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Welcome to Vermont!! That is some cat you have!! I hope they can join you soon. I don't know to much about tires but I think everyone should have the Onstar in their vehicle. Onstar will know if you go off the road and contact 911. You may want to look into it further.
Enjoy your new life!! Relax now, your home!!!
If you're interested in OnStar, AWDs available are Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Pontiac Vibe, Saturn VUE. Check Edmunds.com for a handy comparison tool. Something I'd consider if looking for a wagon type is the Chevy HHR, tho not available in AWD.
My wife loves her PT Cruiser, but I don't believe they have upgraded to make stability control available. Dumb.
IMO good tires trump AWD, it's the rubber on the road that ultimately determines traction, but to each his own.
I know the first in the ditch when it snows is usually some more-confident-than-skilled cell-chatterer with 4WD.
Congrats on the move arel. I remember reading your posts while you were researching your potential relocation. Now here you are. How has Vermont treated you in the last month? Were you ever homesick to a point that you just had to get back to NYC? I know I was homesick and visited NYC on a monthly basis (sometimes weekly) for at least five years. Then the gas prices went up!
Anyway, hope Brattleboro and the locals are making you feel right at home. Enjoy the foliage!
Congrats on the move arel. I remember reading your posts while you were researching your potential relocation. Now here you are. How has Vermont treated you in the last month? Were you ever homesick to a point that you just had to get back to NYC? I know I was homesick and visited NYC on a monthly basis (sometimes weekly) for at least five years. Then the gas prices went up!
Anyway, hope Brattleboro and the locals are making you feel right at home. Enjoy the foliage!
Well, I just got back from a trip to Brooklyn. I didn't go because of homesickness. I went to pick up the cats and do a few other errands. I remember I didn't really want to go; I just went because I had to.
Nevertheless, once I was in NYC, I felt a sense of grounding, because I was "home". I visited my parents' graves and found it hard to leave. I said goodby to my veterinarian of 14 years and felt very sad. I spent my time in very familiar places and it felt odd to leave. I surrendered my safe deposit boxies and that felt strange. I spoke to myself of going "home" to Vermont, but the truth is that it felt a little alien again after all of about 2 days in Brooklyn.
It was hard to continue dismantling my life in New York.
The cats are now exploring their new house. I tried to confine them in one room for a while, but they wanted to explore more. And there has been a lot of hissing at each other, and, I think, even at me.
I think they wanted more distance from each other. And, needless to say, they were stressed by the long trip and now the unfamiliar home. But at least they have been safely transported. And they are no longer confined to boarding cages, as they were for about 3 weeks.
Coming back, I was preoccupied with the cats, and with the length of the trip. It was bumper to bumper for much of the time, stop and go, until I was on the Cross Parkway. It took 4 hours just to get to about New Haven, when it normally takes about 2. After the Cross, the trip went smoothly. But the trip, which normally takes 4 1/2 to 5 hours took over 7 hours. And this was the dreaded trip where I had the cats with me.
I was annoyed because I wanted to avoid night driving on those scantily lit roads, especially the Merritt and the Cross. It was already dark while I was still on the Cross, maybe even on the Merritt. But, there was a silver lining. I found that I felt more confident driving on those dark roads. Maybe they were less dark because there were lots of other cars on the road and they lit things up with their headlights.
I was afraid of leaving the cats unattended if I had to take a bathroom break, but that turned out not to be the big problem. The big problem was their own going to the bathroom. In their carriers. Anticipating that should have been a no-brainer, but for some reason it wasn't. But I made do (pun unintended, but acknowledged) and learned some lessons I will use if I ever again have to take cats on a long trip. Lessons like: bring extra newspapers, or line the carriers with wee-wee pads. Bring toweling, e.g. Bounty towels. Fortunately, I had those moist wipes and also alcohol pads. I used the moist wipes both for my hands and, when necessary, for the bottom of the carriers.
Sammy has an appointment with a specialist. Unfortunately, she cannot see him until November 3. I asked to be contacted if there is a cancellation. I'll keep calling. I am very concerned about him. He may have lymphoma. He seems alert and curious, but he is ravenously hungry and losing weight. He ate most of the food I put out tonight for all four cats. He is showing none of the other classic symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, and that leads one of his vets to suspect lymphoma. It is as if a tumor is eating all his food.
