Why Do People Leave Vermont? (Burlington: homes, rent, lease)

[pucabear]

Originally Posted by Targo

I'm an unprepared native myself.

No shovel flashlight or blankets in my truck.

No 4 days worth of TP and water lined up in our spring flooding basement.

Ice covered steps and no salt in sight.

Generator sits with no gas out in the storage building 200 yards away.

And ya know what? I could care less! Being that native Vermonter I was raised to just get along through the "rough" times without out worrying about it. What "we" take for granted many people would find unacceptable and bordering on barbaric.

Bury the truck in 4' drifts 2000' down our driveway just because I wanted to try to make it out [for no good reason] this winter? Just walk back to the house, get a shovel and dig the darn thing out.....Big deal...cowboy up, it's VT not Florida.

Vermont's new state slogan should be:

*Vermont, not for everyone*

I will second that new state slogan.....be careful, the state might try to tax it!

[Trombley]

I am chuckling about this....is comforting that I'm not alone. I remember walking to school as a child/teen. I would have wet hair and since I had just showered it would freeze on the way. We had a wood stove growing up, so I was always warm. I played outside regardless of the temperature...loved the snow and ice. It wasn't until i was responsible for maintaining a household that winters lost their excitement for me. However, I consider myself extremely resilient. I don't own the shop/water vacuum....that's how prepared I am. I drive to the next town to my parents and borrow there. Could I afford one? Yeah...but why spend the money when I can venture out in the crappy weather and pick one up. Why bother washing the car all winter? It's a never ending battle. Every day the roads are potentially wet and the car gets covered in salt again. I have a Dodge Caravan that I drive on bad days cause it handles the sleezy roads better. I have a Pontiac Vibe that I drive on days when the sun is shining and the roads are clear. When the temperature hits 40 degrees, it's time to pull out the spring jackets as most Vermonters have adapted to the frigid temps and anything higher than 30 is warm. We'll be reaching that point in a few weeks.

[flu189]

The salt use up here I could sure do without. I hate it when it creates the briney slush and especailly hate it when it dries on the roads and vehicles kick up the salt dust. It makes you feel like you just got back from the beach (Jones or Robert Moses for our fellow NY members). Heck, you get more sodium intake by just breathing here than from the foods you eat. I have lived in a winter clime, believe it or not, that was harsher than Vt and plowing and sanding sufficed. Being prepared is pretty important and having military experience I can get a bit anal about stowing and keeping my gear in order. But, I do get lazy and cut corners which will come back to kick you. This past December I had a flat at 1am and of course it was snowing and blowing with a windchill factor. My extra boots and jacket would have been mighty handy. Luckily, I always have my extra goves, headlamp, and balaclava with me. For safety's sake I encourage everyone to create a box or bag with the essentials in it while travelling as you nver know where you may break down and even on the highway you may have quite a wait for help. I know if I ever break down on the highway and the conditions are rough I will never stay in the car as I have seen too many cases where a disabled vehicle is struck from behind. Best to hoof it to the next exit.

[Targo]

Salt use = expectations.

So many people in VT now expect the roads to be totally clear of snow that towns have to use tons of salt.

I think a lot of people that are new to the state over the last 20 years have brought different expectation with them. Changing the state to meet those expectations is what a lot of the "Vermonters hate flat-landers" mentality comes from.

Vermont has changed in many ways to meet those expectations and many natives feel those changes have been for the worse.

[cabinman]

I was born and raised in Vt to a family that can trace at least one branch of the family tree back to before statehood. I left after college and have never returned other than to visit a couple family members who have stayed on and a brother who returned after leaving for many years.

When I do return I am always impressed by the beautiful landscape and almost always, for at least a brief moment, pause to wonder why I left.

