New jersey "transplants" (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: crime, home, transfer)

[pixieshmoo]

While I'm usually very successful at digging info out of everyone on here, I seem to be doing a bad job in the Pennsylvania department! So let's try it this way. Who here is a transplant from New Jersey to NEPA?! I am willing to hear from anyone in the area, but mainly Milford area. When did you "transplant", where to, why, did you bring kids with you, how are they handling the transfer, how do you like it, is it expensive, are the people nice, how about the schools and children in the school system, etc? I want to hear your "dreams come true" and/or "horror stories"!!!!!!!

[East Coast Wanderer]

I'm a transplant from Central NJ to Scranton. I was single when I moved here, got married. raised 2 kids, divorced, etc. It's a nice area to raise a family but, after 37 years, I'm still considered an outsider.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by njmike

I'm a transplant from Central NJ to Scranton. I was single when I moved here, got married. raised 2 kids, divorced, etc. It's a nice area to raise a family but, after 37 years, I'm still considered an outsider.

I live in Northern Luzerne County, and when I talk about my ideas to help improve Scranton people deem me an "outsider" even though I only live a few miles outside of the city. People in NEPA are very provincial.

[pixieshmoo]

Yeah, I seem to be hearing that about a lot of places. Except Jersey. But then again, maybe that is why so many of us want to leave Jersey, we're not "territorial" enough. I don't know. I can't imagine PA being worse than what they say about Mainers lol. Supposedly you have to be about 3 generations deep before they consider you one of them (however, everyone I've ever met there is so nice) or down south where I've been in the North Carolina forum and have heard bashing like we don't even do in Jersey!

[East Coast Wanderer]

The one thing I've noticed about the "Scranton born and raised" locals is that they blame the crime in the area on people from NJ and NY. Granted there are some undesireables from NJ and NY but we're not the unlawful people Scrantonians make us out to be. I'm not familiar with residents of Wilkes-Barre (no, I don't want to argue about the right pronunciation LOL) so I'm only speaking of Scrantonians.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by pixieshmoo

While I'm usually very successful at digging info out of everyone on here, I seem to be doing a bad job in the Pennsylvania department! So let's try it this way. Who here is a transplant from New Jersey to NEPA?! I am willing to hear from anyone in the area, but mainly Milford area. When did you "transplant", where to, why, did you bring kids with you, how are they handling the transfer, how do you like it, is it expensive, are the people nice, how about the schools and children in the school system, etc? I want to hear your "dreams come true" and/or "horror stories"!!!!!!!

Well, I transplanted in 1995. From my entire life of living in New Jersey.
My parents and brother were already living here, so we came to visit often, and alway visited the Flea Market on 209 during fall weekends.

I first transplanted to Penn Estates and it was a nice peaceful place, with lakes and a quiet pool, beach.........but that was soon to change as the years went on. We would choose, along with our neighbors, to revert back to living as we did in NJ with our own lot, in a nice area.......Just a tad of decent rules on the deed. This we like!

My taxes are actually more then I ever paid in Sussex County, NJ......or for that matter my Morris Cty. taxes ( but that goes back)
I always found the PA people to be so friendly, down to earth, enjoyable.
Someone would wave to you out of no where, and the waitresses would stop to chat for a spell also. More relaxed, more comforting, then in NJ.

I have seen, and met ,some wonderful kids in the Pleasant Valley School district. I have just never heard a complaint at all. Such smiling, happy kids abodes well for this area of the West End.

Yes, our dream did come true.........We love PA. These mountains and lakes will call you home when you stray far away. The spaciousness of everything. The many events, festivals and happenings........so many things to keep you busy. You can ski, kayak, motor boat, hike, picnic, swim, head to a Water Park, golf, go see the many falls, flea markets, antique shops.......We just have it all..

Horror story...........hummm...........Well the huge bear that was at our back door in Penn Estates. Now, I mean huge. There was one other huge one roaming around, and one small one by the daughters car, just before she was headed there to go to work...

Right now, all I have is bunnies........so I think we're quite safe and sound.

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by Summering

Well, I transplanted in 1995. From my entire life of living in New Jersey.
My parents and brother were already living here, so we came to visit often, and alway visited the Flea Market on 209 during fall weekends.

I first transplanted to Penn Estates and it was a nice peaceful place, with lakes and a quiet pool, beach.........but that was soon to change as the years went on. We would choose, along with our neighbors, to revert back to living as we did in NJ with our own lot, in a nice area.......Just a tad of decent rules on the deed. This we like!

My taxes are actually more then I ever paid in Sussex County, NJ......or for that matter my Morris Cty. taxes ( but that goes back)
I always found the PA people to be so friendly, down to earth, enjoyable.
Someone would wave to you out of no where, and the waitresses would stop to chat for a spell also. More relaxed, more comforting, then in NJ.

I have seen, and met ,some wonderful kids in the Pleasant Valley School district. I have just never heard a complaint at all. Such smiling, happy kids abodes well for this area of the West End.

Yes, our dream did come true.........We love PA. These mountains and lakes will call you home when you stray far away. The spaciousness of everything. The many events, festivals and happenings........so many things to keep you busy. You can ski, kayak, motor boat, hike, picnic, swim, head to a Water Park, golf, go see the many falls, flea markets, antique shops.......We just have it all..

Horror story...........hummm...........Well the huge bear that was at our back door in Penn Estates. Now, I mean huge. There was one other huge one roaming around, and one small one by the daughters car, just before she was headed there to go to work...

Right now, all I have is bunnies........so I think we're quite safe and sound.

I actually saw a bear....for the.....first....time...last week coming back from tunkhannock....on rte...6....it was medium size and came out of the woods to the side....of the....road....

[jillbillw]

looking forward to moving to Dallas PA in 2009

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by jillbillw

looking forward to moving to Dallas PA in 2009

What made you decide on Dallas coming from NJ? Did you check out the other
surrounding area's in NEPA.

[pixieshmoo]

Thanks for the laugh, Summering! While I'm sure I would've wet my pants, I'd much rather have that for a horror story than....hmmm, let's see, watching the kids hide behind the building right next door to me pass around a joint and a 40oz. while graffiting on the wall and peeing in the bushes. Or overhearing a kid at the park (which is practically my backyard) talking about how his gang initiation was "getting beaten into the gang". Not that those things can't happen anywhere, but that's what I see sitting outside during this lovely summertime. Bears on the otherhand, while scary, intimidating and potentially very dangerous, will 9 out of 10 times ignore you if you ignore them. Or so they say, I'm not in a rush to find out lol, but I would imagine I'd rather film that than the idiots outside my door.

As for your taxes, I'm quite sure they must be higher than Sussex County, as Sussex seems to be very low, generally speaking. However, I'm in Essex County, you don't get much higher taxes than that, except for maybe Bergen County. And trust me, you're not getting any special piece of property with those high taxes, you can still see your neighbor cooking in her kitchen if you're looking out yours. You want large property, than basically you're looking at $10,000-$15,000 a year in taxes. And you still don't even get fresh air with that price, just your usual smog!! No thanks!

Thanks for your input, much appreciated