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Growing up and living in the LI area all your life, it's hard to say what else is out there. You hear of people saying how great it is here and you never want to leave. It's a big step to leave your family & friends or the sites and the only big city you knew.
Anyone who's lived elsewhere around the country in addition to LI please chime in because I can't imagine living my entire life in one place, but I also do not want to regret leaving for somewhere blindly.
We moved to NC 7 years ago. I was one of those people who never ever thought of leaving LI. Now I would never ever move back to LI.
49 other states exist in this country, people shop, work, have friends, go to dinner and have full lives without ever stepping foot on LI or NY for that matter.
The funny thing about LI/NY is that the only people who think its so great are the ones actually living there. Most people from other states are not dying to live in NY.
Most people from outside the NY area have the thought "nice place to visit, wouldn't want to live there".
As for the previous statement if you move to NC (not sure about Florida) you can't afford to come back to LI is not always the case. My home in NC is worth more money(75,000 more) than my old LI home and we spent less to purchase it than what we sold our LI home for (30,000 less). We also didn't take a pay cut when we moved.
Last edited by slynn41072; 10-02-2009 at 06:34 AM..
Reason: add info
I lived in a suburb of dallas for a while. I am living on LI for a while now....
Personally....
If I did not have kids.... LI is not even close, I would move back in a heartbeat, but....
Since I have kids.... I just know that LI is a good place for them (for now at least ), and I do not have enough information about Dallas to decide, so I am staying put (for now ).
We moved to NC 7 years ago. I was one of those people who never ever thought of leaving LI. Now I would never ever move back to LI.
Can you please compare and contrast everything as much as you can? Atmosphere, people, beaches, shopping, entertainment, housing, cost of living, salaries, traffic, food, etc. Picture yourself as an unbiased reviewer writing for a magazine. That's what I want to see from this thread.
Way too expensive.
Commuting and travel is a nightmare
Unable to leave the island easily
Government costs a lot and provides very little
Inspite of the local pride, schools are generally not very good
Outdoor activities are greatly limited due to crowding and the difficulty of travel
The beaches are a major asset however access is very limited.
It's a big world out there, and it would be a shame not to experience something different in your lifetime. I am all for relocating, adventure, trying something new, if your life circumstances allow it. There are so many interesting, beautiful places to live in this country. Everywhere has its pros and cons, everywhere.
I moved here from the Midwest a few years ago. I've lived out west and out East and even internationally. I've driven across country and back. It's a big, big, big country with a million places to live. In a nut shell, based on my personal experience, I would say other places tend to be different (I guess you could say "better") than LI in terms of:
-PACE/ATTITUDE (i.e., more relaxed)
-Cost of living
-Congestion
Other than that, LI is fantastic: lots to do, Nature (coastline, beaches, vineyards, parks, woods), variety of communities, proximity to culture, family-friendly, etc.
If you're unhappy here or struggling, there is no point in staying as you have a million other options if you are willing to open that door. But, if you are happy, then you are blessed to be here! So you don't feel like you're missing out on other places, invest in travel and vacationing in other wonderful states.
Last edited by ambralita; 10-02-2009 at 08:44 AM..
This is all very subjective. I am not originally from LI, but understand the good and the bad. For myself and my family, due to when our home was purchased and the careers we have in the region LI has been good to us. I could not bring what I do with my present company elsewhere and as such, see no need to move and am happy here. I also live in the Smithtown area, which varies as an experience with Lynbrook, Riverhead, Farmingdale, etc. Somebody closer to the city might hate where I live, or somebody from out east might think it is too congested. My pet peeve about assessing the LI region is assuming that the issues somebody has in a town on LI 20-30 miles from where I live is somehow true for everyone, or vice versa. We are quick to paint the entire area with one brush and that is silly. Most other parts of the country don't do this.
Along with my financial situation and career arc I might say the parks, schools, beaches and being able to access the city a few times every year is GREAT! But my neighbor who bought a bubble house in 2005 and is choking on new construction taxes might be miserable. They also might not be beach people, prefer to sit inside rather than go to parks, be single, or whatever...
I have lived briefly in Lancaster County in the 90's, upstate for a short time, Manhattan (outer boroughs), grew up in CT. For me LI is much less of a yawn than where I grew up in CT, and I enjoy the city. I participate in multi-sports in the summer and like being able to ride the north shore and hop in the sound for a swim with ease. Lancaster County was nice enough, but simply not a fit for my career goals and my desire to not die of boredom amidst corn fields. For somebody from eastern long island before it was built up, it could be utopia.
Food here definitely exceeds other 'burbs I have lived in (although the city was as good of course) and although many find new yorkers rude as a whole, I find my experiences to be the opposite. To each their own.
Here's the thing. If my company offered me essentially the same salary or more plus relocation to move to anywhere from the RTP in North Carolina to the suburbs of Boston I would consider it, and review all of the factors that I listed earlier. And if it made the most sense for my family, I would move. It is pretty simple. And what I would not do...return to the LI discussion boards to trash the region. LI would have been a place that was right for me at that moment in my life, and for a different time some other location would be a better fit. Pretty simple.
P.S. If you are considering a move and are single, or without kids, I would highly recommend seeing the country a bit if work and life allow it. LI is certainly not a singles/young couples scene...
P.P.S. For anyone lamenting the traffic...it is no worse than any other major metro area (which is the apples to apples comparison), and in some comparison, better.
P.S. If you are considering a move and are single, or without kids, I would highly recommend seeing the country a bit if work and life allow it.
Excellent piece of advice.
This way you can have a real comparison for "YOU" (without hearing others biased opinions) and rather than sit here and try to convince yourself that this is the best place to live, you can move if thats "YOUR" conclusion.
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), and I do not have enough information about Dallas to decide, so I am staying put (for now 
).