Then I remember. The lack of job opportunities. Real estate prices that are absurd. High Taxes. A polictical atmosphere that is so far to the left it's ridiculous. I applaud some of Vermont's leadership on environmental issues, but in most other areas I can't stomach the left leaning wackos who have hijacked Vermont politics. Most of these folks are flat landers who moved there and have no real connection other than they they came to ski and never left. The truth of the matter is, real Vermonters were fearcely conservative up until the 1970's when city people and their influence and money began an insidious take over.

Look I know it's a free country and all, and I respect their right to think the way they do even if I disagree. Beautiful places tend to attract certain types of people. That's just the way it is. I have traveled around this country and Vermont isn't the Lone Ranger here, there are plenty of other examples.

I will continue to visit from time to time but can't ever see myself living there again.

[KNOTTE]

Originally Posted by cabinman

I was born and raised in Vt to a family that can trace at least one branch of the family tree back to before statehood. I left after college and have never returned other than to visit a couple family members who have stayed on and a brother who returned after leaving for many years.

When I do return I am always impressed by the beautiful landscape and almost always, for at least a brief moment, pause to wonder why I left.

Then I remember. The lack of job opportunities. Real estate prices that are absurd. High Taxes. A polictical atmosphere that is so far to the left it's ridiculous. I applaud some of Vermont's leadership on environmental issues, but in most other areas I can't stomach the left leaning wackos who have hijacked Vermont politics. Most of these folks are flat landers who moved there and have no real connection other than they they came to ski and never left. The truth of the matter is, real Vermonters were fearcely conservative up until the 1970's when city people and their influence and money began an insidious take over.

Look I know it's a free country and all, and I respect their right to think the way they do even if I disagree. Beautiful places tend to attract certain types of people. That's just the way it is. I have traveled around this country and Vermont isn't the Lone Ranger here, there are plenty of other examples.

I will continue to visit from time to time but can't ever see myself living there again.

We moved back... We regret it nearly every day. It's not the same place we grew up... and are now waiting for the market to get better so we can sell our house and move - don't know where - but someplace warmer, less expensive and not so darn liberal. It's too bad - we love what Vermont used to be, but I'm afraid it's gone forever.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by KNOTTE

We moved back... We regret it nearly every day. It's not the same place we grew up... and are now waiting for the market to get better so we can sell our house and move - don't know where - but someplace warmer, less expensive and not so darn liberal. It's too bad - we love what Vermont used to be, but I'm afraid it's gone forever.

My wife is really ready to get the process going, but with the economy being what it is now we will have to stay put for awhile longer. However, doing research is free and the criterea you have listed fits us as well. I really like four seasons (but a milder winter is much desired) and want to be near mountains and the Appalachian Trail. Anyway, someone at work mentioned to check out the tri cities area of extreme northeastern Tn and from what I have been reading and researching over the past few weeks the region seems to provide a pretty good fit. Of course I'll have to take a trip down there to size it up.

[Targo]

I don't really see "older" Vermont as being 'conservative' but 'independent'.

[MarymovingtoRioRico]

I left Vermont after moving there from NYC. I lived in Vermont for 10 years.

Low wages and lack of good jobs.

Small town mentality.

Boring.

Dull dark and cloudy days from October through May.

Mud season.

Stores close at 5pm (Stowe) and many are closed during late fall and early spring.

Lack of good shopping except pricey tourist traps. In some areas you have to drive 1 hour to find a mall and many national stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods etc... are not there. When looking for specific products, do a search for "stores near you"... None. Or - distributors in your area - None.

Dirty cars that you can't keep clean... Rutty muddy dirt roads.

I don't miss it.

[flu189]

Almost three weeks ago now when all those budgets were rubber stamped I wondered what in the world were people thinking, or rather where in the world is the money going to come from. To be honest, I already knew the answer. Tom Pelham, the Vermont Tax Commissioner, penned a revealing piece in yesterday's (23 Mar) Rutland Herald which property owners both resident and second home owners might find interesting. The article can be found in the Perspective section and is titled "Unpleasant summer ahead for state's taxpayers."