Where is HOME? finally~ (Boston, Pittsfield: sales, homes, wedding)

[Xenos]

Western Mass has a fair bit of culture. If you like the Berkshires, the culture is mainly available in the summer, though. Personally I like being within 3 hours of Boston, 3 1/2 to NY, and 5 hours to Montreal. But you are not close by any measure. There are some good school districts out there, but nothing like the pressure cookers in the Metro Boston area.

Since you want to be within 1.5 hours of culture/airport, the outer suburbs of Boston might work. A town like Walpole, to the south, Northborough to the West, or North Andover to the North would have access to water, countryside, and strong but not crazy schools.

You have not mentioned jobs, so I am assuming you are independently wealthy or not tied to location.

[Xenos]

One other thought no one has mentioned yet. Take a look at Guilford, CT, a town to the east of New Haven, which gives a 2hr commute to either NYC of Boston. Strong schools, right on the Long Island Sound for anyone into the boating life. Should be able to get to Bradley Airport north of Hartford in less than 1.5 hours.

[lasttimewemove]

Thanks everyone, you have no idea how great this info is helping. I actually feel more focused already! Up until now I have had a huge wall map with 100 mile radius highligted areas in interest!

Work: We just have to live near an airport. I will become a stay at home mom, and vollie my time at school, or something arts related. Husband works at home and flies out for a few days a month. So anywhere is fair game. Just no insane commutes to the airport.


Confusion over towns i listed: apologies, again up until now I have been referring to a large wall map, and inadvertently included some CT and RI towns in my OP. I am very interested in hearing about great towns in MA. Also about the health care plan?

Brightdoglover: thanks. yes i was referring to the RI town, but will go to the RI board for questions..sorry! will check out the 2 areas you mentioned, and thanks for the heads up on N Adams, it lead to some research on schools and I am afraid you are right, we will pass.

[CaseyB]

I may have missed it, but what were you looking at in terms of price?

As far as the health care plan, it means that you have to buy health insurance or you will be fined. If you are low income, you can get a subsidized plan. If you are self-employed, you will pay through the nose.

[lrfox]

I would look into Fairhaven and Dartmouth, Mass as well as Marion and Mattapoisett.

These are historic towns with a good niche of arts and culture. They are also located next to the city of New Bedford which is home to Herman Melville's Moby Dick and Fredrick Douglas. New Bedford also has dozens of art galleries (so do each of these towns) as well as an art museum, whaling museum, national historic park, and oceanarium as well as a nice theater (the city itself has rough spots and terrible schools, so staying outside is the best way to bring up kids and still take advantage of the city). They also have good schools as well as good proximity to other cities. Providence is 20-40 minutes from any of these communities and Boston is within an hour as well. This area is only minutes from Cape Cod and can provide the same scenery at a fraction of the cost.

Fairhaven and Dartmouth would be the more affordable of the bunch, but certainly not dirt cheap. Fairhaven has one of the prettiest public high schools I've ever seen (here's a nice photo). Sconticut Neck and West Island are wonderful areas to look for homes in Fairhaven and the Oxford section is a bit more historic with views of New Bedford Harbor and the city. Padanarum in Dartmouth is great but just about all of South Dartmouth will provide you with excellent water views.

Marion and Mattapoisett are more expensive (not like the Cape though) but have excellent schools.

Best of luck in your decision making.

[lasttimewemove]

CapeCodCathy, thanks. It is helpful to narrow down areas. I have Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne and Plymouth in a new search to see what comes up. thank you for the info on the schools there, comforting to hear about the positive programs.

Beachcomber4: I had not considered what you refer to as the SS, but I am very intrigued and will research. Thanks for the suggestions of Norwell, Pembroke, Scituate.

Missionhill, thank you. I am really interested in the "country" towns with interesting people that you mentioned and am busy researching them.

I am flying out with the family for a wedding in Narragansett in October and will stay on a week longer to look around. Of course I am sure I will fall in love with ALL the towns in their fall splendor, right? And then I will return to Vancouver with more options on my list than when I started..lol..

[brightdoglover]

Remember, *everything* looks great in the fall.
I bought my former crumbling cottage on Columbus Day. Should have waited for a grey day in February!

