LI to PA any regrets (Bethlehem, Whitehall: 2010, camping, wages)

[okaydorothy]

oh my gosh, are you telling me that people move up to NEPA full time without ever setting foot in the place. How crazy is that.

I love the natural beauty of NEPA. Love the stone walls(reminds me of Ireland), love the slow slow pace (again, reminds me of home), love the fact that my kids can bike ride within the developement and feel safe, love the fact that when we light the fire outside, we can actually see the stars clearly, hear the animals in the woods beside us, love the fact that when we eat out, we are not rushed.

My 9 year old son cries when we have to go back to reality (which sucks). There is a very strong possibility that we will be here full time for high school. That is only 4 years away.

d

[greentown]

Originally Posted by okaydorothy

oh my gosh, are you telling me that people move up to NEPA full time without ever setting foot in the place. How crazy is that.

I love the natural beauty of NEPA. Love the stone walls(reminds me of Ireland), love the slow slow pace (again, reminds me of home), love the fact that my kids can bike ride within the developement and feel safe, love the fact that when we light the fire outside, we can actually see the stars clearly, hear the animals in the woods beside us, love the fact that when we eat out, we are not rushed.

My 9 year old son cries when we have to go back to reality (which sucks). There is a very strong possibility that we will be here full time for high school. That is only 4 years away.

d

Cool, our sons would be in the same class!

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

[quote=okaydorothy;8705053]oh my gosh, are you telling me that people move up to NEPA full time without ever setting foot in the place. How crazy is that.

I love the natural beauty of NEPA. Love the stone walls(reminds me of Ireland), love the slow slow pace (again, reminds me of home), love the fact that my kids can bike ride within the developement and feel safe, love the fact that when we light the fire outside, we can actually see the stars clearly, hear the animals in the woods beside us, love the fact that when we eat out, we are not rushed.

My 9 year old son cries when we have to go back to reality (which sucks). There is a very strong possibility that we will be here full time for high school. That is only 4 years away.

Dorthothy,

You will be up here sooner and we will be neighbors and somehow laughing at these times of wishing.

[sci]

I plan on driving around looking at property and asking questions before we settle on an area. We don't plan on renting. Always have been the type to look, make a deciesion, and jump in with both feet. Not the type of person that waits and waits. Remember waiting and failing to make a deciesion is still a deciesion.
I don't believe in moving into an area and trying to change the area. Unfortunantly though everything changes. When change does come you can try to resist it or change with it or move. Moving is what I plan on doing here. I have lived in this house 19 years, and grew up a mile and half away. This area has changed and I don't think its for the better but I do think that the majority here accept the change as progress. Should I try to stop the changes if this is what the majority wants?
Hope to be able to purchase enough land that would limit effects of changes on me. Looking for about 20 acres so that I could atleast stay home and do as I want. Hope to be in an area that neighbors also have a decent size of property so that when the changes finally start the will be slow. I hope I hope I hope....

[LIMAMA4]

Huh????

[dogsneedgrrrs]

Originally Posted by ecam222

Hi. I'm an ex-Long Islander, but I've been away from there for years. I'm needing to sell my PA house, because I can't even afford to live here anymore. My son is moving out and I can't carry it alone. It's only two bedroom, two bath, but built in 2005 and over 1500 sq. feet, on almost an acre, right on the Westfall/Matamoras border...near Pricechopper.

I would love to rent your house!
Matamoras just seems like the best area for me!

My daughter and I are from Westchester County and we're thinking about moving to PA. Its just impossible to find an affordable, SAFE, decent space, apartment up here.

My daugther was born and raised here and she can't imagine living elsewhere but we just might have to.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by sci

I currently live on Long Island and have started to look in Pa for a home. Hope to buy within the next year and move there full time in about 5 to 7 years. Will use the house as a getaway place till then. I have to get out of here, the taxes, the congestion,the rude people, are killing me.
Reading posts here, it seems alot of people are from Long Island. I would like to here of the negatives that people have of the move. Has anybody thought it was so bad they moved back? Has anybody decided after moving that they made a bad decision?
Not trying to be a negative person but would like to hear the "other side of the story" from people. Hopefully learning something from there regrets.
Thanks

Hi,

Well.I moved here to Carbon County from NY (Long Island) in October. I had to get out too.. Taxes.. etc. RIDICULOUS.

I made a GREAT decision!! I LOVE it here. PM me and I'll tell you exactly what town I live in and what's so great about it. It's near Jim Thorpe (go to www.jimthorpe.org). Jim Thorpe is considered a Pocono type place. BUT this is NOT the poconos . STAY AWAY from living in MONROE county , the poconos. (STroudsberg etc.). I learned that from these boards.

