Any SoCal transplants or returners? (Boston, Worcester: house, taxi, to live in)

[KemBro71]

To the OP.

I have commented on your other thread regarding your move, so I won't repeat my comments here, but just want to add one perspective specific to Massachusetts.

SOmeone wisely mentioned not relying on your good memories from years ago to influence your decision. I agree.

Think of it this way: when you left, life went on for everyone. You aren't the same person from 5/10/20/++ years ago and neither are the people who remained in MA and never left. It seems self-explanatory but I think it's worth repeating.

So contemplating a return with a full family and leaving behind a lot of history can be like stepping off a moving treadmill and onto another moving treadmill...life didn't stop when you were gone. I say from experience that this was something it took me a while (too long, TBH) to let sink in.

I'll be honest with my opinion here: it may help your transition to find a town or general area where there are a lot of other transplants, people who have accumulated a variety of experiences before they landed in Mass.

As the years go by (I'm on year 22 of living in SoCal after more than that in Mass.) I've consistently found people who never left Mass. (or who think that a 7-day Caribbean cruise means they have) are boring, uncurious, and leery of "outsiders." It got worse with age in my experience.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Very little of this passes the sniff test, I hope you are partially joking here.

Now your credibility has gone down even further.

Not joking at all. Yes BH is 35 miles from Dland. IDK what you're getting at. I'm sure you can work Google Maps.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by kembro71

to the op.

I have commented on your other thread regarding your move, so i won't repeat my comments here, but just want to add one perspective specific to massachusetts.

Someone wisely mentioned not relying on your good memories from years ago to influence your decision. I agree.

Think of it this way: When you left, life went on for everyone. You aren't the same person from 5/10/20/++ years ago and neither are the people who remained in ma and never left. It seems self-explanatory but i think it's worth repeating.

So contemplating a return with a full family and leaving behind a lot of history can be like stepping off a moving treadmill and onto another moving treadmill...life didn't stop when you were gone. I say from experience that this was something it took me a while (too long, tbh) to let sink in.

I'll be honest with my opinion here: It may help your transition to find a town or general area where there are a lot of other transplants, people who have accumulated a variety of experiences before they landed in mass.

As the years go by (i'm on year 22 of living in socal after more than that in mass.) i've consistently found people who never left mass. (or who think that a 7-day caribbean cruise means they have) are boring, uncurious, and leery of "outsiders." it got worse with age in my experience.

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[massnative71]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

Not joking at all. Yes BH is 35 miles from Dland. IDK what you're getting at. I'm sure you can work Google Maps.

For one Northborough is not a "village" (it's a town), nor is it the boonies. It's (leafy) suburbia to the core. Your other post, I do not even know where to begin.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by massnative71

For one Northborough is not a "village" (it's a town), nor is it the boonies. It's (leafy) suburbia to the core. Your other post, I do not even know where to begin.

It is definitely the Boonies, compared to Los Angeles, San Diego, and anything west of the 128/95 circle, where I spent most of my early life in Massachusetts. I spirited away to Los Angels when I was 21, never thought I would come back.

Northborough is a village. It has a one street strip of a few shops they call a 'downtown'. Same with the neighboring villages. It's miles drive to anything worth seeing or doing. It's even miles drive from a f'n post office or any basic retail. And a hike from Boston. It is total Boonies. Check your head, dude!

'leafy suburbia' to me brings to mind Salem or Marblehead or Beverly. Some South Shore towns. This is legit Boonies.

[stuckbetween]

Originally Posted by massnative71

For one Northborough is not a "village" (it's a town), nor is it the boonies. It's (leafy) suburbia to the core. Your other post, I do not even know where to begin.

Please, explain more on tour disagreement. I’m gathering experiences and the mosquito thing is freaking me out a bit BUT I also know enough not to sit on a MA porch in the evening. I know I can handle it but I’m worried for my spouse and one of my kids who are mosquito magnets.

Re: town classification, SoCal is so, so, so, so urban that I see where spyglass is coming from. It’s a perspective thing.

[stuckbetween]

Anyone have ideas of which towns in metrowest will have a lot of transplants? We are definitely comfortable socially in transplant land.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by stuckbetween

Then you have not lived the mosquito-free life! My #1 favorite perk of SoCal. Hiking? Outside at dusk in balmy weather? Not a care in the world.

Huh. I guess it’s never really bothered me. I got a handful of bites this year, but they only itch for a day or two. Did the state get any eee cases in 2020? I didn’t hear about them like I usually do. Guess everyone was too busy worrying about covid.

Anyway, I believe we have the technology to get rid of mosquitos. So, maybe that’ll happen at some point.

Originally Posted by massnative71

Now your credibility has gone down even further.

I generally dislike Negative Nancies, but I do agree with that poster about Northborough being “the boonies”. It seems like some people in rural/suburban MA don’t even realize that they lack amenities. I was visiting a family friend in Harvard earlier this summer. We decided to get pizza, and my friend got in his car, saying “I’ll be back in an hour or so”. I suggested we get delivery instead of him driving all that way. He laughed.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by stuckbetween

Please, explain more. I’m gathering experiences and the mosquito thing is freaking me out a bit BUT I also know enough not to sit on a MA porch in the evening. I know I can handle it but I’m worried for my spouse and one of my kids who are mosquito magnets.

Sitting on a porch for an evening, avoiding bugs, it is intuitive. When one is in a strange land, you tend to follow what the locals do, to fit in. If that doesn't work, you find something else, but it can have real repercussions here.

Best thing would be to fashion some sort of screened-in porch. Barring that, the DEET spray is most effective, according to Consumer Reports. Citronella is basically quakery, along with the 'natural' stuff like lavender oil spray. Tried them all.

So I grew up on the sea, and there's MUCH less bugs along the seacoast. In fact this is the furthest from the ocean I have ever lived. Previously, the furthest from the ocean I'd ever lived was Beverly Hills, and that was 8 miles away from the ocean.

This/ Metrowest is the boonies- middle of the woods, basically, dotted by strip malls every several miles, and industrial complexes. As you know, bugs will be more prominent where there's lakes and ponds and wetlands instead of ocean. But it's similar in New Hampshire and other wooded/ Boonie areas.

I thought I could handle it, too... till I got here, and realized I am not acclimated to this climate -both natural and social- at all.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

I don't think anyone is saying your experiences are not valid. You have no experience with living/working
in southern California, so that would be outside your experience. Lack of experience in the place and in general - I think- is what was being alluded to.

LA is very hard to 'hack at'. More so than most cities, possibly even more difficult than New York City, depending on one's situation. WAY harder than Greater Boston. Boston proper is no picnic, either, but definitely not as hard as LA or SD.

Where in CA did you have an opportunity? CA is a big place. And why did you not take advantage?

I had the opportunity to move to either San Diego or just east of San Fransisco area (Walnut Creek if your familiar).. I went to LA, hated the people. San Diego was gorgeous but I can't see myself living there. Could I visit? Absolutely. But the pace was way too slow and there were two seasons. Summer and Super Summer. No thanks. San Francisco area is just absurdly expnesive and with a salary of 70k I'd be literally poor. I'd have to live towards Sacramento which is a huge decrease QOL.

Overall, my impressions of Northern California are generally better than SoCal. I like it better. SoCal is a car centric disaster with rude people and a much slower vibe. I hated that.

My types of environments are Boston, DC and areas around NYC .. I don't like theSoCal experience. I like the weather, the transit accessibility in Boston, and people I met in Mass. I like the quality of amenities too. I just can't see living in CA. Vacation? Absolutely. Live? Nein