Is staying in NY for me?? (Liberty, Boston: condo, townhouse, refrigerators)

[noelani.laraya]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

but for the topic starter, I suggest u dont move far so u stay near ur fam and friends in Nyc

Why? Is it a really stupid idea to just be adventurous and pick up and move somewhere else even though I might not know anybody there? I was watching some show the other day and this guy said he moved to LA by himself with only 500 dollars. He lived in his car for three months. But then he got a good job and now lives in a nice apartment. I know that he''s a guy though and it's not as risky for guys.

Sometimes I feel like I should just take a risk. I'll get to experience something different, new scenery, new people, new places, new smells, new restaurants, new everything. But then I wonder will be I homesick quickly? Yes I can email and phone, and write, and blah blah blah but that's not the same as seeing them in person...not the same as hanging out together and going to parties together and just doing stuff together. But then I'm back to wanting to see the rest of the US and what else is out there.

Aaaaah, who am I kidding? I'm not adventurous. I don't even go on amusement park rides that go upside down.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by noelani.laraya

Am I dreaming about finding this here in NY? The reason why I want to stay in NY is because fam and friends are here. I have lots of friends who have kids already and I'd miss seeing them grow up and also I wouldn't be able to easily run home to the parents for whatever if I moved to another state.

Am I completely crazy???

Originally Posted by noelani.laraya

Why? Is it a really stupid idea to just be adventurous and pick up and move somewhere else even though I might not know anybody there?

Your own opening statements for the thread will answer your question in the second quote above.

[noelani.laraya]

Originally Posted by Miles

Your own opening statements for the thread will answer your question in the second quote above.

Yes I know what I said. *sigh* Sometimes I wish I was rich and I could own a place here and then own a place somewhere else. This could be my primary residence but then I could go to the other place for like a month or whatever. *sigh* Let me bring myself back to reality and snap out of my fairytale. I could be rich one day though. I plan to make millions at some point. It's not impossible. Yes, it would take a lot of work to get there but it's not impossible.

[bmwguydc]

There are some very lovely parts of New Jersey that offer a great lifestyle. It's not all Newark and Irvington, since you counter that with places like Saddle River, Alpine, Chatham, and Berkeley Square. There's a lot to be gained in NNJ, just be sure of the area in which you live, since the cities can be dense, like Union, and have their own share of problems. In a suburban environment, however, there is much to recommend in the region, everything from an urbanized suburban town to semi-rural areas, all within an easy commute via train, bus, or car.

The toll is $6, but it's only paid one way, so it's an inbound/outbound combined toll of $3 each way, hardly enough to bankrupt someone who can afford other car-related expenses, especially parking and fuel to get to/from Manhattan. The traffic is horrendous, however, so it would be advised to take the train, PATH, or NJTransit bus to avoid many of the headaches of getting to/from Manhattan on a daily basis.

I have never heard gunshots, been the victim of a crime, or have had to suffer the slings and arrows of service personnel from an "inferior" (LOL...NOT!) education system in New Jersey anytime I have been there. Plus, Stuvysant, Hunter, and Bronx Science are NOT typical NYC public high schools. They are competitive examination schools that select their students, and the reality of high schools throughout much of the city is completely different than those institutions. Contrast this with some nice suburban areas in NNJ, where you have safe and reliable educational institutions that do provide students with an excellent education.

So, I concur that there's nothing to fear with a good community in NNJ if you don't find what you want within NYC itself.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by noelani.laraya

Yes I know what I said. *sigh* Sometimes I wish I was rich and I could own a place here and then own a place somewhere else. This could be my primary residence but then I could go to the other place for like a month or whatever. *sigh* Let me bring myself back to reality and snap out of my fairytale. I could be rich one day though. I plan to make millions at some point. It's not impossible. Yes, it would take a lot of work to get there but it's not impossible.

Don't feel bad, noelani. You think you've got weird fantasies, wanna hear mine.? I wish I could live in Forest Hills, Queens in a house, have a condo on the UWS of Manhattan as an office/pied-a-terre, and a vacation condo in Florida for the winter!

Okay, let's both rush out for those lottos tickets! haha.

[dhanu86]

Originally Posted by noelani.laraya

Why? Is it a really stupid idea to just be adventurous and pick up and move somewhere else even though I might not know anybody there? I was watching some show the other day and this guy said he moved to LA by himself with only 500 dollars. He lived in his car for three months. But then he got a good job and now lives in a nice apartment. I know that he''s a guy though and it's not as risky for guys.

Sometimes I feel like I should just take a risk. I'll get to experience something different, new scenery, new people, new places, new smells, new restaurants, new everything. But then I wonder will be I homesick quickly? Yes I can email and phone, and write, and blah blah blah but that's not the same as seeing them in person...not the same as hanging out together and going to parties together and just doing stuff together. But then I'm back to wanting to see the rest of the US and what else is out there.

Aaaaah, who am I kidding? I'm not adventurous. I don't even go on amusement park rides that go upside down.

nah u are right. I've done the same thing, one summer i gave my parents 1 day notice and disappeared to work in NC for 4 months. Now i live 2 hours from home in a completely new area that ppl are scared to visit me "newark nj" but u know what, im happy here. JC or anywhere in hudson/bergen county is good, not to close or far from ur other life. U might even find a good job here I recommend it. U will not be homesick here at all but u will be in a totally new atmosphere.

