Bye Bye NH (Keene, Littleton, Enfield: relocation, apartment, vacation)

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

Now I can't wait to get out, and if I never see snow again I won't be crying. Winter is long, and grey, and cold, and a lot more work goes into winter than summer ever will... Not trying to be negative, but just giving you a view on my experience from someone who's lived in a similar climate as you do now and from someone who never saw snow before this year.

Ya might not be trying, but you are being negative now Tara. You've had a crappy experience, and evidently winter is not for you (but think back to your first snow pics and utube vids!). I sense now that your posts are trying to justify your decision to return to Florida. And that's fine.

The flip side is that many people have moved up from sunnier climes in 07 and are not turned off by the snowiest December in NH history. A million or so people in NH plus millions and millions in New England, and the Northern states are perfectly happy living hear despite brutal winters. They still enjoy warm summers without extreme temps or humidity and they get two bonus seasons absent in much of the south: Spring and Fall.

Mamabee: Sorry to see your dream put on hold. There's always time to make a move. Maybe fortune will allow you to buy a vacation home in the mountains one day...

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by rmcewan

Ya might not be trying, but you are being negative now Tara. You've had a crappy experience, and evidently winter is not for you (but think back to your first snow pics and utube vids!). I sense now that your posts are trying to justify your decision to return to Florida. And that's fine.

The flip side is that many people have moved up from sunnier climes in 07 and are not turned off by the snowiest December in NH history. A million or so people in NH plus millions and millions in New England, and the Northern states are perfectly happy living hear despite brutal winters. They still enjoy warm summers without extreme temps or humidity and they get two bonus seasons absent in much of the south: Spring and Fall.

Mamabee: Sorry to see your dream put on hold. There's always time to make a move. Maybe fortune will allow you to buy a vacation home in the mountains one day...

See I think its one thing to grow up with the winter, you've had it your whole life, you're used to it, but for people who do move up to it its hard... Esp people like myself and suz, who have had year round summers, winter is a HUGE shock.. I'm not trying to justify moving back to Fl. I have many reasons why I'm moving back, winter being one of them.. To me its ludicris that I'm holed up in the house (cause I don't care what anyone says, you can only ski, and snowboard and sled so much, cause people only make so much money and lets face it, there's not much else than those to do in the winter) there's no point imo when I can be bbqing outside enjoying warmth, and going to the beaches, and mini golfing, or disney on the weekends etc.
You're right there are lots of people who move up and enjoy the winters and what not, myself I found the summer here to be comparable to Fl. on top of the humidity there's haze here, never seen that in my life but it makes the air so thick and unbearable to breath. I have no gripe with spring other than my allergies but I have those everywhere so thats not a big deal.

I know a lot of people on here rave about the winter, thats fine I'm not saying don't do that, but all I'm saying is for people who have never experienced it beware..... Its hard to fathom forosmeone who lives in warm weather that there is more work in winter than you can think, and you pour more money into winter between your car, and coats, and bills, and salt, and shovels, and de-icers, and scrapers etc than you ever will in the summer.. I'm just one that happen to find to find out I don't like it.. It was nice for a couple months, but now that that the holidays are over its like whats the point? IMO it didn't make Christmas feel anymore like Christmas than Fl. But we all have our own opinions, I just want to be honest as I've been very open with my experience since moving here. I'm not telling anyone not to move here, its a wonderful state, but once again, just be aware and listen to everything everyone has to say about the winter.. I was more concered with seeing the snow and drinking hot chocolate, and snuggling, and having a white christmas than I was worrying about having to buy two sets of tires for the car, and not being able to get anywhere, and buying two sets of everything etc and I don't want someone else to make the same mistake.

[gyppy]

Ya might not be trying, but you are being negative now Tara. You've had a crappy experience, and evidently winter is not for you (but think back to your first snow pics and utube vids!). I sense now that your posts are trying to justify your decision to return to Florida. And that's fine.

The flip side is that many people have moved up from sunnier climes in 07 and are not turned off by the snowiest December in NH history. A million or so people in NH plus millions and millions in New England, and the Northern states are perfectly happy living hear despite brutal winters. They still enjoy warm summers without extreme temps or humidity and they get two bonus seasons absent in much of the south: Spring and Fall.

I really don't think Tara is being too negative. She is being HONEST about her experience and feelings, and I think that is a benefit to people thinking about moving here. Readers are smart enough to draw their own conclusions.

I'm glad the NH forum doesn't try to shut-down people who dare to sprout anything other than sunshine and roses about their state (um, cough, cough, Maine forum)

I'm not sure how long you've lived here, but I don't think people would describe most of Spring as a bonus season in New Hampshire. It usually still snows for part of it, and then May = MUD. Summer and Fall are awesome.

[Valerie C]

Suz, I agree with Tara about one very important thing--you really should consider renting before you buy, especially with DH not being 100% on coming to New England and all it's snowy wonder It really is very much different from the snow scenes, and even as a born and bred New Englander, I got a little sick of the snowstorms every 4 days in December and early January. Now, however, after our January Thaw (almost a whole week of 50 and 60 degrees!) I'm up and ready for winter again! (good thing, cuz it's here, we're getting 8-15" today)

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

See I think its one thing to grow up with the winter, you've had it your whole life, you're used to it, but for people who do move up to it its hard...

