Oklahoma to (likely Western) Massachusetts - Beginning Research (Springfield, Northampton: buying a house, dorms)

[WoodwindsRock]

Yeah, I’ve researched that, and I believe I even mentioned somewhere earlier in the topic the Springfield tornado when talking about West Springfield. I don’t expect you to have read that, though, of course! So thanks for the heads up.

I figure that while tornadoes are possible up there, they are a rarity, like blizzards where I currently live. (Last time we had one was in early 2010)

As for the speak of NH, very interesting info you all! Earlier I noted my parents have a liking to NH, and have wanted to move there, so if Keene is a good place that may be an outlet to discuss with them. NH had its issues but it is still unlikely to get away with taking too many rights, there are just enough Democrats there it seems.

I took a brief glimpse at Keene during my lunch at work, but is it close to any cities?

One thing I liked was that it said that nearby mountains work to fizzle out a lot of severe storms. That sounds fantastic!

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by WoodwindsRock

Yeah, I’ve researched that, and I believe I even mentioned somewhere earlier in the topic the Springfield tornado when talking about West Springfield. I don’t expect you to have read that, though, of course! So thanks for the heads up.

I figure that while tornadoes are possible up there, they are a rarity, like blizzards where I currently live. (Last time we had one was in early 2010)

As for the speak of NH, very interesting info you all! Earlier I noted my parents have a liking to NH, and have wanted to move there, so if Keene is a good place that may be an outlet to discuss with them. NH had its issues but it is still unlikely to get away with taking too many rights, there are just enough Democrats there it seems.

I took a brief glimpse at Keene during my lunch at work, but is it close to any cities?

One thing I liked was that it said that nearby mountains work to fizzle out a lot of severe storms. That sounds fantastic!

Keene "is" a city. At least for a rural state like NH, it's a city, lol. I mean there are things to do there because it's a college town. AND it is right across the river from Brattleboro, VT, which I think has been mentioned here because it's an old hippie town that is really interesting and unique. Keene might actually be a good place to look but again, like Northampton and Amherst, it's a college town so probably the students take a lot of the jobs. Brattleboro has just about zero jobs--just a fun place to go.

I'm not up to date on Keene & Brattleboro though. Maybe there are jobs. A relative had a good job there but that was 20 years ago. I wanted to live around there one time but no jobs. Could be better now. It's as far north as I have ever driven in winter and I was terrified, btw. Ice everywhere, ice storms. But you know another thing about Brat (as it is called) and Keene--straight drive down rte 91 and you are in Northampton!

Check out Keene!

[GeoffD]

Keene would be awful without a car. It’s also too far from real medical. New Hampshire is a zero service state so the public transportation is abysmal.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Keene would be awful without a car. It’s also too far from real medical. New Hampshire is a zero service state so the public transportation is abysmal.

Same for Brattleboro probably but I found this video of Brattleboro. OP would probably fit in but again probably little or no public transportation.


https://www.vermontvacation.com/expl...ns/brattleboro

and

https://www.brattleborochamber.org/live-in-brattleboro/

Brattleboro looks a whole lot better than it used to. Even back in the day though, it was fun to drive up there from Northampton to check out Sam's Army Navy store and eat in some hole in the wall place with cheap but fabulous food. They have a small hospital, lots of art galleries, always something going on. The only thing that make me chuckle was that they say it's a short trip to an airport. They mean Bradley in Connecticut! But it's like a miniature Northampton, probably more affordable (but you have to add in the heating bill), and, in a way, it's part of the Northampton area.

[massnative71]

OP I realize that it's the abortion issue you are primarily fixated on, but just realize that hard "blue" states like Mass. have a very good track record at taking rights away as well. They just go after different ones. The average person will find a state like NH to be a lot overall "freer" than MA.

[WoodwindsRock]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Keene would be awful without a car. It’s also too far from real medical. New Hampshire is a zero service state so the public transportation is abysmal.

Well, as I said, the benefit of a town in NH is that maybe I could convince my parents to come with me. This move to New England was originally going to be all of us until the expenses of the housing and the fact that my parents are retired and on fixed income of SS and retirement (Oklahoma SS/retirement, which is toward the bottom of the country) brought that idea down. It was only recently when I thought that maybe me, being young, could find a way, since I am not retired and am going to work, thus I could transition to a higher wage state just as long as I had the foundation to do so beforehand.


Anyway, that's a long story. My parents brought up New Hampshire first. I personally gravitated toward MA, since it is more blue and guarantees more rights, but... NH was still good, I especially like its location climate-wise, and its close proximity to MA as well as Maine and Canada for trips, along with the coast, was great. But as I said costs stopped my parents from considering that.


