A Thread For Those Who Have Left (Or Plan To Leave) Pennsylvania (Reading: houses, high school)

[jkbatca]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I was inspired by a similar thread on the Ohio forum, and I figured this might likewise be a good idea for the Pennsylvania forum.

1.) Where do you currently live in PA or where did you formerly live in PA?
Lived in Johnstown, PA

2.) Where do you live now after leaving PA or where do you plan to move once you do leave PA?
Now live in Ventura County, CA

3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations?
??? I like where I live at the moment, but would either move to Reno, NV or Colorado if I had a choice

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?
Absolutely no work for me at the time. Once I interviewed in CA, loved it and never looked back.

5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left?
I realized I only held myself back... For many years, I REALLY wanted to stay in Johnstown for my whole life, but when I finally changed my mind and got out to look at other areas, I left immediately. The point I changed my mind is when I realized I was never going to find a decent job in the Johnstown area as long as I stayed there.

6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left?
Nothing could get me back, mostly due to the weather. Sorry if I don't make friends with PA people, but all I can remember was months of grey skies and freezing rain during winter/spring. Never cold enough to accumulate enough snow for winter activities, too few decent days overall. There was NO incentive to get outside and do things because of the many days of rotten weather.

I will say the best time of the year for good weather was generally in the early fall, where skies were clear, temps were good, and fall leaves were fantastic. Too bad it couldn't stay that way

Actually, I take not returning back so a minimal extent. I would _maybe_ consider State College, as that seemed to be a great area at the time I visited. However, the weather is still a factor.

7.) Anything else you'd like to add?
When I grew up there, cities had lots and lots of activity (and steel mill pollution!). The last couple of times I visited back in PA, many of the smaller cities seem like they were abandoned!

Actually, the movies "Slap Shot" and "All the Right Moves" seem to accurately portray how it was living in Johnstown when I lived there. At least how I remembered it. Notice how much activity was going on at the time. Also notice the themes of both movies where people were desperately trying to get out!

To fill this out, simply click on "Quote," and then you can add your answers in right beneath my questions. You may wish to "bold" them or use a different text color to make them stand out more though.

My response!

[CRFTony]

1.) Where do you currently live in PA or where did you formerly live in PA?

I live in Somerset, PA and have my entire life.

2.) Where do you live now after leaving PA or where do you plan to move once you do leave PA?

I'd love to move to New England. Connecticut would be my first choice (eastern CT) but I don't think it's economically feasible with the high costs of land there. I'm mostly looking at Maine where I can get a nice chunk of land (20+ acres). I'm heading up in October to check things out.

3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations?

Well, they're all backups, I guess. But I'd consider any of Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Mass, but I don't want to live in any of the cities.

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?

I truly feel like the area I live in has no future. People are complacent at best and at worst, have just plain given up. In my business (I run a photography studio) I just can't hitch my cart to a dying town, especially one that is as backwards as this area.

5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left?

I need to save up $$$. I'd have to start my business all over again so I want to have a year+ income saved up to weather out the growing pains.

6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left?

I don't think anything would entice me to stay here. I just can't imagine living here the rest of my life.

7.) Anything else you'd like to add?

I used to love my town. It hurts me to see what it's become.

[rural lady]

1.) Where do you currently live in PA or where did you formerly live in PA?

Clearfield County and Pgh.


2.) Where do you live now after leaving PA or where do you plan to move once you do leave PA?

The Northwest-Oregon


3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations?

Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, S. Dakota


4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?

Prev left years ago, never liked the weather, rain and especially humidity, I just don't like it, this has been one horrible year with the summer weather, i rather have snow. I'll always be a norsider


5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left?

Family illness


6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left?

the only thing that would entice me would be to have the funds to have a second home in PA to visit family then leave, but I don't think I'll hit the lottery


7.) Anything else you'd like to add?

The Sales tax !!

Certain store for beer, liquor, wine, should be able to get wine and beer at grocery store. You can't return empty cans/bottles for refunds here, some states take cans at the supermarkets then in turn you get a receipt and can use this money for groceries.

EPA rules for homeowners/Realtor lies/don't sign anything when buying a home until you have the septic inspection, and get a quote for repair before you buy, check that ground is not too wet, don't believe its from rain.

To fill this out, simply click on "Quote," and then you can add your answers in right beneath my questions. You may wish to "bold" them or use a different text color to make them stand out more though.[/quote]

[rural lady]

To backtothecity.