Anyway, digression aside, I am beginning to feel some homesickness. I spoke to my Brooklyn car mechanic today, when I went over to get my tire pressure checked. I told him that in Vermont it is prettier and the people are nicer, but I still felt some homesickness. He said that is going to happen.
When I was in Brooklyn I stopped at my old house. I wanted to retrieve anything that might have been inadvertently left. And, I simply wanted to see it, and to note what it felt like to go down the familiar street again without the house to go home to. It was strange to go down my street and then find my house wide open. They are redoing the floors, ceilings and, I think, walls. They have taken out the windows and replaced them with single pane windows that I don't like, which seem, in my opinion, to damage the architectural integrity of the house. Inside, the archway between the living room and the dining room has been removed. Visually speaking, the house is simply not mine anymore. I felt almost no attachment to it. It was not hard to leave. Of course, it helped that the workmen spoke little English and also seemed unfriendly. But they did give me some family photos that had been left in the garage.
The visual changes in the house also underscored that there is no going back.
I wonder how long it will be before I feel the desire to travel to NYC. The trip, this time, was such a bother. I put it off because of a cold. The errands were not fun. Then, coming back, it took so much longer than usual and I had to stop frequently and deal with cat waste. Also, as I said above, it was a trip I made to take care of important errands, not a trip I made because I wanted to be in New York. But once I was in New York, it was almost as if I had never left. Everything in my neighborhood is so familiar. Except for my old house.
I stayed in a hotel by the Belt Parkway, where I stayed the last night I was in Brooklyn. So that was also familiar.
I did manage to eat lunch one day at a local restaurant I had only gone to once before. The food was simple but extremely well prepared.
Anyway, I am back. I have my computer, phone and cable TV working. And now I have my cats. And I have learned that Abbiati Monuments was able to put that broken marble coffee table top back together presentably. I want to thank the poster who recommended them. I plan to go to my storage faciity and pick up the coffee table base.
I need to spend time with the cats, finish putting my new place together -while continuing to weed possessions - and then start looking for work. Meanwhile, I am spending time with Brattleboro people and meeting lots of potential new friends. There is always stuff to do in Brattleboro, but, for a New Yorker, it is something how the town seems to close down at night. This is not the town that never sleeps. Brattleboro sleeps.
Arel, I moved to VT about 4 years ago (could be 5, I lost track of time since I moved here) and it was very hard the first year. This is the first time I lived anywhere other then Long Island. My husband found it much more difficult then I did. I gave up the only job I ever had, gave up my health insurance and was totally dependent on my husband financially. Moving to VT was very hard on us emotionally, even though we made the decision jointly to move here. At some point I could say I was worried about our marriage.
I have rescued a lot of cats over the years and I never had to worry about predators on Long Island so they were safe. Four months after moving to our new home, one of my cats was attacked by a bobcat and almost died. Since moving here I have had to say goodbye to four of my cats to natural causes and one of my sheep.
One of my neighbors told me that it takes about five years to really settle in and get comfortable. He was right. Maybe even a bit longer.
I just got back from a four day trip to LI and I can tell you I will never move back there. It's not even a nice place to visit anymore. I see it changing for the worst everytime I have to go there. (Just my opinion)
I am so happy I gave this move a chance and didn't move back to Long Island. It just isn't "home" anymore. Give VT a chance....at least two years. My husband and I may not be able to afford to stay in VT forever because it isn't the State that respects retirees but we will try to stay as long as we can. Hang in there. We felt the same way you did in the beginning.
I hope your kitty is going to be okay. Please let us know how he is doing. Good luck to both of you.
The vets here, at least the ones whose hours I know, are closed on Sunday and even, I think, keep very short hours on Saturday. That's a bummer, but it gives me peace of mind that there is a 24/7 emergency facility about 40 minutes away. Also, at one place here (the most recommended) they always have a vet on call.
