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Well, I'm just reading reply after reply after reply from very negative people in several threads who have done nothing but slam Northeastern Pennsylvania, more specifically the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro. After seeing Scranton being referred to as an "armpit," I just felt I needed to say something. Sure, our area has its fair share of faults, but where else can you be within a two-hour commute to a six-figure career in Manhattan or Philly and come home to tree-lined streets, friendly neighbors, great schools, and beautiful mountain scenery for housing prices of only $120,000, on average? I'll likely be among the growing number of NEPA-NYC commuters myself after college, and to me this area is the best of both worlds---convenience to "The City That Never Sleeps" to further my career while still being able to come home to a "sleepy" town.
If you haven't done so already, please check out some of my photo tours to see that the area is NOT an armpit unless you're a sourpuss who got nowhere in life due to your OWN lack of ambition and are now blaming your shortcomings in life on the area itself:
I may only be 20, but I feel as if I'm mature enough to see a true "diamond in the rough" of an area right here in NEPA! There's a reason why Money Magazine just ranked Scranton as having the fourth-hottest real estate market in the nation and why our county just showed growth for the first time in 2006. The secret is out---Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is a rising star in the BosWash Corridor! It's unfortunate that I'm apparently the ONLY one on this forum anymore who can see that.
Last edited by SteelCityRising; 04-24-2007 at 06:36 PM..
Reason: Fixing Broken Links
I can see the beauty in NEPA....but I've been turned off by all the negativity on this forum. I haven't felt inclined to post anything lately. My husband and I continue to be excited at the prospect of eventually living full time in NEPA. I guess one's outlook has everything to do with where you're coming from. Personally, I feel that Long Island has become an overbuilt, overpriced, overtaxed, over-everything place to live. I can't wait for the peace and quiet of rural NEPA life.
I can see the beauty in NEPA....but I've been turned off by all the negativity on this forum. I haven't felt inclined to post anything lately. My husband and I continue to be excited at the prospect of eventually living full time in NEPA. I guess one's outlook has everything to do with where you're coming from. Personally, I feel that Long Island has become an overbuilt, overpriced, overtaxed, over-everything place to live. I can't wait for the peace and quiet of rural NEPA life.
Agreed. The negativity permeating this forum lately has been SICKENING! There's so much opportunity here; will I be the only urban pioneer sticking around to see the region ripen to its fullest potential in the upcoming years? Pike, Wyoming, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties are unspoiled paradises. Lackawanna/Luzerne Counties offer historic architecture and big-city amenities while still having relatively low crime and minimal congestion. Monroe County is a commuter's paradise. I'm just not seeing why so many people abhor our area.
I would love to live in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre because of its proximity to all those big Northeastern cities. Heck even Williamsport, PA would be wonderful after 8 months in Lincoln, Nebraska.
I have to say the housing and rental costs is shocking out there because of proximity to all those big North-eastern cities. Seriously, 2 hours from major metropolitan areas with everything anyone could ever imagine, very low violent crime rates and dramatic topography and its the same housing and rental costs as crappy towns on the plains basically is just mind-boggling.
I have to say I am constantly mind-boggled how you can be so depressed being so close to where all the entertainment and arts are. Seriously, two hours away from all the world-class culture and amenities you can handle and something for everybody and yet you seem to feel so sorry for yourself.
I notice lots of commuter buses going to North-eastern cities which I think is wonderful all the affordability of the midwestern cities but so close to major cities.
I am 8 hours away from the nearest city that has anything that interests me. Your with-in 2 hours of NYC and Philly, about 4 hours from Baltimore, DC, Providence and Boston and also amazing recreational areas with great topography.
I enjoy your posts and all but it seems like your constantly going on about how everybody hates Scranton/Wilkes-Barre so much and how its so devoid of culture and how depressed you are. I mean seriously in Nebraska people would be jumping for joy if they were with-in 2 hours of the nearest decent sized grocery store and your complaining about being depressed because there is so little to do and yet your with-in just a couple of hours of many world-class cities.
Scranton seems like the best of both worlds....Beautiful scenery, very low violent crime rate, extremely affordable for the location and yet so much just 2 hours away.
I am just wondering since your in college if you moved to say Boston or NYC which are much expensive how much do you think you could enjoy all the culturally facilities and amenities they have to offer? Cant you just set-aside a day every week because your depressed and just spend the day in NYC or Philly and get that urban fix you seem to crave
I apologize if any of this seemed rude, I am just commenting on this and its only my opinion of course.
