New Hampshire vs. Maine

[JFRRACING]

Originally Posted by Suzet2262

I wish there was a little face with a zipper on its mouth to post here. Haha. JFR, you're ok in my book

what are you saying suzet ? you want to zip me up or something...lol...you gonna put a forum hit out on me....lmao.... i feel safer with you moderating us..

[lisa g]

wow, that barbeque sounds REALLY good right about now, and it's only 9:35am!

[pixieshmoo]

Originally Posted by fishdc

I wouldn't be fooled about the crime here in New Hampshire. We cannot believe how much crime there is, even in the small towns. Two towns with populations of about 5,000 people recently had two murders within a month of each other. Southern New Hampshire is just an extension of Massachusetts with all the crimes, immigrants,etc.

Without trying to sound condescending, this is exactly what I mean. I'm sure that there two murders sounds horrifying. However, that is where I'm trying to compare. While my town in particular hasn't had any murders that I'm aware of in god-knows-how-long, maybe never, and we've got like 30,000 people in it, keep in mind, I live outside of Newark. Two murders in a month would probably be laughed at in Newark. I'm sure there are at least 2 murders a day there. So again, I'm trying to understand what the difference is coming from where I am to going to where you are. You'd probably be traumatized by being here, but would my family and my children prosper from being near you? Or do we just stay here and move a little further away from the city and pat ourselves on the back for being "streetsmart"? Because as streetsmart as I'd like them to be, I'd also like for them to not have to use those smarts, ya know? Keep in mind, my town has had suicides, numerous, numerous thefts of homes and cars and I just found out that we have gang members hanging in the park that is basically my backyard. And at least 2 times a month our kids are getting sent home with notices about some creepy stalkers in cars trying to pick up kids.

[lisa g]

I know you're trying to compare, Pixie, and to help you, I'll say you need to consider more detailed variables instead of generalizing. Living in a suburb of a city in any state, you will probably have similar stuff to worry about. You could compare your current location with a similarly suburban town in NH if you want a more accurate idea of the comparison. Having grown up on suburban Long Island, and spending 10 yrs in suburbs of Los Angeles, I'll say you probably won't find the kind of crime that exists around the Newark area in most NH towns (again, stay out of big cities if you don't want to live with crime).

About towns vs. cities: plenty of very safe NH towns offer a terrific quality of life just outside cities, really the best of both worlds. It's not as if living in a town in NH means living the Simple Life *although the option exists for a variety of lifestyles here*. My friends from LI & LA (all suburbanites) who have visited us here in NH have been pleasantly suprised by our environment & quality of life. (I have 2 elementary school kids who are very active locally, and already also have more freedom than I imagine I'd have given them growing up in the suburbs of LA or LI).

Considering a move is a big deal, so good for you for doing research and best of luck in your decision. Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer, but I hope this helps.

[7th generation]

Originally Posted by JFRRACING

yup, you can ask dare , country, suzet. they will tell you. so see nh is a nicer place then maine..

I can't believe my ears!
A mechanic/machinist could say such things!!!

[JFRRACING]

Originally Posted by 7th generation

I can't believe my ears!
A mechanic/machinist could say such things!!!

no, don't be mad . i like maine. i was born there and have family there and not to mention DW loves it there too...

[pixieshmoo]

Originally Posted by lisa g

I know you're trying to compare, Pixie, and to help you, I'll say you need to consider more detailed variables instead of generalizing. Living in a suburb of a city in any state, you will probably have similar stuff to worry about. You could compare your current location with a similarly suburban town in NH if you want a more accurate idea of the comparison. Having grown up on suburban Long Island, and spending 10 yrs in suburbs of Los Angeles, I'll say you probably won't find the kind of crime that exists around the Newark area in most NH towns (again, stay out of big cities if you don't want to live with crime).

About towns vs. cities: plenty of very safe NH towns offer a terrific quality of life just outside cities, really the best of both worlds. It's not as if living in a town in NH means living the Simple Life *although the option exists for a variety of lifestyles here*. My friends from LI & LA (all suburbanites) who have visited us here in NH have been pleasantly suprised by our environment & quality of life. (I have 2 elementary school kids who are very active locally, and already also have more freedom than I imagine I'd have given them growing up in the suburbs of LA or LI).

Considering a move is a big deal, so good for you for doing research and best of luck in your decision. Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer, but I hope this helps.

Thank you so much and yes, you did help. I understand what you're saying completely. I have family that's 25 minutes away in morris county and they are shocked sometimes when I talk lol. They call us "city folk" as a joke, but I always say they act like they were raised in a bubble. So yes, there is definitely a difference living outside of a city, especially one as gigantic and populated as Newark. However, the problem that I'm foreseeing with staying here is that NJ is just so disgustingly overpopulated that at some point, no matter where you go here, you're going to be squooshed like a sardine. My husband read somewhere recently that by the year 20?? (I think it was like 2016, which is only 8 years away) NJ will be the first fully developed state in our union. HELLOOOO??? Fully developed?! I mean, yes there will still be state land and state forests, etc. But basically anything here that is not state property is going to be developed upon. I find that to be scary.

Lastly, I must agree with what you are saying about your children having more freedom where you are. Mine would probably be the same way because I can assure you that here, these poor kids can't play outside unless one of us is out there to watch them. THAT sucks for them because that's not how my childhood in NJ was. When I grew up, you ran all over the place with no way for your mom to get in touch with you unless she opened the door and whistled or screamed. Our childhood was basically "it's nice out, get outside and don't come in until dinner".