Could NY be for me? (New York, Buffalo: crime, good schools, college)

[tewhann]

Hi.

I currently live in Richmond, VA and am looking for a change of pace (I am SO sick of HOT, HOT and humid summers where you drink rather than breathe the air). I'm 35, single, and in commercial lending.

What cities would suit a mid-30s single. I'm not into the bar scene at all, nor am I religious. I'd be looking for outdoor activities and things like that.

Also, I wonder what banking jobs are like. I've heard not so great things about the NYS economy.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated

[homeward bound]

Ithaca immediately comes to mind.

Cornell and Ithaca College are there, and its economy is quite good, esp. for something like banking. Many high-tech start-ups up there, housing market remains pretty good, a good % of well-off students spending money freely, so a lot of banking action.

Lots of culture & nightlife of the restaurant/coffee shop/music concerts/tavern sort, ethnic variety (for a non-big-city place), real good food choices, with terrific natural beauty just outside of town: waterfalls, hiking, sailing/boating, biking, fishing, state parks, winter sports (assuming another winter actually ever occurs!), etc. You'd be right on a gorgeous Finger Lake.

Lots of housing choices, though housing can be pretty pricey there since it's a mecca of sorts.

Lots of younger people--yes, I consider mid-30s "younger"!--about your age, since Cornell has big graduate study programs, research programs, a big faculty, etc. A lot of Cornell grads return to settle there, too; many of them are in their 30's or early 40's. You'll like its scale, I think. Very much small town America + college town, with a lot of nice little towns around it, beautiful farm land, close enough east/west & north/south major highways.

If you're not familiar with NY state generally, you'll be impressed by how traditional it is throughout most of the state (excluding the suburban sprawl areas), in the best ways. Easily as much history as Virginia has--though you'll have to get used to the Civil War Soldier being a *Union* soldier and looking *north*, which, as a transplanted Yankee, I still find myself expecting after 23 years in Virginia. Good schools, gov't. services--but higher taxes, too.

And since you live in Richmond, you'll be able to navigate the cities that have crime problems. In fact, only certain parts of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany are as plagued as Richmond is by violence and decay. (NYC, of course, is a world unto itself.) I'd say Richmond is an overall more dangerous and run-down city than these (though Buffalo is really staggering).

I lived 12 years in Charlottesville and my wife lived in Arlington; my brother lives outside of Baltimore. So I know what you mean about choking humidity. Ithaca, and most of NY state, can get humid, but it'll be nothing like Richmond, DC, Balt., etc. And it generally doesn't last long, since, in a normal summer, cooler air from Canada sweeps in and after a day or two of rain, things dry out and cool off. You'll often have a breeze, too--I know that Richmond, etc., can get deadly still when that humidity squats upon you for weeks on end. You'll laugh when NYers will start complaining that it's too humid. Especially since, unlike Richmond, in Ithaca you'd have many great places to swim. With other Finger Lakes, two Great Lakes, and the Adirondack Mountains pretty close by.

Good luck!

[Rachael84]

As far as humidity goes, upstate tends to have less humidity. I spent a couple years upstate and it didn't seem nearly as humid as it was on Long Island (or in NYC).

[tewhann]

Thanks for the replies!! This is very encouraging. I've been thinking about CO, but I'm not sure I want to move more than half way across the country!

[bemn]

Homeward bound,.....how did you find adjusting to living in the NY area after living in Virginia so long?? We are contemplating a move from Northern Va. My husband , 47, grew up in the area and has lived here his entire life. I also am a Virginian from birth...currently 44....he's reticent about moving, .....he'll be working in NYC and area as he has clients which means he'll be in different areas at times.....we're looking into Westchester, Fairfield County and parts of NJ......would love to hear about your experiences!!!!!!

[Atlantis]

If you choose Buffalo, there are many opportunities for someone with a career in banking, mostly at HSBC and M&T. They're 2 of the main employers here.

You would have a good chance of working in unattractive, decaying downtown Buffalo if you worked for one of those companies. The M&T Center and HSBC Tower are attractive buildings inside and out, but when you look out your window or go outside it's not an attractive area. However, during the summer on your lunch break you could check out the Farmer's Market on Main St. or the outdoor concerts at the M&T Plaza.

Of course HSBC and M&T have other office buildings in Erie County (far away from downtown) where you might work.

There are not a lot of possibilities for outdoor activities in the area. Certainly not as many as you would find in CA, CO, or AZ. For skiing you can go to Kissing Bridge or Holiday Valley. There are the local parks with paths where you can ride your bike, jog, or rollerblade.

[homeward bound]

Hi, Bemn.

Sorry if I misled you, but I'm from New York (upstate), and moved to Virginia in 1984. It's back to upstate New York that we'll be headed ASAP.

Others on this forum know a lot more than I do about the NYC area and have often posted views and advice about it. Check out earlier pages.

However, I'm originally from New Jersey moved when I was 8), and have a lot of family from and still in the NYC area. And I know what the Northern Va. suburbs are like.

So I don't think you'll feel too much out of water in the NYC metro region. Northern Virginia is so packed full of suburban sprawl that it's become a lot like Westchester County and many parts of New Jersey. You'll find very similar pros and cons around the NYC area that you're used to already.

Despite the frequent jokes, New Jersey does have a lot of lovely areas. Its southern beaches are very nice, and its got some nice mountains/hilly areas to the west and north. Cape May is as lovely as any coastal town anywhere (though pricey).

If you like good food, then you're going to the right place.

If I had to move to NYC and didn't want to live within the city itself, I'd live as far away from it as mass transit into the city would allow. That's going to be a big difference from Nothern Virginia: the NYC area has extensive mass transit. Taking a train into the city to work or wander is vastly better than trying to drive.

And don't believe the horror stories of NYC'ers and NYC metro area people all being rude or abusive. Sure, some are, but most are just blunt. Good manners there is getting to the point so you don't waste your or another's time.

But if you've got a Southern accent, you will be a bit of a novelty around there!

Wish I could be more helpful. I'm sure others will chime in.

Best of luck!

[NYTom]

35, single and in banking.

First place that comes to mind is NYC. Financial capital of the world. I really doubt you'll have a problem finding work. Being single and living in the city sounds like heaven to me.

[lisamm]

Originally Posted by tewhann

Hi.

I currently live in Richmond, VA and am looking for a change of pace (I am SO sick of HOT, HOT and humid summers where you drink rather than breathe the air). I'm 35, single, and in commercial lending.

What cities would suit a mid-30s single. I'm not into the bar scene at all, nor am I religious. I'd be looking for outdoor activities and things like that.

Also, I wonder what banking jobs are like. I've heard not so great things about the NYS economy.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated

Well i was born and raised in NY, i love it and wouldn't move. I live in Brooklyn, NY. Its great for a single person. Lots to do and the city never sleeps. It's very expensive though. If the city is to expensive then think about Staten Island, Jersey or upstate NY but not Buffalo, oh no that might not be for you and it's to far from the city. There are other places upstate you can live in that are also not far from the city life, like whiteplains, newburg, ny, it's orange county. It's affordable and it's only less that an hour to NYC. Well Good Luck.