Cost of living versus family time

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Originally Posted by Pito_Chueco

Finally, many men (and some women) are very competitive, and they compete by acquiring expensive things (like homes) in expensive areas.

Or to acquire valued customer status at Emperors Club VIP. Men love to work hard and play hard, and have the trophies to show for it.

[bubbathedog]

Originally Posted by S.I.B.

WTF? I didn't realize high taxes = long /hours commute as well. Try to stick to one gripe at a time.

Actually, they are all linked into the standard of living on LI.... High COL usually means a commute into the city for most, which means long, long commutes on the beautiful LIRR. Jobs in the city have usually paid more, much more than those on LI. In fact, most large LI employers, who are still here on LI, are looking for bargains. Bargains from the politicians in the form of tax abatements and utility credits. This bargain hunting includes hiring professionals are deep discount.

So, for lot's of us, the high COL means a long commute to/from a 10-12 hour work-day in the city.

I did this when I was younger, but it's game over now that I'm wiser and older.

[BigBlue53]

When we were younger with little children I was driven to earn the most to have the newest,best and most up to date "stuff". In hindsight what I missed out on was a "home". A house is only a house but a home is something you build from within.

[SouthBound3]

Everyone is different - with respect to their emotional and family needs - and so the opinions you will receive here are likely to run the gamut. Additionally, irrespective of subject matter, you'll find that people tend to spend a lot of time justifying their actions/decisions - I think this is just part of human nature. I've often surmised that those in power know that the average person is a prisoner to their emotions and employer and as such will take untold amounts of financial/COL abuse before mustering up the strength to move somewhere else.

On a personal level, we've reached our line in the sand and have decided to leave while we are still young enough to tackle the challenge. Half our family has long since left the area and the half that remains we primarily see for major holidays/family milestones. Yes, the familiarity of a place we have called home for 30-40 years is very comforting - but had our grandparents not given up that very same comfort and immigrated here 100 years ago - we wouldn't have had the opportunity to call the greatest country in the world home.

[dman72]

I went from working a crappy job an hours drive away to a much better paying job 20 minutes away a few years back. I would never go back to that length of commute unless forced to by a job loss, or if the pay was so much more that I'd be able to retire in 5 years. Not likely.

[angevoss]

I think the question my husband is trying to ask is "Is the increased COL worth being close to family?". It is very subjective. Only we can answer that. How much does it mean to have a lot of family close by? Can you really put a price on that? As a kid, I would not have traded being close by to my cousins for more "stuff". Also, who says that we would be worse off on Long Island anyway? We may do better there than here. IDK....