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by lasttimewemove

Help! My husband and I moved around a lot due to work for about 15 years. Now we have 2 boys (3 and 6) and want to settle in to a great town to give them some stability, at least a home base that will not change. We were both raised in the Great Lakes region, and want that type of simple childhood for them. Unfortunately, with houses going for $300 in Detriot, and IN, IL and WI not having much growth, moving back there just doesn't seem like moving forward. We have lived in San Diego and LA, too flighty for us, and missed thunderstorms. Lived in Salt Lake City for work for 2 years and really enjoyed the mountains, and the vibe, but missed water. Moved to Portland OR when the kids were really young, and it was just too suburban, postage stamp lots, and again...no water or horizon line. Thought about going up to Hood River since the microclimate there is sunnier, and you get the water element. But then youre over 1.5 hours from any culture and the schools are "ok". Thought about NW Indiana on the lake (family there)..but they are really hit by the economy. We have been in Vancouver BC for a year and adore it, but its just way too expensive. Can't get into our neighborhood for less than 1mill, and thats a fixer. But we love having water all around, and ski slopes within half hour, not to mention great cultural outlets right over the bridge downtown. But still we look out on green. SO! The East Coast, and particularly lower cape has held our interest for 2 years. My contract ends here in July 2010 and then we move. I really want to make it our last move. Please help. What fits? our wish list is: good schools, but not so academically focused that our kids are the ones you hear about in MA-breaking down into tears for fear they will fail, great community feel of like minded 30, 40, 50 y/o parents that enjoy being active, are involved in their kids lives, balance work and play, are eco aware, love getting outside, appreciate the arts. Good mix of political views, appreciate nice things but arent a slave to them. Love Christmas but would really rather spend the money on a family vaca to Thailand or Croatia. House, hopefully with water (pond or river ok!) view and an acre for under 600k? Want a huge garden, small chicken coop. Cultural opps within 1.5 hour drive, slopes within 2 hours, airport within 1.5 hours. want a place where the kids all grow up together. I worry that the East will not offer the kind of community center programs the kids love..skate parks, bike parks, wakeboarding, plus all the other ball sports, dramatic play, etc. Galleries and museums to explore? would love to be able to Xcountry ski from my back door! get a little boat. Listen to the rain coming in from the screened porch, playing board games with the kids. Want to be involved with the community, and help it grow in its uniqueness. Does this place exist? Really appreciate any input, and thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by lasttimewemove

CoastalMaine, thank you for the reply. I had ruled out Maine for not being warm enough in the summers? And assumed very wet springs also. What are the seasons like there? any town websites/blogs you would recommend?

[quote=lasttimewemove;10615673]Thanks everyone, you have no idea how great this info is helping. I actually feel more focused already! Up until now I have had a huge wall map with 100 mile radius highligted areas in interest!

Work: We just have to live near an airport. I will become a stay at home mom, and vollie my time at school, or something arts related. Husband works at home and flies out for a few days a month. So anywhere is fair game. Just no insane commutes to the airport. [quote]

Hey Last... I think I listened pretty closely to your message of what you wanted for your family and to me, Belfast, Maine has it all and then some. I'm sure there are some minor trade-offs.

Belfast is the midcoast area of Maine and there's plenty of water to be seen and enjoyed. There's ponds and lakes and state parks, and Acadia National Park to enjoy. You can downhill ski, cross-country ski, sled, tobaggan at Camden's hill, ice fish in the ponds, kayak, canoe, or sail in the summer, and enjoy the artistic community that Belfast has become. There is a summer theatre there. There are wonderful cultural events that occur along the coast throughout the year, summer being the busiest of course, due to good weather.

Belfast is two hours from Portland and about 1 hour from Bangor to make flying for DH acceptable. It is 45 minutes from Augusta, the state capitol.

It has a wonderful community feel as do the smaller surrounding towns. You can purchase a home on the water for far less than the 600k you're talking about on tidal river land. You can have that huge garden and chicken coop. Belfast does have a skateboard park as well! There is a fabulous co-op in town.

I don't know how warm you need it to be in the summer? Average temps are mid to high 70's to low 80's along the coast during the day and somewhere in the 60's at night... or the temp falls to the high 50's, which is fantastic sleeping weather. The humidity right along the coast is not intolerable and generally, if you're near the water and there's an onshore breeze, fahgetaboutit would be my response about humidity. lol

Belfast has an art walk on Friday nights with the galleries and shops staying open later than the other nights of the week.

There are museums throughout the area as the region is steeped in history. It is New England culture at its best. Small town, wholesome, clean, beautifully scenic, and still adhering to simple, understated ways that NE folk are known for.

The trade offs? Well, as you mentioned above, there is the 'wet spring', but we have that here on Cape Cod too as well as throughout most of NE. Up there they call it mud season. lol I would suggest you just don't drive off the road and that should take care of that problem!

It may behoove you to go to the Maine board and inquire of others specifically about the coastal areas of Maine. Portlands surrounding areas would be great for you too, but 'Massachusified' in my book. Belfast still retains the flavor of old New England with the emphasis on family and simple pleasures.

Here is a link to the towns website: Welcome - Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce

And here's the City-Data link to Belfast with stats on all sorts of information: http://www.city-data.com/city/Belfast-Maine.html

And scroll to the bottom of this Wikipedia link for info on the schools: Belfast, Maine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My daughter is 30 now, so I'm well out of the loop on scholastic info, but the Maine forum would be able to explain the consolidations and give you info about the ratings of the Waldo County school system.

Sounds like you're going to have your work cut out for you in October!! If you come up to Belfast, or the Cape, send me an DM, I'd be happy to meet you and help in any way I can. Best of luck!

[capecodcathy]

LastTimeWeMove: If the airport is important, stay the heck away from Logan/Boston. Stick with TF Green which is commonly referred to as Providence, but is just outside PVD in Warwick. Easy in, easy out. Providence traffic CAN sometimes get congested during rush hours, but if you plan flights around this, you'll find it's the best airport in Southeastern New England.

[Newdaawn]

Beachcomber - just wondering how fast you are traveling to make it from the Cape bridges to Southern NH in 50 minutes? Perhaps you mean in a small plane. lol