6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left?
A neutron bomb removing the current population? (just kidding) Seriously, reduce the number of 18-wheelers, board up at least half of the churches, send the bigots (sexist, homophobic, racist, all of them) south of the mason/dixon line, and send the Amish back to Europe.


I just loved that, thanks for making me laugh today.

[rothbear]

1.) Where do you currently live in PA or where did you formerly live in PA? Armstrong County

2.) Where do you live now after leaving PA or where do you plan to move once you do leave PA? Moving to Fort Mill, SC (just about 15 miles south of Charlotte, NC.

3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations? None, we already have a house there.

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA? Snow, inconsiderate neighbors and people in general, too high taxes which support too many lifetime welfarites and legislative pork barrel projects and sports stadiums, idiot legislature that is way too big, way too overpaid, and way too arrogant and is not changing one iota no matter how many new people get elected, and non-progressive ideas and policies.

5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left? We still have to sell our house.....even though we never felt the "bubble" we are definately feeling the effects of it bursting and the loss of companies and jobs in PA. I, in fact, will be moving down by myself in September and hubby will stay here for the duration.

6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left? Not one darn thing!

7.) Anything else you'd like to add? It's just really too bad that people keep re-electing the idiots who run this state. Not one of them has any idea about fiscal responsibility and the good of all instead of just themselves or a few. Until the people rein the legislature in, cut it's size and cut it's expenditures, this state will remain the second, or third, class state that it is. The current scandals are just a tip of the iceberg of the arrogance down in Harrisburg.

[Rosefolly]

Originally Posted by jkbatca

My response!

1.) Where do you currently live in PA or where did you formerly live in PA?

Butler County

2.) Where do you live now after leaving PA or where do you plan to move once you do leave PA?

Near San Jose, CA

3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations?

We have been here almost 20 years, so it looks like we are staying. I am tempted by the PNW, but we have put roots down here now. The longer we stay, the less likely it seems that we will ever leave. My husband especially is strongly tied to this place now, and I don't want to make him unhappy.

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?

We moved for employment opportunity. I never thought I'd leave but it was one of the best changes in my life. There are problems in every part of the country (no doubt in every part of the world as well), but here I have found a rich cultural life, general respect for education and books, the sense of adventure and embracing the future, the beauty of the landscape, perhaps most of all the lack of humidity!

5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left?

We moved very quickly once the decision was made.

6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left?

I'm an avid gardener. I do sometimes fantasize about buying the perfect ten acres in central Pennsylvania on the outskirts of a storybook town and having a hobby farm in retirement, something costs would prohibit here.

7.) Anything else you'd like to add?

I do miss old friends. Inevitably distance and lack of common experiences take their toll on friendships of real value. I miss family, too, but one by one most of them have left as well. I go back regularly to visit the ones who are left.

And I miss the first snowfall of the winter, not the rest of the winter, mind you; but that perfect big-snowflakes-falling-through-the-twilight snowfall, the one that has everyone smiling as they walk home on sidewalks lit by lamplight.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Rtom45

pilot
cowboy:
My daughter just moved from Hershey to Arvada, just northwest of Denver. She gave up a high school teaching job here, and is looking for work in the Boulder - Denver area. Do you have any advice to help her out? (She and her boyfriend also wanted to see other parts of the country after having lived in PA all their lives).

I just saw this tonight. Hope I'm not too late (OTOH, it would be a good thing if your dD already found a teaching job here in CO). Anyway, if she hasn't already found work, I'd strongly advise her to look into subbing at any/all of the districts near her. A friend of mine does that and says she could work full time if she wanted to. She subs for two districts.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Rosefolly

6.) What would it take to entice you to move back to PA if you have already left or to stay if you haven't yet left?

I'm an avid gardener. I do sometimes fantasize about buying the perfect ten acres in central Pennsylvania on the outskirts of a storybook town and having a hobby farm in retirement, something costs would prohibit here.

Definitely consider the Lewisburg area for retirement.

[Rtom45]

Katiana:
Daughter took a job at the life skills center in Denver. As I understand, they take at risk students there with the goal of keeping them in school and helping them earn their high school diploma. So far she likes the work.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Rtom45

Katiana:
Daughter took a job at the life skills center in Denver. As I understand, they take at risk students there with the goal of keeping them in school and helping them earn their high school diploma. So far she likes the work.

I am glad she found a job!