I'm like 20 minutes from Whitehall/Allentown/Bethlehem area. There is so much here and plenty to do outdoors and in. Jim Thorpe is ADORABLE with many great shops /restaurants. This area is also great because there is so much possibility (business wise) because it's growing . The Walmart is going to become Lowes and a new super Walmart is going to be built nearby. Drive in Movie theaters in the summer are here (they don't exist on LI anymore). and are fun!

You get so much house for your money (and land here too). It's really a great place. I couldn't be happier and only wished I would have done it sooner. I have met a lot of NY, NJ transplants here. It's like a little secret that you stumble upon (how great it is to live here).. because it's not like a mass flock o NY'rs are coming.. but a few do find it. Like a gem!

BTW.. my car insurance is less by like 50%! AND NYC is only 2 hours away! Not bad.

The nearest REAL airport (meaning major hub) is Newark or Philly.. both about 1 1/2 hours away. You can go to Lehigh Valley Airport but it's small and takes you longer to get to some places if you use that airport. That is the ONLY downside and not much of one to be honest with you.

I love it here. My ONLY regret is not having come here sooner!!!

Good luck. PM me if you'd like! I'll tellyou the exact town.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

I moved here 15 years ago from LI with my husband and 2 children, ages 2 and 6. I was continually surprised at the many advantage that were pesented to us by moving here...way beyond my expectations. Things that you take for granted. Like driving to work and only having to go through 1 traffic light on the way...no traffic, no one honking their horns, passing pastures with cows, beautiful scenery, deer.....the scenery is gorgeous...I never take it for granted. People are soooooo much nicer here, much more friendly and polite. I could go on and on but I'll keep it short......

You won't regret the move and you'll kick yourself for not having done it sooner.....Life is to Be lived!

Amen to that!! I love it here too.. and I so appreciate all the same things you do!! It's awesome

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by sci

Thanks to everybody for their replys.
I am looking forward to getting out of LI but my wife is the hesitant one. It harder for some people to look forward in their lives and leave the things the know. I am more of an outgoing talk to anybody type with ideas and a constant look to the future.
I see that my future on Long Island is not looking good. Just recieved my updated statement from the bank, my monthly payment is going up by 84 dollars starting June first due to my taxes increasing. A reciession/ depression and my property taxes still increase. I am self employed, doing home improvements and my pay has actually decreased. Just see the writting on the wall that I can no longer afford to live here.
I am trying slowly to get my wife more excited about looking in PA . I want her to hear everyone elses opionion not just her crazy husbands. I think she is starting to see that we would have a much nicer life in PA. Offered her a new house of her stlye/design with alot of yard set far back off the road. Opposite of what we have here 50x100 with the house set only a few feet off the sidewalk. She says yeah yeah yeah and rolls her eyes. I guess I need to work on her more.

I was the hesitant one. LI was ALL I knew and all I thought I would EVER know as far as living. My husband is from the Czech Republic originally.. BUT.. after the stress got to be too much I couldn't leave NY fast enough.. like I said.. wish I would have done it 4 years ago..

BTW.. we are also both very self employed.. but there is os much opportunity here.. see a need fill a need type thing. People are so much nicer and friendlier here.

Just let your wife know that another die hard long Islander who thought she would never leave wishes she would have left a lot sooner!

[Misterg88]

Originally Posted by sci

I currently live on Long Island and have started to look in Pa for a home. Hope to buy within the next year and move there full time in about 5 to 7 years. Will use the house as a getaway place till then. I have to get out of here, the taxes, the congestion,the rude people, are killing me.
Reading posts here, it seems alot of people are from Long Island. I would like to here of the negatives that people have of the move. Has anybody thought it was so bad they moved back? Has anybody decided after moving that they made a bad decision?
Not trying to be a negative person but would like to hear the "other side of the story" from people. Hopefully learning something from there regrets.
Thanks

My wife and i spent 4 years looking for a vacation home/property in the poconos. we have been visiting Pa for over 25 years and love the poconos. we finally bought a property in Big Bass Lake community. Its really wonderful. we have researched almost every community in the poconos over 4 years. We built a beautiful year round house 1900 sq ft 3 br 2 1/2 baths all the amenities. It rivals our home in Long Island. We love the trips there about every other weekend we spend 3 days! there are so many good amenities and activities there.
The BIG problem is that my wife believes its too rural or isolated. Shes a city girl and if theres no mall withing a 5 min drive she's devastated. She also doesnt like to have to drive 25 minutes to the nearest and only supermarket. Another big worry is that there is no nearby Hospital in case of an emergency.
So although i can get her there knowing she can and will be "Home " to Long Island. i dont think there will ever be a permanent life there for us. But if you both like it go for it! what i do suggest is that you take a long term rental before buying. that way you can evaluate the community and also the life there without a large initial commitment.
Dan
Misterg88@hotmail.com e mail me if you have any questions>