You can go home again...... (Merrimack, Portsmouth: mortgage, house, quality of life)

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by touretteboy65

Did you move back or was it just a vacation trip back home? We're less than a year and a half from moving out of Florida to New Hampshire; we can't wait!!! My wife is not crazy about the winters, but she says she'll adjust. We just came back from a trip to the Conway area and I was able to show her much of the state that I could only describe to her or show on the Internet. Once she realized how beautiful your state is and the difference in terms of quality of life, she was sold. Now, our two daughters will be able to grow up in an area the way growing up should be. I really enjoyed reading your post; I only wish I could have remained "up North" during my childhood rather than growing up in Florida, but, no sense in dwelling on the past. Great picture, by the way.

I moved permanently back to NH. I currently live in Belmont in the lakes region (my mother-in-law chose this place). The winters are harsh for flatlanders, It took me two full seasons of snow to be o.k. up here.

It's all about perspective. If you have an open attitude, no resentment, an appetite for adventure, you'll see just is waiting for you.

For example, my first winter here 2007, the worst snow storm I had ever been in hit, and for what felt like an enternity, snowed forever. I got used to driving w/out 4-wheel drive sliding and crashing into more snowbanks than ever, but so many handsome men came to my aid to help push a little 5 foot thing in a huge truck out of the snow, it was really sweet. When I did make it down the hill, I smelled a hot meataballa sub with provolone venting from the sub and pizza shop. I spied dozens of tussied' up snowmobilers parked and sitting outside under the light falling snow drinking hot chocolate. I then spied the dunkin donuts next to the sub shop to see more mobilers in the drive thru buying the hot chocolate! it was a parking lot party of winter guests, laughing, catching snow, throwing snow balls, and I couldn't wait to join the fun! I had to have my meataballa sub.....and now its what I can't wait for when the first snow falls.

Its all in how you see it. If you want to see 7 feet of unmelting evil cold snow that you have to shovel, your back will hurt and you'll dream of Florida. If you want to catch a whitetail looking back at you, make a snow tunnel with your dog, pelt your wife with a nice fat snowball as she treads in her jammies and snow boots to get the mail, well then......you'll be a kid again just like us!


As far as your kids go, I hear there is not much to do up here (which in my opinion is BS) so kids tend to get in trouble. You might have to teach them how to enjoy the seasons here, its almost an art. These guys on CDF really know how to show you the art of living up here with wonderful suggestions, starting with hot chocolate and sledding or tubing rides. Its an all-year around festival if your heart is in the right place.

Besides, if it is not your cup of tea, give it a few years and return. I'm just now getting around to doing some of the things on my list...this place has so many majestic areas, I am taking note of Crazy Dave's sites for when I get a Bike!


a huffy for now.....

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by lisa g

Kat, I understand your sentiments exactly and feel entirely the same way about NH. Like you I am also thrilled and grateful (and relieved) to have been able to return here, even though I only previously lived here for a few yrs. in the 90's. I can honestly say that maturity combined with experiencing the quickly diminishing quality of life in 3 other states (not at all similar to popular idealogical versions you hear from people w/out such experience) has made me truly appreciate NH. While it has changed from the NH I remember of the 90's, it has not changed at the rate of other places which have gone from nice to unacceptable seemingly overnight. It would be very sad to lose the quality of life we all enjoy, so hopefullly a majority of NH residents appreciate it as much and are willing to work hard enough without becoming dependents as we see to our south to keep this place beautiful.

Good for you for appreciating the place you were privileged to grow up in (despite what you call a 'crazy family'). And what a good call on your father's part to get your family out of Lynn!

Hi Lisa!
I agree! I was up here from 1982-1993 then I thought I was too big for my britches and rode out west to Texas. We had moved into a little po-dunk farming and cattle town called Frisco. Frisco now has as many skyscrapers as Dallas almost, and it can hold a summer Olympics there if it wanted to. There used to be one grocery store, now there must be 15+ and maybe 28 banks (I'm sure some of those are gone by now).

I couldn't wait to tuck tail and come back home to NH. I had forgotten what natural green grass looked like.

My brother got mugged in jr. high in Lynn, so mom said nuff was enough. I miss Brentwood, if anyone ever is in that area, PLZ drive down RTE 111A. coming from 125.

There is a pinkish colonial, kinda cockeyed on a slant with an old english garden down a hill, to the road. I have to stop and take it all in. The bricks are original and have been fully restored to a beauty I can't describe. All of the houses are manicured with inidividual gardens and paths, windy trails to houses, barns, sheds, and sometimes mysterious things you can't quite make out through the gardens. This street, all of the houses, look like those jigsaw puzzles you buy at the store of scenic beauty. Simply majestic!

