[leedspaddy]

Originally Posted by cleobarker

Hi Julie,

Vernon is a nice enough little town, it's pretty rural and it has low property taxes which can be an advantage but frankly that's because it's also home to a nuclear power plant. You may or may not be concerned about that. But then perhaps that's where your husband's new job is? If so, he must be more comfortable with the industry than I am, just me.

There are many surrounding towns that are nice places to live. Brattleboro itself has what I consider to be high property taxes, as well as high housing prices. Although I don't have children and cannot specifically address the education issue, I think I've heard that beyond the elementary level the schools aren't great.

Within a 20 minute drive to Vernon you have such towns as: Guilford, Putney, Dummerston, Newfane, and Brookline, VT as well as Northfield, MA and the surrounding areas. I wouldn't think you'd want to move as far away as Keene, NH...it's well beyond the 30 minute commute time your husband desires.

P.S.: leedspaddy, you're killin' me. I would suggest you keep in mind that your point of view isn't true of everyone else and all you're doing here is poisioning the minds of potential newcomers who may very well be happy here, as I am for the most part.

cb

OK Cleo, I have had a terrible experience with VT and so I am going to be negatively biased against the state. I may not be eloquent in expressing my views but its important to me to try and prevent anyone from going through the same crap I have experienced. I wish I was the only person stupid enough to move to a state without doing the proper research beforehand. Unfortunately, I wasn't the first and I won't be the last to be blinded by the state's beauty. If you are happy in VT that's great for you but you should know that your state in going down the toliet.............When the baby boomers start retiring in droves and the state fails to keep its young people, there is only on way to go and that is down because as Montpelier is dominated by the liberals and eco-nuts and we all know how they solve a financial crisis...raise taxes........so who will want to stay in a state with the highest tax burden in the nation and no jobs? If you are rich or you enjoy working 3 jobs or you like living in a shed then VT is for you. To me the beauty of any state is not worth sacrificing everything for especially when you see other states who preserve their state's beauty without destroying its residents future with a huge tax burden or restrict job opportunites.

[cleobarker]

leedspaddy,

Ok, one more time...I am NOT rich, I don't live in a shed, I don't work 3 jobs. You don't like Vermont, I understand that. You couldn't have made that any clearer.

Perhaps you should move and post your discontent on a different state forum?

I know you're trying to move...I hope you're happier wherever you land. Something makes me feel like you'll just have another set of complaints in another state, wherever that may be.

Pissing contest done?

cb

[leedspaddy]

Originally Posted by cleobarker

leedspaddy,

Ok, one more time...I am NOT rich, I don't live in a shed, I don't work 3 jobs. You don't like Vermont, I understand that. You couldn't have made that any clearer.

Perhaps you should move and post your discontent on a different state forum?

I know you're trying to move...I hope you're happier wherever you land. Something makes me feel like you'll just have another set of complaints in another state, wherever that may be.

Pissing contest done?

cb

No Cleo. Now that I know it annoys Liberals like you, I will post my discontent here even after I have long gone!!!!!!!!LOL...In truth, I'm not looking for a war of words but posting my negative opinion here will be well worth it even if manages to persuade just one person not to come to this hell hole........and as for having another set of complaints when I move to another state.....who knows? Every state has its own problems but at least I plan to be in a state that can provide my family and the chance for me to work for a better life unlike VT. As for not living in a shed............give it time..... even an avid fan of VT like you will slowly see the demise of VT. Get rid of the liberals and the Al Gore fan club and VT may have a chance!!!!!!
At the end of the day, my opinion means nothing. People should hear both sides of the argument but ultimately need to live here first to see the true VT....... BUT they should not buy a house when they get here especially if they see the light!!!!!!!!!!!

[juliecole18]

I get it but I know people who think the same way about CT. There are always peple who hate where they are. I under stand that houses cost a lot I have researched it. Taxes are bad but what ever I still need a place to live.

[leedspaddy]

Originally Posted by juliecole18

I get it but I know people who think the same way about CT. There are always peple who hate where they are. I under stand that houses cost a lot I have researched it. Taxes are bad but what ever I still need a place to live.

Hey its your life. You've got to do what you feel is best for you and your family. I truely hope you have a hugely better experience here than I have had.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Originally Posted by juliecole18

I get it but I know people who think the same way about CT. There are always peple who hate where they are. I under stand that houses cost a lot I have researched it. Taxes are bad but what ever I still need a place to live.

I try to keep my VT bashing down a little, but I too made the same
mistake Leedspaddy did. My Mom has always told me you make a home in
your heart, not in an area, and after 48 years I finally understand what
she said to me. I think what needs to be elaborated here in a more
rational voice is that no matter what research you do, until you get
here and live for a while you cannot fully realize the extent of some of
the negative stuff being elaborated on. I did do my homework and
visited multiple times and areas before we made our decision to come
here but none of that stuff meant anything upon arriving. The cost of
living is astronomical !! If you are not relatively wealthy I cannot see
coming in here now and being able to make it. Our combined incomes,
family of three, are about 60,000 and we simply cannot afford to live
here. We live in a very modest, old VT saltbox and live very prudently
and we would be bankrupt in two more years or less if we continued on
here. I guess what Im trying to say is there is a lot of stuff that impacts
you financialy that you cant count on or budget for moreso than
other areas of the US. In PA, Del, or NJ for instance, you could live
very comfortably on 60,000 a year. Thats how much of a difference
there is. My wife is Mastered in a few areas of education and she
is making what a first year teacher would make in most southern states.
This stuff needs to be taken into consideration, LOTS of consideration
before you make a move here.
To some people it is very worth the extreme personal and
financial requirements to live here. I would just respectfully suggest
you think very hard about making that kind of commitment before your
final decision.

