Why we moved FROM NY state (New York, Buffalo: real estate, property taxes, homeowners insurance)

[TughillTina]

After reading this post I was reminded of the song Can't find my way home-Steve Winwood-Live on You Tube. Beautiful song. Merry Christmas everyone!

[Glen NY]

I moved to upstate NY, just outside of Syracuse and I am not kidding when I say I didn't realize a place this nice really existed. I think homeward bound hit it on the head in his discription of NY towns. Long Island is a different story, but it is still NY and I think if we didn't stay here we would live there, but that's a tough life.

[30apples]

I left upstate NY for similar reasons and for the past 15 yrs have been trying to get back. My husband loves the dismally hot and intolerable weather as in Phoenix. Maybe a move this year!

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by Sammie

I love NY. I don't live there anymore. I did for 29 years, but I wouldn't mind moving back to NY, even though it's expensive to live there.

Most people who never been nor lived in NY don't realize how beautiful of a state it is. You have your city, your farmlike areas, your mountainous areas and of course the waters. Its' a beautiful State.

I never did either. I grew up in NYC and have lived 20 years on LI. Athough I have driven up state, I had never really experience it until my daughter and I took AMTRAK upstate, off the beaten track so to speak. The train followed the Hudson River. It was absolutely breathtaking, both in Summer and Fall. You will not see that on the Turnpike or any highway.

[NNYGIRL]

What a nice thread to post about our beautiful state that is NY. I was born and raised in Northern NY (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY.... up there by the St. Lawrence river) and also have lived for 5 years in Central NY and 4 years in WNY. I always get discouraged when I meet people from outside of NY who can't believe anything else exists to NY besides the city. It is SUCH a beautiful state!!! Heck, what state that is made up of 1/4 of forest be bad?? Pretty much, NY has it all.

With that said...I am so so sad that my husband and I have to move to the mid-west. He is to begin his medical residency in La Crosse, WI then he will finish up in Rochester MN. So, in a few months, NY will not be home anymore Though, I guess I will always call it home.

I have heard stories from several friends and family members who have moved south and I have heard sometimes people don't like the fact that NYers are invading there state. (I guess this is the reason this particular post was started...maybe??) I guess I think that people leave NY because places such as Virginia, N.Carolina, Florida, Georgia, are growing so fast and there are so many more job opportunities. Take teaching for example...I am a certified science teacher and the rumor back when I began graduate school for teaching was that there is SUCH a demand for teachers. Well, if there is...it isn't in the places I have lived. It was impossible to get a teaching job (biology) in the places I had lived. BUT there are tons and tons of jobs in the south, (and NYC actually...) and other places that are up and coming. In my mind, NY is just not up and coming anymore. It had its day, but as has been stated before...that was before the area was termed the rust belt.

Now, as an aside...the North Country (because of Fort Drum...) is actually rapidly expanding. Lots of new businesses opening and unlike many other parts of the country with real estate...the market for housing is booming. There aren't enough houses for all the newcomers to the area.

So, I hope when we move away from NY, we find a place that is as welcoming as my NY. Someday we hope to move back here.

[GypsySoul22]

We HAVE to move for financial reasons.

I was thinking this morning, "I LOVE NY" and love our strong anti-smoking laws. I cringe to think I will wind up in some area where smoking is still accepted in the workplace or family friendly places. I worry about being in some state that has no 'attitude.' (It's good to have some sort of opinion and not 'be bland.')

The parks here, even on Long Island, are so special. Just walk around our NYS parks sometime and you will see how special this state is..

Yes, I guess after 4 generations, I am a real NYer..

[homeward bound]

NNYGIRL, just a quick reassurance.

I think that your being from (way) Upstate NY will help you see the merits of Wisconsin and Minnesota when you make your move there. They're certainly different than your home area, but the people are pretty similar in that they have that Midwestern unpretentiousness and emphasis on whether someone's decent and neighborly or not. (Of course, this occurs everywhere, but not with that special "Here's some tuna hot dish since you're just moving in" Midwesternness.) They've got even more of the Midwest accent that you hear Upstate (esp. in Western New York), you won't laugh too hard when someone asks you, "Heeve you eaver beeen to Bahhhfalo?"

If you go north, you'll find country much like you're used to, and a great devotion to the outdoors, and a strong sensitivity to weather, the seasons, and really relishing the summers. Hockey, coffee, winter sports, more hockey--it'll be real familiar. Plus, both states have that nice mixture of conservative/traditional and liberal/progressive values that you find in much of NY State. Generally good schools and services, too. I've known a lot of Wisconsinites (did I get that right?) Minnesotans who were quick to see Upstate NY's great merits, so I think you'll see their areas' merits.

Also, Ontario above Wisc. & Minn. is just stunningly gorgeous. Try Michigan's Upper Peninsula too--a special place.

By the way, I'm surprised that getting a teaching job was so tough for you. A master's in Biology should have been a shoe-in. If you don't mind, could you be a bit more specific about where you found a surprising lack of teaching jobs Upstate? My wife and I are intent on moving there and we're both teachers.

Thanks, and best of luck on your move! Hope you'll send in some postings about it.

[LuLu108]

Yeah, I moved here from WV in 2000, I think it's very pretty here in Rochester area and the summers are really nice. I love the school my daughter goes to and I hate to leave it. I think NY has the absolute best services and organizations for children and adults with disabilities! The only cons I have with this place is the weather and the taxes. Namely property taxes. I just can't take the cold anymore. I am just not built for it, I guess. I've lived in WV, NC, and DE before. I grew up in WV. Although there is snow, it is nothing compared to the amounts here. Not to mention it gets much colder here also. We are leaving and moving down south mainly for the reason that I cannot take another winter here and for employment opportunity. I have done very extensive research however, and I do now feel confident in our move to FL. I have gained so much knowledge from searching here than I ever could have anywhere else. I really feel like I could go down there tomorrow and know exactly where to go and what to do!
But I will miss alot about this place! But it's not enough to keep me here sorry to say. I must have warmth and sunshine and lots of it.


Florida, here we come!

[faithfulFrank]

homeward bound,

Awesome post. I currently live in Batavia, but will move to our newly bought home in Leesburg Florida in a few years.

Frank D.

[homeward bound]

Hi, Frank.

Since you're familiar with Batavia, can you say more about it--esp. its merits/flaws in terms of being a good place to raise a family with young kids? Above all, what's the *feel* of the place--cozy? gloomy? healthy? rotting?

Batavia's often been recommended to us, and I know it's got some really great older homes at great prices. But also a huge spike in property taxes coming, often a sign of real economic distress. What's the city's future looking like?

(I know there are other threads on this forum specifically about Batavia, but I'm trying to snag Batavia-info while it's right here....)

Thanks!