Can my wife handle Philadelphia? (York, Chester: schools, college, live)

[boulevardofdef]

This is really good advice -- thanks a lot, everybody. I've been to Philly a bunch of times and never experienced any problems, but of course, you can never really know what a place is like unless you live there. We still have to take more of a should-we-move-here trip. I love the idea of a suburb that's more of a standalone town than a bunch of strip malls with a road leading to somewhere else, so it's great to hear you've got that.

Maestro, I'm a big Mets fan who's never had a problem with the Phillies for some reason. Maybe because when I first started following baseball, the Phils were awful and the Mets' big division rivals were, believe it or not, the Pirates. I also never really understood why Mets fans hold the mid-2000s failures against the Phillies -- it was totally their own fault. Anyway, always plenty of Mets fans at Citizens Bank Park, so I'm sure I'll feel right at home!

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

As a former NYer, both city , Queens and L.I., I have noticed one big difference between Phila and NY. Unlike NY, the suburbs of Philly have an entirely different class of people from the city proper. For some reason when city people move to suburbia here they seem to take on a much more civilized attitude. City people in Philly are just as rough and rude as they are in NY but as long as you stick to the suburbs you should be fine.

We found the same thing.. Its just a different and more pleasant attitude in the burbs. I tell my wife its so nice now I can leave down my guard in Jersey.. When in the city, ya always have to be alert and aware of your surroundings.. always have my guard up. Now I can relax.. Big difference to us.. And my wife is a Philly girl thru and thru.. Loves it out here..

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by jm02

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I'm not sure whether you're looking for a suburban or urban home. I find urban settings actually tend to make people friendlier. When you're forced to share space, there's only so much jerkiness that small space can handle. People in the suburbs have room to keep to themselves. They may be more polite, but I think they are less friendly.

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we found the opposite. In the NE we would pass our neighbors on the sidewalk they would hardly ever say hi for the most part.. In Jersey, we get dinner made for us when we get home from vacation.. sidewalk plowed/shoveled when we could not do it.. The people here are more laid back and much more friendly when they are not forced to live attached to each other like in the city.. But as you see from jm02, your mileage may vary ..

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by Joe84323

Your wife will probably not like the Philadelphia attitude. You will find that the people don't have the huge mouths that New Yorkers do, but, still, the bad attitude does permeate.

The nicer people are going to be in Center City (transplants,) and far Northeast. The prices will make up for Philadelphia's shortcomings, (and, in case you don't know, New York is only $10 away - Chinatown, Megabus.)

I would check out Northeast Philly. It is a bit slower and nicer than the rest of the city. You would still have good access to I95, trains, but not be as cramped as you would in the rest of the city (garage, yard, more suburban amenities.)

do not look at the NE. That's where we left. That part of the city is going downhill and a hurry. If I had to live in the city I would look (believe it or not) in Center city.. There are still pockets of 'good' in the NE but those areas are diminishing..

[maestro]

Originally Posted by boulevardofdef

This is really good advice -- thanks a lot, everybody. I've been to Philly a bunch of times and never experienced any problems, but of course, you can never really know what a place is like unless you live there. We still have to take more of a should-we-move-here trip. I love the idea of a suburb that's more of a standalone town than a bunch of strip malls with a road leading to somewhere else, so it's great to hear you've got that.

Maestro, I'm a big Mets fan who's never had a problem with the Phillies for some reason. Maybe because when I first started following baseball, the Phils were awful and the Mets' big division rivals were, believe it or not, the Pirates. I also never really understood why Mets fans hold the mid-2000s failures against the Phillies -- it was totally their own fault. Anyway, always plenty of Mets fans at Citizens Bank Park, so I'm sure I'll feel right at home!

agreed. I always hated the Pirates and Braves a lot more than the Phillies growing up in Queens. The Phillies fans seem to hold the Mets as their # 1 rival though, at least in my experience living here the past few years.

You'll have plenty of options when it comes to "stand alone towns" in the suburbs, this area is great for that. I'm sure we can all give you advice on that once you're ready to look at such things.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

do not look at the NE. That's where we left. That part of the city is going downhill and a hurry. If I had to live in the city I would look (believe it or not) in Center city.. There are still pockets of 'good' in the NE but those areas are diminishing..

