moving to connecticut? is it a good idea? (Groton, New London: to rent, hotel)

nofearlax15 · 07-21-2009, 09:41 AM

Hi. my name is Kelly and i currently live in Kingsland, Ga with my husband. He is in the navy and we have the option to move to Groton, CT in January. I dont really know anyone who has lived there, i know it will be a very different change for us. we have no kids and we would like to travel as much as we can however its a hard decision since i have no clue what im getting in to. we only have a couple days to decide(got to love the military for making it all so easy!) but i appreciate any help that can be given. Also, what is the unemployment rate there? Are jobs available? or will i have to work and Wendy's just to make my car payment? My husband and I both have VW cars. would it be wise to trade a car into a 4WD? or are the roads cleared off pretty good in the winter?

Hollytree · 07-21-2009, 10:51 AM

Groton would be a great area to be in for awhile. It's near the ocean so that's a plus- also not far from Providence and Boston for big city life. There's lots to do in the region as a whole- Mystic Seaport and aquarium for starters. The Groton/ New London area is the home of the Coast Guard Academy and Electric Boat.
It is primarily a working class town- but large sections of Groton are very nice- very green and pretty. Jobs are probably about as hard to get as anywhere else right now. Look on Craigslist- Connecticut- eastern part for an idea of rents.
You don't need 4 wheel drive in coastal southern New England - there won't be a lot of snow.

Stratford, Ct. Resident · 07-21-2009, 11:04 AM

The jobs in New London County are primarily service jobs. The casinos are the largest employers. The defense/manufacturing industries had been the largest sector, but they have steadily declined and prospects for a return are nil. The casinos though have seen a downturn in revenue. Foxwoods has actually laid-off something like 7% of their workforce over the last year. I would have to guess that something in the health care field would be the most stable job in this region right now.

The southeastern shoreline has the mildest weather in the state, so you'll be fine with your front wheel drive VW's. You can always throw snow tires on if you're skittish.

GrotonMan · 07-21-2009, 11:47 AM

Hello Kelly,
I completely understand your situation as I've been there 6 times, and I hope that you do decide to make the move to CT. Groton is a pretty military oriented town and being as such, some service members like it and some really don't. What I have actually found though is that you can easily connect with somebody that has similar views here.

If you could let us know a little bit more detail about what you might be looking for more specifically, I think I might be able to help you find a really nice area for you and your husband. What kind of Job experience do you have? Are you looking for navy housing or your own house? Are you looking to rent? anymore information would be great.

Also, I have a 2004 Jetta 1.8t and it does pretty well in the snow. As has been mentioned above, the weather here is quite mild so you don't really have to worry too much about the tons and tons of snow that most people imagine for the area.

7 Wishes · 07-21-2009, 03:10 PM

I don't want to change this and scare you, but all this about snow is relative. You'll definitely see snow compared to Georgia, so you should know a little about driving in it, but what I think they all mean is that unlike the reputation of the northeast as a whole, it does not constantly snow in the winter along the northeast coast (at least south of Boston, which Groton still very much is). I don't think there's ever been a year where there's no stickable snow at all that fell, but unlike inland and mountainous areas (like upstate NY or Vermont), there are significant periods of winter with no snow cover, probably more of the winter lacks snow cover than not. And often it's like one or two big storms (that do not last on the ground very long, maybe a few days or a week or two) that are the bulk of the winter total snowfall. During those very occasional big snowstorms, schools and to some extent even businesses here are really good about closing or letting people get home while it's still safe.

That said while I'm not very familiar with the area outside of very occasional visits to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun, I know that there's a significant military presence and it's a friendly area in general (a lot of alumni who went to RPI with me became engineers at Groton Sub and other such firms down there for awhile so they've told me, some were also down there for military reasons). Good luck and go for it!

