Oklahoma to (likely Western) Massachusetts - Beginning Research (Boston, Worcester: apartments, rent)

[WoodwindsRock]

Thank you for the suggestion. Anything where I sit the vast majority of the shift and doesn't require too much math I should be okay with. I was originally looking into being a medical receptionist, but ended up in a data entry job so I didn't look into going to school for that or anything. (not that I could afford to go to school when I didn't have a job to begin with - now I can, so I'm an open slate for all suggestions on good career paths for moving to a better place)



I'm well aware that getting into Canada is super hard. That bit of my post was not entirely serious (Gilead is from the Hand Maid's Tale, where Americans become refugees in Canada).



A lot of upstate NY is red, but Buffalo is not.

[FCMA]

Buffalo itself is very blue but many rural areas of upstate NY may as well be Oklahoma.

As for healthcare degree or certificate, good advice! That’s about the top employment sector in Western Mass.

[charolastra00]

I'm going to echo some other suggestions for Providence, or even Albany, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, or even Philadelphia. All are less expensive than Mass, but have the social and political vibe you're after. They also are cities where you could feasibly afford to live close to the action. Personally, they are locations I've long targeted for a move because the COL here is so high that I can't even consider buying a home or having children despite making (low) 6 figures.

For Providence, you would have access to the commuter rail to Boston to get access to things like theater or music that may be lacking in the city (though certainly there are plenty of cultural opportunities in Providence!). Providence has a great ***** culture and a lot of the older Camberville alt/artist set has ended up in Providence as Cambridge, Somerville, and even Salem have gotten pricey.

Syracuse feels like it could be a good fit for you. I almost moved there for a job a few years ago and what really stood out to me was the manageable city size, affordability (I was taking a paycut but could afford a very nice apartment downtown less than a 10 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride from work for less than my 1 bedroom almost an hour from my suburban office in eastern Mass) and community spirit. There's a lot of poverty to be sure, but also it's much easier to be lower income there than here. Because of Syracuse University, there's a whole lot to do and public transit is great. The biggest downside for me was the amount of snow (though I would have been able to afford to live somewhere with covered parking) and the step down in hospitals from here in Boston. That said, most places are a step down from here!

The most important thing you can do is focus on excellent public transit that you can afford. Unfortunately, I don't think you will find that in Massachusetts.

[WestieWhitie]

Originally Posted by WoodwindsRock

Thank you for the suggestion. Anything where I sit the vast majority of the shift and doesn't require too much math I should be okay with. I was originally looking into being a medical receptionist, but ended up in a data entry job so I didn't look into going to school for that or anything. (not that I could afford to go to school when I didn't have a job to begin with - now I can, so I'm an open slate for all suggestions on good career paths for moving to a better place)



I'm well aware that getting into Canada is super hard. That bit of my post was not entirely serious (Gilead is from the Hand Maid's Tale, where Americans become refugees in Canada).



A lot of upstate NY is red, but Buffalo is not.

Definitely focus on getting a degree before moving, there’s nothing worse than spending all of your life savings on the move and ending up in place where your job prospects aren’t any better than the place you left but everything is a lot more expensive. Also don’t fall for the fear mongering - righties like to screw just as much as lefties, no one wants to pay child support and only a small percentage of the population made up of completely deranged churchies wants a full abortion ban meaning banning abortion outright will be a full-on political suicide. At worst some of the deep red states might ban late-stage abortions to appease the churchies without alienating everyone else but that handmaid’s tale nightmare scenario painted in all the political ads screaming for your votes and more importantly for your hard-earned dollars simply won’t happen.

[msRB311]

I have to agree that finishing your degree (if that’s your plan) and figure out your career plan would be the thing to do before moving out here.

[FCMA]

Yes, surviving in MA is largely now about degrees that sometimes lead to more $ than normal peasants can ever imagine or if from here, how rich/lucky mummy & duddy are. Like maybe they’ve been actually rich for decades or are just wicked lucky to have paid $75k to live in an average middle class hobbit house in E Mass back in 1992 that still objectively sucks but now y’all are sitting on a $1.2 mil asset - no reflection on how hard you work or are willing to work - but maybe ur just a disappointment who is happy to just survive hand to mouth in Lowell or New Bedford or Turners Falls or Chicopee. Definitely consider training programs in OK or enroll here such that you arrive and promptly skill up to take on this mercilessly expensive yet mediocre state! (there isn’t even a comforting regional cuisine like fried bologna variations to try and make it cute and bearable here)

[msRB311]

Clam chowder ?

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by FCMA

Yes, surviving in MA is largely now about degrees that sometimes lead to more $ than normal peasants can ever imagine or if from here, how rich/lucky mummy & duddy are. Like maybe they’ve been actually rich for decades or are just wicked lucky to have paid $75k to live in an average middle class hobbit house in E Mass back in 1992 that still objectively sucks but now y’all are sitting on a $1.2 mil asset - no reflection on how hard you work or are willing to work - but maybe ur just a disappointment who is happy to just survive hand to mouth in Lowell or New Bedford or Turners Falls or Chicopee. Definitely consider training programs in OK or enroll here such that you arrive and promptly skill up to take on this mercilessly expensive yet mediocre state! (there isn’t even a comforting regional cuisine like fried bologna variations to try and make it cute and bearable here)

Linguica!

Going back on-topic, sort of. I went to the kielbasa festival in Chicopee years ago. The world’s largest kielbasa. I’m a linguica guy but a slice of that giant kielbasa was just fine.

[WoodwindsRock]

I'm extremely picky due to an extra sensitive gag reflex, so there isn't much I eat anyway. Trust me, I'm not concerned with unique cuisines so much as I am with just having the food I already eat (or most of it anyway, I know I'll be giving up a couple of restaurants from down here - Ron's, Mazzio's - but that's just the way it goes).

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by WoodwindsRock

I'm pretty adamant on the Northeast US as opposed to the midwest or the west coast... If Providence, RI is actually a good option, I will definitely take a better look at that. Providence, RI is even relatively close to Boston and is very much still New England. I could roll with that. I determined MA to be the sweet spot of the country, but I don't think the Providence, RI area would be too far from that mark.

Providence could be a very good option; Rhode Island is solid, Providence is far more walkable than West Springfield, Chicopee, even Springfield. It's known to be artsy and has theatre; I'm not sure about music but being on the commuter rail to Boston you can always go there for Handel & Haydn, Early Music Festival, recitals at Jordan Hall or Longy or at BU Concert Hall, Symphony, Ben Zander's Boston Philharmonic, Emmanuel music, etc.

Buffalo NY would be nice and cold and walkable and inexpensive and it's in N.Y. State (although twice as far from NYC as Boston is). Cleveland Ohio would be a natural for music lovers with the Cleveland Orchestra but Ohio is too red.