Canton vs Potsdam NY for a single person? (Buffalo, Syracuse: apartment, homes)

[OH2CA]

Hello,

I will be teaching for a year in Canton, NY at St Lawrence U. It really seems to be in a very remote corner of up-up-up-upstate NY.

If you are a single (male in 40s), are you doomed? (Sorry, that probably sounded rather defeatist - I really don't mean to sound negative, I've just put in my time in plenty tiny towns with few chances to meet people)

Let's just assume that one is not consumed by work 100% time, what sort of things are there to do? It doesn't seem like there are any larger towns nearby. I would assume it's probably not super-diverse ethnically either. Will I have to learn to cook :-) .. where I am currently there's a lack of both restaurants and movie theaters.

I suppose cable tv, broadband internet access and netflix are things that will have to do.

Sorry, this post sounds probably more negative than I feel about it, I'm just trying to find out about the place, so please do not take offense, none is intended.

Also, as a single person, would you live in Potsdam or Canton? I'd probably look for a decent 2-bedroom apartment. I'm expecting the cost to be reasonable (no idea what that means up there).

Since Potsdam's population is about 16,000 vs Canton's 10,000 I assume there's more to do in Potsdam. Maybe with SUNY Potsdam there too? I'd be happy with some decent places to socialize (bookstore, coffe shops) and maybe meet some other people. I assume both towns would have movie theaters?

Should I be concerned about the commute/road conditions between Potsdam and Canton, especially during the winter months?

I plan on visiting the area in the next week or two to find a place to live so any specific information/suggestions would be great.

My efforts to find useful information on the above have not been too successful.

thanks!


ps: while in my 40s, I'm very active and enjoy the outdoors, esp running and cycling. I expect to do a fair amount of hiking there too.

[clynnog]

Yes, it is a long way up state, but it is only about 1 hour 20 to Ottawa and probably less than 2 hours to Montreal.


I know that once your SLU friends/colleagues find out that you are single and looking, they will try and hook you up with similar minded people. For its size, there is a lot going on at the SLU campus. To be totally honest, I don't think you are going to meet a single woman of your age, background etc. in Canton who is not connected with SLU for a relationship.


Sporting events at the university are big. The University own their own golf course, and a canoeing area on the river nearby. The Adirondacks are a 1/2 hour drive to the south. There are live concerts at the University and lots of live theatre etc.

It doesn't seem like there are any larger towns nearby. I would assume it's probably not super-diverse ethnically either.

Mainly just foreign exchange students and Canadians (if that is an ethnic group)

Will I have to learn to cook :-) .. where I am currently there's a lack of both restaurants and movie theaters.

There is a cinema on the main street. The restaurants aren't the greatest, although I think that there is an Indian restaurant in Potstdam

Also, as a single person, would you live in Potsdam or Canton?

Canton, then you could walk to work. Potsdam to Canton would probably take 20 minutes etc., and in the winter it may be icy or blowing snow across the road

Since Potsdam's population is about 16,000 vs Canton's 10,000 I assume there's more to do in Potsdam. Maybe with SUNY Potsdam there too? I'd be happy with some decent places to socialize (bookstore, coffe shops) and maybe meet some other people. I assume both towns would have movie theaters?

SLU has a great coffee shop in their wonderful book store

ps: while in my 40s, I'm very active and enjoy the outdoors, esp running and cycling. I expect to do a fair amount of hiking there too.[/quote]

Cycling is great on the roads outside of town

[OH2CA]

Hi clynnog

Thanks *so* much for your post, it's very helpful! Sorry for the
delayed response, I took a road trip to Canton to look for an
apartment and return. The drive each way took pretty much a whole day.

> I know that once your SLU friends/colleagues find out that you are
> single and looking, they will try and hook you up with similar
> minded people.

I sure hope so ... :-)

> To be totally honest, I don't think you are going to meet a single
> woman of your age, background etc. in Canton who is not connected
> with SLU for a relationship.

I suspect you are right.

I ate at an Indian restaurant in Potsdam which I liked.

Everyone I have met has been very friendly, so that bodes well. Still,
I can't ignore the fact that I'll be a visible minority there. Maybe
I'll be pleasantly surprised by some colleagues.

Re living in Potsdam or Canton:

> Canton, then you could walk to work. Potsdam to Canton would
> probably take 20 minutes etc., and in the winter it may be icy or
> blowing snow across the road

Good advice. I thought about this, and I came to the same conclusion
which you state. Potsdam is close enough so that I can drive there
when I need to, but I would probably get tired of the daily drive. I
might aswell take advantage of being able to walk to work. That's one
of the major advantages of living in a small town.

