Massachusetts population growth slowing tremendously (Boston, Orange: 2015, salary, living in)

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Atomicdoug

As far as houses, how can one not have a garage in New England? Aside from having to scrape the ice off your car, where do you keep bikes, kayaks and other gear without a garage??

Porch, basement, shed in back.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by Atomicdoug

But what specifically do we have here than doesn't exist elsewhere?
There is good healthcare in lots of major cities/metro areas. Other states have good public schools. If you are financial sector, Charlotte NC is much more livable than Boston.

Pretty sure BofA (one of them anyway) toyed with the idea of moving from Charlotte to here, presumably because of all of the cheap college graduates here and it'd be much easier to house foreign labor with the mass transit.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

economy is pretty dependent upon well educated well adjusted individuals who've had high opportunity as children and thus have good life chances. But no you're not wrong in your last comment here.

But well educated, well adjusted people are importing themselves for jobs in the area. You don't have to grow your own, although of course there should be schools and services and other civilized society amenities for those who are here.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Porch, basement, shed in back.

I lived my whole working life in the Boston area with no garage. Had covered parking for one year in Arlington. Now I'm in Mountain Colorado with no cover or garage. I made it this far with no garage. I don't get the demand for garages or multiple bays. Seems no one puts their vehicle in anyway.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by Atomicdoug

But what specifically do we have here than doesn't exist elsewhere?
There is good healthcare in lots of major cities/metro areas. Other states have good public schools. If you are financial sector, Charlotte NC is much more livable than Boston.

I guess the history, Paul Revere, the amazing educational institutions. I guess.

For me, it was the constant swirl of very smart people all around, from all over the world.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I lived my whole working life in the Boston area with no garage. Had covered parking for one year in Arlington. Now I'm in Mountain Colorado with no cover or garage. I made it this far with no garage. I don't get the demand for garages or multiple bays. Seems no one puts their vehicle in anyway.

I have a garage for the first time in my life with my condo. Never had one in Mass, VT, or WI.
Survived just fine, but I admit, it is kind of nice. Indulgent really, but I feel the same way for in unit washer and dryer. I never had that in my adult life either.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I guess the history, Paul Revere, the amazing educational institutions. I guess.

For me, it was the constant swirl of very smart people all around, from all over the world.

History, proximity to Mountians and world class beaches in 2 hours, great shoreline towns, etc

[BostonBornMassMade]

every place has a history. So let's just scratch that one off the list. Lots of cheaper places have deeper histories as well (Philly, Santa Fe just to start).

Anyways you cant eat history. Cant pay bills with history.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

every place has a history. So let's just scratch that one off the list. Lots of cheaper places have deeper histories as well (Philly, Santa Fe just to start).

Anyways you cant eat history. Cant pay bills with history.

Which is why people with kids might well never show up in the area or would leave. There sure are easier places to get a suburban life with garage and yard, etc. (Heh- I grew up near Philly and spent one year in Santa Fe. Guess you can't take that out of the girl!)

[masssachoicetts]

One thing Boston has is high paying jobs in my field. The pay cuts in half in NYC, Philly and the South... soo im kind of lucky there.

Things I couldnt get in New York, Florida, New York City:
Mass is#1 in Education, #2 in Healthcare, Boston is #3 in Public Transportation, Cape Cod Beaches appear on the top 10 best in the country, you get four seasons and if you like snow its a good state to live in, the suburbs are some of the best I ever have seen, the coastal towns offer an insane amount of things to do, the North End is one of the few surviving Little Italy's, the Sports culture is insanely good/everywhere else I live is divided, and most importantly the people... the people are great and get together more so than any place Ive ever lived. If you have the money (which alot of people do) you can enjoy most areas of Boston, which is amazing to watch the fast rise in developments...

And a relaly big thing is Public Transportation. You guys will demeanor this so much but how many cities actually have a subway system that travels north, south and west of the city into the suburbs and a commuter system? Like 5? Maybe 6? ... Dont take it for granted. Ive never missed a day / been late from the MBTA, its had its problems and people like to complain.. but theres an alternative... we can have either 55 year old cars with no signs of replacement where they cancel (Not even delay, just cancel) like New York City or we can have no usable rail service at all like Raleigh or Houston or Orlando.

I understand MA has its issues like every other state, but when you go to other state's forums like Louisiana or New Jersey who are substantially below MA... they are more positive than not. If you dont like Mass then leave, because there is a friggen line out the door to get in and someone who rather enjoy Mass can take your place.