[RUBIES77]

There are many areas in Staten Island that will fit into your criteria. For example: You can rent an apartment in many areas, in a two-family house in Eltingville, Great Kills, Oakwood, New Dorp, Annadale, Old Town (but is not old.) All these areas are near Amboy Road/Richmond Road, which has the Staten Island Rapid Transit, and Hylan Boulevard, which has all the Express Buses into Manhattan. The SIRT will take you into the Ferry, which is free into Manhattan. Stores everywhere to walk to. Of course, no matter where you go, you are not going to find "PERFECTION." It is a give and take situation. And please, do not listen to the "Staten Island Bashers," which most of them do not know a thing about this island. Good-luck in your journey.

[Joe Bama!]

Originally Posted by RUBIES77

There are many areas in Staten Island that will fit into your criteria. For example: You can rent an apartment in many areas, in a two-family house in Eltingville, Great Kills, Oakwood, New Dorp, Annadale, Old Town (but is not old.) All these areas are near Amboy Road/Richmond Road, which has the Staten Island Rapid Transit, and Hylan Boulevard, which has all the Express Buses into Manhattan. The SIRT will take you into the Ferry, which is free into Manhattan. Stores everywhere to walk to. Of course, no matter where you go, you are not going to find "PERFECTION." It is a give and take situation. And please, do not listen to the "Staten Island Bashers," which most of them do not know a thing about this island. Good-luck in your journey.

Why not St. George?

[LynnePatrice]

Originally Posted by DesiArnez6

General quality of life problems.
Totally different transit system, so you basically have to pay both transit companies monthly fees.If you drive, youve got to go through one of the tunnels, with OUTRAGEOUS Tolls, TONS of traffic since most people only use 2 tunnels, what like $6 I think for each of the tunnels
UNregulated and sometimes dangerous taxis
VERY high Crime Rate. Jersey is far more dangerous with FAR more homicides then your very worst neighborhood in NYC. I'd feel safer in East New York, or Brownsville before I'd ever live in Jersey. And that says a lot. Jersey is ALWAYS on the news.
Very disorganized as far as roads, maintenance, street lighting, city planning parks
Calls to NY from NJ are FULL priced NON-Regional Long Distance
Horrible health care (public hospitals do NOT provide meals unless admitted, you can be there held for 20+ hours as I was once, yet not even a juice or slice of bread, hospital policy because of budget constraints, this would be illegal in NYC public hospitals)
Terrible social service, no state based safety net assistance should you have long term economic difficulty
Shootings...more shootings...and yes...MORE shootings
Worse state government than Albany
NY has better progressive taxation, and a generous state and local (NYC) Earned Income Tax Credit
NY has MUCH better public schools, and NYC High Schools EASILY beat out Jersey. Example, Stuyvesant HS in Manhattan is one of the best in the nation, so is Bronx HS of Science, etc.
Being across state lines is more complicated for tax purposes, since you must account for both states, the one you live in AND the one you work in.
Jersey has MANY transit systems, and structures, with odd fare zones, strange fares where exact change is required (like $1.35 or $2.15 or $4.55 etc.) (who seriously carry's a bag of nickels around?)
NYC is simple, all buses and subways $2.00 whole city and free transfers
NY has better court system, more professional judges
NYC has 311 service 24 hours a day for any complaint, emergency, report, question, anything NYC related.
NYC has strong enforcement of heating laws, Jersey does not.
NJ has HORRIBLE Social Services should you ever be let go or unemployed.
NY has EXTENSIVE health insurance program, and Medicaid covers single adults without children (IN Jersey Medicaid is ONLY for people with children)
For those in middle income, New York runs their OWN public health insurance program called Family Health Plus, and for upper income subsidized "Healthy NY" program.
Public Housing in New York City is beautiful, maintained, and world renowned, acclaimed in MANY Urban studies evaluations as THE model for Public Housing Success
Jersey Public housing is downright scary, period, typical american "projects"
New York has State Run Pharmacies where all medication is $10
New Jersey has NO government run pharmacies
New York City has $10 dental clinics and medical clinics EVERYWHERE
New York has many Beaches
Jersey (near NYC) is FAR from the beach, and separated by those Tunnels.
New York State has THE largest Higher Education System for College in the United States, with an excellent reputation, and VERY affordable to NY Residents.
Jersey Colleges simply do not compare in overall value.
NYC is just more planned, organized, beautiful, with parks, trees, consistency. Whenever I cross state lines to Jersey, I just feel like I crossed the Border to Mexico or something, or some 2nd world country, underdeveloped, dark, and scary.

You obviously have not been to many areas of NJ.

[noelani.laraya]

Originally Posted by dhanu86

nah u are right. I've done the same thing, one summer i gave my parents 1 day notice and disappeared to work in NC for 4 months. Now i live 2 hours from home in a completely new area that ppl are scared to visit me "newark nj" but u know what, im happy here. JC or anywhere in hudson/bergen county is good, not to close or far from ur other life. U might even find a good job here I recommend it. U will not be homesick here at all but u will be in a totally new atmosphere.

Thanks. I'm still going to look into Jersey City. I did get a little scared of it for a minute but there are people that have said it's a great place so I'm still looking into it. From what I've seen in pictures it looks like a nice area, I'd go visit it first though.