[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by edkop

Ultimately, I think the vision I have of ‘The good life” resides in Vermont.

I love VT, but its ridiculously expensive. I have to be within a few hours of Albany NY so I chose VT. I don't know what your limitations are as far as moving away from NJ, but you can get a similar life elsewhere for a lot less money. I'd base much of it on weather. Can you take the cold and ice? For
me, one of the biggest bonuses is the cooler summer, but believe me we get humid weather, it's not like our summers are fall like. However, we have very few of those days when you walk out of your air-conditioned house and feel like you're walking into an oven. But we also have relatively few sunny days. A lot of our days in the summer that look good if you check weather temperatures are actually, cool, damp, and overcast.

Parts of Virginia and mountain areas of North Carolina are nice and much cheaper. Wisconsin may be the best bargain in the US. These places aren't Vermont, but a lot of transplantees would probably do better in these places. Vermont is no place to be pinching pennies.

I've always loved Vermont and always wanted to be a Vermonter. I love it here, it's my favorite place I ever lived, but I'm not saving enough money for the future.

I've said this before, but I'll say it again:

The best way to end up with a small fortune in Vermont is starting out with a large fortune.

By the way, check your personal messages inbox.

[Duff in VT]

Originally Posted by edkop

Great information, thanks. Moving right along..(well not literally, yet anyway)
. Anyone have any ideas where we can stay for >$100 per night why we visit in Feb? I would love to take the family sledding while where there, so if you know of a good spot let me know!

We stayed at the Best Western Windjammer, on Williston Road in South Burlington in Oct. Every other "decent" hotel/motel was well over $100 and this one was $89 + tax etc. which made it just about $100 per night. Had two rooms in the new section (request it !) and all was fine. Good restaurant on the premises.

[mustmove]

Here you go: VerShare Stagecoach Stop Hostel - Lodging in Vershire, Vermont
Now go reread Quickdraw's post. A buddy of mine who grew up here and owns a house here but works in CT/MA has a hobby: Whenever someone new from MA,NY,CT,NJ moves into town he notes the car they are driving(usually something decent) then he notes what they are driving a couple of years down the road. It's always either the same car now beat to a pulp or a crappy subaru/old truck. It's not about being materialistic it is simply a measure of standard of living. You might not care much about the car you drive but live here for a few years and you will be driving something worse. I'm sure you could note the same thing with clothes.

[edkop]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Can you take the cold and ice? For
me, one of the biggest bonuses is the cooler summer, but believe me we get humid weather, it's not like our summers are fall like. However, we have very few of those days when you walk out of your air-conditioned house and feel like you're walking into an oven. But we also have relatively few sunny days. A lot of our days in the summer that look good if you check weather temperatures are actually, cool, damp, and overcast.

Parts of Virginia and mountain areas of North Carolina are nice and much cheaper. Wisconsin may be the best bargain in the US. These places aren't Vermont, but a lot of transplantees would probably do better in these places. Vermont is no place to be pinching pennies.

I love winter and snow, one of the many things that grab my attention in VT. We were up there in Aug and the weather no too bad, that week anyway. But people did tell us that it seemed to have rained the entire month of July last year. In NJ you can't breath outside in Aug, its so darn humid you need gills.
We've visited the places you mentioned, but the people don't seem to be the same. I must admit, most if not all of the people I interacted with in VT were really nice, helpful folks. They just seem to have a different laid back attitude. Time doesn't seem to be of essence to most, and that in itself is a wonderful thing.

I couldn't agree more that Vermont is no place to be pinching pennies. That's why I'm here doing my research to be 100% sure that If we moved, we would be there for good. There are no better people to get insight from then those who live there - We really appreciate all your help!

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by mustmove

Here you go: VerShare Stagecoach Stop Hostel - Lodging in Vershire, Vermont
Now go reread Quickdraw's post. A buddy of mine who grew up here and owns a house here but works in CT/MA has a hobby: Whenever someone new from MA,NY,CT,NJ moves into town he notes the car they are driving(usually something decent) then he notes what they are driving a couple of years down the road. It's always either the same car now beat to a pulp or a crappy subaru/old truck. It's not about being materialistic it is simply a measure of standard of living. You might not care much about the car you drive but live here for a few years and you will be driving something worse. I'm sure you could note the same thing with clothes.

