Is return to PA a good idea

[clem16]

Yikes, Johnny C! Hunker down now, ya hear?

[Johnny C]

^ Will do. Might have to cancel those picnic plans after all....

[clem16]

lol!

[Tama]

Hey--what are we all worrying about here---did you see the weather in North Dakota----wind chill minus 30--now that there is cold!

[mcorrales]

Hey Clem16, I am just about fifteen minutes from Patton, living in Gallitzin. I moved back here because I loved it when I lived in Cherry Tree in the 1970's and decided to try it again. Truth be told, after living in SoCal in both OC and LA for almost 50 of my almost 60 years, I had never liked it there and even though all three of my daughters and seven of my grandchildren are there, I never felt like it was really home the way I did when I lived in PA. So, almost two years ago, I made a trip here, bought a house (for what a carport would have cost me in CA) and love it. I live in a town of roughly 1700 folks, go to bingo, up to the Legion, shop in our next town of roughly 50k folks, have learned to shoot, will go hunting next year, fish in our local state park, camp, and mostly enjoy life. I got a four bedroom, three bath older home on almost an acre, full basement, etc. I have found friends, real friends, not just work friends. I love the change of seasons, spring is spectacular, summers too short, fall is glorious and the winter is like a painting. Right now it is 6 degrees with our low going to -4 tonight, school closed tomorrow so fun with the two grandkids and their parents scheduled for tomorrow. I am going to CA for a visit next month, looking forward to seeing the girls and my grandkids and visiting a few fave restaurants and that is ALL I am looking forward to. I am retired, female and single, but I love PA, its people and the area is gorgeous. Will end my life here. Not for everyone, but it is for me.

[clem16]

Wow, mcorrales, sounds like for you going back home was all you hoped it would be. Family, more than anything is what is driving us to consider a move back to PA. When you mention shopping in a town of 50K, are you referring to Johnstown? I wish there was a thread comparing Johnstown to Altoona. Maybe there is and I just haven't dug into this forum far enough, yet. Anyway, enjoy your snowy winter with the grandkids!

[clem16]

oh, and mcorrales? I'm wondering what kind of heat you have in that older 4 bedroom home. Is it oil? That's got to be terribly expensive to heat during those long, cold winters. Just wondering as I don't know where the natural gas lines are in taht area but I do know that most houses in Altoona have natural gas heat.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Is winter really that depressing here? I find the temperatures and snowfall much more moderate than when I lived in Colorado with biting cold temperatures and heavy snowfall or perhaps compared to Vermont or Maine.

Where in Colorado did you live? I find the winters here in mtro Denver much milder than the Pittsburgh area.

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Where in Colorado did you live? I find the winters here in mtro Denver much milder than the Pittsburgh area.

I lived in ski towns, Vail primarily.