The 24/7 emergency facility is an emergency and specialty hospital. It is also where I have an appointment for Sammy. Unfortunately, they have only one board-certified internist, so I have to wait until November 3 to see her. But they did tell me I could bring him in as an emergency at any time, and the internest will be consulted. I will keep calling to see if there are cancellations. Sammy is practically emaciated now, and I am very worried. They did diagnostic work while he was boarded, and that is how we know his problem is intestinal, and not due to hypothyroidism or even to his diabetes.
The recommended vet is about 15-20 minutes away. There is another vet hospital less than 5 minutes away. I would prefer the closer one, for obvious reasons, but it is not as well recommended. Several people I have spoken to have expressed dissatisfaction. I want to get the cats lined up with their new vet as soon as possible. It is especially important for Sammy, whose care form the internist will probably have to be followed up by a local vet.
I'd love to be able to short-circuit the homesickness. It is prettier here than in Brooklyn. There is much more open, natural green space. The people are friendlier. There seems to be a much better sense of community. There is a calmness here that is absent in New York. And I can get anything I want or need here. I am within walking distance from Main Street and within a short drive from the strip malls. I can be in an environment that is urban, suburban or rural within minutes. Brattleboro is a much nicer place to live than Brooklyn.
But I have lost what is familiar. Familiar home. Familiar neighborhood. Familiar veterinarian, doctor, chiropractor, etc. Familiar work environments.
And I feel guilty about removing the cats from their familiar home. Especially Sammy, who is sick.
While I was living in Brooklyn, I almost always felt in transition because I knew I wanted to move. I just didn't know when, or, until the last 2 years, where. Now I am here, in a real, physical transition, and part of me wants to be back in Brooklyn. Intellectually, it doesn't compute, unless I factor in simple homesickness.
But it is only a small part. I know I did the right thing by moving. I just need time to make a full transition. It is extremely helpful to know that I am going thorugh a normal process that everyone goes through, and that the feelings I sometimes have do not mean that I made a mistake. Also, these experiences will help me in my work.
I know I can always return if I choose to. But why would I want to? And where would I live? I can't return to my old house, even if I wanted to. And I don't want to. I like those condos overlooking the ocean, but I wouldn't want to be worried about coastal storms. And, of course, I do not want to be paying Brooklyn prices.
I paid over $1000 in Brooklyn for 6 months of car insurance. In Vermont, the same insurance for 6 months costs just over $150. It was quite a shock when I learned that. But I have to transfer my car registration to Vermont or else I have to pay the New York rates. I plan to do that this week.
Sometimes, I guess, I need to remind myself about why I left Brooklyn in the first place. Then I renew my clarity.
The biggest practical challenge I haven't faced yet. It will be finding a job I enjoy, and then starting to build a private practice. I am told, though, that therapists do well here. Hopefully, I can find work (and like it) at a local agency. If not, I would have to commute to Northampton, Keene or to points north, even to the Upper Valley. I want to minimize my commute. The driving is treacherous in the winter - I don't want to skid into Spofford Lake on the way to Keene - and I have a sick cat at home. It would be nice if I could work from home and/or be able to choose my own hours.
Everything you described about missing the familiar tugged at my heart. Especially with Sammy's health concerns, this seems like a time when familiar people and places just might bring some comfort to you and your kitties. I just want to acknowledge that before I move on to the practical.
Quote:
Originally Posted by arel
Hopefully, I can find work (and like it) at a local agency. If not, I would have to commute to Northampton, Keene or to points north, even to the Upper Valley. I want to minimize my commute. The driving is treacherous in the winter - I don't want to skid into Spofford Lake on the way to Keene - and I have a sick cat at home. It would be nice if I could work from home and/or be able to choose my own hours.
Working at home is my preference, too, for many reasons. I feel very lucky to be doing that. Still, I commuted up here for many years without incident.
For 8 years, I commuted to Keene from Peterborough, NH, and, later, from a remote location in Rindge, NH. My boss commuted to Keene from Brattleboro every day, and, later, from farther north in VT. Others at our office came from much more distant towns and got to Keene on far narrower, twistier roads than Route 101.