I enjoy your posts and all but it seems like your constantly going on about how everybody hates Scranton/Wilkes-Barre so much and how its so devoid of culture and how depressed you are. I mean seriously in Nebraska people would be jumping for joy if they were with-in 2 hours of the nearest grocery store and your complaining about being depressed because there is so little to do and yet your with-in just a couple of hours of many world-class cities.
I happen to think Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is an impeccable place to raise a family, settle down, and become involved in an established neighborhood. My depression stems from a sense of social disconnect related to being gay. I'm not by any means the annoying "out and proud; we're here get used to it" type, but I'm incredibly lonesome, which is why I spend so much time here on City-Data and not out and about trying to enjoy my college years. Out of a campus of 2,000+, I'm one of the only openly-GLBT people that I know. That demographic is mirrored for the entire metro area, where it's easier to find a needle in a haystack than it is to find someone my age to make a romantic connection with. I'm almost 21 and haven't been on a date in two-and-a-half years. Some of my straight friends that I graduated from high school with are getting engaged, and I'm the only one out of my large circle of friends who is single (I was literally the ELEVENTH wheel one night when five couples and myself went out for a night on the town, which made me feel horribly awkward while they all canoodled). I mean, I'm not an undesirable person by any means---my I.Q. is relatively-high, I'm in great physical shape and am attractive, I work full-time and am on track for a financially-secure future, I have lots of compassion for people, etc. Nevertheless, the only "nibbles" I've had on my dating line have been from older people (35+); I suppose I'm just too "mature" for the rest of the lot around here. If I had a shred of hope that I could find a date around here, then I'd be much less depressed. However, I'm now faced with reality---is it worth living in an area that I love if nobody will ever love me back, or is it better to move to an area I hate (NJ, NYC, Philly), in order to find my one true love? This past Valentine's Day was heartbreaking; all of the straight couples I knew were out living life to its fullest while I just toiled around at work getting yelled at by impatient people.
In short, this area is a wonderful, family-oriented area. There's just a HUGE shortage of young gay singles for such a heavily-populated metropolitan area, and that sense of feeling alone is finally starting to catch up to me. What good is a future of a promising business, Ph.D., luxury sedan, golden retriever, and Victorian home in the city if you have nobody by your side to share it with? If you're not single, then by all means come here. If you ARE single, then you're in for a rough ride to find a great mate.
I understand that its hard being GLBT in a very conservative out-fashioned social atmosphere. But is it really worth the financial sacrifices of moving to a very expensive larger city to be able to find a friend that could become a relationship in the future. For instance and this might be completely out in left field but I know that I am from a city 70 miles south of Denver which it is very difficult for alot of people to find friends but they just go to Denver one night a week enjoy it and meet new people and then come down to the land of social isolation more or less. I dont think most people need to
have large amounts of social interaction every night of the week.
When I was 18 going on 19 (2000) and living in Colorado Springs (Seems like a similar social-set up as Scranton) I absolutely hated being socially isolated but then I said I am going to go to Denver (which is very, very GLBT friendly) one night a week and go to all the social venues I could to meet people one night a week- usually on Saturday Nights. I tried to interact with as many as I could and really enjoy that one night of the week. That alleviated alot of the feelings of loneliness and I didnt feel the immediate need to move because of social isolation purposes.
But I am just wondering I am not familiar with the East-coast culture but is there any chance you could possibly pursue friends that could possibly turn into relationships in the NYC or Philly area. Any chance that you possibly try to find a social-circle in NYC and Philly if its difficult in Scranton.
People commute for jobs from where your from to larger cities, so is it realistic that to alleviate the feelings of loneliness you have that you could do the same thing commuting a bit to find friends with the same social interests and yourself at least for the time being. I dont know thats just a suggestion, but then I guess I am can be naive sometimes.
Then again being from Colorado I guess I know nothing about Eastern culture it might not be as easy to find people to social interact with on in the east-coast cities as it is in Denver.
MattDen...well said...this makes a good deal of sense.
I grew up in NEPA, lived in NYC for about 7 years after highschool, and recently moved back. I can tell you, SWB, that sure there are lots of gay people in NYC and opporunities for romance, but if you're lonely, no relationship can help you out with that. Really, a relationship can only be alive when it is between two people who are filled with life, not feeling empty of it.
Now, everyone here who follows your posts knows that you are a dynamic person with a lot of passion for life. As I see it, when the heart is open and love is pouring out freely, then the love in the world begins moving back toward that open heart. This is like a kind of spiritual law.
