People who left NJ...and never looked back (Trenton, Teaneck: sales, car insurance)

[newjitty]

There are certain things I like about NJ (specifically Bergen County). I've read some stories on here about people leaving the Garden State to find themselves missing the pizza, bagels, shore, etc, and rightfully so.

Just curious to hear from anyone who are the opposite and identify leaving NJ as one of the best things they did, and never looked back. Where did you move to, and what is it you like about your location now, and what don't you miss? Thanks.

[mike0421]

Moved to New Mexico. Don't miss the culture that presupposes your birthright is to be increasingly taxed on income, sales and property with no prior explanation. I also enjoy the lack of population density, which translates into less car volume on the road.

[cyntmac]

I can't really say I never looked back because I was in the general region for so many years but I don't miss burbish living at all and I am def not someone to make food an issue unless I am in a place where it is total crap.

Suburbs generally lack character but I think my life in NJ was much more colorful than what most other sprawly parts of the U.S. would afford me. Part of that is probably due to location but whatever the reason that was on the plus side.

I would never have said for example- I wish I could live on the outskirts of Greensboro instead. Way too stepford.
Yes there are some stepford type places in NJ but I did not live in one thankfully.

Anyone who had a decent quality of life and childhood will be less likely to frame this as "never looked back". That would be true for any state.

These threads end up being about someone's horrible home life, their violent past, ethnic self-loathing, whatever. Those things are not state specific. A place like Iowa has less extremes but people there deal with many of those types of issues. Some people are just lucky.

[BrianH1970]

I don't think there's really any one of us who's left and "never looked back", even if just to wish that things could've worked out better, better decisions on where to live or how to live had been made. If there are, they're very few.

"I wish we could have done this", "Maybe if we had moved there", "Maybe if I had done that", "It's too bad it couldn't have worked out". Even if moving away was the best thing you ever did, I think somewhere along the you do wind up wishing that things could have worked out.

[exit18b]

I was born and raised in Teaneck, NJ. 18 years in Teaneck and then I went to the University of Maryland! After school, 1 year back in NJ and then,

9 years - Baltimore, Randallatown, MD
8 years - Southfield, MI (outside of Detroit)
1 year - Shaker Heights, Ohio (outside of Cleveland)

Do I miss NJ - Over the years, YES, Even though Northern NJ is hustle and crowded, it really is not! I know that sounds crazy! NNJ is filled of wonderful small towns, with local shops and stores! I enjoy returning to Teaneck and strolling down Cedar Lane for pizza or bagels. Bishoff"s (ice cream) is still there and looks the same as 20 years ago. I enjoy the shops on Palisades Ave. in Englewood. I go watch the Yankees, Giants and Nets everytime they come to town.

What do I miss?

1. Jersey shore
2. Pizza
3. NYC - I know that's not NJ
4. Philly - I know that's not NJ
5. Blue Laws
6. Family friends

What do I not miss?
1. Cost of living - Car insurance, tolls
2. Traffic
3. Tolls

The metro cleveland area (especially where I live in Shaker Heights) is full of people from New Jersey, especially north jersey.

I never could afford to move back! Shaker Heights is very similiar to Montclair for 1/2 the price. Of course salaries are less but overall your $$ go further away from NJ unless you are in a field that pays NJ salaries.

[nicolem]

Well we moved to New Hampshire. We both miss NJ a great deal and go back quite often. New Hampshire still does not feel like home. We feel more at home in NJ when we are home for a long weekend, a Flyer's game, etc than we ever do here. The things we don't miss about NJ are high taxes, over crowding, liberal politics and corruption. The only problem is that in NH-people are moving here from NJ, NY, MA, CA, etc. Some move here and want and vote to preserve the NH way. However many people move here from overtaxed, corrupt, bankrupt states- to escape that but vote with same mentality that was used in their prior state. So they come here to escape that stuff but vote to bring that stuff here. That is something I will never understand. If NH continues down this path and they institute an income tax and start to really become a nanny state, I think we will serioulsly consider moving back home to NJ. We think about it all the time anyway.

[yrgm]

I can't say I left and never looked back. Born and raised 38 yrs before relocating to Charlotte one year ago. I love NJ and always will and don't like non-Jersey folks knocking the state, however, I am not sorry for one second that I left.

Yeah, I miss the family members, Italian specialties from K&S, half of a #5 w/ everything from the Hogie Hut. Going to those places makes NJ fun when we "go home" (I find myself calling NJ home sometimes).

I don't miss the nonsense coming from Trenton, I felt like I was being violated by the politicians. Everytime I hear one of those stupid ideas, like tolls on 78, 287 or 80, I say thank god I left when that door opened.

Until I moved, I never realized how "old" things are in Jersey; bridges, buildings, curbs, roads. Its a nice change being in a place where most things are new.

No regrets here. It's funny, it seems like half the folks here are from the north and whats even more funny is we've become polite.

[Stripes17]

We've been out of NJ since 1990. The only things I miss are: after dinner boardwalk strolls in Pt Pleasant, pork roll and cheese at the Allenwood General Store, quick visits to NYC & most of all, our friends that remain in NJ.

There are things we miss that are no longer there or in operation, such as: The Southern House in Pt Pleasant, 88 Lanes, the local Drive-In movies, Wall Stadium, etc.

I won't be brash and say we never look back, but we've had wonderful experiences in the three states we lived in since we left NJ. But we currently have little to no interest in returning to live again in our native state.

[Kracer]

NJ is like living in a beautiful house with a severely disfunctional family. You just wish everyone else would leave so you can enjoy your life.

Oh, what could be!!!

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by Kracer

NJ is like living in a beautiful house with a severely disfunctional family. You just wish everyone else would leave so you can enjoy your life.

Oh, what could be!!!

excellent post and example !!!!!!!!!! I agree!!