I hate to say it, but I moved here with two cars in 2004. Today I drive the same two cars- one has 165k and the other has 91k. I've never had a car situation like this.

But I'm happier, and that's the trump card

Although I'm not adequately preparing, financially, for my retirement .

[68vette]

To add to the comments about liking the cold and snow. It's a very different cold and snow than you experience in NJ. You may love the weather we have here, but you are not alone. Your wife and kids will need to love the weather just as much. I'm from Southern New England and it took a few years to get used to winters here(much longer and colder). If your wife dosn't like the cold as much as you do you wouldn't want to end up in divorce court because you wanted to move to Vermont. I'm sure that won't happen, but it has been stressful for many peoples marriages if one loves it here and the other doesn't.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by 68vette

To add to the comments about liking the cold and snow. It's a very different cold and snow than you experience in NJ. You may love the weather we have here, but you are not alone. Your wife and kids will need to love the weather just as much. I'm from Southern New England and it took a few years to get used to winters here(much longer and colder). If your wife dosn't like the cold as much as you do you wouldn't want to end up in divorce court because you wanted to move to Vermont. I'm sure that won't happen, but it has been stressful for many peoples marriages if one loves it here and the other doesn't.

A very good point. It really is important ALL members of the family share an appreciation of the season be it a northern winter or southern summer. We are on our fourth winter here after having spent twenty two winters in Alaska and for some reason winter here is really wearing thin on my wife. Maybe it's because she grew up in NH and after all those added Ak winters even the more pronounced four seasons we have here just is not enough to alleviate the long cold months. Personally, I have no real problems with winter, but am looking forward to eventually moving further south where winters are shorter in duration. While it is strongly advisable to visit here in the winter before deciding to move, it is also important to understand that putting up with winter week after week and month after month can wear on you versus the good times experienced on visits.

[GypsySoul22]

Winter in VT (and northern New England) means making hay while the sun shines.

Doing all your errands on nice days because you never know when the snow and ice are coming (back).

[edkop]

Well, the Kids love the snow... My wife...well, that's why we're coming up for a visit in February I already promised her that if winter proved to be too much for her, I'll throw in the towel. (or another blanket or two)

[ex-springfielder]

I chuckle when I read all the post about people wanting to move to Vermont and in almost every case the area they're thinking of is Burlington...Vermonts only, even if small by other standards, city. Vermont winters are cold, long and can be very harsh and while the winters lately have been mild you'll never know when thirty below will show up. Cars don't start, pipes freeze, you have to endure the trip to work and you don't want to leave the house once you're home. Snow is on the ground until May, you hate to hear the sound of the furnace coming on every fifteen minutes and that's just the weather. If you live in any area other then Burlington or Rutland you need to get used to driving an hour or two to go shopping or for most entertainment other then outdoor activities. Taxes are ridiculous and will not change anytime soon, jobs scarce so if you loose your job how far will your next commute be once you find a new job. Vermont is not a land of milk and honey, it's a retreat where wealthy city folk can get away for a while before they have to return to their high paying(in some other state) job. There are plenty of sites where you can compare Vermonts tax rate to the national average as well as Vermonts average income, the two don't go well together. Vermonts liberal government wants to tax you as much as squeeze out of you as they feel they know how to spend your money better then you do(read social programs, not infrastructure). If you're thinking of moving to vermont go online and read a vermont paper every day, read about the companies that are closing or moving out of state, it's rare to read about anyone moving a company to vermont, it's too expensive and the sate regulations are anti-business. Since the days of the Kunin administration Vermont government has done all it could to keep Vermont the picture postcard state at the expense of it's citizens. Yes vermont is rural so there is less traffic and less crime but that doesn't mean Vermont has no drug problems or it's share of whacko's. I lived there over fifty years, I go back to visit family and when I do I still notice how beautiful the countryside is, but to live there again year round...never.