If you are from the Northeast ... (Atlanta, Boston: real estate, house, employment)

[FromGA]

If you are originally from the Northeast (Boston - metro DC), and now living in Atlanta:

what do you see as primary positives about Atlanta

what do you see as primary positives about your Northeast hometown

what would it take to keep you in Atlanta, or make you want to move back to your Northeast hometown.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[neil0311]

Primary positives about Atlanta:

- Nicer and less expensive homes
- Less political correctness and intrusive nanny government
- Good business climate
- Mix of people from all over
- NO SNOW....milder winters
- Good BBQ

Things I liked better up north:

- No one asks or cares "what church do you belong to?". Religion isn't a primary focus.
- Northeastern cities like NY and Boston have a rich history that is preserved.
- Better food in general and better seafood... and diners to go to at 2am.
- Cooler summers

[BobKovacs]

Like about Atlanta:

- Much more affordable
- Far less competitive and "gotta have it now"
- More emphasis on family over work

Likes about my homestate of NJ:

- More developed- easier to find what you need close by
- Access to NYC for what you can't find in NJ
- More developed infrastructure, providing for more availability of goods/services

What would it take for me to move back to NJ:

- A complete shift in the affordability of homes
- A change in the work ethic
- A complete revamping of the crooked, connected, nanny-state political system (you think GA is bad? You ain't seen corruption til you've experienced NJ!)

In other words, I won't ever be moving back to NJ, and I'm perfectly alright with that.

[Go Blue 99]

I grew up in the Boston area.

Atlanta likes:

- House Affordability
- 70 degree days in November
- Lots of new construction and new development
- love the college sports pride here (almost everyone has a college plate on their car)

Boston likes:

- Short drive to multiple beaches (Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Newport) and great skiing
- easy access to other cool cities (NYC/Philly/DC)
- more cachet
- much better pizza
- public transportation that everyone actually takes

Other than family/personal issues, I would move back for a dream job or if real estate dropped by half.

[FromGA]

Thanks for the responses.

It would be nice to get some input on:
Philadelphia (better housing costs than rest of Northeast? but less vibrant business climate?) and
DC area (less nanny govt, and better business environment than rest of Northeast? high cost of living?)

[jforeman]

I was born in Lowell, MA and just moved to ATL from Boston. Ways in which Atlanta kicks Boston's ass:

-No butt clenching cold down south
-Chik Fil A
-Waffle House
-Cracker Barrel
-Zaxby's
-Popeye's
-Bojangles
-Krispie Creme

Although, I do like Dunkin' Donuts too (for the coffee).

All of my reasons are primarily food.
In boston I paid $1475/mo for a studio in Back Bay. Here I pay $1800 for a whole house in VaHi.

[PepperPot75]

Things I like about Atlanta:

• Lower cost of living
• Affordable housing
• Variety of employment industries and job opportunities (when times were good)

Things I like about my hometown Latham, NY

• In the fall, Sunday drives to Vermont to see the leaves on the trees.
• The ability to be able travel to other states (VT, MA, CT, NJ, PA).
• 3 hours from NYC, Boston, or the Canadian border.
• The Adirondack Mountains.
• 85 degree summer weather.
• Good school system.
• Snow for Christmas.

Things I didn't like about my hometown Latham, NY

• The weather and rust from the rock salt that ruins your car.

What would it take me to take to keep me in Atlanta - The things I liked have kept me here for 14 years.

I would move back to my hometown if housing and the cost of living were more affordable.

[PeteyNice]

Originally Posted by jforeman

I was born in Lowell, MA and just moved to ATL from Boston. Ways in which Atlanta kicks Boston's ass:

-No butt clenching cold down south
-Chik Fil A
-Waffle House
-Cracker Barrel
-Zaxby's
-Popeye's
-Bojangles
-Krispie Creme

There are Chik-Fil-A, Popeyes and Krispy Kreme in Boston.

[David Alleyne]

Originally Posted by jforeman

I was born in Lowell, MA and just moved to ATL from Boston. Ways in which Atlanta kicks Boston's ass:

-No butt clenching cold down south
-Chik Fil A
-Waffle House
-Cracker Barrel
-Zaxby's
-Popeye's
-Bojangles
-Krispie Creme

Although, I do like Dunkin' Donuts too (for the coffee).

All of my reasons are primarily food.
In boston I paid $1475/mo for a studio in Back Bay. Here I pay $1800 for a whole house in VaHi.

So you like the soul food,huh? I give y'all (Northerners) props for at least trying something different, especially you NYers, Bostonians, and Philly folk.

[neil0311]

Oh...and I'm shocked I didn't include these before...but I will now, especially given all the others from New England.

What I like and miss MOST about New England:

- The Red Sox
- The Patriots
- The Bruins
- The Celtics
- The great New England sports fans. Something about fans in places like Boston, NYC, Chicago that you don't get in Atlanta.