None my coworkers and I ever had a problem on those roads. There was the veryrare day when conditions were too treacherous to drive, and then we just didn't. And remember, I moved to NH from Miami, FL, and did my first-ever winter driving on that daily commute! (I don't think any of my coworkers were VT natives either.)
In 1994-5, I commuted twice weekly nearly 100 miles between Keene and Cambridge, MA for massage school -- and I never missed a single day due to weather. When I was in grad school 2005-7, I commuted between Rutland and Keene for 18 months and, again, never missed a day.
In Keene, I had a Jetta with great snow tires. Then I had a little old Mercury Tracer wagon which was great in snow with good snow tires. Now I put the best snow tires on my 2006 Honda Civic, and it's by far the best winter car I've had. I wouldn't bother with a 4WD unless I regularly traveled hilly, unpaved roads (none of which are required to get from Brat to Keene).
I've never even heard of anyone skidding into Spofford Lake, though I imagine it's happened. Though accidents can happen even when taking all due precautions, here's what I've noticed about most winter driving accidents:
Driving too fast for road conditions
Driving too close to the car ahead
Taking turns too fast
Slamming on breaks
Winter driving simply may not be for you. I know Northern New England natives who still find it daunting and avoid it as much as possible. But I want to reassure you that it's done all the time without issue. Sometimes there are issues, but I just feel like I have to say that because in life there are no guarantees.
All that said, for your peace of mind and for your cats, I hope you find work from your home or very close to it.
The only route I am familiar with, to go between Brattleboro and Keene, is Route 9. I'm sure there are alternate routes, but I am not yet familiar with them.
Regarding the losses associated with the move: I have noticed that several times I have made necessary or even unwanted changes, and then discovered I liked the new better than the old.
Once I had to change doctors because of a change in health insurance. I ended up preferring the new doctor. Meanwhile the old doctor got in trouble and had his license suspended.
When my old Honda died, I got another car that ran much better.
I like my new home better than my old one, even though it is only a rental.
Maybe I'll find a better job, better veterinary care for my cats, a better doctor, etc.
One important choice I have to make is choosing a new chiropractor. I can't travel to Queens to see my old one - an especially gifted one - every time I have a backache. If I am one of those people who travel to NYC every month, I suppose I could visit him then. But what would I do if I needed a follow-up visit in a week?
There are two recommended chiropractor practices here. One chiropractor does "chiropractic orthopedics", which, I think is closer to physical therapy. The other is a father-daughter practice where they do kinesiology and even accupuncture. Kinesiology is what I am used to, so I will probably go there. But I wonder if different issues are best treated by different approaches. I have spoken to both offices, but only to office staff, not to the doctors.
I keep remembering what evangelist Rick Warren said in The Purpose-Driven Life. He said that all growth involves change, all change involves loss and all loss involves pain.
Regarding winter driving, I'm sure I'll get used to it. I normally don't like driving on unlit roads at night. But I was driving on them when I drove back from Brooklyn. And I discovered I had more confidence than I did last time. Of course, it helped that there were lots of other cars on the road and that their headlights provided some illumination.
I felt stuck in southern Brooklyn. I am glad I finally broke away. But there are losses that I cannot escape.
The only route I am familiar with, to go between Brattleboro and Keene, is Route 9. I'm sure there are alternate routes, but I am not yet familiar with them.
Yep, that's the one! Route 9 east crosses into NH and becomes Route 101 east. It's the same road all the way from Brat to Keene.
Arel,
It will get easier. I had some bad times the first year and yearnings (still occasionally do). Then I start dealing with my family in NY (who keep postponing coming up to visit, talk to me of annoying problems, and so on) and I realize how much better my life is not being embroiled in this nonsense anymore!
I think once you get a job and assimilate you will feel much better. It took me from September to March to get a job (and I am now unemployed again) but it helped to be a part of something. Join something, volunteer. Do anything that gets you out of the house. The more I am out of the house, the better I am.
Be kind to yourself and know maybe that area or town or whatever may not be the place you will be in a year.
You are brave...we all are who move away from the familiar to the new...!
PS Once you stop shopping for entertainment you realize you are no longer a NYer....
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