Why we're moving back to the US (from Paris)

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by cunparis

Actually they do. People ask me about the US all the time. What's work like? What are your coworkers like? What's the difference between the House and Senate? What do I think of Obama? The questions go on and on. Most countries are globally aware and curious. Americans a bit less so, but that's why I want to go to a place where they can find France on a map and are interested in another point of view.

The American system is out of control. I think things are going to have to get a lot worse before people finally wake up to it. And hopefully someone will be there to get us out of this mess. I think looking around to see how other countries are doing things is a good first start.

For example healthcare. The average American pays a lot in healthcare for what's usually a low standard of care (long wait times, have to get referrals, have to see specific doctors, etc.).. If they knew what it's like to have a national healthcare system where you can see any doctor and have any test, they might be less willing to put up with the system in the US.

Oh yes, of course you might get asked a lot of questions about how things are done back home.
Intellectual curiosity is wonderful, if that is as far as it goes.
When you might run into resistance or defensiveness is if you try to make your new home into your old home by suggesting, subtly or otherwise, that people change their ways.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by cunparis

Actually they do. People ask me about the US all the time. What's work like? What are your coworkers like? What's the difference between the House and Senate? What do I think of Obama? The questions go on and on. Most countries are globally aware and curious. Americans a bit less so, but that's why I want to go to a place where they can find France on a map and are interested in another point of view.

The American system is out of control. I think things are going to have to get a lot worse before people finally wake up to it. And hopefully someone will be there to get us out of this mess. I think looking around to see how other countries are doing things is a good first start.

For example healthcare. The average American pays a lot in healthcare for what's usually a low standard of care (long wait times, have to get referrals, have to see specific doctors, etc.).. If they knew what it's like to have a national healthcare system where you can see any doctor and have any test, they might be less willing to put up with the system in the US.

The key is to keep Americans ignorant about how the European healthcare system works. Most Americans have no clue and are easy to convince with the constant circulation of various horror stories to frighten them enough so they will not want any changes.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i was there 5 years. yeah pretty much same.
the good news.
now you know what you got here.
sweetest words i ever heard when i walked thru customs after 5 years
welcome home huck.

[cunparis]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Based on that, you might want to look for a state that actually cares about its citizens...I think Massachusetts is one of the few.

I wouldn't generally recommend Massachusetts, (I prefer the West Coast)...but if you are considering Connecticut, it seems like Massachusetts is right next door, and probably has a bit more to offer its citizens.

Such as?

I'm open to living outside of Boston. In between Boston & Cape Cod would be nice.

[jaytr]

First, I haven't updated this thread in a long time. After a lot of discussion, my wife & I have decided to focus on New England. We're currently looking at areas in Connecticut. Somewhere around New Haven. It's far enough from New York to be away from the big city stress and unfriendliness, yet close enough that we could go to the big city now and then if we want to. What do you think about this area?

My wife and I actually really like CT, once you escape NYC's gravitational pull. The closer to NYC, the meaner and more pretentious people become. CT's taxes are lower than NY's, so many hedge funds and some investment banks (ex: UBS and RBS) are headquartered in Greenwich, Stamford and Westport. Those are good sources of employment, but generally, you want to live east of those cities for more friendly neighborhoods (less snobbery). One possible exception: Ridgefield, preferably the part closer to Wilton and Weston. Close to New Haven, try Milford, a pleasant, middle-class town with an easy pace and friendly people. Trumbull is nice, too. A lot depends on where your job will be and your housing budget, of course. For housing prices, check Zillow.com. It really helps to see an area "in person", before spending much time researching statistics and housing prices. One caution: the I-95 has miserable traffic through Stamford, even after the massive highway construction finished. Better to take the 15 (Merritt Parkway).

I saw that you were also interested in MA. Western MA is very nice. Boston...not so much--it suffers most of the problems of NYC, and drivers are extremely nasty (worse than NYC) and reckless--they've well earned the nickname "Ma$$holes". I lived for a year and a half near Boston, so I'm well familiar.

My wife likes Washington DC. I've only been once on vacation. A coworker of mine lived there for a year, he loved it. I had looked into Virginia. Traffic is a big concern and the homes are not cheap there. But if we don't have to go into the city often then it could be OK. The beaches would be nicer there than in Connecticut and it's closer to my family in Kentucky.

Traffic sucks in DC. The workarounds are using the Metro or living close to work (common sense). Yes, homes can be expensive. Again, it depends on where your job is and your housing budget.

For your comments about Charlotte & Raleigh - that's exactly how we felt. We visited both. The Raleigh area was so spread out we missed the city. Charlotte seemed nicer and newer. Closer to what I'm used to having lived in Phoenix (and Raleigh closer to Kentucky). However it seemed Raleigh is a bit more democrat and with the universities maybe more intellectual. Just my idea, I can't prove that.

We really wanted to like Raleigh/the Research Triangle, with all of the universities and high tech/research. It probably is more Democrat in the cities' downtowns and more Republican in the new, upscale suburbs--just my guess. Charlotte was more appealing for its downtown. But its university is much newer and less established. I suspect the city might feel a bit small after just a year or two. We still prefer Charlotte over the Triangle, but the job situation is worsening in Charlotte.

We're aiming for DC (fingers crossed). My wife wants a warmer climate than New England/NY/Northeast. And it's a bit more affordable in DC suburbs than NYC suburbs (not much, though).

We would like to consider moving to Europe for a few years, and I've created a post/thread titled "What European city for a couple starting a family?" I wonder if you would comment on our ideas (in that thread, of course). Some have suggested Toulouse, Dordrecht, Bavaria, Brussels and Dublin. We also thought about Geneva, Luxembourg and Malta. Thanks.

[TomDot]

[quote=jaytr;9724364]

I saw that you were also interested in MA. Western MA is very nice. Boston...not so much--it suffers most of the problems of NYC, and drivers are extremely nasty (worse than NYC) and reckless--they've well earned the nickname "Ma$$holes". I lived for a year and a half near Boston, so I'm well familiar.

Reckless? How do you explain the fact that Massachusetts consistently has the lowest traffic fatality rate of all 50 states?
No way in heck are Boston drivers worse than New York drivers. The parkways of LI are akin to driving on the Magny-Cours...On race day!

[jaytr]

Drivers in NYC are horrible, too. They'll run red lights and cut in front of you. But in the Boston area, even with your turn signal on and trying to change lanes safely, they'll race to cut you off (block you) and then flick you off, too. I've seen this countless times (happened to me, friends, other drivers) and heard about it so often, it's legend. Boston drivers will leap frog, using the emergency lane to pass you (only moving ahead one car). I am NOT a slow driver, and I don't block cars, and I move out of the way and use my signals and check my mirrors very often. I think Boston area drivers are just extremely frustrated with traffic and are extremely aggressive. NYC drivers are probably just as bad, but not as nasty and aggressive. I don't care to say who is better, overall. Just making observations, based on direct experience.

[Cornerguy1]

Time to let the OP and others interested in the same move pursue information on their various options on the appropriate state forums.