[LisaMc46]

Originally Posted by JM1822

Just out of curiosity, how much do you guys think a person would need to make to live in Vermont? Everyone talks about low paying jobs, but what do you think a family would need to make to live comfortably?

If you have children, please know that childcare (if you can find it) is very expensive (about $40 a day/higher for infants). Where I live, Lamoille County, most licensed daycares have waiting lists. Only a handful offer infant care and they can only take five to 10 infants, depending on their staff.

I just filed my taxes and we spent over $4,000 for part-time childcare. Both my children are in school so we only need after school care and care during the summer and school vacations.

Back when my children weren't in school yet I was limited to freelance work because I would have spent more for childcare than I could have earned working full-time. This put us in a really tight financial situation even though we live modestly (small house, older cars, thrift shop and Wal-Mart clothes, camping vacations, etc.).

There are some state childcare subsidies available, but you have to earn an extremely low family income to qualify. It mostly benefits the welfare to work population.

Don't forget to factor childcare costs into the equation if you're trying to figure out what your living expenses will be.

[kerrybean]

Hi, I'm popping in again to thank Duff for the response. I will make "Rent First!" my new mantra. We probably would have tried to buy immediately if so many folks hadn't insisted on the wisdom of renting. We don't have the bucks to live in split locations; I just hope we have enough for somewhere in NE. And that was very good advice on discovering the level of socializing. Can't imagine why anyone would flame you there. We happen to be friendly introverts & do just fine without a lot of people contact.

[MRVphotog]

MRV, I'm curious why you believe that Portland ME offers more than Burlington (we previously considered both areas)?

Portland is about twice the size of Burlington area with alot of diferent things going on. Being on the ocean you have the major working harbor thing. I have a place in Cumberland, just north of Portland.

Seeing one of those mega huge cruise ships docked is quite a sight not to the mention the 3000 tourists who disembark into the downtown. Alot more commercial activity going on. The fishing industry.

Nice climate especially in the summer as being on the ocean can be 20F cooler than just a few miles inland on a hot humid day. You have AHL pro hockey and AA baseball. The Flynn(Burlington) is awesome but the Merrill in Portland is amazing for concerts, from rock to classical. Can't forget that Portland has a nice new Target... and a new huge Whole Foods store. Lots of great food, read that there are 600 restaurants in the Portland area.

I like Portland but I wouldn't trade it for my quiet dirt road in Vermont.

[kerrybean]

Originally Posted by MRVphotog

I like Portland but I wouldn't trade it for my quiet dirt road in Vermont.

MRV, thanks for the intriguing description of Portland (now I've gotta visit it), and long may your quiet dirt road in Vermont by graced with your presence!

[GypsySoul22]

Personally I like Boston but I don't think it would be the best place to raise our child because I can't afford Beacon Hill.

I've been to Maine and frankly, the towns of Portland and Bangor look depressing and run down. I also have been to Bath and that was a factory town...very grey...

I would be happy in Vermont if I could have a job!

[flu189]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Personally I like Boston but I don't think it would be the best place to raise our child because I can't afford Beacon Hill.

I've been to Maine and frankly, the towns of Portland and Bangor look depressing and run down. I also have been to Bath and that was a factory town...very grey...

I would be happy in Vermont if I could have a job!

I agree, my trips to Maine other than hiking have not stimulated me. Not that there is anything wrong with Maine, but when you really travel the state you are struck by the immense distances and do notice how tough times in towns existed even before the current economic meltdown. I have a sister- in-law up there in the Rockport area and they manage a golf course and I assume things are going OK. As far as jobs, well, just look at today's markets. Until we start seeing green arrows signifying confidence in the fiscal future jobs are not going to appear. Many have predicted that Vermont will be at the tail end of any recovery and judging by what I have experienced and know for fact that will most likely be true.

[mustmove]

It makes sense that VT will be at the trail end of the recovery as VT was at the tail end of the boom. I think the boom dissipated before reaching VT, as will any future prosperity.

[LisaMc46]

Originally Posted by kerrybean

It seems like most of the folks who are unhappy with VT have one or the other (or both!) of the following complaints:
1. The winter
2. The economy/lack of jobs/high taxes/way the state is run

So I wonder if any of them look at the other New England states (throw in upstate NY for good measure) and say to themselves, "Now that's a place I could be happy in." Or are the above issues common to NH, ME, etc as well as VT? Alternatively, for the happy Vermonters, why did you pick (or stay in) VT as opposed to ending up in one of the other NE states?

My DH & I (retirees, not wealthy) are exploring a possible future move to New England, and we are looking at Vermont first. For all of you, the happy, the unhappy, and the in-between, if your choice was to remain in VT or move to any other NE state (upper NYS thrown in), what would you choose to do and why? (Let's pretend the move would cost you nothing. Might as well make this a pleasant exercise...)

A move to NE will probably affect the relationship you have with certain family members. Depending on where your brothers, sisters, children, etc. live you may not see them as frequently as you do now.

When I moved to Vermont I thought my sisters and mom would visit frequently. After all I live within 10 minutes of both Stowe and Elmore State Park so they have every type of outdoor activity they want at their fingertips. Plus, I'm still within an hour's drive of Burlington if they wanted good shopping, music, etc.

Instead, my sisters visit once a year or so. My mother hasn't been up in over a year (she prefers that we visit her in N.J.) and my father and his wife haven't visited in nearly three years. Most of my other relatives haven't been up at all and no one visits us in the winter because they're terrified to drive in snow. Ditto for my husband's family.

Thinking it could be my fault (is my house too small, am I that bad of a housekeeper) I occasionally ask them why they don't come more often and they will usually cite the long drive, price of gas, general busyness of life, etc.

So, you may wind up trekking out of state to visit your relatives more often than you think (last year we used all of our vacation time traveling to see relatives and had no time left for a relaxing family camping trip). I would suggest that as part of your research you ask your relatives/friends how they would feel about visiting you if make the move.

Just my two cents.

[kerrybean]

I appreciate that 2 cents, Lisa. Actually, that is our biggest quandry right now. We have a very, very small family. Two elderly parents (neither in great shape) and one brother. My brother is used to the frozen north (lives in the UP of Michigan) and I hope he'll join us when he's retired. But what to do about the parents? We each have one left. Do we stay where we are while they are still alive and kicking? Can we convince (or insist on) them to move with us? Actually, DH's mother would have to come, as we are providing her with a lot of assistance in daily living. But my dad hates the cold & I know he'd refuse to go. Moving freaks elderly people to the max. I have decided just to wait and see what life brings, as there is no good solution right now. We'll need time to afford and arrange for upgrades to our house to make it saleable, then time for the economy to recover (will it??) so that it will sell, and after that.... who knows? Insert big sigh here.

[GypsySoul22]

We have not seen family since September 2007. My parents are older and Dad doesn't like to drive. He only flies to see my brother in Florida. They keep 'saying' they are coming up (we heard this all spring and summer last year). Now in the winter we will not see anyone...I don't think they will make the 7 hour drive.

We plan on going to NY in the spring of this year if possible. I think we will probably come back to VT and kiss the ground in 3 days.