Fell in love with Pa (Pittsburgh, Erie: buying, camp, taxes)

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by bethany12

Maybe you should stick with the weather forecasts of YOUR COUNTRY.

My country is the USA. I'm from MI - just north of you.

Sorry, if you took it personal. I apologize. There was just so much misinformation in your post - i.e. total darkness for 9 months and worse weather in the U.S. So maybe I overreacted with the 'dark cloud' comment.

I apologize. But honestly, if you look at sunlight maps, you'll see worse areas in the U.S. for sunlight in the winter (AK, OR, WA). Plus NWPA is not unique in it's region, is just part of a much larger overall region with similar weather - and myself coming from MI, the winter is actually slightly better in NWPA on both the sunlight issue and cold weather as well.

Call me crazy, but I happen to like your home state of Pennsylvania. I have been there before, and intend to make another visit real soon. Hooray for Pennsylvania!

[Krisps]

Here in Erie, it was sunny all day yesterday, sunny all day Thursday, sunny last Saturday, and for the prior weekend to that it was sunny both Saturday and Sunday. Maybe we are in the 3-month sunny period?

Seriously, Tiger is right. Bethany's post is an extreme exaggeration. But actually people in Erie often joke that there is only 3 months of nice weather. In reality, it's kind of an internal self-pity joke. I guess some take it literally. I travel quite a bit and people just about everywhere joke about their local weather in a negative way. In the winter, I'd say every 1 out of 3 or 4 days has some sun like it has been the past few weeks. The gray, dreary day is the most common but sure as heck isn't the daily occurrence for 9 months (jeez that's insane). Sometimes you might go a couple weeks without sun, those are the bad times, but that's not the norm. And actually in the winter you will find the most intensely blue skies, in January and Feb. I love those crisp 5-25 degree sunny days with lots of snow on the ground and trees. In the summers, it's mostly very mild, sometimes it gets sticky but for the most part, for me anyway, very comfortable. And cool nights I think is a plus. Not all of us buy into the image of good weather consisting of monotonous 80+ degree sunny days. We all have our own definitions of good weather.

[PA-native71]

Originally Posted by 76sunshine

My family went to PA for our spring vacation. My husband has wated to move there ever since I have k nown him. He has alot of family there, being a lifetime Florida girl, I was sure I would absolutly hate it/1 LOL Well, I fell in love. I love everything about it, at least the things we come in contact with the 10 days we were there. We stayed with family in Waterford, also in Union City and Cory. Being from the Orlando area my whole life, it was such a drastic change of pace for me. SO we have decided to go ahhead and make the move, although, I have never even been in the snow, I am very excited.

So any info on where we should look for housing, Our plan is to rent at first, hubby already has a job lined up and, I just made a post about colleges.
We have a two year old and a ten year old, so I am also interested in Elemntary schools, and things to do with the kids, I notices thre were alot of things to do in Erie, but tell me aobut the "secret spots" in this area.

so what are the good/bad things you would like to share about the Eria area in PA?

Thanks

Well you are going to have alot that you will love and alot you will hate, but I will tell you you are not an official Western Pennsylvanian until you have done these things:
1.Played dodge the deer
2.Drive to work or home in the snow covered roads
3.Your kids get to find out the joy of the Monday after Thanksgiving
4.See your first black bear that is not in a zoo
5.Find your first snake on your property
6.Go to your first Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion
7.Your kids get to go to Pithole or Drakes Well for a field trip
8.Understand the excitement of wing night and why "The Lube" makes people happy to go
9.Why the Black and Gold is so important
10.When redd up, chip chopped, youns (pronounced yoons), buggy or baby buggy, jumbo, and dippy eggs become part of your vocabulary or drives you nuts.
11.When you you have to consider a snow suit for your child to go out trick or treating.
Once you do all or some of these you will become an official western PA.
Now one thing that is real nice about living there is that you can get your hubby to take you to the Canadian side Niagara Falls for a romantic getaway (make sure you get a Passport Card) this is only a couple hours away and is a great place to take the family as well and there is Marineland, and Clifton Hill.
Waldameer and Presque Isle is great place to spend a day there is an indoor water park by Erie a large selection of good places to eat all over the place the Grove City Outlet Mall is only about 45 minutes away, the Mill Creek mall in Erie is suppose to be pretty decent size,Pittsburgh is a couple hours away so you can goto a Football, Hockey, or Baseball game and next year the Penguins open their new facility and it is going to be beautiful.
There are some cool places like numerous museums and science centers
Kennywood park in Pittsburgh the River regatta, taking a charter on Erie Fishing is a big thing in the area so is boating ATV's and Four wheeling and
there is plenty of car shows a couple of drag strips and dirt tracks in the area, a few wineries in the area ,local artists that are unique to the area,
there is alot to do you just have to be willing to look for them and be open minded one thing you are going to put on your to do list is take a bike ride
down this trail Allegheny River and Samuel Justus Trails: Allegheny Valley Trails Association (AVTA)
this is one of the most beautiful in the state.
Well Hope you enjoy yourself and love the scenery.

[hotbuns]

I cAn't wait to get out of PA. seems like retirement heaven to me. Old people everywhere, no jobs, very high taxes, miserable salary level, Nah nah

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by bethany12

People don't understand that you don't see the sun for 9 months.

That's funny ... Talked to Mom and she said it was sunny on Saturday. Saturday night the stars were out, she said.

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

The reality is that during the winter months, there is less sun in that entire region - i.e. MI, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME.

Yes, because every region on this planet has a rainy season. Late fall through early spring just happens to be ours. Rainy season = more cloudy days.

Originally Posted by PA-native71

9.Why the Black and Gold is so important

Gah!

[lwrobl17]

its an online forum...who really cares about capitalization and punctuation? i was hoping you would come up with something better than my lazy typing..

point being..NWPA is a mediocre place to live..at best. those who spend their lives trying to defend the area, especially Erie, are in denial. its sad.

[HALIT]

When my husband and I moved back to PA from FL I was also worried about whether or not I could handle the cold. But once we got back here and I remembered how much the State of PA loves to TAX, TAX, TAX you for everything the cold was the least of my worries. You can always put on a sweater, but you can't change the taxes.

[CortlandGirl79]

^at least you don't have to pay tax on that sweater! lol

[Ohiogirl81]

^^One of the good things about living in Pennsylvania. Kind of befuddling, isn't it? Harrisburg has figured out how to tax us on everything else (sometimes even double-tax us), but clothing is still a sacred cow. I wonder how much longer that will last?

[BPP1999]

Yes, but your personal income tax is a low 3.07%. How many other states have such a low rate? Certainly not Ohio.