Best towns in Berkshires?

[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Great Barrington is a nice town, wonderful shopping, and rather central. It is probably expensive these days, but dog friendly and a good spot for most Berkshire activities. Many New Yorkers have a second home up this way and commute regularly.

Thank you! The "expensive" is a problem for me - I really need a fairly inexpensive place (although I know practically ANYWHERE will be less expensive than NYC ) I have to add on the cost of buying, and paying all expenses, for a car when I move, and I really want a nicer, lower cost of living place. Thanks, again!

[ontheroad]

Take a look in the North Adams area. It is up and coming and less expensive. Also check the MA/NY border towns some of which are wonderful, and also less expensive.

Originally Posted by girlandpup

Thank you! The "expensive" is a problem for me - I really need a fairly inexpensive place (although I know practically ANYWHERE will be less expensive than NYC ) I have to add on the cost of buying, and paying all expenses, for a car when I move, and I really want a nicer, lower cost of living place. Thanks, again!

[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Take a look in the North Adams area. It is up and coming and less expensive. Also check the MA/NY border towns some of which are wonderful, and also less expensive.

Thank you - I've read quite mixed reviews about North Adams, and unfortunately the majority were bad things, mostly that it is "depressing" and "run down," but I have heard some things about the up and coming part just like you said. I'll look into it more closely now. Which towns do you mean when you say MA/NY border towns?

[litlux]

Here's another vote for North Adams, especially since it's a place you can buy a lot of house for very little money. Some sections are rundown, but others are upcoming, and you can get a splendid Victorian in need of some TLC (on Church Street for example) and make a beautiful "painted lady" (as they were once called) out of her.

North Adams has a summer farmer's market (Saturday AM) , and Williamstown, next door, has one as well. In addition Williamstown has the Cricket Creek Farm which offers raw milk, fresh eggs, pastured beef, and a new bakery with real bread, not store bought chemical laden stuff. The Pittsfield Rye Bakery and Guido's market in Pittsfield are worth a short ride. In season, there are farm stands and farmers markets everywhere.

Mass MOCA is what gives North Adams some claim to fame, but everywhere in the Berkshires and Taconics section of New York there is a wealth of cultural activity. Chatham which has been mentioned here is one of many good choices in NYS, as is Bennington in Vermont.

Check out:
Berkshire Fine Arts

I have lived in Lenox, and am now in North Adams, and they are as different as night and day. So much depends on your tastes and prefernces, and what you can afford.

It take a while to find new friends, I have found, though I have no shortage of them today. There is a distinct Berkshire approach to life and making friends,, however, quite different from New York City, or Brooklyn. (I was born and raised on Long Island, lived and worked many years in Boston before retiring to the Berkshires.)

[Jansu]

Originally Posted by litlux

It take a while to find new friends, I have found, though I have no shortage of them today. There is a distinct Berkshire approach to life and making friends

Litlux,
Would you please expand on this statement? Also what is the "vibe" of Williamstown vs. G.B. or Lee-- may be moving with husband and two teenage girls and want to find a relatively welcoming community. May need to turn to private school to ease their way?

Thoughts appreciated!

[litlux]

Originally Posted by Jansu

Litlux,
Would you please expand on this statement? Also what is the "vibe" of Williamstown vs. G.B. or Lee-- may be moving with husband and two teenage girls and want to find a relatively welcoming community. May need to turn to private school to ease their way?

Thoughts appreciated!

I think the girls would enjoy both Great Barrington and Williamstown since they are college towns, as are North Adams and Lenox. Lee perhaps less so. GB and Wmstown have a somewhat younger, urban and more urbane feel than the traditional towns like Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge. If they are still in school they will meet and make friends quickly, at least I would think so.

For married folks, churches are still the place to meet others as a general rule, and I find older born in the Berkshire folks pretty standoffish and bland. Most of the friends I have made have been from out of town themselves, and the few locals I have developed as friends are rare exceptions, either former teachers or professionals.

The curious thing about Berkshire folks, to me at least, is how they will say nothing rather than complain or criticize someone in the community. This makes for many unpleasant surprises as you go about the business of living. In Boston and New York people had no fear of warning you away from a plumber or retail store or neighbor if they felt you were about to encounter a problem. Here, they are either oblivious or silent for the most part. If you have a complaint about something you bought you have to be very quiet and meek to get taken seriously it seems.

Maybe it is me, but shrinking violets are not my idea of a healthy give and take. But this is my opinion, and others I am sure will disagree. I just hate finding things out the hard way, after the fact.

Now that I have revealed myself as a bit of a critic, I will go back to my more genteel mode.