Is there a Philly/NYC Transplant Dividing Line in Poconos (Philadelphia: home, school)

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by fisheye

It is a deterrent if one would plan to visit or commute to work. If somebody has no ties and doesn't care if they ever go back; then that would be different. Moving is a personal decision.

You have to do your homework and you have to try to figure your future needs - otherwise you will be unhappy and could lose a lot of time and money.

By the way; are you pretty content where you live? Just asking.

I’m grateful to not do the commute every day, simply fighting Jersey traffic in he evening rush is soul killing.

I love everything about where we live. My community is a bit secluded with amazing natural beauty but there’s nothing that’s “too far” from my perspective. I don’t mind a 20 mile trip to food shop or driving 45 minutes to shop at a mall. PA “traffic” is noting in comparison to NYC. Long as I’m moving, I’m good.

ETA: I was very sorry to read of your wife’s passing. My thoughts are with you and your son.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

I’m grateful to not do the commute every day, simply fighting Jersey traffic in he evening rush is soul killing.

I love everything about where we live. My community is a bit secluded with amazing natural beauty but there’s nothing that’s “too far” from my perspective. I don’t mind a 20 mile trip to food shop or driving 45 minutes to shop at a mall. PA “traffic” is noting in comparison to NYC. Long as I’m moving, I’m good.

ETA: I was very sorry to read of your wife’s passing. My thoughts are with you and your son.

First; thank you!

When you do commute; how many hours do you typically spend on the road? In your community do you find more transplants from Philadelphia than from NYC? It isn't very far to jump on the Turnpike from where you're located. Also; is there an end in sight where you will retire or where you will work from your home?

I am glad you like your home; sorry that you have such a long commute! That is why we chose Swiftwater because we wanted to be close to everything. After spending 100,000 miles a year in a big truck I really enjoyed a five minute ride to work.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by fisheye

First; thank you!

When you do commute; how many hours do you typically spend on the road? In your community do you find more transplants from Philadelphia than from NYC? It isn't very far to jump on the Turnpike from where you're located. Also; is there an end in sight where you will retire or where you will work from your home?

I am glad you like your home; sorry that you have such a long commute! That is why we chose Swiftwater because we wanted to be close to everything. After spending 100,000 miles a year in a big truck I really enjoyed a five minute ride to work.

Interestingly, we have a varied mix of NYC, NJ and folks from Philly in my community. People my age who are raising a young family and work in the LV or down towards Philadelphia or retirees from NY/NJ. Basically, everyone in our development is from somewhere besides the Poconos.

As a union member I'm pretty close to my 20 for a full pension. Honestly, I'm on the fence about how fast I'll be looking to leave once I hit it. I'm not opposed to working in LV or Philadelphia and doing the daily commute. Even taking a good 1/3 or more cut in pay is not a big deal. But all my fringe benefits make it hard to walk away. For example, my medical, dental, vision and prescription is 100% employer funded. I also have no copays or other out of pocket costs as long as I stay in the network. I've not had a problem finding providers out by me as the insurance switches to an Aetna plan once you leave the 5 boros. Looking at some potential employers, like ESU (I'm in the admin side of academia), the pay isn't horrid but the insurance costs are crazy.



When we first moved out there, almost 6 years ago, I did 5 days a week. About a year into it, I started spending a night or two at my parents'. Then my job adjusted me to onsite 3 days weekly with 3 Fridays of the month off. My role has changed and I'm back to 5 days a week onsite since April. I've gone back to going home 2x a week sometimes 3 in the summer.


Normally, I get on the road by 4:45a-5 and am at my desk between 7:30-9a depending on the traffic conditions, if I stopped for gas or potty, etc. Usually, it's 8:30ish on an average day. Some days I acutally need to be at work by 6 which means I get on the road around 3:15. I can't chance being late for an early start.


Coming home, I'm out 5-6p most days. It's about 45 minutes from my job to the GWB via the Cross Bronx. Then depending on Jersey, I'm usually home in about 3-3 1/2 hours. Some days a bit more, usually because I'll need a potty break. It's a grand total of 124 miles each way.



We looked at many homes in Monroe. Often, the ones we really liked had outrageous tax bills attached. Those that had lower taxes, we didn't like the particular areas. We were actually ok with the higher tax bills, within reason of course. We just felt that compared to the lower taxes and much bigger lots in Carbon the savings between house and taxes was worth it to have that much more space. We also bought the lots on either side of us to ensure we won't have neighbors too, too close.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

Interestingly, we have a varied mix of NYC, NJ and folks from Philly in my community. People my age who are raising a young family and work in the LV or down towards Philadelphia or retirees from NY/NJ. Basically, everyone in our development is from somewhere besides the Poconos.

As a union member I'm pretty close to my 20 for a full pension. Honestly, I'm on the fence about how fast I'll be looking to leave once I hit it. I'm not opposed to working in LV or Philadelphia and doing the daily commute. Even taking a good 1/3 or more cut in pay is not a big deal. But all my fringe benefits make it hard to walk away. For example, my medical, dental, vision and prescription is 100% employer funded. I also have no copays or other out of pocket costs as long as I stay in the network. I've not had a problem finding providers out by me as the insurance switches to an Aetna plan once you leave the 5 boros. Looking at some potential employers, like ESU (I'm in the admin side of academia), the pay isn't horrid but the insurance costs are crazy.



