Are people from Lancaster County on here? (Scranton, Harrisburg: low crime, home)

[lialleycat]

Ok, besides lititzman, are there a lot of posters from the Lancaster County area here? I'd like to chat with some of them, like I do with the NEPA/Lehigh Valley folks. I'm still considering several areas in PA as potential move sites and would like to hear more about everyday life from the Lancaster folks, to see if the area woudl be a fit for me. Is there a general thread for this area? Or are there not enough people online to warrant it?

[ScranBarre]

NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! You're moving to NEPA, girlfriend! We need more awesome people like you in the Poconos/Scranton area!

[lialleycat]

I really, really like the people in the NEPA area, but as you're finding out Paul, jobs are a bit harder to come by. I'm underemployed (like you) where I am now and I'd really like to better myself and my situation when I move, otherwise, why bother? I see a decent amount of things in the Lancaster and Harrisburg areas that fit my job needs so I'm still checking that out too. Though I'd like to be closer to Long Island than that since I still have family that won't be leaving for the next 5 years or so.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by lialleycat

I really, really like the people in the NEPA area, but as you're finding out Paul, jobs are a bit harder to come by. I'm underemployed (like you) where I am now and I'd really like to better myself and my situation when I move, otherwise, why bother? I see a decent amount of things in the Lancaster and Harrisburg areas that fit my job needs so I'm still checking that out too. Though I'd like to be closer to Long Island than that since I still have family that won't be leaving for the next 5 years or so.

Very true. I work at Lowe's with a lot of people who have degrees and are not living up to their full potential. The job market has never been very idyllic in NEPA, whereas the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York area always seems to be booming with good jobs. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

[Lakeland Yankee]

I was born and raised in Lancaster County although I'm currently living in Florida. I can't wait to get back home. You don't realize how great a place is until you move away from it. Lancaster County offers an excellent quality of life that imho would be hard to find anywhere else. I'm not a pollyanna poster but I can't really say anything negative about my home county, believe me I would if I could. Florida is a beautiful sunny state but it just will never compare to PA.

Feel free to ask me any questions although I am very biased for Lancaster County, lol.

[lialleycat]

Lets both go! It'll be very Will and Grace...

[NYRed]

Originally Posted by lialleycat

I really, really like the people in the NEPA area, but as you're finding out Paul, jobs are a bit harder to come by. I'm underemployed (like you) where I am now and I'd really like to better myself and my situation when I move, otherwise, why bother? I see a decent amount of things in the Lancaster and Harrisburg areas that fit my job needs so I'm still checking that out too. Though I'd like to be closer to Long Island than that since I still have family that won't be leaving for the next 5 years or so.

You get the high paying job Sweetie and I will be the kept farmhand!!!
I can learn to shovel Cr*p...I shovel it most days here at work right???

[lialleycat]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

I was born and raised in Lancaster County although I'm currently living in Florida. I can't wait to get back home. You don't realize how great a place is until you move away from it. Lancaster County offers an excellent quality of life that imho would be hard to find anywhere else. I'm not a pollyanna poster but I can't really say anything negative about my home county, believe me I would if I could. Florida is a beautiful sunny state but it just will never compare to PA.

Feel free to ask me any questions although I am very biased for Lancaster County, lol.

Ok, you asked for it, Lakeland Yankee! Seriously, thanks for the offer of information. I do have some questions.

I don't know how often you are on these boards, but there is an awesome comradarie among the NEPA folks, even when they are fighting, LOL! I feel like I could really make 'go over and have a cup of tea' friends with them. I don't see many posters from Lancaster, so I can't judge the personality the same way. Hence this post to find them. Is that because most people aren't online, don't know about CD (how could that be!) or just aren't the type to offer welcome to strangers? Since I'm not moving to a place where family is, I would rely on my ability to make friends to share activities (like hiking, horseback riding, crafts) and time with. I get the feeling that I could easily do that in NEPA, but supporting myself financially doesn't seem to be as easy to do there.

I've visited the Lancaster area several times (actually have plans to see the Christmas show and do some shopping next month already too) and I absolutely love the scenery and the people we meet in the stores seem friendly enough. I have a HUGE strike against me already, I know, coming from New York with my Lawn-Guy-Lan (Long Island) accent. Although, I can fake a pretty good British accent too! I am NOT your typical Long Islander though, which is probably the reason I'm so miserable here. Once I'm not just a tourist with money to spend and become a resident, will the friendliness decline?

I have lots more questions, but that's one of my biggest concerns right now.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Very true. I work at Lowe's with a lot of people who have degrees and are not living up to their full potential. The job market has never been very idyllic in NEPA, whereas the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York area always seems to be booming with good jobs. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

I think Harrisburg's stability comes from being the state capitol and having a lot of state jobs in the area. If it wasn't for that, they'd be in the same boat as Scranton and other PA cities.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by lialleycat

I don't know how often you are on these boards, but there is an awesome comradarie among the NEPA folks, even when they are fighting, LOL! I feel like I could really make 'go over and have a cup of tea' friends with them. I don't see many posters from Lancaster, so I can't judge the personality the same way. Hence this post to find them. Is that because most people aren't online, don't know about CD (how could that be!) or just aren't the type to offer welcome to strangers? Since I'm not moving to a place where family is, I would rely on my ability to make friends to share activities (like hiking, horseback riding, crafts) and time with. I get the feeling that I could easily do that in NEPA, but supporting myself financially doesn't seem to be as easy to do there.

City-data is mainly a relocation forum so why would they hang out here?
Most people who live in Lancaster County are not looking to relocate. That's probably why you won't see many on here. Why leave a beautiful, friendly, low crime, farm area that has high paying jobs, it's like the best of both worlds. I believe the locals are friendly toward strangers and very accepting of newcomers. In all my years growing up there, I have NEVER seen or even heard of someone being treated unfair by locals for moving to the area.

South Central PA offers plenty of State Game Lands for hiking, horseback riding, etc and you should have no problems meeting friends.

Originally Posted by lialleycat

I've visited the Lancaster area several times (actually have plans to see the Christmas show and do some shopping next month already too) and I absolutely love the scenery and the people we meet in the stores seem friendly enough. I have a HUGE strike against me already, I know, coming from New York with my Lawn-Guy-Lan (Long Island) accent. Although, I can fake a pretty good British accent too! I am NOT your typical Long Islander though, which is probably the reason I'm so miserable here. Once I'm not just a tourist with money to spend and become a resident, will the friendliness decline?

I have lots more questions, but that's one of my biggest concerns right now.

I believe the friendliness will INCREASE once they get to know and trust you.

Some people move to LC and think we are all ultra conservative farm yokels and they don't even want to try to make friends with us. Just as long as you don't think we are all Amish or Mennonite you should have no problems fitting in. I'm pretty liberal and I've known plenty of others just like me. People have different views no matter what part of the country you are in...

The only bad thing that I can think of is that some of the people can be a bit gossipy; so just watch what you say. That's probably true of any Small-town, USA though.

What areas are you looking at? I'd recommend a place in between Harrisburg and Lancaster city so you would have either city to choose from for employment.