It's been largely all me by myself on these thoughts now, but if I could convince themselves of a NH town that housing costs are reasonable, than they might reconsider, and thus the transportation issue is not an issue in the imminent future.


But the very first thing they're going to ask me when I say that Keene is cheap is "Why?". Is it flood prone? Is it crime prone? Those things will come up for sure and I haven't done the research.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by massnative71

OP I realize that it's the abortion issue you are primarily fixated on, but just realize that hard "blue" states like Mass. have a very good track record at taking rights away as well. They just go after different ones. The average person will find a state like NH to be a lot overall "freer" than MA.

Exactly. The notion that MA "guarantees more rights" is ludicrous unless of course you're only talking about the rights you claim to be rights and completely ignore those rights under the US Constitution. The abortion issue will only be resolved when the extremists on the far left and far right agree on compromise. One side deems termination of pregnancy at any stage as unacceptable while the other is now actually justifying what amounts to infanticide. Bizarro world.

[western mass and love it]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Unfortunately life in the US today, particularly MA isn't exactly what it used to be. If you want to move somewhere you better be making the money to do it. MA is a very expensive state to live in and there's lots of snobbery here. If someone is living in a place like OK and isn't making much money and they are disabled do you not think they shouldn't be given honest advice? Of course everyone has the right to move where they please. But sadly rights mean nothing if you have no funds to back it up. `

I know of a family in the process of moving to MA right now for a particular sport for their kid and I am just chuckling to myself over it. They aren't a wealthy family, they think their 8 yr old is NHL bound and want better hockey programs for him, the husband is a huge Trump supporter and hates liberals. They are giving up a beautiful home and what appears to be a nice lifestyle in a southern state because they think their 8 year old is the next Bobby Orr. Maybe it works out for them?

My Nephew grew up in NC , played hockey down there growing up and was good enough to land himself at Avon Old Farms for High School, Played 2 years of Junior hockey in the Midwest and then onto Div 1 college hockey. Played a little pro hockey in Europe and Russia. Zero need to move to Massachusetts for hockey. And they are kind of missing the mark geographically. The Midwest is now the sweet spot for hockey players.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by WoodwindsRock

My apologies, I did not mean for this topic to turn this way. I think it all started back when someone implied me as a lesbian and wondered why a lesbian would care about abortion rights to then I clarified I’m bi, but in doing so said “LGBT community” which started a whole argument for some reason. This was never my intention.

I think OP was pretty clear about wanting to live in a state that isn't going after human rights with a buzzsaw- which is maybe why a "blue area" in a red state (like many cities) wouldn't do the trick. But the economics of OP are pretty daunting for any place in MA, I think. OP's parents suggested MA? Are they able to help financially or are they not aware of the super expense of the state and the difficulties of public transport (if any).

[in_newengland]

If the OP found an affordable place in MA, it would be in a place they wouldn't like.

Keene, NH is on the MA border but to the west, not the side that's near the ocean or near Boston. But it has a college and culture. Next door to it, right across our big, beautiful New England river, is Brattleboro, VT. Again, probably overflow from the college, loaded with artsy shops and activities, has a hospital, has a vibrant downtown and friendly, very liberal people. It's even more or less connected to Northampton which was one of OP's dream locations, I think. It's on the MA border.

People from Northampton drive up to Brat, people from Brat drive down to Northampton. Same vibe, same people. The Northampton area is kind of overrun with too many students but Brattleboro isn't. The surrounding scenery is some of the most beautiful greenery you will ever see. And the mountains are pretty too but you just don't drive up into the mountains in the ice of winter--not unless you're a native or otherwise used to it.

Vermont is really getting known for being liberal because Bernie Sanders lives there. What is more liberal than that? Look at the real estate prices in and around Brattleboro--peanuts. The only question would be jobs but if you look on their website maybe you can get an idea of whether or not there are jobs.

In NH you have high property taxes and some weird laws or lack of laws, like they don't require car inspection and motorcyclists don't need helmets. No thanks. What if an uninsured car totals your car? And do you really want motorcyclists' heads turning to mush when they crash? It does have a pretty coastline if you're a millionaire--of course there are state beaches to go to but if you really wanted a beach you could still drive there from the Brattleboro area. So if you don't mind a few degrees more of freezing cold winter and some more ice and snow, I'd definitely say go to Brattleboro and that area. There are towns nearby that you could live in. It's just the questions of public transportation and jobs. The job problem is going to be an issue wherever you go though.

https://newenglandtravelplanner.com/...ort/index.html <<<<Here, you've got bus service and you've got Amtrak train service that goes to NYC. BRATTLEBORO, Vermont. on the state line with MA.