[xbsd]

I posted this sometime back on a NJ messageboard with not much luck. Hoping the CT board might be of more help / be more relevant to the topic.

I recently moved from CT to NJ. I've always lived in CT, and was very accustomed to Ffld county. Moving to NJ, my first time ever living off state has been a totally different experience. The overcrowding, rushed up atmosphere, rude drivers and what-not have been completely different from what I had always been used to. I live in a pretty decent area of Jersey close to River Rd in the Guttenberg-West New York area. But with each block having it's own demography (and corresponding issues), it's a nightmare travelling from point A to B. Perhaps, I am just not used to it.

I've been considering commuting from CT (probably Stamford) to NJ, i.e., move back to CT and commute to work. I work close to Lincoln Harbor connected via both the NY Waterway Ferry (that leaves from Midtown 39th St) and the Light Rail (connected to Hoboken). Driving, if I leave early can probably get me there in an hour and a bit above, commuting probably 1.5-2 hrs.

I basically have 2 options -

a. Take MTA from STM to GCT, catch the NY Waterway bus from GCT to 39th St. Ferry, take the ferry to Lincoln Harbor.

b. Take MTA from STM to GCT, catch the subway to Port Authority and a bus to Lincoln Harbor.

I've travelled on MTA many-many times, but rarely, if ever on NJTransit.

So my question is this - do any of you have experience living in CT and working in NJ ? And if so, how was your commute / how long did you do it for ? How tough were the winters ?

Thanks !

[JayCT]

Any way you cut it, the commute from Connecticut to New Jersey is tough. You have to travel through New York and just getting into the city is tough enough. Similar to you, I came from Fairfield County to New Jersey. Lived there for 5 years before returning to Connecticut. It was a real eye opener for a young kid from suburban Connecticut. I enjoyed living near NEw york and took advantage of the closeness as much as I could. But the rents were high and money was tight so I could not do as much as I would have liked.

All this said, have you considered moving to a less crowded part of New Jersey? Where you live is in the shadows of MAnhattan so of course it is crowded and diverse. There are many nice areas to the north and west that would be more like Fairfield County. Think about it. It would be easier than commuting from Stamford everyday. JMHO Jay

[xbsd]

Hi Jay / others,

Could you please suggest parts of Jersey which has a 'CT' aka a more normal feel to it ?

Thanks, Raj.

[JayCT]

You probably should post this question on the New Jersey boards but I like Ramsey and Mahwah. Not sure what your price range is or what you are looking for. Jay