A Thread For Those Who Have Left (Or Plan To Leave) Pennsylvania

[highway29south]

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

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


3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations?
We have considered North Carolina, and also applied for jobs in South Carolina

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?
I am not a native of Pittsburgh. Having no background here makes it hard to relate to everyone else who lives here, all of whom are native and have extensive family in the area. Very few outsiders move here. Also, the taxes are horrendous. The "I'm related to him so he gets the job" type of attitude is very prevalent . The town very closed off and not open to change. The pollution is very high here as well. I have small children so that worries me a lot. Pittsburgh is also located quite far from beaches, major amusement parks, etc. Forget going anywhere without adding at least 6 hours or more to your drive. There is very little history here that isn't related to a rich person like Heinz or Carnegie.

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


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


7.) Anything else you'd like to add?
I don't want to leave the impression I hate Pittsburgh. It's a great place if you can look past the bad points and especially if you are native here. I can see why the natives don't want to leave. But having grown up somewhere else, I know what is out there and I miss it very much.

[Rosefolly]

ScranBarre, you have echoed my own thoughts. I like the area around Lewisburg, as well as the town itself. Somehow I don't think it will happen, but if we did ever decide to go back, I would look there.

[Steelers115]

I live about 25 miles north of pittsburgh right now, i was born and raised in the north hills of pittsburgh.

I moved to S Carolina for a year, then moved back home.

Nowere

I left because i thought id like to try something new, and a new climate.

I would never leave PA again. I love it here, i always have and moving away just made me miss home. Theres so many things that are great about Pennsylvania, and there truly is NOWERE in the world that is like it.

[psonio7]

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

Grew up in Delaware County right outside of Philly (Media) 1979-1999.

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

I live in Denver, Colorado for the past 2 years (have lived 99-06 in Daytona Beach, FL; Orlando, FL; and Miami Beach, FL.)


3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations? NJ or mid-state PA (HBG).

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA? I left PA because I thought it was boring, closed minded, backwards state. I still kinda don't care much for Philly or the SE corner of PA. I do like the Lehigh Valley and HBG areas alot.

5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left? Looking for a job to move back to PA actually. I miss the green, 4 distinct seasons (I actually like gray rainy days), hills (ok so we have the rocky mts, but Denver is still flat, brown, and boring), etc.

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 job offer, thats it. I know what I'm getting myself into with the whole state.


7.) Anything else you'd like to add? Mothers side of the family is from Pittsburgh. Used to go back every once in a while when we were on the Philly side. Looking to move to the 'burgh as soon as I get some more job offers to choose from.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

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

Spent the first 14 years of my life in State College, then moved to Bucks County for the next 10 years

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

I live in Manchester, England

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

Don't really have any. I wouldn't mind Florida. Anywhere along the east coast, actually. I like being a few hours drive from a beach (yes, even the jersey shore) but the west coast would be too far from my family, like it is now in England.

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

My husband is English, one of us had to relocate.

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?

Anything - I'd move back in a heartbeat if I could.

[Ambo Rainbow]

Me and the family are planning a move to Mid Coast Maine.

[kpoeppel]

Originally Posted by highway29south

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

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


3.) What are your "back-up" choices for relocation destinations?
We have considered North Carolina, and also applied for jobs in South Carolina

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?
I am not a native of Pittsburgh. Having no background here makes it hard to relate to everyone else who lives here, all of whom are native and have extensive family in the area. Very few outsiders move here. Also, the taxes are horrendous. The "I'm related to him so he gets the job" type of attitude is very prevalent . The town very closed off and not open to change. The pollution is very high here as well. I have small children so that worries me a lot. Pittsburgh is also located quite far from beaches, major amusement parks, etc. Forget going anywhere without adding at least 6 hours or more to your drive. There is very little history here that isn't related to a rich person like Heinz or Carnegie.

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


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


7.) Anything else you'd like to add?
I don't want to leave the impression I hate Pittsburgh. It's a great place if you can look past the bad points and especially if you are native here. I can see why the natives don't want to leave. But having grown up somewhere else, I know what is out there and I miss it very much.

Yes, nepotism is very widespread in western PA, unfortunately. That, combined with the high taxes, holds back our economy and tends to drive people away to find employment elsewhere.

[jewels004]

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

2.) Where do you live now after leaving PA or where do you plan to move once you do leave PA?
Savannah, GA or South Carolina

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

4.) Why do you wish to leave PA or why did you leave PA?
Weather sucks, government sucks (Oct. 2 and we still don't even have a budget), bad employment opportunities

5.) What's currently holding you back from moving out if you haven't already left?
family...and waiting for husbands transfer that never seems to come

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?
No snow...or ice, or cold

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

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]

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by kpoeppel

Yes, nepotism is very widespread in western PA, unfortunately.

It's pretty danged common in the eastern part of the state as well.

*glaring at unqualified co-worker who got her job because her mom is on the board of directors, and her godmother is a corporate associate director*

It's pretty much a statewide thing; something you don't see as glaringly obvious or widely accepted in other places.