[pucabear]

Originally Posted by KoZmiC NinJa

I try to keep my VT bashing down a little, but I too made the same
mistake Leedspaddy did. My Mom has always told me you make a home in
your heart, not in an area, and after 48 years I finally understand what
she said to me. I think what needs to be elaborated here in a more
rational voice is that no matter what research you do, until you get
here and live for a while you cannot fully realize the extent of some of
the negative stuff being elaborated on. I did do my homework and
visited multiple times and areas before we made our decision to come
here but none of that stuff meant anything upon arriving. The cost of
living is astronomical !! If you are not relatively wealthy I cannot see
coming in here now and being able to make it. Our combined incomes,
family of three, are about 60,000 and we simply cannot afford to live
here. We live in a very modest, old VT saltbox and live very prudently
and we would be bankrupt in two more years or less if we continued on
here. I guess what Im trying to say is there is a lot of stuff that impacts
the you financialy that you cant count on or budget for moreso than
other areas of the US. In PA, Del, or NJ for instance, you could live
very comfortably on 60,000 a year. Thats how much of a difference
there is. My wife is Mastered in a few areas of education and she
is making what a first year teacher would make in most southern states.
This stuff needs to be taken into consideration, LOTS of consideration
before you make a move here.
To some people it is very worth the extreme personal and
financial requirements to live here. I would just respectfully suggest
you think very hard about making that kind of commitment before your
final decision.

Very well said.

[flu189]

It's unfortunate that some folks take any criticism of Vt as simply bashing. This state has some of the most unique natural and historic sites which make living here a truly wonderful experience. I myself (well before even moving here) have for example hiked the Long Trail end-to-end four times and am planning on a fifth run at it. The reality of life for the majority of us requires that we manage money and pay our day to day debts while also keeping a keen eye on managing for our future needs and wants. I for one will not willfully bankrupt myself simply to feel good about paying out the nose in order to fund mulitudes of causes which a legislature out of touch with fiscal responsibility deems necessary. Yes, we need to take care of our citizens and provide a mechanism to help those in need, but it can be done with a manageable budget. It just amazes me how many folks I have met here, lifelong Vermonters, who have lost confidence in the competence of their representatives and their ability to get some sort of control and fiscal restraint implemented. It is truly a shame that we go all out to fund education at the rate we do and then lose so many of these young people because affordability issues destroy the means to settle down.

[Ingamar1960]

Just realize this is America, and it isn't gonna be much better, whichever state you go to, as we have already been sold out to the Asian Countries, and we no longer own our own country, with 12 million illegals sharing it with us....chew on that!

[arel]

Originally Posted by sugarmaple

There are some advantages to the Town of Vernon, I believe, including school system, vouchers for other schools (including private) and you should verify this with the school/town administration. Guilford is nice, as is Putney. There are pros and cons to every state and I still believe there are more merits to VT than not. I am a transplant from CT and although a whole different style of living, I would never move back to CT either.

Well, when I quoted this, I just highlighted the sentence: "There are pros and cons to every state and I still believe there are more merits to VT than not." The software took the whole post, but that's ok, as it puts the sentence into more perspective.

Yes, every area, not just every state, has pros and cons. You can't really expect a new place to be without cons, just as you can't realistically see the place you want to move from to be without pros.

In NYC, for example, the opportunities (for some, not all!) are so great that some people commute for 2 or more hours each way. NYC is a world city with world class arts, sciences, hospitals, etc. When you are here, you get to meet people from all over the world. But the cost of living is, indeed, astronomical, and there are other quality of life issues, many of which are very serious. For example, I just read this weekend that Jamaica Bay (the bay west of JFK airport - on the map it has a lot of little islands on it) is rapidly turning into a cesspool because of pollution. This is upsetting, as the bay is beautiful and I have kayaked on it. There is also a lot of income disparity in NYC - there is fabulous wealth and grinding poverty - and also pollution, crime, congestion, casual and deliberate disrespect and rudeness. Just look at some of the threads on the NYC forum and you will see the hostility, vulgarity and general nastiness of a lot of those posts. I have seen some heated disagreements on the Vermont forum, but little if any of that kind of nastiness.

Think of the congestion, the dependence on bridges and tunnels, the huge number of immigrants who speak little or no English, and then try to imagine what it would be like to handle the eventual major hurricane. I think the authorities have a pretty good handle on the terrorist threat, but you never have a 100% handle on it.

Even though NYC may be an extreme example, the same mixture of pros and cons goes for almost any other city, town or region, as well as state. I am writing about NYC simply because I know it.

If your husband has a secure, decently paying job waiting for him, and you can afford the housing, then you will probably be ok. The only problem is that good jobs are few and far between. If you lose your job you may be in big trouble, and if you hate your job you may be stuck. Outside of housing costs, though, and of course, taxes, the cost of living is, while high, not unmanageable.

That said, please bear in mind that I do not (yet) live in the area. I am still researching.

My plan, when I come up, is to diversify my income, e.g, if I buy a house, I will buy one with one or more rental units, so I will have rental income and will not be solely dependent on my job. (I may rent first, although, with 5 cats, it may be hard for me to find a rental.) I also have a health care profession that I can use in a job or in private practice. I also have a couple of interests that I might want to (or have to) develop into potentially income-producing businesses.

A while ago, someone told me that in Vermont, you do what you need to do to make a living. (Giving up pets, however, is not an otpion for me, nor, I think, for you.)

My point is that if you do your research and make preparations for expected difficulties, you should be ok. But it is true that you don't really know what the place is like until you actually live there.

BTW, I have asked several people in Brattleboro if they like living there. With one exception, they said they loved the area.

Postscript: Since this thread started quite a while ago, I would imagine that you have already made your decision! Please let us know what you decided and what the outcome was!