkshires/Taconics? (Boston: homes, pharmacy)

[Rusty60]

Hello all, I grew up in Massachusetts and had some familiarity with the Pioneer Valley and a bit of the Berkshire area, but my hometown was Milford (along I-495), so I never spent much quality time in the Berkshire or Taconic Mountains. Nowadays, I live on the Loneliest Road in America (US Highway 50) in Nevada, the last frontier of the Lower 48, and have lived and worked in some really remote and beautiful places. For now, I have no plans to return to Mass. but sometimes like to daydream about living in places I never got around to visiting.

So, what is it like to live in that farthest southwestern corner of the Berkshires? Namely, Mount Washington, Egremont, Sheffield, and other nearby towns? Where do people go to get basic goods and services, and how long does it take to get there? Where do people work--or are residents mostly retired or self-employed? How is the outdoor recreation? Do you have any other fun facts to share? I wonder if a someday move there would be an easier transition than moving back to the 495 corridor. Just kind of scratching that itch to reimagine my life. Thanks for indulging my curiosity.

[mdovell]

Lookup Boston corner

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Corner,_New_York

Egremonts nick name is Argument.

They go to Pittsfield and Lee for most things. Logging and social welfare I guess but Mt Washington has a few hundred at most. Many homes are second homes by NYers.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by mdovell

They go to Pittsfield and Lee for most things. Logging and social welfare I guess but Mt Washington has a few hundred at most. Many homes are second homes by NYers.

I think they go to Great Barrington for most things and that's probably a 20-30 min drive depending on where exactly you live. But yeah, Mt Washington is less than 200 with median age over 50, so this should give an idea of the amenities offered.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Lampert

I think they go to Great Barrington for most things.

If they want more specific medical care or public transit it's in pittsfield. Granted brta is extremely small.

Of course there' s some tourism. Bish Bash falls got a bit crazy

https://theberkshireedge.com/hordes-...sh-bish-falls/

I don't know what that guy thinks is bad about board games...

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by mdovell

If they want more specific medical care or public transit it's in pittsfield.

I am sure, but OP asked about basic needs so I assume grocery store, pharmacy, a PCP, a couple of restaurants.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

I have a friend who lives in the North Adams area. It's basically a very small city and has most of the basic amenities one could want. However, if she wants more depth and breadth of choice she has to drive to either Pittsfield or cross the border into either VT or NY.

As an aside, she once told me that in that part of MA they consider themselves more aligned with NY than with the rest of MA by virtue of geography. "People to seem to forget that we're part of MA," she joked.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by xo_kizzy_xo

As an aside, she once told me that in that part of MA they consider themselves more aligned with NY than with the rest of MA by virtue of geography.

Most people in the Berkshire are in Albany in about 1 hr, it takes the same to get to Springfield. I would probably go to Albany too.

[OutdoorLover]

I love the outdoors, and when I was young and fit, I also didn't mind physical rigors, and had little need for medical care, plus this was pre-cell-phone and pre-internet. Back then, I wouldn't have minded living in the boonies at all.

Now, I am closing in on 62, and technology has changed. Even though I still appreciate nature, it's for lite experiences these days. I want a cell phone signal, high speed internet with moderate cost, a supermarket in town, primary care physicians in town, and a hospital within 20-30 minutes drive. This means genuine boonies are out. I can still live in a quiet town, but need to choose carefully to retain access to services and practical shopping. That will be my ideal when I retire - a town that has the boonies for a neighbor on one side and civilization for a neighbor on the other. :-)

I think there are some towns in the greater Springfield area that would fit that definition, as well as in the area around Lebanon, NH and Burlington, VT.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Originally Posted by Lampert

Most people in the Berkshire are in Albany in about 1 hr, it takes the same to get to Springfield. I would probably go to Albany too.

It makes sense, plus I gather there are more choices around the Albany area than Springfield. If she flies, she goes in and out of Albany rather than driving to/from Logan.