[harry chickpea]

"I think it is most important to mention what my wife and I are mainly trying to escape is the people around here that do not seem to care about wasting anything..."

Huh? When we lived in south Florida, bulk pickup days were free curbside shopping. I love it when neighbors throw perfectly good stuff away. If Vermonters don't do that as much, it is because they don't have the money to squander. I get where you are coming from, but I wonder if you would be better off reviewing your priorities.

[joe moving]

I guess that is what I'm trying to figure out. Maybe we move just to find out it's ourselves that need to change, rather than the people around us. I am not sure.

Maybe it builds character to not have the money to squander.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by joe moving

My first thought would be that I would get a part time job (I'll do anything really) working for a company I believe in and shared my values. There I would hope to meet people with the similar values and interests. My wife would do the same, not necessarily at the same company.

The other side of me is saying I should give NJ a fair shot and really get involved (plow over the green yard that we are forced to faithfully mow every week [with a manually reel mower] and start a co-op of our own, etc.) before writing it off.

Everything you mentioned is possible and if you're wanting to give NJ a fair shot -- especially by raising consciousness of others in the ways you mentioned, thereby improving NJ and the world -- then staying put is easier than moving in so many ways.

I don't think you'd find the same pervasive mindless consumption here as in NJ. The consciousness seems higher here; the culture of spending is not part of VT as I've observed it in NJ (and very much in SFla, where I'm from); and opportunities to be involved in community work that improves the environment and helps its inhabitants are vast.

As far as companies to possibly work for, you could start by perusing VT Businesses for Social Responsibility. Of course, VBSR members don't all subscribe to the same set of values and practices (not hardly!). So you'd need to look deeper than just names on this list, but it seems a good place to start.