[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by JayCT

West Hartford quiet??? Were you in West Hartford Center or BLue Back Square? I cannot imagine you finding this area quiet unless you are comparing it to a major city like New York. If you thought West Hartford was quiet, you will find Hebron to be positively dead. It is much smaller with even less going on. Jay

Originally Posted by Stylo

Yeah, are you sure you were in the center or Blue Back? Not really dead, packed on weekends. Hebron has NO life to it.

They're from Montreal. If they're comparing West Hartford -- even the center or Blue Back Square -- to downtown Montreal, then yes... it's much quieter. Not quite dead, but maybe sickly.

That's why, when they were initially talking about a "smaller town or city," I suggested West Hartford. For CT natives, it's not a really quiet town, but for a Montreal family, it's practically "country."

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by between

Kidyankee

i have heard cost of living is one of the highest in the country; in your opinion for a family of 4 what income will provide a good quality living? I know the more the better but will a 70K a year be enough? 50K? 90K?

thanks

It depends on your lifestyle.

If you want a 4br home and two reliable cars, and still be able to put food on the table, you're going to have a hard time in Connecticut living on 70k. If you're okay with renting an affordable apartment, or living in a condo, and live modestly (rarely eat out, etc), then you can get by on 70k.

For me - I like to take a vacation once a year, eat out once a week, and drive a nice car. We're a family of four and live in a four bedroom home. I'd guess our lifestyle requires at least 125-130k a year (before savings), and my town - cost of living wise - is about average for CT...maybe slightly above average.

A good lifestyle here doesn't come cheap by any stretch.

[LifeMoves]

I think I touched some nerves...Why are people suddenly all freaked-out about the word alternative..? I like quiet, that's why we're considering the country (but then you have more birds and crickets and frog noises at night). I also liked West Hartford. I just found that it wasn't very lively where we were. But, to be honest, with two young children and lots of looking at properties, schools, etc. I think we kind of missed the center. We did buy juice (very alternative, I know) at an area with lots of blue awnings. Was that the center? I come in PEACE.

[Stylo]

Here's a street view of the center: west hartford, ct - Google Maps

And Blue Back Square: west hartford, ct - Google Maps

Honestly, if you don't like WH, living IN Storrs is probably your next best bet. It's pretty liberal because of UCONN being there, and they are building a town center of sorts to benefit from the college population: http://www.storrscenter.com/

[between]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

It depends on your lifestyle.

If you want a 4br home and two reliable cars, and still be able to put food on the table, you're going to have a hard time in Connecticut living on 70k. If you're okay with renting an affordable apartment, or living in a condo, and live modestly (rarely eat out, etc), then you can get by on 70k.

For me - I like to take a vacation once a year, eat out once a week, and drive a nice car. We're a family of four and live in a four bedroom home. I'd guess our lifestyle requires at least 125-130k a year (before savings), and my town - cost of living wise - is about average for CT...maybe slightly above average.

A good lifestyle here doesn't come cheap by any stretch.

Thanks!

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by LifeMoves

I think I touched some nerves...Why are people suddenly all freaked-out about the word alternative..?

I certainly wasn't "freaked-out", just pondering the meaning of the term "alternative". In order to give advice, it's just helpful to understand what exactly someone is looking for when they say they are looking for an "alternative community". "Alternative" could have several different meanings.

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by LifeMoves

I think I touched some nerves...Why are people suddenly all freaked-out about the word alternative..? I like quiet, that's why we're considering the country (but then you have more birds and crickets and frog noises at night). I also liked West Hartford. I just found that it wasn't very lively where we were. But, to be honest, with two young children and lots of looking at properties, schools, etc. I think we kind of missed the center. We did buy juice (very alternative, I know) at an area with lots of blue awnings. Was that the center? I come in PEACE.

I wasn't freaked out either. You misunderstand. If anything, I was extremely amused at the irony and non-relevance of the remark:
When it's all said and done, you want the same thing that "non-alternative" people (whatever that means) wants....somewhere safe, quiet, good schools, etc, with the notable exception of you hinting at a touch of discrimination and low tolerance for people that do not share your alternative (again, whatever that means) views.
When it's all said and done. The best place to be is one that is diversified - That means fat, skinny, black, white, poor, rich, democrat, republican, left, right, gay, straight, so you can raise a child with diverse views and opinions, and tolerance and respect for differences. That is not "alternative" or "non-alternative", but it's what you want, or should want.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Dd714

I wasn't freaked out either. You misunderstand. If anything, I was extremely amused at the irony and non-relevance of the remark:
When it's all said and done, you want the same thing that "non-alternative" people (whatever that means) wants....somewhere safe, quiet, good schools, etc, with the notable exception of you hinting at a touch of discrimination and low tolerance for people that do not share your alternative (again, whatever that means) views.
When it's all said and done. The best place to be is one that is diversified - That means fat, skinny, black, white, poor, rich, democrat, republican, left, right, gay, straight, so you can raise a child with diverse views and opinions, and tolerance and respect for differences. That is not "alternative" or "non-alternative", but it's what you want, or should want.

I think this post:

Originally Posted by Dd714

...or nudists maybe...or swingers/partner swapping sex thing, who knows. But the most radical/aternative thing I can see in his requirements are "healthy eating". Wow that's alternative.
"anti-war", well I have yet to see a person that is pro-war - holding up signs saying "I'm for armed conflicts, let's invade Canada for fun".

was not only a little rude, but strange.

I can see where/why the OP is confused.

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I can see where/why the OP is confused.

Your comments are unwarranted. The OP wasn't confused, nor did he indicate confusion...we (or at least myself and the previous poster) were by his requirements listed on the original post. From that clarification, we would be better able to help him.
The OP also did not indicate that any post was rude, only you did. If he needs me to explain that they were in jest (although I think that is clear, and he seemed to pick up on the playful nature of my post in his response by commenting on the "juice") I will explain it to him, not you.
Take your non-alternative views somewhere else sir! (yes that's in jest as well)

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Dd714

Your comments are unwarranted. The OP wasn't confused, nor did he indicate confusion...we (or at least myself and the previous poster) were.
He also did not indicate that any post was rude, only you did. If he needs me to explain that they were in jest I will explain it to him, not you.

The OP interpreted your comments as being 'freaked-out'. You indicated you were not 'freaked-out'. That's confusion; or perhaps at the least, misinterpretation.

I indicated your post was rude; correct. It's also a little far fetched and off base. That being said, I'm unaware of there being, in the TOS, an ordinance against users other than the OP expressing an opinion. I require no explanation from you, as my response was not an inquiry.

Originally Posted by Dd714

From that clarification, we would be better able to help him.

Where have you assisted a poster in this forum previously?