Tara, if I remember correctly, rmcewan came here from California as well (and maybe UK before that?) I don't remember him as coming from a snowy place (I could be wrong...)

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

IMO it didn't make Christmas feel anymore like Christmas than Fl.

Of course it didn't... I think by Christmas, you had pretty much made up your mind about New Hampshire, and the fact that your husband had to work and you were left home alone made you feel that much more isolated. Truly, that must have been really difficult for you, and not feeling anything LIKE Christmas should feel...

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

I was more concered with seeing the snow and drinking hot chocolate, and snuggling, and having a white christmas than I was worrying about having to buy two sets of tires for the car, and not being able to get anywhere, and buying two sets of everything etc and I don't want someone else to make the same mistake.

Thank you for being honest on your reasons for coming to NH in the first place. You made up a pretty picture, and jumped into the fantasy, only to discover that real life is entirely different. So, you're not cut out for winter in New England... You've had a tough couple of months, but later in life you will look back and be glad that you experienced something different than sandals and beaches for awhile, if for nothing else than to fully appreciate the area that is part of who you are.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by gyppy

I really don't think Tara is being too negative. She is being HONEST about her experience and feelings, and I think that is a benefit to people thinking about moving here. Readers are smart enough to draw their own conclusions.

I'm glad the NH forum doesn't try to shut-down people who dare to sprout anything other than sunshine and roses about their state (um, cough, cough, Maine forum)

I'm not sure how long you've lived here, but I don't think people would describe most of Spring as a bonus season in New Hampshire. It usually still snows for part of it, and then May = MUD. Summer and Fall are awesome.

thank you gyppy, thats exactly it, I'm just trying to give my honest opinion of what I've found about the winter, from an outsider who's not lived in it their whole life. LOl yes I've been told about May Mud... I'll have to wait and see! We had a bit of it the other day when it was warm and a lot of the snow melted.. its was a sloshy day in the grass! but I had on boots to it was okay

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by MamaBee

Thanks for the suggestion...I have plenty of pros and he has plenty of cons. We just can't agree.

Here are his reasons why:

1. He said there's no jobs there for him (we live in the biggest market for his profession).

2. Too far from family (my closest relative is 1 hour away, his parents are 4 streets away and he's never lived more than 2 miles from where he grew up) He won't live any further than 1 1/2 hours drive from his family.

3. He hates snow.

4. Says that too many people from MA are moving there and by the time we're ready to move it will be just like NJ & MA.

C'est la vie, there's no changing his mind.

1). Good paying Jobs are very hard to find. Thankfully for my move my job is working at home and my husband has a job waiting for us to get there.

2). Probably the hardest thing is leaving your family behind. Let me just say, he will miss his family. All my family still live in the little town we all grew up in. I left when i was 18 just to get out of there because there was nothing to do and i was bored all the time but now that i'm a bit older and have seen the outside world, i sure miss having them around.

3). Well it doesn't snow like it used to when i was a kid. I remember walking to school in 3 feet of snow. The winters have been getting milder. My brother hasn't even registered his snow machines in 2 years because lack of snow.

4). People from MA have been going to NH for eyears. It's the southern part of the state you might find it getting a bit too crowded but if you move to mid or central NH, it's not nearly as bad.

[daniellefort]

[quote=Tarastomsgirl;2508155]

Family ordeal is hard, I will tell you personally its not fun living from family. The closest direct family we have are 1,500 miles away in Fl..

Holidays were spent alone just me and the husband.. and its hard when you see all the cars on your street from you neighbors having friends and family visiting but you have none.. Its just not the same, and all the snow in the world doesn't make it feel anymore like christmas.QUOTE]


You are so right. My closest relative... 1500 miles away and it's not a cheap trip to vacation with a family to visit now and then. Yes, the holidays are the worst. That's the hardest time of the year for me too knowing i'm the only one missing from the christmas dinner table.

I can't wait to get back to NH just like you can't wait to get back to FL. I know exactly what your going through.

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

and I don't want someone else to make the same mistake.

That was objective and well put. You gave it a shot and made a life move that most people can't even contemplate. Didn't work out, but it's perhaps even harder to admit that to yourself and head back.

I did want to point out that I lived about 8 miles south from Suzette for 13 years. I don't miss Lost Angeles. I don't regret the experience of California, only how long it took me to realize that the sunshine and money were shackling me to a shallow existence. I missed clouds. Even those that bring rain and snow (and more snow and more snow...).

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by daniellefort

3). Well it doesn't snow like it used to when i was a kid. I remember walking to school in 3 feet of snow.

Uphill both ways, right?

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by rmcewan

Uphill both ways, right?

Um.......Actually no but i did have to walk 1.5 miles one way to school and back home in the freezing cold and snow. The bus rides were only free if you lived more than 2 miles from school. If home was less than 2 miles, you could still ride the bus but had to pay for it and my mom couldn't afford to pay for the bus ride. Some of us were less fortunate back then. But i can say i had fun playing in the snow on the way and i did get to skip school on those below zero days.