From SF, CA looking for a place to live in NY -work as a psychotherapist (Yonkers: apartments)

[meldiva]

Hi there,
I am relocating for my boyfriends job to NY. He will be working in Mt. Vernon and we were recommended Scarsdale, Larchmont, Bronxville, Pelham areas to live. If anyone has any suggestions of a good place to live-open to other areas. We are both outdoorsy, active, into yoga, running, healthy lifestyle. We are both in our early 30's. I am a psychotherapist and would like to start a practice there as well. Anyone with good info, please help!

[Viralmd]

We can help you more if you provide us with a budget. Do you plan to buy or rent?

[meldiva]

We plan to rent - probably looking to rent a 1BR around $1600 per month or a bit more.

[7 Wishes]

Those towns will work, though $1600 may be on the border for a 1 BR apt as they are very expensive towns but it sounds right. Bronxville would be almost a "nothing commute" to Mt. Vernon, especially if it's the apartments that are really in Yonkers but serviced by the Bronxville PO (which have a Bronxville address but you pay Yonkers city income tax......$1600 would be more than enough to get a nice 1BR there if not a 2BR there, see Fleetwood below).

Right across from that area is the Fleetwood neighborhood of Mt. Vernon. It's very different from the rest of Mt. Vernon, very diverse, nice shops and restaurants and lots of young singles and couples in their 30s. And you'd save on rent there too ($1000-1300 for a good 1BR).

[kletter1mann]

FWIW, the generally prevailing culture in Scarsdale would tend towards the country clubby vs hiking, boating, cycling, climbing etc. In Larchmont it would be the reverse. These are generalizations to be sure, but esentially true.

As for a practice in pyschotherapy, you're penetrating the very core of the mother ship. Everybody either has been, is now or will be in therapy. You can count virtually everyone you see on the streets, in the stores or in the schools of all these towns as potential clients.

[havoc315]

Larchmont is just as country-clubby as Scarsdale, except Larchmont is also yacht-clubby as well.

Really, for the " outdoorsy, active, into yoga, running, healthy lifestyle," you are looking at the wrong towns. You may want to focus on the river towns and on northern Westchester. The commute to Mount Vernon will be a bit longer (15-40 minutes, depending from where exactly). But those areas will be more consistent with the lifestyle you are seeking.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by havoc315

Larchmont is just as country-clubby as Scarsdale, except Larchmont is also yacht-clubby as well.

Really, for the " outdoorsy, active, into yoga, running, healthy lifestyle," you are looking at the wrong towns. You may want to focus on the river towns and on northern Westchester. The commute to Mount Vernon will be a bit longer (15-40 minutes, depending from where exactly). But those areas will be more consistent with the lifestyle you are seeking.

I have hard data indicating that:

1. Participation in "country club sports" (golf, tennis) is higher in Scarsdale than Larchmont
2. Participation in "alternative" sports (skating, climbing, cycling, kayaking, hiking, etc) is higher in Larchmont.

The differences aren't enormous, but they are significant enough to influence the general atmosphere. Trust me on this, I'm in the sports business. But it's certainly true, Larchmont is yachtier and upcounty is far more outdoorsy than either. (Jogging down the Bronx River Pkwy doesn't qualify as outdoorsy in my book.)

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

FWIW, the generally prevailing culture in Scarsdale would tend towards the country clubby vs hiking, boating, cycling, climbing etc. In Larchmont it would be the reverse. These are generalizations to be sure, but esentially true.

As for a practice in pyschotherapy, you're penetrating the very core of the mother ship. Everybody either has been, is now or will be in therapy. You can count virtually everyone you see on the streets, in the stores or in the schools of all these towns as potential clients.

The only issue I see is that most people DO prefer psychiatrists to psychotherapists....

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

The only issue I see is that most people DO prefer psychiatrists to psychotherapists....

True! Therapy is hard work and the results are uncertain. I should have said "everyone you see has been on, is now on or will soon be on SSRI's."

[dma1250]

I agree with Havoc on this one--if you're after "outdoorsy, active, into yoga, running, healthy lifestyle," then you should focus on Northern Westchester. You'll add a little to your commute, but you'll be happier.