what is boston like? (Northampton, Florida: best towns, real estate, apartment)

[amy1227]

Hello, I am considering moving back to the boston area. I've lived in ft. lauderdale since I was six, (I'm now 26), female, a registered nurse, and want to move back. I just don't know where I should look for a good nice safe apartment. I also need information about hospitals in boston, as i will be getting a job there, I have 3 years experience (mostly Icu nursing), and would like to know what nurses are making up there! and how they like it. I already have my MA RN liscence.

I would have a car, I like nightlife, shopping and out door activities. Any information anyone could provide would help greatly!

Thankyou! and Happy New year!

[Serenity141]

Boston is a great place to live and with your nursing background I'm sure you would find a job. While some hospitals are cutting back, there are still many opportunities for RNs. Even nursing homes, assisted living, etc. I'm not in the medical field myself, but my best friend's mother just moved back here a couple of months ago from Boynton Beach, FL, where she lived for many years. She is an RN and found a job within a couple of days of returning home. By the way, she was nervous about facing the winter after so many years in Florida, but she is adjusting much better than she thought she would and is so glad she moved back here.

You'll find plenty of shopping here. Lots of malls and nice stores on Newbury Street. Boston isn't a 24-hr city like New York, but there is still plenty of nightlife... bars, dance clubs, theatre, sporting events, etc. Plenty to do and lots of great neighborhoods for active people.

Good luck.

[Beachcomber4]

South Boston would be a good fit for a young woman who works in the city. It is a very safe area, lots of neighborhood pubs, outside activities with the beach and the causeway for running, rollerblading etc. and a short drive into the city proper. Good luck with your move.

[brightdoglover]

ICU experience? How much do you want to make?! You should be able to write your own ticket. I think ICU/CCU are always short of experienced people.
I believe the big downtown hospitals (Brigham, MGH) pay six figures. Brigham is union, both are part of Partners Healthcare (aka "the 800-pound gorilla in healthcare." In fact, there was talk of an antitrust lawsuit for monopoly of healthcare).
There are basically no for-profit hospitals around here, unlike Florida. For-profit chains (aka "Kentucky Friend Hospital") haven't done well here.
Oh, and there is the Caritas (Catholic) chain. They have a lot of financial trouble. There have been cutbacks at Boston Medical Center, formerly the city hospital. But I don't think you'll ever see cutbacks in ICU.
I'll leave it to other city people to discuss neighborhoods. Depends on if you want to keep a car (parking in the city...), work shift work and take public to work, prefer a suburban environment, etc.
Oh, and don't forget Tufts/New England Medical Center, down in Chinatown. I hear it's also a good place to work, and great money.
(Disclaimer- I work low-tech psychiatric in a Partners affiliate, could never do med/surg, never mind ICU. Hats off to ya, and best wishes). Feel free to direct mail me if I can be of help.

[VlyRoadKid]

I know some people won't like reading this, but, though Boston can be a LOT of fun...once you get there, that in itself can be like an extreme sport--Massachusetts drivers are among the worst in the country! Also, the driving in Boston, both the drivers AND the way the roads are laid out (very circuitous, badly signed and lots of one-ways) makes driving there a nightmare for those of us who either come from the country or 'burbs OR from another state where drivers are more polite. People will cut you off, run red lights, speed, and even drive in the breakdown lanes, and would just as soon hit you as yield! I'd rather drive in Manhattan ANY day.

That being said, the T is a great way to get around. As for hospitals, I've only been to one there, Beth Israel-Deaconess, for surgery, and was highly impressed by the staff...which doesn't happen often! The procedure I had done could have been performed at our local medical center, but Beth Israel is so good, the radiologist TOLD me to go to Boston for it! There HAS been some rumor about trouble there lately, with the administration or something. Others here know more, I'm sure.

If you're young and want fun, Boston is one of the best towns in the U.S. for that. OR you could come out & party with the 20-and-30-somethings here in W.Mass, who went to college locally, loved it and never left! Towns like Northampton have an excellent nightlife and lots of culture and diversity.

[Truly Heartless]

I have a "brother" who lived in Boston after he, and his then wife, first graduated from UC Berkeley in 1992. They liked it, but they moved from MA to Colorado and absolutely LOVED CO (Louisville area).

I have a pal from MA whom I simply adore. She now lives in Florida and likes it there. I know another who isn't from there, but has lived there for 25 years and is a real pooper. So, hopefully you'll find all aspects of the city and state to be a good fit for you. May you run into more people like my bro and my girlfriend. Good luck!

[amy1227]

Thanks for your info! what does rent run for a 1/1 in south boston?

[Beachcomber4]

I breeze through the real estate section in the Sunday Globe so I'm not an expert. From the little I've seen, $1300-$1700 a month seems to be the average range. Hopefully someone else here can give you a more firm answer.

[brightdoglover]

The Sunday Globe isn't going to have anything but large complexes/owners in it. The thing to do is check craigslist, and maybe local neighborhood newspapers and postings. A landlord with, say, a triple-decker, isn't going to put that apartment in the Globe and get a billion calls.
Also, if you have a place of employment lined up, or go for a look-see or interview, most employee lounge areas have bulletin boards. Some landlords like to rent to people from certain businesses, sort of a reference business. I know of one apartment that had WGBH people in it since 1975 (and probably still does).
You might consider a corporate, short-term relocation apartment while you look around. A friend of mine did that after moving cross-country to Raleigh, NC, and it worked out well for her.