Hello everyone
First of all, thanks in advance for all of the quality info on this forum, you guys know your stuff and it's really helpful.
More specifically - I would like to ask for your opinions please!
My boyfriend and I - we are both writers, I am also a musician - are saving up like mad to move out East in the fall (of 2007).
We are fully aware that we can't live right in Manhattan or any of the hipster neighbourhoods surrounding - and we're also trying to keep some semblance of small town so we don't go into shock when we move (we currently live in a small lakeside town in North Illinois - I know, I know "midwesterners") SO -
We are trying to find a town in which we can rent a 1 or 2 bedroom place (rooms can be tiny, we just need individual space so we can each work on our creative projects) for around $800-1000 or under... (we are both super-clean, responsible, middle-of-the-road credit but terrific references, especially from our landlords)...
A town on or very accessible to Metro-North (walkable/bikeable would be great!), preferably 30-40 minutes or under to the Big City...
And a town that is small-town-ish in a nice way, green trees, parks and whatnot, that is also pleasant for two late-20-something starving artists to live in WITHOUT having to run to the city all the time (for instance, has perhaps a few coffeehouses, good grocery store, a few cute shops/bookstores, a good library, etc.)... but near enough to the city so if we have writing workshops, gigs, etc., it's not a crazy-long commute...
It's a tall order, I know.
But if you guys have suggestions, it would be MOST appreciated - it's so hard to judge the cities from this far away... we've seen (in person) Tarrytown, Katonah, and Ridgefield (although they might be a bit far away from NYC proper?) and liked them, but we still aren't sure if they're too sleepy for us or not...
Okay, I will stop rambling, and we'll eagerly await your responses! Thanks in advance!