Do you miss Pennsylvania? (Scranton, Lancaster: smog, luxury, salary)

[benlomand]

My wife and I lived in Altoona for 13 years after which we moved to St. Petersburg, Fl.
I loved the friends I had in PA and visit a couple times a year but as far as going back, no way!
Reasons?:
dreary weather
no work
gangs/drugs I mean bad drugs not weed (weed ain't so bad)
blighted inner city
lost hope among all of the working class

Florida is great although it has it's problems. For me it's been a good run.
I've made more money than I ever made before, bought a house that actually APPRECIATED over a short period unlike the dump I still own in 'Toona town. I bought it in '85 for $16k it's still worth $16K but know one will by it cause it is in the ghetto.
Nuf Said

[micatee]

Grew up in western Pa and now live in Ohio. Well, yes I do miss Pa somewhat. Would I move back? Not to my home town but maybe Pittsburg, or Philly. My home town the economy is very bad and not much to do. However I would love to move out of OHIO period but ......gotta go where the breadwinner bakes the bread!

[wistful]

Yes I miss PA but I don't miss certain things about PA. I don't miss the ridiculous taxes. I don't miss the unemployment rate. I don't miss living in a state that appears to be driving both business & people out of state with over-regulation. I don't miss the mindset of "this is all there is, why try for more" (or worse, "when's the welfare check coming?") that appears to have crept in to a good portion of the population of northwest PA.

While I'm happy & like my life here in VA, I DO miss "home". I miss family & friends & am a bit saddened that my kids won't grow up with their cousins, grandparents, etc. I do miss knowing exactly who my kids are friends with. I miss the woods, the hills, the rivers & yes, even the winters (because up there they know how to deal with snow, slush, etc!).

It's really a bittersweet feeling of loving a place but feeling like you're just watching it fade away. :^(

[jblake78728]

Im origionally from Wilkes-Barre but moved to Central PA (between Harrisburg & State College) when I was about 10. I moved to Colorado for college & have lived in Colorado Springs, CO & now Austin, Texas for the last 8 years. For the most part I dont miss PA (especially the econmically depressed & now drug infested small towns of Central PA). I do miss the climate (especially snow) & having 4 seasons. Now that I have a family I would like to live in a small town in the northeast again but I think it will be in Vermont, New Hampshire or somewhere north of Plattsburg, NY.

[mechtm84]

No, When I move outta PA i will never miss it. It sux here really bad

[knitwit]

My husband and I lived in PA all our lives and finally decided to give SC a try, we have been here 4 yrs. and love everything about it. We wanted out of the rat race and boy did we get that, it is so slow down here, everyone is sooo relaxed and laid back. I suffered with headaches all my life and down here it is very rare when I get one. The weather is to die for, only the heat can be very oppressive, I have a problem with the summers, but the rest of the year is just wonderful. We do not miss the snow, ice, sleet, etc. We do get some pretty powerful thunderstorms though and they do a lot of damage to your electronics, we just had 2 phones, our cable box, and computer blown out the end of July. The only downfall about living down here for me is all my daughters are still up north. They come down for their vacations, etc. and really love the quiet place and I think a couple of them would move down here someday but.......... Anyway, we do miss some things about PA but when we visit we get our share and then it's good to get back here. Have a great day everyone!

[knitwit]

Of course, it is a lot cheaper to live down here, especially taxes, we were paying close to $4000 real estate and school taxes and down here it's not even $1000. But then you have to realize that wages are almost poverty level, so I guess that's why. Anyway, the atmosphere and environment is enough to get my vote.

[mechtm84]

The taxes in PA are too high What's the point in workin when it will just go to all the bums on welfare?

[sreinc]

I grew up in NE PA moved to Providence, RI then to Sudbury, MA then to New Seabury, MA.....13 years and four months later ... I returned to NE PA and been her for the last six years.

If you like it here, you like it here, if you don't you don't. Everyone is different. Everyone has their own right to an opinion. Personally, I like it here and couldn't wait to get back.

Now, I;m glad that I took the leap and made the move back here.

[Lissa]

I have family in PA. PA does not always have dreary weather and it is a very nice state with its tall mountains and endless farms.