If things are so bad in NEPA, why do people stay? (Philadelphia: mortgage, credit)

[formerdrunkenSP]

Why is it that with some folks all they see is doom and gloom in the area (glass half empty), yet they continue to live and/or work here? I was born and raised in the area, left for about 15 years after high school (VA, NY, MD, DC) and returned with my wife (also from the AREA) to raise our family. We've been going on 15 years and still enjoy all that the area has to offer. Family close by, Cost of living is way less than a lot of other areas we lived, Quality schools, Family sustaining employment and Things to do. NYC & Philadelphia just hours away if you want to go get a $25 hamburg to snap you back into reality.

So if things are as bad as people paint them, why stay?

[sues1]

Originally Posted by formerdrunkenSP

Why is it that with some folks all they see is doom and gloom in the area (glass half empty), yet they continue to live and/or work here? I was born and raised in the area, left for about 15 years after high school (VA, NY, MD, DC) and returned with my wife (also from the AREA) to raise our family. We've been going on 15 years and still enjoy all that the area has to offer. Family close by, Cost of living is way less than a lot of other areas we lived, Quality schools, Family sustaining employment and Things to do. NYC & Philadelphia just hours away if you want to go get a $25 hamburg to snap you back into reality.

So if things are as bad as people paint them, why stay?

I stay because my kids are here and they grew up here and won't go anywhere else. This area like most has a huge drug problem, there are not alot of jobs and if you are lucky enough to land one you have to worry about how long you will have it. It's not the worst place to be, but it could be better. I don't know where you see family sustaining employment, so many jobs have closed, or downsized and alot of people are not working.

[Chefkey]

I've lived in Jersey and Philly and the Valley is Da Bomb. No problems coming from me. Less crime than elsewhere despite what you think. Jobwise, there does need to be an increase but I have lobbied since I've been here that we need to entice big white collar companies to place offices here.

I plan to ask the Mayors of the area about this and keep the area growing. People are moving in droves from the New York, Jersey, Philly area to here and it will bring NEPA forward into a new day. The area will flourish and prosper. Let's all keep it upbeat and move forward.

Peace to All

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by sues1

I don't know where you see family sustaining employment, so many jobs have closed, or downsized and alot of people are not working.

That's odd. Nearly everyone in my subdivision drives a new vehicle, with most of them being of the luxury class. It's difficult to stop at a red light near Pittston without seeing a BMW or an Audi nearby. I don't know where you live where everyone is struggling to keep their heads above water, but in the midsection between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre that certainly doesn't appear to be the case. Could these people who are "not working" that you have referenced not have any marketable skills, degrees, etc.? That could be part of the problem. In this day and age I never understood why people thought merely a high school diploma "entitles" them to a high wage for the rest of their lives. If you don't either go through a vo-tech program, go to a trade school, apprentice somewhere to learn a trade, go to college, etc., then you have nobody but yourself to blame for being in an unsavory financial situation. I know Dan will chime in with one of his "you know nothing because you're a snot-nosed kid who suckles on the mother's teat" rants, but the burden lies on the potential EMPLOYEE to SELL THEMSELVES to prospective employers, not the other way around. I myself am still in college and have ALREADY had LOCAL job offers; I don't know why everyone else whines about being dirt poor. If this area's economy is truly THAT horrid, then why are the parking lots of seemingly every local restaurant and shopping center always PACKED on weekends with dozens of NEWER vehicles? Obviously if people can afford to live here and make payments on NEWER vehicles, then things aren't too bad.

[mathjak107]

i tend to think most people you see either are part timers, retires or people that have money from other things other than working for 10 bucks an hour locally .

if we werent close to early retirement we would have never considered nepa if we had to still work.


our development is very upscale but the truth is very few people work. most pulled the plug early or made a lot of money in their life and now just dont work or else just work to fill the time between weekends. people tend to lease cars too that normally they couldnt afford. i myself have a bmw because the lease deal was actually better than my nissan.

with few large corporations and industry in the area to put that competitive pressure on wages there is little incentive for even skilled jobs to pay wages that coincide with the skill. 30 years of highly technical factory automation and electrical supply skills can earn me 60 % to 70% less than what those skills are worth in a more wage competitive area.. to earn the money id need id either have to commute pretty far or just keep our nepa home a 2nd home until we are ready to pull the plug 100%

[weluvpa]

Paul the "newer" vehicles mean nothing. The average household has what close to $9,000 in credit card debt and thats not including their mortgage. Newer suv's and cars are not that hard to get. I have a few friends that have H2's and guess what they are paying for it. They don't have much left at the end of the month but they have that truck. Today's financing and dealerships make it very easy for someone to get over extended in their debt with a big new fancy car. These cars are no indication of anything other then the fact that people are able to bury themselves in debt.