Well .. I'm curious to see how my year there will go. I plan to
explore the Adirondacs, and I look forward to meeting other faculty
and like minded people.

Thanks again!

[clynnog]

Thanks *so* much for your post, it's very helpful! Sorry for the
delayed response, I took a road trip to Canton to look for an
apartment and return. The drive each way took pretty much a whole day.

Hope you enjoyed the drive etc.

> I know that once your SLU friends/colleagues find out that you are
> single and looking, they will try and hook you up with similar
> minded people.

> To be totally honest, I don't think you are going to meet a single
> woman of your age, background etc. in Canton who is not connected
> with SLU for a relationship.

I suspect you are right.

I gather that there is a real 'town and gown' ambience to Canton. Townies and people only affiliated with SLU don't have a lot in common but they realize they need each other.

I ate at an Indian restaurant in Potsdam which I liked.

I have immediate family who work at SLU and they love the "Indian" there. I believe that the owners came to Potsdam from the NYC area. As well, if you are into Caribbean food there is a Jamaican place on Miner Street, just north of the RR tracks. The owner is very laid back and serves good food.

Everyone I have met has been very friendly, so that bodes well. Still,
I can't ignore the fact that I'll be a visible minority there. Maybe
I'll be pleasantly surprised by some colleagues.

I understand that SLU itself is a bit more diverse than the long time residents of Canton. People are very friendly, and few people lock their homes etc.


Well .. I'm curious to see how my year there will go. I plan to
explore the Adirondacs, and I look forward to meeting other faculty
and like minded people.

The Adirondacks are a beautiful area for hiking, skiing, etc.

Good luck in the 'north country'

Thanks again![/quote]

[JiminCT]

Graduated from SLU years ago. Canton and Potsdam are little oasis(es) in the middle of the St. Lawrence valley. There are quite a few culutral events in that area (even indy cinema at the Roxy)...but if you get your urban craving..you'll be up in Ottawa (70 miles) or Montreal (2 hrs). Not an easy place for a single person..but the internet has changed a lot of that too.

[OH2CA]

Great, I look forward to exploring what the towns & region provides. I will be there only for one academic year, but I'll make the best of it. And there will be new people to met too.

I hear it gets really cold up there .. and this from people who like myself have experienced many cold Iowa winters, so that ought to be interesting :-)

I imagine fall must be quite nice up there too with the many trees.

I guess in about a week I can call myself a Catonese!

[JiminCT]

This will make Iowa seem like Palm Springs. Remember, Canton is 65-70 miles from Lake Ontario, so the lake effect stuff that hammers Watertown, Syracuse, Roch, and Buffalo doesnt really get into the St. Lawrence river valley. You'll get snow...just not the 200-300" pilups that Tug Hill can get. What you WILL get are nights where it goes down to 20 below zero. With a windchill...you get the idea. We used to have exposure advisories on the radio there. Didnt stop the students from streaking in it...but it was really an experience.

Cultural stuff: Check out NCPR NCPR Home Referral or northcountrynow.com

Most of the radio there is local and from Ottawa (Ottawa has some great radio stations).

[OH2CA]

Wow .. that does sound cool (like in "cold"!) ... here I was thinking earlier this year I would be moving to CA and was ready to toss out all of my cold weather gear -- glad I held on to them.

So, I expect November to March to be winter'ish?

Thanks for the links, I had seen the northcountrynow.com link, but not the other one.

This might turn into more of an adventure than I anticipated :-)

[thank god the apt I rented includes the heat in the rent]

[JiminCT]

October to April....keep the sweaters and coats. Be sure to utilize Ottawa and Montreal while you are there. Ottawa is an EASY trip from Canton. That is the best way to get re-urbanized if you need it.

[clynnog]

iminCT;1126835]
Cultural stuff: Check out NCPR NCPR Home Referral or northcountrynow.com

Most of the radio there is local and from Ottawa (Ottawa has some great radio stations).

My brother has lived in Canton for about 6 years and you are right about it being cold there. I live in Ottawa and overnight lows in Canton in the winter can be 4 - 5 celsius lower than Ottawa on a clear night....that urban heat island effect is not a factor in Canton.

In terms of Ottawa (this is a personal thing), CBC Radio 1 is available at either 91.5 (Ottawa), 95.5 (Cornwall) or 107.5 (Kingston) and Radio 2 (classical, jazz etc) at 103.3 from Ottawa. NCPR is a good station with good local content.

For me, the rest of Ottawa's powerful stations are not that great. CKCU (93.1) from Carleton University and CHUO (89.1) from U of Ottawa probably don't carry that far.