What're the bars like? (Manchester, Nashua: extended stay, how much, house)

[moai]

My wife and I are both born and raised in Reno, NV, and are looking to leave. Reno is changing in ways we don't particularly like, and as we are both teachers we'll never be able to buy a house because the prices are INSANE.

The wife has been to NH and loved it (as a kid) and I love the idea of living back East. I like the idea of NH because of the rural feel but still close to Boston for shows and ballgames and such. We're planning an extended stay this summer to see if it is our cup of tea, but in the meantime I am curious about a couple things.

We'd like to go out every couple of weeks, and we prefer pub/ local bar type places rather than a "club" or single's joint. A few semi-quiet (we like a good juke box!) cocktails in a place where you know just about everybody is what we are used to. Which towns have a laid-back bar scene?

How much do you pay for a gallon of milk? I drink a lot of milk.

[GregW]

Don't be too certain you will be able to afford a house in NH on two teacher's salaries. I guess milk is about $4-5 a gallon. I haven't been in a bar in a few years. I prefer a Cuba libre on my deck in the summer and something warm inside during the winter.

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by moai

My wife and I are both born and raised in Reno, NV, and are looking to leave. Reno is changing in ways we don't particularly like, and as we are both teachers we'll never be able to buy a house because the prices are INSANE.

The wife has been to NH and loved it (as a kid) and I love the idea of living back East. I like the idea of NH because of the rural feel but still close to Boston for shows and ballgames and such. We're planning an extended stay this summer to see if it is our cup of tea, but in the meantime I am curious about a couple things.

We'd like to go out every couple of weeks, and we prefer pub/ local bar type places rather than a "club" or single's joint. A few semi-quiet (we like a good juke box!) cocktails in a place where you know just about everybody is what we are used to. Which towns have a laid-back bar scene?

How much do you pay for a gallon of milk? I drink a lot of milk.

Median home price in southern New Hampshire is about 250K. As in all of New England prices are dropping now-so its become a buyers market. Teachers here are in demand, especially Math, Science and Language arts. Starting pay with a BA around 35K. In Connecticut around 40K.

Also consider eastern Connecticut- somewhere between Hartford and Providence- very pleasant towns in a rural area close to everything including the ocean; median home prices have dropped 10% in the last year to a median price of around 225K. Gallon of milk here 1% at a convenience store is $3.29.

Manchester NH also has an interesting and growing pub scene.Hartford CT has a small cafe society, and Providence RI a more lively one.

[Valerie C]

Greg, where do you buy milk? I paid 2.99 yesterday (ok, I admit I'm cheap um I mean frugal, and buy the store brand) I don't need the milk from the "Happy California cows". We drink a lot of milk as well (family of 4, at least 6 gallons of milk a week...)

moai, the type of bar you might be looking for can be found in many towns across the state. The cities like Manchester and Nashua have some of the louder dance clubs, where holding a conversation is impossible. Wish I could help more...

Being teachers, you may find these helpful in terms of possible new jobs here in the Granite State:
NH Department of Education - Becoming an Educator
NH Department of Education - Data and Reports - Staffing and Salaries
EdJobsNH.com

Here is a thread from not too long ago here on CD-Forum that you might find interesting (I sure did LOL):
http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-h...-bad-ugly.html

North Country is more rural than southern NH, but it's great to be in such a small state where you can get rural in just an hour's drive, yet get to Boston, the seacoast, etc. Happy searching!

Originally Posted by GregW

I guess milk is about $4-5 a gallon. I haven't been in a bar in a few years.

[buck naked]

Manchester has a couple private clubs (non-profits) that might be to your liking - quiet, bands on the weekends, with outdoor patios and a Cheers attitude.


I'm sure posters will be along to tell you about them.

[fishnfool]

Bars depend on the town and location. I go to Portsmouth quite a bit and most are trendy upscale places. There are a few pubs too. Portsmouth has lots of bars and you should be able to find one you like. In general smaller towns have more of the tavern/pub feel. We go to a local one in Hampton and it's usually a crowd of regulars, very laid back, nice old new england feel. It just depends....I will say there is plenty of them around and the beer selection (mostly local breweries) is fantastic.

[GregW]

OK - I was guessing on the milk. or was that gasoline?

[Suzet2262]

Originally Posted by GregW

OK - I was guessing on the milk. or was that gasoline?

It was the gasoline. I went shopping this morning and bought some milk...1% milk, 2 gallons for $5.35. Valerie, I buy the store brand too

[moai]

Thanks for all the responses! I was curious about the bars because most of the ones we frequent have a "dive" feel to them--mainly because they are 50+ years old, and represent times past in Reno, really. Heroin and cocaine are resurging here so much that it is killing any fun there was in hanging out 'til the wee hours. It's another reason we want to leave.

We are both into music, and love the music scene a big city offers, but our nearest is San Francisco and that place is so bizarre (not to mention expensive) that it isn't an option AT ALL, nor is anywhere else in CA for that matter. My wife went to school there (SF State) and hates it, and I am burned out on it. A community with traditional values (family first, safety, helpful to fellow community members, etc.) is what we are looking for.

I've been checking maps, and it seems in Southern New Hampshire all the towns are very close together. Is there a big difference between living in Dover versus Exeter, say? For us, a 25 minute drive is nothing. For example, my wife's family lives about 40 minutes from where we do, and they are still in Reno--albeit on the outskirts.

Do the communities really "feel" that different? Our options will be framed by where we get jobs, of course. But commuting within New Hampshire doesn't seem like a big deal at all--but what the map says and reality are two different things!

[Valerie C]

LOL the dives are always the most fun, and it's got to be very sad to see those beloved places being taken over by lousy drug elements. If you're into music, we have a very well-kept secret here in Londonderry, Tupelo Music Hall is where Hearing is Believing.. Some amazing acts are there, it's BYOB (beer and wine). We have some musician regulars who would have a great time at Open Mike night! One of the best places to go for great blues is The Grog in Newburyport MA. Sunday night is all blues, and many great blues bands play on Saturday nights as well. If you were to settle somewhere on the SNH seacoast, you'd be in easy driving distance

One thing that I missed when living in the HUGE state of Missouri is the relatively easy driving from place to place. We moan and complain about the traffic, but really, when you can drive through THREE states in less than a couple of hours, that's saying something. There is very little unincorporated land in NH, however, the southern portion of the state if highly populated, and getting most anywhere during commute hours can be frustrating, especially if you're heading south to work.

There IS a big difference in many of the communities. Some are distinctly less upscale, and more basic in what they have to offer. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it may be very different from what you are used to. For one, unless you're in one of the cities, you'll probably be on private well and private sewer (septic tank). Many people moving here from other places have NEVER dealt with these things... Also, there are plenty of towns where not everybody requires the perfectly manicured golf-course lawn, and all the trappings that you would expect to go along with that. I know many people who live in the smaller towns (without the super-high tax rates to cover the school budget) and are completely happy there.

Hope this helps in some small way.....