Nj girl here, born and raised. Here's an honest opinion from a native. Well, from my POV, New Jersey sucks. Seriously. I am finally ready to leave this place. I have hung on until now, because I really wanted my children to get to know their grandparents, especially my Mom. But after trying so hard to make it work forever, and not enjoying ourselves here... this young family is planning on hitting the road.
I was raised in Rahway, then moved to Woodbridge and spent my teenage years there. Close to everything, yes. Pretty? No. More like pretty trashy. Now I am located in Monmouth County (my dh is from here)- the town of which I will not say because being that open on a public forum gives me the heebie jeebies. It was nicer here, well different than where i came from anyhow, until all the farms got turned into mini-mansions which are primarily inhabited by people from SI and LI. Prices shot up as did the traffic, taxes, and anything else bad you can think of. Now the traffic here is just as bad as it was up north. Prices shot up fast, and we weren't one of the lucky ones who bought and sold at the right time. So here we are now, with a giant mortgage in a high traffic area...with not that much of an attraction honestly. I don't like it here, and honestly, I can't believe people commute all the way to NYC from here everyday. My dh did it for awhile, then got a new job. Though he still has a commute most places he goes (his job requires him to go to different locations), it's never as bad as when he worked in the city.
To make a long story short, I am tired of paying an astronomical mortgage and taxes for nothing. No scenic views....nothing culturally enriching...yes, you say, well go to NYC then! That's what they all say about NJ, "well, we're close to NY!" - unless you work in NYC and make $150k +++(or got in on a good price 5+ years ago here I guess, but you would still have the crazy taxes) - I don't see any point in being here. And I am just not a NYC gal. I took full advantage of the city as a teenager believe me...but as an adult I have no desire to go there, or work there. I respect those who do, as we all have our own dreams, but mine are different, that's all! I love cities and all they have to offer, but just not that one. Too ugly and gritty and concrete for me. And back to the original point - NJ has no real culture. Yes, we have the overcrowded beach with the trashy boardwalks that you can go to about three months out of the year, Yay! It's not enough. We have nothing great to call own own beside the beach really. Oh yeah, there's pork roll, pizza and bagels LOL LOL LOL - I think it is hilarious the "good" things people point out about NJ.
I'm not yet sure where we are going. My house is up for sale, and we are visiting California soon. I love scenic areas, my favorite place of all being southern California. I am also researching a few other areas as well. I am not sure whether to go with my dream of California and deal with high prices there as well (but the beauty to justify the price plus - renting a house in OC is CHEAPER than here, mtg is another story though lol) ....or go somewhere we can get a low mortgage on a lot of land lol. How's that for a decision? I don't dig rural areas, and cannot picture living somewhere that isn't on the coast though....my heart will always be in California, but it is a tough decision. If I didn't have kids already, I would have been long gone to Ca. But I have to weigh my decisions more carefully now.
I have two children, and I do not wish to raise them here, that much I know. It's just not worth all that it costs to be here, IMO. No way, no how. I drove cross country to California 10 yrs ago with my best friend, and it changed my life. I realized that there is so much more out there than just here.
I don't know why anyone would choose to move here from somewhere else, really I don't. But to each his own, right?
I will let you all know where I am going when I finally decide. I am hoping we will be able to sell this house by summer and make our move out of state!!!!
NJ truly is the armpit of the nation. Well...maybe that honor should go to Staten Island, but we sure are close behind.
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05-08-2007, 06:21 PM
how about arizona
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