Life in Cherry Valley / Cooperstown NY (Amherst, Ithaca: new home, public schools, college)

[Lorna_L]

This is a broad question but any replies would be sincerely appreciated.

Myself and my fiance, who grew up on family land near Cooperstown, are thinking of moving back to his land to raise our (prospective) children and make our life there. The land is about 20 minutes from Cooperstown and Cherry Valley depending on where we decide to build. I understand it's about an hour-ish from Ithaca.

So my question is this: what is life like for families w/young children? More specifically, we are quite liberal (we've both been living in Seattle for over a decade) and would want to find alternative schools in the area (like Montessori, Waldorf or similar) and are hoping to find like minded folks in their late 20s, 30s early 40s to get to know and be in community with.

We're not extreme hippies but yes our values lean in a DIY, Green, Liberal direction.

I'm from Cape Cod, MA but went to college in Western Mass (Hampshire College in Amherst) and one of our primary reasons to move back is our belief that even public schools in NY and MA are far superior to schools out west (sorry Seattle but it's true!!).

Can anyone offer any input on liberal lifestyles, schools, natural markets and so forth.

Thanks much!!

[magicklyzzard]

Hello lorna!
What a coincidence!
We seem to have SO much in common. I am also from Cape Cod. My husband and I are closing on a home in Cherry Valley area at the end of May. We are seeking to meet people with intrests like ours. We are also very liberal with similar desires as you have.
Send me an email and we can chat further!
Liz
email
magicklyzzard@yahoo.com

[o!livia]

Hey!

Not to be too "Us Too!"...but we are also moving to the Cooperstown/Cherry Valley area (in July) and are also also looking to settle in on some land and raise some good food, live lightly, and generally live locally. We also have a small child and are sending her to the montessori (there was a small waldorf school I hear, but it closed) school in town to try it out...but are keeping our public school options open. We have spent many vacation days visiting the area and looking at houses/land, and are hoping to generally find a good place there, as we have done in our current community, and in NH where we came from previously. If you have any insight you'd like to share, would love to hear it.

Cheers!

[magicklyzzard]

Hi Olivia and Lorna!
My husband and I happily moved into our new home the first of the month, and are settling in quite nicely... Everyone has been kind and welcoming here....
Email me any time at magicklyzzard@yahoo.com and we can be in touch!