As far as dependents go, I am sad to say I'm a state dependent. I have not had medical insurance at my last 3 jobs, nor the pay to afford my own (both my husband and I haven't had any or almost 5 years) and I had gotten so sick and desperate. Thank God for Healthlink. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and hormone deficiency, and now I feel so much better. I'm finishing college for my bachelors degree so I plan to contribute to the great granite state very soon. But I come here to read your views on anything changing in NH, so keep us posted and let us know how we can help keep this state beautiful and peaceful.

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by Ken E

Kat, Thank you for your post. Brentwood definetly is a special place. I grew up not far from there and had some friends there. I spent most of my life in that general area until i moved down here 8 years ago. I honestly believe there's no place like home. We bought a place up by Ossipee a couple years ago and are just waiting to sell this place down here so we can return "HOME". There are some places that i know of from growing up stuck way back in the woods that will never ,ever change so i'll always be able to go back to the N.H. that i knew as a kid. Thank God for that.

Hey Ken! My husband fell in love with Ossipee. He found a yellow house on a river bank that called to him and he pulls over each time we're in that area and says, "someday you'll be mine". That just warms my heart he loves it so much here.

I remember as a kid, if the wind was just right, you could hear the races from epping? drag races? And if the wind was really right, you could smell the gasoline!

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by MovedfromFL

What a lovely post! I grew up in the Orlando area & have fond memories, but only because my family owned a large amount of land for me to explore. (and back in the 70's - 80's, it was still decent down there) Every time I returned home from college in the mid 90's, there was so much new development. Nothing is permanent there and there is not a great sense of community because people are always moving in and out. I just went back last year and didn't even recognize certain parts of the place. There is certainly nothing magical about it for me anymore. (but I do love to visit the old homestead & my parents still live there.)

My childhood was idyllic and I want to give that same gift to my two boys, ages 3 and 1. My husband also has a fondness for his youth spent in the Sparta, NJ area. We are starting to realize that although we made a good coming to north Georiga from Orlando, it might not be the best bet for our family long term. We are doing some research into NH as a possible place for our "forever home." I guess our timeframe would be 1-2 years from now, depending of course on economic factors.

From the prior post, it sounds like someone else from FL has the same idea! I'm also scared about facing a real winter up there. I think I would be ok as long as there are some sunny days and not just endless gray.

It takes some adjusting to the environment up here. The bugs, taking vitamin D to help calcium absorb (15 mins in the sunlight on your skin to get your daily dose of Vit D), and the winters. However, I found such lovely women to share with me how they spend their winter days.

One woman weaves wool rugs. I saw her antique outfitted colonial house one night for a work party and she proudly displayed her hand-made rugs. All she needed was a bonnet and white apron and she would be a colonial!

Another woman makes embroidered pictures. My best friend Stacy makes little mirror ponds with scenes out of clay, and she glues her jigsaw puzzles together. I suggested taking the puzzles and putting them on tabletops in her house to display and I think that's what she's garage saleing for tables this year to do this winter.

I am a writer, so I spend my dark mornings tapping out keys to build a story that I hope someday to publish. Finding hobbies are a wonderful way to keep your mind busy, your hands toned and strong, and one day you'll find you can hum over 100 songs in a week and never even knew you could hum!

[steveusaf]

Originally Posted by Katlakat

And I hope to pass it along to all of you. It's because of this forum I was able to crawl out of my sadness in Illinois and dream of coming home. Val told me here to send away for my free visit nh booklets that led me home.

That's what we're here for, to help others make a home, choose a home, or just to come back home.

Right behind you, Katlakat! I just closed on 7.85 acres of secluded woods in Barrington that I will build my retirement home on in 5 years! Looking at a picture of that land on my desktop every day (and reading this forum) keeps the dream alive and takes me to my happy place.

Granitestater - I know what you mean about the "flat and windy". Indiana seems like a tropical rain forest compared to North Dakota!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by steveusaf

Right behind you, Katlakat! I just closed on 7.85 acres of secluded woods in Barrington that I will build my retirement home on in 5 years! Looking at a picture of that land on my desktop every day (and reading this forum) keeps the dream alive and takes me to my happy place.

Granitestater - I know what you mean about the "flat and windy". Indiana seems like a tropical rain forest compared to North Dakota!

Barrington is a nice town, but it seems to be getting more suburbanized. My parents are retired and just looked at a property up in the Brookfield area in the Lakes Region. That are is just so nice. It is 45 minutes to the Seacoast and 10 minutes to Wolfeboro.
Five years is a long time, but come visit often! ND winters must be brutal with the wind and lack of treecover.

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I am quite happy for ya
I did the extreme "flatland" experience when I lived in NW Indiana. The only nice thing about it with regards to scenery were some of the forests. However, it was so FLAT and WINDY.

Let me tell you about Illinois! (we only drove through the cornfield extravaganza of Indiana on our way to Michigan).

