ex-Pittsburghers? (Beaver Falls, Beaver, Penn: house, neighborhoods, salary)

[javajive711]

I, like many other Pittsburghers, left town to find work. And while the new job isn't bad, I can't help feeling homesick.

I miss fish fries, and REAL pierogi and REAL steak salad. I miss people who know how to shovel their d@mn sidewalks and towns that know how to plow their %$@#($* streets. I miss not paying through the nose for housing. I miss having neighborhoods that are distinct from one another. I miss not being the only Polish Catholic in town.

Despite the potential of losing the Pens and 1/2 of PAT transit, is there a reason to move back home? Is there anyone out there homesick for da "Burgh"?

(Disclaimer--I'm not sure if I miss Pgh more than I dislike Northern VA/DC--which is void of soul or culture, and has nothing to offer besides strip malls, ridiculous traffic, and crazy housing prices.)

[suliata]

I am from the Pittsburgh area originally and moved to DC for a job. I stayed in DC for 10 years. I enjoyed it for about the first three. I moved back home this past August, and couldn't be happier. The Northern VA/DC metro area is the worst -- it has no real soul or character, a ridiculous cost of living, and hellish traffic. My advice -- if you can get a job here, move back to Pittsburgh.

[airstrip]

Well, finally, after lurking on this forum for a couple months, I am prompted to reply. I am terribly homesick for Pittsburgh. I haven't lived there for about 15 years but we are trying to find a way to get back. It has always been the only place that is truly home. I miss real chipped ham and ham bar-b-Q's. Other parts of the country I have lived in don't know how to chip their deli meat. Or, they've never heard of steak salad. I miss living somewhere that assumes you don't eat meat on Friday during lent. Mostly, I miss the people. Unlike any other city I have lived in, in Pittsburgh, people don't "put on airs" so to speak. They are who they are and they don't apologize for that. You don't have to get caught up in materialistic race of who has more stuff. It is refreshing to know there is some place that puts family first and that is the norm, not the exception. I am nervous about moving the family unit, because as my kids get older, moving is a lot harder on them, but I do think this one last time to get back home would be worth it. It is a long process, finding a good job, in your field, that pays a comparable salary. We will keep looking and being patient. It will work out.
I miss hoagies, Giant Eagle, dive bars that you're not afraid of and Wedges just to name a few things. I would love to hear more things that people miss.

[Tallysmom]

Kretchmars Bakery Bismark donuts... Buzzi's Pizza...Jerry's Drive In fried mushrooms....

And my most favorite place on earth.... McConnell's Mills.

[SueJ999]

The thing I miss the most is the people, the people, the people!

Brought back some Isaly's BBQ sauce once and made ham BBQs here (tell them you want the ham shaved very thin). I just HAD to go to Kennywood last time I was home. I miss Primanti Bros and IC Light. I also miss real pierogis. I miss walking around the Point.

I miss rooting for the Steelers (NOT by myself) and not getting put down for it. I miss meeting people under Kaufman's clock (is it still there?). Geez, I almost completely forgot about McConnell's Mills--will have to go there next trip home.

I'm like airstrip, horribly homesick for Pittsburgh; but won't ever get the chance to move back due to hubby's job here. Of course, about twice a year, I do go home to visit. Can't wait until next time!

[5stones]

I miss having fries on everything!! sandwhiches, salads!!
I am also living in NOVA and I too miss people who can properly shovel the sidewalks! and having the roads cleared before 4PM!! AND people actually can drive in snow without freaking out!!!! I spent 2 1/2 hours on 495 and witness 27 accidents...1 inch of snow. I kid you not!

but I don't miss long grey winters...rainy may and june.

I long for my big yard with big trees... but it was nice this fall not having 60+ bags to fill!!

[Stacey M.]

Me Too, Me Too!!!
My husband and I are from Wash. County. We now live in Hilton Head, it is very nice here, but people just don't get our sense of humor or sarcastic ways!! We did own a restaurant and did put FF on a lot of things, our customers thought we were nuts! but we quickly became their favorite place to eat. We wanted to move back last year after selling the Restaurant, even put an offer in on a house in Mt. Lebo. Then fear just hit us, there are so many good places to eat there that have been there forever (we still love to eat at all of them) so we decided to stay. We try to get back a couple of time a year, but the 10 hour drive with three kids is killer!! I have a question for you, have you ever tried to explain Sophie Vader to anyone? They just don't get the hilarious part of "can i have a wady wock?" Too Funny! STILL!!!

Take care and good luck!

[claremarie]

We left Pgh for northern Virginia 20 years ago and never looked back. We return at least once a year to visit family, but have never been tempted to move back. I don't miss the horrid weather, potholes, crumbling infrastructure, dreadful local accent, slowpoke drivers, and Steeler mania one bit. Neither do any of my siblings.

[Katiana]

clairemarie, I second your opinion.
The only thing I miss is the beautiful autumn foliage. No matter what anyone tells you, the Colorado Aspens are not as beautiful as the hardwood forests of Pennsylvania. I was out there in the fall in 1984 when my oldest daughter was an infant. I kept telling my kids I wanted to see fall in PA one more time in my life, at least. We were out last October. It was fabulous! However, I also do not miss the crumbling infrastructure (see my comments on another thread about the Beaver Falls public library), THE accent (the best compliment another Pittsburgher out here can give another is: you don't have the accent), the incredibly dreary weather, and the Steelers. I never liked chipped ham, even when I lived there.

[5stones]

move back???? no way! We escaped just as my youngest was starting to say "picksburg, stillers & gumband!!"

I was a transplant for 9 year there and do miss quite a few things about the south hills area..... but not enough to want to move back! We go back to visit and that's enough. So many people never leave, that's good and bad. But I could never see myself there for the long haul, not much diversity.

The long "grey winters..." Fall is the most beautiful time in that region (IMO) spring is wet.... summer humid....winter grey........FALL stunning.