Relocating from CA to NY (New York, Buffalo: high crime, neighborhoods, theater)

[Wisteria]

I haven't lived in Washington State for about 16 years, so I'm not up anymore on what's happening there. For me, it would be more advantageous to sell my home (it's much cheaper where I live in Felton/Lompico than the rest of the area), and to buy a small cottage in the west with low property taxes. I really did seriously re-check my hometown area in Western New York, but those property taxes are so awful. And I don't think I could stand another 10 months of cold, snow, rain, and overcast skies.

I think if you're young, have a great job, and are budgeting for those higher taxes in NYS, then it can work. It's an individual thing. My ex actually lives in Las Vegas, so I'm aware of prices there, too.

It really depends on your personal situation and it sounds like a lot of people seeking to go to the quaint towns in NYS are younger and have young families -- which is good if you can make it.

Oh, and there are still lots of bugs in NYS!! It's very humid there! One nice thing about the west IS the lack of bugs -- I forgot about those. Nice to not have mosquitos around here -- or at least very few, compared to the eastcoast.

If you're retiring and on a fixed income, then I'd say to look at the western states. But it sounds like most of you are still young and have better paychecks to look forward to, and are looking for a small, but safe town to raise kids in -- two of my sisters are still in Erie County, and they raised their kids there -- but they each have two incomes.

And, yeah, I agree about Washington/Seattle -- Seattle is a beautiful, cool city, but the prices are nearly the same as California now -- that's too bad. A lot of the really nice places are getting outpriced.

Good luck!

[cherianne]

What do you know about the area near Lake Ontario? Please tell me they don't have 'attack' bugs! Between the heat and the bugs, we are housebound much of the summer here 30 miles east of Kansas City. I can handle the humidity. The internet shows beautiful houses in the Lyndonville and Albion areas for much less than even in the midwest. We are aware of the high taxes. My husband spent most of his childhood summers on the Canadian side of Niagra Falls and wants to move back near there. I'm game. New York looks beautiful.

If you don't like overcast wet climates, Seattle is not the place for you. Maybe Spokane. Anywhere east of the mountains is sunny and nice. Most likely less expensive as well.

[Wisteria]

If your husband spent summers in that area (Canada is the same), then he knows -- there ARE bugs there! But it is nicer than Kansas!! Plus, there's more to do, more culture, close to Toronto (I used to ride my bike from Buffalo to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side), NYC, Montreal -- there are a lot of advantages being close to those things. If you can afford the taxes -- just remember even low cost homes will take a ton in taxes -- my sister in Lancaster, New York, said that there are often articles in the newpaper about people who come to Erie County and buy these $400,000 homes thinking what a deal they got, only to have to move away because they can't afford the taxes on top of the mortgage! (I was even surprised to hear about that.)

As for me, I'm looking back to Colorado (to me, the best climate in the country -- love that high-altitude air), 300 clear and sunny days a year (it's all an illusion about the snow -- that's only in the higher elevations -- the ski areas), snow melts often the next day (quite a shock to me who is from Buffalo!), they don't even have city plows in Denver or Boulder because they contract out when the snow stays on the ground for more than a few days!! Taxes are low, culture is good, beautiful....that's where I'm probably headed.

No, Seattle is not good for me. My daughter was born there, and I loved the city -- great city -- but I am affected by the rain. Such a shame because it is a lovely place and if it weren't for the rain, I'd be there again. Spokane -- I'm looking for a bit more culture....

But good luck to your move there. It's great fun living in a border town (Buffalo) and getting to go to Canada a lot -- and Niagara Falls (Canadian side) is gorgeous. If you can afford it, you'll have fun!

[cherianne]

My husband doesn't remember the bugs. No, Kansas nor Missouri ( aka misery) is NOT better. We moved here 3 years ago from the northwest corner of Washington hoping to find a more traditional, friendly homespun place to live. "Wavin' country" we used to call it. It didn't take long for the disappointment to set in. We can't go back to California, where we were raised. Once you cash out, it's very difficult to go back. Keep that in mind when you are considering a move. We don't want to go back to Washington. Western New York is beautiful and from what I've seen the people are truely friendly. Can't wait to learn snowmobiling!

[Wisteria]

Hi Cherianne,

Well, having been raised in Buffalo, I think I'll skip on the snowmobiling!
Definitely bugs in NYS -- where there is high humidity, so there are bugs! But, millions of people live there, so they deal with it. I never thought about bugs UNTIL I moved out west and discovered there are very few here! That was quite a surprise to me.