I hated Pittsfield Illinois, it was the pits. No jobs unless your a farmer, the dog kennel lost my dog in the first snow storm for 3 days, I was sick and depressed, gained about 65 pounds, oh the awful times down there but.......there was a silver lining under all of that. Illinois was where I began writing my novels, and it was the first place I actually became part of a community.


We took a drive one afternoon past the cow pastures and came across a huge group of cars lined up for a mile to pull into a cow pasture......

It was a tiny town called Summer Hill. A husband, wife, and kids opened up a drive in theater called the Clark 54. We joined the waiting line to go to our first drive in together, my DH and I.

For 5 bucks, you could see a double feature. The commercials were from the 50's authentic, the announcer's voice booming through your car from the radio, "Try Planter's Peanuts! It's a heck of joy, and you'll always want some more!" Real hokey commercials from the past with dancing popcorn on the screen.

We pulled up our truck backwards to camp in the bed with camping chairs, citronella lanterns, and our cooler of our own food and drinks to save money (once we discovered this gem and returned each summer after the first.) The field was alive with kids playing in front of the screen sometimes football, sometimes tag. The parents would whistle when the movie was about to start and you'd often see someone's dog running towards the whistle. We brought our dogs to the drive in, it was 100% family oriented including the furry types.

Next the sun began to set and you'd see deer behind the screen, their shadow would make people point and talk. The fireflies would all float like a haze of blinking heartbeats above our heads, and right in the middle of a lush love scene, you'd hear a cow moo rather loudly in the pasture behind us.

One night a storm with thunder and lighting circled the drive in, but we were protected, it never rained one drop. This was a magic place full of laughter and good times as people would embrace and holler out to each other, it seemed everyone knew everyone else by the dozens here, and one night a girl hollered my name and I smiled. It was a girl from work and I felt for the first time part of this small and loving community when she called my name and hugged me.

I will always miss the Clark 54, but I prefer NH mountains and streams for my next adventure.

CLARK 54 DRIVE-IN THEATRE - About Us

[Katlakat]

Originally Posted by steveusaf

Right behind you, Katlakat! I just closed on 7.85 acres of secluded woods in Barrington that I will build my retirement home on in 5 years! Looking at a picture of that land on my desktop every day (and reading this forum) keeps the dream alive and takes me to my happy place.

Granitestater - I know what you mean about the "flat and windy". Indiana seems like a tropical rain forest compared to North Dakota!

You've got the right idea!!

I posted my free map of NH on the inside of my front door to my Illinois apartment. Each night I kissed my palm and smacked that map hard with a smile, telling myself that I'll go home soon.

The laws of attraction began to work because I had set my dreams in 6 months and we left 2.5 months after I got my map hung.

I planned out all of my adventures and we camped in pet friendly camp sites along the great lakes to NH. It was the best 2 week vacation relocation I ever had and we saved hundreds of dollars by camping in September, off season rates and often free firewood and no camp fees!

I bet you make it before 5 years, just keep posting pictures around your home of your dreams and surprisingly enough, they begin to take shape faster than you'd imagine.

[steveusaf]

Originally Posted by Katlakat

You've got the right idea!!

I posted my free map of NH on the inside of my front door to my Illinois apartment. Each night I kissed my palm and smacked that map hard with a smile, telling myself that I'll go home soon.

The laws of attraction began to work because I had set my dreams in 6 months and we left 2.5 months after I got my map hung.

I planned out all of my adventures and we camped in pet friendly camp sites along the great lakes to NH. It was the best 2 week vacation relocation I ever had and we saved hundreds of dollars by camping in September, off season rates and often free firewood and no camp fees!

I bet you make it before 5 years, just keep posting pictures around your home of your dreams and surprisingly enough, they begin to take shape faster than you'd imagine.

5 years is a pretty solid timeline for me - that's when I'm eligible for retirement from the AF. I need that retirement pay to help build that dream house! Believe me though, that land will be cleared, driveway cut, power lines run, and approved blueprints in hand before that 5 year mark. I will start building within a few days of my retirement ceremony!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by steveusaf

5 years is a pretty solid timeline for me - that's when I'm eligible for retirement from the AF. I need that retirement pay to help build that dream house! Believe me though, that land will be cleared, driveway cut, power lines run, and approved blueprints in hand before that 5 year mark. I will start building within a few days of my retirement ceremony!

My house is out in the woods on 12 acres. I prefer having more treecover close to the house, but well trimmed. I have a garden, but it is doing horrible this year due to the 8.00 inches of precipitation this month alone. It sounds like you are dead set on Barrington. I really like that area, but am worried about the suburbanization of that entire area. I live in Merrimack County and Barrington is one county over in Strafford County. Now the town of Strafford IN Strafford County is quite rural. Further west of Strafford, I don't really care for the towns of Barnstead and Pittsfield too much.
Have you ever been to the Turtle Mountains east of Minot? Now, I do like that are quite a bit.

I wish you the best on your return to NH.