One of my favorite quotes is from Rilke, in 'Letters to a Young Poet':
"I would like to beg you dear Sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."
Now, having lived back in NEPA now for about 4 months, I can tell you that the beauty of this area does not compare to anything that living in NYC would provide you with--money, romance, etc. There are so many opportunities for free entertainment with the state parks and beautiful scenic drives. You know all that, I bet it's a big reason why you love the area.
After living in the W. Village for so long I got very used to having gay people around everywhere all the time. I don't mind not having the gay people around now because as I see it I am not really any more like a gay person than I am like a straight person. We are all just people and when we start living that way, it has a contagious vibration that rubs off on the people around us. Of course, I do miss living in a place where people are not threatened by progressive or different ideas. But, one thing that seems so true to me--everyone who has put up with major sh*t in their life for any reason, has a light in them that can't be put out. This universe strategically places these lights around the world so that the darkness begins to disappear. This light is so alive in you.
A friend of mine the other day, who works as a counselor, was telling me how she so often meets with gay men who seem to have given up so much of their power to the homophobic culture around them. This area needs bright, strong, young people filled with light, like yourself. Don't give up your power because of a bunch of confused sheep running around with their eyes closed!
I can see the beauty in NEPA....but I've been turned off by all the negativity on this forum. I haven't felt inclined to post anything lately. My husband and I continue to be excited at the prospect of eventually living full time in NEPA. I guess one's outlook has everything to do with where you're coming from. Personally, I feel that Long Island has become an overbuilt, overpriced, overtaxed, over-everything place to live. I can't wait for the peace and quiet of rural NEPA life.
I have to agree with you.I am from Long Island and we are moving to Selinsgrove/Lewisburg area in June.My sister lives in jim Thorpe.We couldnt be more excited!I have
not posted recently because of all the nastiness on this forum.People
who have complained about NEPA should spend some time on Long Island!
I work with the public and the unhappiness and nastiness of people would
shock an outsider.Oh well,8 weeks to go (not that im counting)
Well, I'm just reading reply after reply after reply from very negative people in several threads who have done nothing but slam Northeastern Pennsylvania, more specifically the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro. After seeing Scranton being referred to as an "armpit," I just felt I needed to say something. Sure, our area has its fair share of faults, but where else can you be within a two-hour commute to a six-figure career in Manhattan or Philly and come home to tree-lined streets, friendly neighbors, great schools, and beautiful mountain scenery for housing prices of only $120,000, on average? I'll likely be among the growing number of NEPA-NYC commuters myself after college, and to me this area is the best of both worlds---convenience to "The City That Never Sleeps" to further my career while still being able to come home to a "sleepy" town.
If you haven't done so already, please check out some of my photo tours to see that the area is NOT an armpit unless you're a sourpuss who got nowhere in life due to your OWN lack of ambition and are now blaming your shortcomings in life on the area itself:
I may only be 20, but I feel as if I'm mature enough to see a true "diamond in the rough" of an area right here in NEPA! There's a reason why Money Magazine just ranked Scranton as having the fourth-hottest real estate market in the nation and why our county just showed growth for the first time in 2006. The secret is out---Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is a rising star in the BosWash Corridor! It's unfortunate that I'm apparently the ONLY one on this forum anymore who can see that.
If you live in an area all of your life, you generally become blind to what the area has to offer. I once told a board out of pittsburgh how much I loved their city and all they could do was tell me I was wrong and it sucked. I lived in the scranton for 27 years before moving to Elmira NY for a job and I love going back. It is a wonderful area steep with tradition and history. The schools are here and there as far as quality=, but that can be said where ever you go. It was a wonderful place to live and look forward to going back.
I have to agree with you.I am from Long Island and we are moving to Selinsgrove/Lewisburg area in June.My sister lives in jim Thorpe.We couldnt be more excited!I have
not posted recently because of all the nastiness on this forum.People
who have complained about NEPA should spend some time on Long Island!
I work with the public and the unhappiness and nastiness of people would
shock an outsider.Oh well,8 weeks to go (not that im counting)
or better yet, come to Elmira NY if you want to see a city on it's way down. People just have too much time on their hands sometimes when it comes to the internet and these MBs.
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There's so much opportunity here; will I be the only urban pioneer sticking around to see the region ripen to its fullest potential in the upcoming years? Pike, Wyoming, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties are unspoiled paradises. Lackawanna/Luzerne Counties offer historic architecture and big-city amenities while still having relatively low crime and minimal congestion. Monroe County is a commuter's paradise. I'm just not seeing why so many people abhor our area. 
