Suddenly forced to move to MA and scared about it. Kindly asking for help!

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by twiggy

Why don't you just enjoy Boston for a bit and take yearly vaca's over to Europe. Maybe your husband will grow to love it and you can slowly seed a move back.

That's the plan, that's what we have done so far (more like once every two years). I have to see my family one way or the other and I want my kids to spend some time there, with their grandparents.
My husband has already grown to love it, but he hardly has any job prospects there, unfortunately. Europe is a hard nut to crack in the "jobs" department.
I do look forward to visiting MA though before our move there. I have grown really curious about it. It's almost as if there is a "mystique" surrounding this city. More so than NY - for me.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by syracusa

This is why we're still here, as incompatible as I often find myself with the overall American "way of life".

I hope you get to leave.

[Cato the Elder]

I have great admiration for your Ph.D. program.

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

I have great admiration for your Ph.D. program.

Which one? The one in EE? ....:-))

[Humphrey]

Originally Posted by syracusa

The question is: how is the larger Boston area, which is where we will most likely rent? I always wondered whether those are suburbs or they are more like actual small towns with a life of their own?

In general, more like small towns. This is because they were settlements in their own right which were swallowed up by the Boston conurbation rather than starting out as planned suburbs. If you ask around on this board you'll be able to get some suggestions. Just ask which ones have a decent 'downtown area'.

I think you have just moved to the wrong part of the States. Atlanta is heavily automobile orientated. I recommend looking at a bunch of areas in the Northeast on something like google street view to check out what they look like.

Failing that you could always move to the UK. Most of Eastern Europe is here these days anyway.

[dazzleman]

I live in Connecticut but I love Boston and the area around it.

Boston is radically different from Atlanta. It is more compact, and much closer to what you'd find in Europe than Atlanta generally is, though it is still an American city.

There are many nice small towns in Massachusetts that are more than just sterile bedroom communities. You'll have to visit and get a feel for the area. That's really the only way to know what you like. I suspect you might like it better than the Atlanta area.

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by twiggy

It is! As weird as it sounds seeing sunshine everyday for days on end without a cloud in the sky when it's 110 degrees out is just as depressing as grey skies.
No perfect place as far as weather, except Cali but then there is earthquakes to think about? No thanks, did that, didn't like it!

And smog, landslides when it does rain, and horrible fires from the dryness and winds. Ugh!! No thanks is right!!!