Just like alot of the Mcmansions that we see in the area and thats the same around the country. The mortgage companies would put anyone in a house for many years and now we are seeing a huge increase in foreclosures around the nation.

The job market around here is poor. I'm not knocking you because your a kid this time but you'll see. A college degree is a promise of nothing in the world remember that. There are not alot of family sustaining jobs in the area Paul and just because someone did not or could not goto college doesn't mean that they don't matter. We have had this discussion before. The classifieds in the Scranton area are shrinking on a weekly basis and thats not good for any area.

[61scout80]

as one of the complainers that has left:

i was a bit uneducated on how the world actually operates. I had a cheap, crime free existence where i could walk down any street anytime and feel safe. I had a job, albeit lower paying than elsewhere. demand for my profession was moderate. after my entry level years i never had more than a 15 minute interview that ended with "when can you start".

i realize looking back that i could have got anything i wanted in town, and if there was something different it would only be a short trip to one of the surrounding big cities.

what still keeps me away is the nanny state of the Pa government. I don't want to feel like a criminal when I'm buying beer, liquor or wine. i want to modify my vehicle and drive it without harassment from the police. In Arizona i can buy beer wine and liquor at walmart and we have very lax vehicle code, and no annual inspection.

someday i will own a house in NEPA, but i don't think i could go back to year round living there.

[sues1]

Originally Posted by SWB

That's odd. Nearly everyone in my subdivision drives a new vehicle, with most of them being of the luxury class. It's difficult to stop at a red light near Pittston without seeing a BMW or an Audi nearby. I don't know where you live where everyone is struggling to keep their heads above water, but in the midsection between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre that certainly doesn't appear to be the case. Could these people who are "not working" that you have referenced not have any marketable skills, degrees, etc.? That could be part of the problem. In this day and age I never understood why people thought merely a high school diploma "entitles" them to a high wage for the rest of their lives. If you don't either go through a vo-tech program, go to a trade school, apprentice somewhere to learn a trade, go to college, etc., then you have nobody but yourself to blame for being in an unsavory financial situation. I know Dan will chime in with one of his "you know nothing because you're a snot-nosed kid who suckles on the mother's teat" rants, but the burden lies on the potential EMPLOYEE to SELL THEMSELVES to prospective employers, not the other way around. I myself am still in college and have ALREADY had LOCAL job offers; I don't know why everyone else whines about being dirt poor. If this area's economy is truly THAT horrid, then why are the parking lots of seemingly every local restaurant and shopping center always PACKED on weekends with dozens of NEWER vehicles? Obviously if people can afford to live here and make payments on NEWER vehicles, then things aren't too bad.

People are in deep credit card debt, lots of people live beyond their means, let's face it, people like to keep up with the Jones's. That could explain the cars. I do not see alot BMW's and Audi's around here. I didn't go to college, i got married after high school and started a family. I don't expect to make a fortune, but i do expect to be able to keep my job and not have it close down or downsize. I've seen plenty of companies around here do that. There are alot of people who didn't go to college and get a degree for whatever reason, they know they aren't going to make alot of money, but most places around here pay 8 to 10 an hour if you're lucky, all people want is to be able to keep their jobs. That's not to much to ask. I also went to a tech program and cannot find a job for what i went for, and if you do find one, you can count on 50 people lining up for the same job. Why is that?, i'll tell you why, the job market sucks around here. Sorry Paul, but you're still at home with mommy and daddy and have no clue how the world works yet, that's not your fault, you just havent' lived long enough yet. You'll figure it out someday, it's called life experience.

[mathjak107]

the real problem is nepa was designated forever wild and by decree can not have industry or large corporations. it kind of doomed itself to small local business, mom and pop shops and chains that dont have to pay very much.

[61scout80]

Originally Posted by sues1

it's called life experience.

someday that teaches you not to get stuck in a rut, and that success is around the corner if you work towards it. if you relinquish yourself to working for someone and not trying to further your education what you described is exactly what you will get....