JViello · 07-22-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofearlax15

Hi. my name is Kelly and i currently live in Kingsland, Ga with my husband. He is in the navy and we have the option to move to Groton, CT in January. I dont really know anyone who has lived there, i know it will be a very different change for us. we have no kids and we would like to travel as much as we can however its a hard decision since i have no clue what im getting in to. we only have a couple days to decide(got to love the military for making it all so easy!) but i appreciate any help that can be given. Also, what is the unemployment rate there? Are jobs available? or will i have to work and Wendy's just to make my car payment? My husband and I both have VW cars. would it be wise to trade a car into a 4WD? or are the roads cleared off pretty good in the winter?

Go for it!

I think you may find a way of life much much different then you think, and/or the stereotype may lead you to believe.

S.E. CT is a very relaxed and historic area. (Think Savanna, Amelia Island etc but with a colonial flair and not only a vacation destination.)

I don't think you'll have a problem finding work that pays head and shoulders above the typical rates in rural GA. (Our MINIMUM wage here is $8.00hr and that's going up in about 6 months.)

As others have indicated, it's not the frozen tundra. Compared to South Georgia, it will be cold but nowhere near what you may think.

I'm sure Wavehunter will come on and give some weather stats for you.

Oh and be careful, New England has a way of biting some people hard and the experience stays with them for a very long time no matter where you go afterward you may find yourself looking back making comparisons.

Good luck!

nofearlax15 · 07-22-2009, 05:15 PM

WOW! thanks everyone for helping me out! this makes me feel a lot better about moving! it great to hear i wont have to trade my v-dub in since i love my car, and its also great to hear that people are mostly friendly too! i lived in Virgina (norfolk area) for a while too and i cant tell you how many rude people live there!

GROTONMAN-

i have a couple different kinds of job experience. i was a plumbers helper for my first job. that was the best experience of my life. i learned a lot that i didnt even know i needed to know! the first time i installed a kitchen faucet in my house my boss threw me a party lol. when i got married and moved with my husband to VA i did a couple small job in retail, not my favorite thing to do. then i got lucky and took a job with a trucking company and did the office work for a little over a year. the company transported fuel to local gas stations and also hazardous chemicals. so when the fuel dispatcher was out sick or on vacation i took over his job. i am currently working the front desk at a hotel, been here for almost 2 years.i am a very fast learner, friendly,and hard working 22 year old!!

pathfinda94 · 07-22-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofearlax15

WOW! thanks everyone for helping me out! this makes me feel a lot better about moving! it great to hear i wont have to trade my v-dub in since i love my car, and its also great to hear that people are mostly friendly too! i lived in Virgina (norfolk area) for a while too and i cant tell you how many rude people live there!

GROTONMAN-

i have a couple different kinds of job experience. i was a plumbers helper for my first job. that was the best experience of my life. i learned a lot that i didnt even know i needed to know! the first time i installed a kitchen faucet in my house my boss threw me a party lol. when i got married and moved with my husband to VA i did a couple small job in retail, not my favorite thing to do. then i got lucky and took a job with a trucking company and did the office work for a little over a year. the company transported fuel to local gas stations and also hazardous chemicals. so when the fuel dispatcher was out sick or on vacation i took over his job. i am currently working the front desk at a hotel, been here for almost 2 years.i am a very fast learner, friendly,and hard working 22 year old!!

Seriously, you would be fine in SECT!!

tree6199 · 07-22-2009, 06:40 PM

Groton is full of everything military, so you would fit right in as far as that's concerned. Employment if tough everywhere, but the casinos are probably your best bet. And southern Connecticut is beautiful. The further east you go the nicer the water will be. Once you really get into Long Island Sound, you will be amazed at what we in Connecticut consider the "beach". The water is dirty and gross.

You will get a few snowstorms, but the water does keep things a little warmer than most other places in northern Connecticut and your car should be fine. I would suggest renting at first and getting to know your way around before you buy anything. Some nice towns in that area are Niantic and Lyme. But they are also expensive.

JViello · 07-23-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tree6199

Once you really get into Long Island Sound, you will be amazed at what we in Connecticut consider the "beach".

Most of that "dirt" is not "filth" but sediment run off from rivers and salt marshes...it builds up in the < of the sound. Clinton Harbor is a great example. The water is brown...it's just because of the salt marshes all around.

Granted the closer to NYC you get, that may change...