When we first moved out there, almost 6 years ago, I did 5 days a week. About a year into it, I started spending a night or two at my parents'. Then my job adjusted me to onsite 3 days weekly with 3 Fridays of the month off. My role has changed and I'm back to 5 days a week onsite since April. I've gone back to going home 2x a week sometimes 3 in the summer.


Normally, I get on the road by 4:45a-5 and am at my desk between 7:30-9a depending on the traffic conditions, if I stopped for gas or potty, etc. Usually, it's 8:30ish on an average day. Some days I acutally need to be at work by 6 which means I get on the road around 3:15. I can't chance being late for an early start.


Coming home, I'm out 5-6p most days. It's about 45 minutes from my job to the GWB via the Cross Bronx. Then depending on Jersey, I'm usually home in about 3-3 1/2 hours. Some days a bit more, usually because I'll need a potty break. It's a grand total of 124 miles each way.



We looked at many homes in Monroe. Often, the ones we really liked had outrageous tax bills attached. Those that had lower taxes, we didn't like the particular areas. We were actually ok with the higher tax bills, within reason of course. We just felt that compared to the lower taxes and much bigger lots in Carbon the savings between house and taxes was worth it to have that much more space. We also bought the lots on either side of us to ensure we won't have neighbors too, too close.

I presume that you are not close to Medicare? We on Medicare with the Geisinger Gold Advantage plan and almost all our bills have been paid. Dental is the one exception and that can cost big bucks.

When I retired from the Teamsters; I kept their insurance until I hit 65. But that was expensive at about $900/month (if I remember correctly). For the last eight years I have worked a job close to our house that paid about $35K to $40/ year and that more than made up for the insurance premiums.

We all have to do what we have to do. You have a nice house and you don't want to fall behind on the payments and you want to maintain what you have. So, if you have to work, you work.

That is still one heck of a commute! I hope, at some time in the future, that you don't have to drive that far. That adds up to over 60,000 miles/year without time off and that can really hurt a car's value. Plus it takes money to drive that far with tolls and standard maintenance.

Have a great day!

[charmed hour]

I’m in my early 40s so many years (knock wood) to Medicare. My union provides the insurance free until 65 after retirement and then free as the hole fillers for Medicare. All you need is that 20 without being a current union member. (My dad is retired with the same union). Honestly, the insurance now and then is my big reason for sticking it out right now.

We’re in the position where the house will be paid off in a couple of years so a pay cut is not a huge deal at that point either

My fiancé is a Teamster. He transferred from NYC to a local near Philadelphia. The pay cut was literally close to 75%!

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by fisheye

I do have a retired neighbor that is originally form Philadelphia and there are others in our area; but most transplants I meet are from NYC.

Possibly because there are a lot more people deciding to escape NYC.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

I’m in my early 40s so many years (knock wood) to Medicare. My union provides the insurance free until 65 after retirement and then free as the hole fillers for Medicare. All you need is that 20 without being a current union member. (My dad is retired with the same union). Honestly, the insurance now and then is my big reason for sticking it out right now.

We’re in the position where the house will be paid off in a couple of years so a pay cut is not a huge deal at that point either

My fiancé is a Teamster. He transferred from NYC to a local near Philadelphia. The pay cut was literally close to 75%!

How did they hit your fiancé so hard? Is he a driver, yard worker, dock worker or something else? I took a little hit when CF closed and I went to Roadway (which was then bought by Yellow). But it wasn't anything we could not deal with. I presume that he also needs many more years before he can retire? It is hard for me to think how I could possibly accept a 75% pay cut! I drove many trips to terminals inside Brooklyn and I always thought they were making the same money I was!

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Possibly because there are a lot more people deciding to escape NYC.

Its hard to say? Maybe our Vacation Bureau has more information? Sometimes there are many that ask about moving. Of course it is one thing to ask and another thing to move.

PS I thought it over a little. Our roads might slow down the flow? Until we get six lanes through our County and tied into NJ's six lanes of I-80; we might discourage more from coming. At some point the traffic gets too bad and it takes too long to make the trip worth the move.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by fisheye

How did they hit your fiancé so hard? Is he a driver, yard worker, dock worker or something else? I took a little hit when CF closed and I went to Roadway (which was then bought by Yellow). But it wasn't anything we could not deal with. I presume that he also needs many more years before he can retire? It is hard for me to think how I could possibly accept a 75% pay cut! I drove many trips to terminals inside Brooklyn and I always thought they were making the same money I was!

He’s a driver/laborer for underground utilities. Different contracts and totally different pay scale for the same positions.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

He’s a driver/laborer for underground utilities. Different contracts and totally different pay scale for the same positions.

So they basically started him off at the bottom again? That hurts!

By the way, when you drive up towards the Pocono Raceway on the right, there is a large area filled with pipe to be installed someplace under the ground. I presume that it will be for gas or oil? That would not be something he does but closer to home? Just asking; I am always looking for opportunities in my community.