Yeah, if I was going to be looking for a nice outer neighborhood these days I'd be looking northWEST, not northeast.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by boulevardofdef

I also never really understood why Mets fans hold the mid-2000s failures against the Phillies -- it was totally their own fault. Anyway, always plenty of Mets fans at Citizens Bank Park, so I'm sure I'll feel right at home!

I think maybe that has something to do with Jimmy Rollins relentlessly smack-talking the Mets (all in good fun).

[Wisertime]

Originally Posted by boulevardofdef

What do you think, City of Brotherly Love? Are we thick-skinned enough to handle the suburbs of Philadelphia?

I've been here less than a year and live in the Suburbs and people are really friendly and down to earth. More so than anywhere I have lived. On more than one occasion I have been invited into a strangers house I met walking on the street (and I am kind of on the shy/quiet side). Neighbors are nice and helpful too. Even people I met on craigslist through buying/selling/hiring guys to help move were really nice and more than just a 'transaction'.

I have visited Austin too and really liked it. I strongly considered moving there at the time, but I had a house I couldn't sell at the time. I have family in Cincinnati too and people here are equally, if not friendlier than there.

Even before I moved here, I had met or knew people from Philly and always found them to be honest and down to earth with a good sense of humor.

You might encounter the odd stereotype you fear. I am sure some exist, but definitely not the norm.

[pman]

Originally Posted by boulevardofdef

This is really good advice -- thanks a lot, everybody. I've been to Philly a bunch of times and never experienced any problems, but of course, you can never really know what a place is like unless you live there. We still have to take more of a should-we-move-here trip. I love the idea of a suburb that's more of a standalone town than a bunch of strip malls with a road leading to somewhere else, so it's great to hear you've got that.

Maestro, I'm a big Mets fan who's never had a problem with the Phillies for some reason. Maybe because when I first started following baseball, the Phils were awful and the Mets' big division rivals were, believe it or not, the Pirates. I also never really understood why Mets fans hold the mid-2000s failures against the Phillies -- it was totally their own fault. Anyway, always plenty of Mets fans at Citizens Bank Park, so I'm sure I'll feel right at home!

every year we get geared up to hate the mess but they've been so awful lately that it's like kicking a man when he's down. I don't think anyone really thinks of the mets as a good team so the pirates are probably a better rival. Phils fans have a growing disdain for the yankees...and, well, generally anything ny (save the jets) but I think phillies fans are, by and large, better behaved than eagles fans. I'm sure the mets woudl also get a pass like the jets if they weren't in the same division. another plus is the bank is a more pleasant feel than citifield which feels like they're playing at the airport.
don't know what price range you want but I'd say top "town" suburbs are
chestnut hill (technically part of Philadelphia, but most definitely its own place)
wayne
ardmore
media
west chester
phoenixville
jenkintown (though it's business district has taken a beating)
bryn mawr

[frankgn87]

west chester, Phoenixville, wayne are pretty far from broad and Chestnut(as a starting point) and I would not call them suburbs of Philly. Phoenixville is 31 miles and West chester is 36 miles. Wayne is 20 miles.. If you want to include those you may as well include medford lakes and as far as Hammonton Nj!

Originally Posted by pman

every year we get geared up to hate the mess but they've been so awful lately that it's like kicking a man when he's down. I don't think anyone really thinks of the mets as a good team so the pirates are probably a better rival. Phils fans have a growing disdain for the yankees...and, well, generally anything ny (save the jets) but I think phillies fans are, by and large, better behaved than eagles fans. I'm sure the mets woudl also get a pass like the jets if they weren't in the same division. another plus is the bank is a more pleasant feel than citifield which feels like they're playing at the airport.
don't know what price range you want but I'd say top "town" suburbs are
chestnut hill (technically part of Philadelphia, but most definitely its own place)
wayne
ardmore
media
west chester
phoenixville
jenkintown (though it's business district has taken a beating)
bryn mawr