I understand about cashing out in CA, however, because I am nearing retirement, I don't have any choice. I cannot retire and still pay the high mortgage -- I must have a full-time job to do that. Thus, I am actually forced to move. If I could pay the mortage and still retire, I'd do that. But I can't. Therefore, that's why I'm on this board, seeing what others have to say about places -- it's really quite helpful. And I'm single, with a 16-year-old daughter, and with only one income, so I'll be leaving California. At least living here the past 11 years has really helped my Social Security to rise with the high wages here! That has been very good! I'd NEVER get paid nearly close to what I get paid here in NYS -- I know, I tried!! But, then again, I still have to leave.

NYS is nice -- I especially love New York City -- ironic how many people think New Yorkers aren't friendly, when I have found that the funniest, friendliest, most talkative people are people from New York City!! If I could afford to live there, I would.

Well, I think you'd be happier in New York State than Kansas -- New York is also a liberal state, and that is probably part of the "friendliness," the acceptance of other people and things -- lots of ethnic diversity there, too.

I hope you find your place -- and if you like snow, you'll definitely learn all kinds of snow activities there!

[looking4home]

[quote=cherianne;133847] We moved here 3 years ago from the northwest corner of Washington hoping to find a more traditional, friendly homespun place to live. "Wavin' country" we used to call it. It didn't take long for the disappointment to set in.QUOTE]
How do you know it won't be the same in NYS? Just because your husband has childhood memories doesn't mean they will be realized if you move there. I think too many people have "lifestyle fantasies" about certain cities/states/areas, and do not do adequate research before making a move.
Learn from your past mistakes, and find out exactly what the area/people are like before you uproot your family. The rootlessness of our modern culture is in part caused by people who keep moving around all the time. What if everyone did that? Then there wouldn't be anymore, quaint, homespun, "waving" communties left!
My suggestion to you is what I intend to do myself - buy or rent a vacation home and then visit as often as possible. Not just during the summer months, but also in the fall/winter (T-giving/holidays in December) and in the spring, so that we get a more complete picuture of what life and the weather is really like before we commit to a life-changing move across the country.

[cherianne]

We hope to be happy in New York. I don't think because it's a liberal state will make a difference. I have discovered for myself that everyone is about the same when it comes to friendliness....Everyone is friendly to one degree or another as long as you agree with them , conservative or liberal. It seems to be up to an individual rather than a social platform. To looking4home, we don't know if things will be different in New York...there is always hope. We have visited a few times and loved it but we are very cautious because of the disappointment here. We haven't really found this to be a wavin' communitee. The plan is to visit again in November. Sell our place here, put it all in storage and rent a furnished apartment until we know for sure. It's only my husband and myself so we are not uprooting an entire family. Where are you looking for your new home?

[winnie]

Western NY is nice. I am not sure if you are going to get a lot of waves, but that does not mean that people are not nice! Go out to the farmer markets and to ball games and you should find that people eventually open up.

[winnie]

Originally Posted by shadys210

Whats so bad about Dutchess County and Poughkeepsie? other then the City of Poughkeepsie, the Town of Poughkeepsie is a very nice place to live and plus the school district, Spackinkill Union Free School District was rated 2nd best in New York and 1st best in Dutchess County

Dutchess seems to be more expensive than most of Orange and the city of Poughkeepsee is one of the top 5 most dangerous cities in NYS.

Good schools (Spackenkill) though you are right on about that.

Quite honestly I do not care for the apt complexes there in Wappengers either. When we went to look at apts there it seemed really trashy. Up towards Red hook and Hopewell Junction is lovely, but then you have a logistical issue of getting to the train in a timely fashion..

My beef is mostly with Southern Dutchess - Beacon, Wappingers and the city of Poughkeepsee. The rest of the county seems nice. I guess I should have been more specific in my first post.

[cherianne]

Thanks Winnie, We intend to take advantage of all that western New Yoir has to offer. The farmer's markets and ball games and parks. We have found that just surface waving and smiles don't always add up to friendliness. During the time I lived on the west coast, I had a friend from New Jersey. She told me that it might take awhile for an East coaster to warm up but then they would be friends for life. That appeals to me as more honest than the surface act. I never forgot what she said.