Any Gays in Little Falls Area?? (Florida: best, schedule, sunny)
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Thanks April!! It's a toss up between there & NE Pa so who knows where we'll end up!!
The houses are more expensive in NE Pa, but the taxes are higher in NY. Seeing as we're looking to retire we gotta take all in consideration.
(I heard that the only folks who pay school taxes in Pa are the ones with kids in school...haven't substantiated that yet)
You have a sense of humor, I like that I've been doing pretty much the same research and I've come up with Milford, Matamoras PA (see my photo tour). Lower taxes, 2 hrs to NYC (rail or car), artsy, gay friendly, in a beautiful area near the Delaware River (gorgeous - canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, skiing in winter).
Of course most of the Hudson Valley is desirable but you might find something affordable in Beacon and above. The rail line goes directly into NYC as opposed to Milford (Port Jervis) which goes into Hoboken, NJ. I'm in Oneonta, NY temporarily till my house in Norwalk is done. Oneonta's pretty progressive with 2 colleges but I think I'm the only gay guy here! Maybe I'm just not mingling enough. Ithaca's a bit isolated for your needs but definitely more of a gay presence. CT's another option tho more expensive than PA. Look in the western parts. You know, the Toronto area is not that much colder than upstate NY. I'm considering that option too. Let us know what you decide.
if your heart wasnt set on little falls, i too would second ithaca, and its surrounding areas. Ithaca itself is pricey, but just 5-10 minutes out of the city and prices drop dramatically. i see gay couples all the time walking down the street hand in hand w/ no one even batting an eye. It's out and open here, and there are so many things to do in the surrounding areas. Breathtaking hikes along gorges and forest trails...fishing, boating, hunting (if thats your thing), pretty much INFINITE outdoor things you can do.
and as far as being close to the city..my wife and i drive down to brooklyn, ny to see her best friend at least once a month, and its not a bad trip at all...until nyc, the highways are wide and open w/ little traffic, and it takes us 5 hours. We love VISITING the city, but we love LIVING in the country :P
In PA everyone pays property taxes towards the schools, regardless of as to whether or not you have children enrolled in the school district. Some of the school taxes can be pretty hefty as well. My particular municipality doesn't have town real estate taxes because it has enough mercantile tax revenues to offset residential taxes, but our tax bill annually is still well over $3,000 thanks by and large to the school district. The gaming revenue from the new casinos was supposed to offer property tax relief, but now I've discovered it will primarily be going towards senior citizens (these people get EVERYTHING handed to them here in PA! No wonder we have the 2nd highest concentration of seniors in the nation!)
By the way, you'd be surprised just how many closeted GLBT folks live in Upstate NY and PA. I once thought I was all alone as a gay male here in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, but now it seems like every other person I bump into is either a gay or lesbian. Several new upcoming business ventures are being pioneered by LGBT couples as well. I'm sure the same can be said for Upstate NY. We're just "silenced."
A little off topic Jungle George but, regardless of where you relocate to, you need to visit Montreal. Very open minded and beautiful city with a great gay scene. The next best thing to being in Europe.
Hi george-
If you're considering upstate NY, please note that Syracuse has a very active LGBT community: Stonewall group, SAGE, and others... and infact the Onondaga County Schools recently announced that health insurance would be provided for partners and alterantive family members. That says a little about the community-- In some aspects, they do practice what they preach.
HOWEVER, as I've mentioned in another post, some of the people in the rural, further away areas near Syracuse are...shall we say... not particuarly open minded. You may want to steer clear of the farming communities. Lots of Confederate flags and gun-totin' good ole boys. I've even seen a pickup plastered with an anti-NAACP and anti-ACLU set of bumper stickers. the "ists" can be quite vocal around here.
The University has a very vocal, very well orgainized LGBT community. There are numerous groups that are active in everything from the poltical to the social. All in all, 'Cuse is an LGBT friendly community--sadly, I cannot say this for the reception that I've seen given to members of the African American community. Syracuse is NOT perfect, and still has a lot of things that need changing.
Pick a community with low crime, and high educational levels. The best in the area seem to be to the South, about 30 to 45 minutes away. If you pick a community to the North of the city, the terrain becomes very flat and the snow fall is A LOT worse (in Manlius they'll ge 6 inches, while to the North there will be over a foot--that's the comparison aspect!)
WOW!!! I can't believe the replies are still coming for almost a year now!! THANKS everyone for all your comments!!
At least for now, it looks like we are going to remain in Florida. We've been weighing the "pros & cons" of both worlds & have been surprised by 2 things this year...
1) Our house insurance went down over $1000.00!! This being a major concern down here it was almost a "Christmas morning" of a gift!!
2) Our taxes also actually went down!!! I did some figuring & approximating & came to the conclusion that NY AND Pa taxes are mainly STILL more than here, especially for what you get for them!! Also we have a "cap" on how much they can be raised each year, so for us it works out to about $100.00 a year max IF they are raised. I checked out the STAR program in NY & it doesn't come close (especially starting out with a "new purchase" tax assessment).
Also, this has been a traumatic year for me...I took care of my mom (she was bedridden & dying of cancer) for 2+ years & she died this March. I think the emotional & physical strain of going through it all got to me. It made me think about the past (growing up in Manhattan & living upstate NY) & kind of "romanticised" living up north.
When we flew to upstate NY to bury her, more of a "realistic" impression hit me...it was cold, damp, still brown & grey, the houses looked "old & rundown" in comparison to here & basically I was miserable. Since her death was more of a "relief" after all the suffering & an "expected" thing, I do not think the burial itself influenced it, it was just that, after a week, I missed the warmth & sunshine &, as we were starting to land flying back, when I saw the turquoise water & the green trees & flowers I found myself thinking..."thank God I'm home"!!
This really surprised me & made me realize just how lucky I am & how much I DO love Florida!!
Also my partner now needs a major operation due to a disease (genetic, from a fertility drug his mom took in the 60's) that makes his body "eat" it's own calcium...he's had 7 back fusions already as his vertebrae crumble & now the S.I. joint needs fusing, so the thought of him in the cold & damp weather (especially with the arthritis set in from all the fusions) also makes a northward move not so "glamorous"...
So it looks like we'll still be Floridians for now...(actually, not such a bad thing in retrospect...)
As much as I miss certain things ( snow falling Xmas Eve, pumpkins in fallen leaves, hiking on an actual mountain), we have friends in upstate NY who come down here when they're sick of the cold & where we go when we're sick of the summer heat. So I guess we've actually got the best of BOTH worlds!! Also, a person NEVER realizes how many "friends & relatives" one has til they have a guest room in Florida!!! ("you're my long-lost 6th cousin from WHICH side????")
So thank you ALL for all the help & replies during this "possible-relocation" period, & I wish ALL of you a VERY Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!!!
My condolences on the loss of your mother. Enjoy Florida! We are having a "January thaw" in Upstate NY today - but it won't last long. Husband and I are heading to FL next week - hope to stay until May (when the sun comes out again up here). You are wise to realize that the "grass is not always greener". Best wishes to you and to your partner.
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Where did you decide on?
