[vbt]

We are thinking about moving to Vermont from the suburbs of NYC. We have 2 school aged kids and are a bit nervous about making such a drastic change at their age. We are pretty settled on the Mad River Valley area but need to think about our careers. My husband is an attorney and would need to continue practicing. Anyone have any advice about towns and schools? The warren and Harwood Union school districts look excellent. I am also intrigued by the idea of living in Burlington but know nothing of the suburbs that surround the city. Please offer any advice that you can. We love Vermont so much and spend as much time up there as possible.

[flu189]

Originally Posted by vbt

We are thinking about moving to Vermont from the suburbs of NYC. We have 2 school aged kids and are a bit nervous about making such a drastic change at their age. We are pretty settled on the Mad River Valley area but need to think about our careers. My husband is an attorney and would need to continue practicing. Anyone have any advice about towns and schools? The warren and Harwood Union school districts look excellent. I am also intrigued by the idea of living in Burlington but know nothing of the suburbs that surround the city. Please offer any advice that you can. We love Vermont so much and spend as much time up there as possible.

The vast majority of us here are here because we found one thing or another appealing. However, yes you need to think about careers and INCOME. I'm also an NYC ex-pat, though from way back in '76, and right now the economy is stressful especially here. If you have the fiscal resources than come on up kick the tires and see what's available, but don't make an assumption that work will for be available to tide you over just because of your prior experience, degrees, or pedigree. Don't mean to be blunt, but life is getting tough all over and well researched and informed decisions are an absolute must. Scroll back through the different threads in the Vermont forum over the past year or so and you will get some more information to you inquiries, otherwise just shoot a direct question and somebody here will chime in.

[vter]

I have no idea as to what kind of demand for attorneys there are up here....but have heard that we have one of the highest concentration of attorneys per capita (have no idea if thats true or not though ). You may want to contact the VT Bar Assoc for info. What do you do for work? The economy, as you know is pretty much in the toilet right now and lots of places are having layoffs and/or have hiring freezes on. There are some jobs out there, but tons of competition (given that so many people are looking for work right now).
Just keep in mind that visiting here and living here are completely different animals. Moving from an urban/suburban area to a rural area like the Mad River Valley can and will be a huge adjustment. Lots of folks move up here with rose colored glasses after visting and reading Vermont Life, only to find out that life in a small rural state is nothing like they thought it would be. Some people end up loving it, and some don't and usually end up leaving. Modern conveniences like 24 hour marts, big grocery stores, mall shopping, etc are not available in the MRV. The hospital is 45 minutes to an hour away, etc. You need milk at 8pm? You may be out of luck
One of our regular posters lives in the MRV so hopefullly he/she will chime in on what the day to day life is like.
You may find the transition to Vermont better by settling into greater Burlington first. A lot of people seem to settle into the Burlington area and then move their way into the hinterlands once they get their feet wet.

[mustmove]

VT has the highest concentration of lawyers except for DC. Buddy of mine graduated from Vermont Law School a few years ago and went back to IT consulting out of state. Many of his classmates have yet to find work. Local lawyers have started taking cases out of their specialties. And if you do find work wages are crap for lawyers with a few exceptions. I understand the immigration lawyers do quite well. Being well versed in permitting might work, but most likely it will be divorces, RE closings, and DUIs. Not very interesting or lucrative. Don't move up unless you both have the jobs you need, finding one later is not a strategy to count on here. Last visiting isn't the same as living here, not by a long shot.

[vbt]

Thanks all...I know this is something my husband and I have been kicking around for a while. We have been coming to Vt. for many years. I know things will be very different but have spoken to so many people in the MRV who have done this and think we could do it too. My husband is scared to move but is encouraged when he speaks to other who have made the jump. Just seems like a scary proposition at first. I work in the design profession and right now this field is at a dead halt...not many people looking to spend $$ on residential interior spaces at this time.

[GypsySoul22]

There are some things you have to get used to (I am also from suburban downstate NY).

One thing is lack of lighting at night, on the roads. In NY everything is lit up, people leave on their street (house) lights outside or on the driveway. Here you hardly see that. Few people leave on a porch light at night.

Fortunately we now live in a complex so when my husband gets home after midnight, he has 'some light' to guide him into the driveway. We used to live off a less busy area and it was pitch black--nice for star gazing (I was in awe the first night I saw stars not polluted by light) but not for practical driving.

[68vette]

That was a good post by vter. I also have a friend who graduated from Vermont Law School. He wanted to stay in Vermont, but there wasn't a single job to be found. He ended up working in Albany.

[Lilybeans]

Vermont has a ton of lawyers.

[chaz longue]

I think the advice to settle initially in Burlington is excellent. But having lived in Burlington for years, I guess I could be expected to agree...

Burlington is, though, a very liveable city, and strikes a lot of people from elsewhere as a great place to live - for all sort of reasons. And while I love the MRV and visit every chance I get, it can seem just a bit remote from a lot of amenities people value.

Originally Posted by vter

I have no idea as to what kind of demand for attorneys there are up here....but have heard that we have one of the highest concentration of attorneys per capita (have no idea if thats true or not though ). You may want to contact the VT Bar Assoc for info. What do you do for work? The economy, as you know is pretty much in the toilet right now and lots of places are having layoffs and/or have hiring freezes on. There are some jobs out there, but tons of competition (given that so many people are looking for work right now).
Just keep in mind that visiting here and living here are completely different animals. Moving from an urban/suburban area to a rural area like the Mad River Valley can and will be a huge adjustment. Lots of folks move up here with rose colored glasses after visting and reading Vermont Life, only to find out that life in a small rural state is nothing like they thought it would be. Some people end up loving it, and some don't and usually end up leaving. Modern conveniences like 24 hour marts, big grocery stores, mall shopping, etc are not available in the MRV. The hospital is 45 minutes to an hour away, etc. You need milk at 8pm? You may be out of luck
One of our regular posters lives in the MRV so hopefullly he/she will chime in on what the day to day life is like.
You may find the transition to Vermont better by settling into greater Burlington first. A lot of people seem to settle into the Burlington area and then move their way into the hinterlands once they get their feet wet.

[ranchero]

Hi, I was reading people's suggestions about places to live. Does anyone have any thoughts about Chester? I'm thinking of relocating from the Midwest/South and though the advice to rent is good, I think that living in a rental would definitely cloud my perception of a place, since home itself is so important. For those who've moved to Vermont or those who live there, where are places in the state you'd rather live now that you know it? I'm looking in the southern part -- afraid of Burlington winters. Thanks for any ideas!