Moving back to the States from Israel (Great Barrington, Lenox: apartment, renting)

[becca]

...with my Israeli boyfriend in tow. He wants to work outdoors, possibly as a rafting guide in the summer and ski instructor in the winter, and I want to live no more than a six-hour drive from my parents in northern NJ and in a place with good jobs, lots of food options, concerts, etc.

What do you folks think about the Berkshires? I've only been there once, in the summer, and it was beautiful - can you tell me, is there life there all year 'round? If anyone's familiar with Ithaca, NY, I went to college there and would love a town like that - natural beauty but a diverse and vibrant community as well.

Just through poking around online, Great Barrington seems to be a nice town...possibly better for a married couple with children, though...any thoughts? I really appreciate any advice or comments!

ETA: We're broke - we'll be starting out with no more than a few thousand dollars. Will renting a one-bedroom apartment be possible, do you think? Not to mention a house...

Thanks in advance,
Becca

[becca]

Johhnycakes, thanks for your reply! Your golf comment gave me an idea - maybe we could find him a country club with a climbing wall to work in - the boy's got lots of climbing and rapelling experience.

We'll definitely check out Lenox. You're right that wherever we move will be a compromise, probably neither the best place in the country for rafting/skiing nor for a metropolitan life. But being reasonably close to my folks is important to me - enough already with having to fly to see them.