North East, PA...should I stay or should I go? (Pittsburgh: appointed, apartments)

[thormoose]

Just wondering if anyone out there is familiar with the North East/Erie, PA region and their thoughts on it. I am really struggling with wanting to leave this area, but can't seem to make up my mind. I really like the small town living feel, the good schools and the safety factor, but I am disappointed with the continuing downslide of the economy here...there really aren't any good paying professional jobs here and that is a source of great frustration. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by thormoose

Just wondering if anyone out there is familiar with the North East/Erie, PA region and their thoughts on it. I am really struggling with wanting to leave this area, but can't seem to make up my mind. I really like the small town living feel, the good schools and the safety factor, but I am disappointed with the continuing downslide of the economy here...there really aren't any good paying professional jobs here and that is a source of great frustration. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!

I grew up in North East, NEHS class of 1988 as a matter of fact. I moved in to the City of Erie in 1998 and don't miss living in North East at all. I now live in Pittsburgh.

I have alot of great memories from living in North East, but it's to small of a town for me. My sister has a beautiful home on East Main Street. I do miss living in the City of Erie alot, but generally don't miss North East one bit.

[jle1985]

It's hard to tell someone whether they should stay or go from someplace. There are so many factors to consider. I can tell you that I was born and raised in NE. I left when I was 17, lived in various cities in 3 other states, then returned to NE 7 years later where I re-met someone I went to high school with. I married and had kids and there is no other place I'd rather live. I've travelled a lot and I've seen a lot of places, and I have to say, Pennsylvania is just as beautiful and the people are just as friendly as they are anywhere else. The economy is difficult everywhere right now, so that may not be as big a factor as you think. I'm a firm believer that you should live where you want to be--near the people you want/need to be around--then the rest will fall into place. (After all, it is your relationships that matter at the end of your life--not the job you had or the house or car, etc...) However, if you are young and have only ever lived here and no where else, and if your heart is yearning to see other places, you should go somewhere else to see for yourself what's out there. Don't be surprised if you wind up coming back for all the great reasons you listed. When I left NE all those years ago, there was no way I was ever going to come back (haha!). But I'm glad I left -- I had a lot of great experiences, and it gave me a better appreciation for how great it is around here. Oh, and by the way, if you move somewhere where there are no big bodies of water...you will miss that giant lake.

[momix5]

How is the cost of living in Pittsburgh area?

[CosmicWizard]

thormoose wrote: North East, PA...should I stay or should I go?

Their are no shoulds engraved in stone. IMO, the best thing you can do for yourself is to follow your heart!

[pghcyclist]

Originally Posted by momix5

How is the cost of living in Pittsburgh area?

Its often rated one of the more affordable larger cities, and was rated as the most livable city in the US last year. My fiance and I rent a beautiful two bedroom apartment with a garage in the city for 599 a month. There are lots of great apartments and homes up for grabs, and lots to do. I would never ever move back to North East. I love and miss living in the city of Erie, but am concerned about the recent spike in crime.

[NWPAguy]

Originally Posted by thormoose

Just wondering if anyone out there is familiar with the North East/Erie, PA region and their thoughts on it. I am really struggling with wanting to leave this area, but can't seem to make up my mind. I really like the small town living feel, the good schools and the safety factor, but I am disappointed with the continuing downslide of the economy here...there really aren't any good paying professional jobs here and that is a source of great frustration. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!

There were people on board the Titanic who had intimate knowledge of it.

Some people really struggled with wanting to leave the Titanic but not being able to make up their minds, when the life boats began to get launched. They really liked the safer feel of the big ship, and they thought it was a good enough ship that it wouldn't sink. However, they were disappointed with the continuing downslide of the ship, especially at the bow. There really weren't any good pumps that were managing to stay ahead of the flow of water into the ship... and that was a source of great frustration to the passengers and crew.

I have some thoughts for you. Get off of the Titanic and into a life boat. You'll survive that way. Those who stayed on the Titanic... well, we all know what happened to them.

[polyhistor1]

I am really struggling with wanting to leave this area, but can't seem to make up my mind.

I left North East at 17 after graduating from NEHS, and lived in Erie for another 17 years before moving to Arizona to escape lake-effect snow and nine months per year of gray skies. I've lived here for 19 years. Now in my mid-fifties, I miss the good people in North East and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Many folks here are not trustworthy due to the influence of Old Mexico and its corrupt culture. I miss the honest culture and values in the North East area. I come back every year or two (in the summer!) to visit, as my sister and nieces live in Erie and my aunt lives in Butler.

Could I live there year 'round again? I've thought a lot about that as the invasion of Mexican illegals across our border continues and the federal government does nothing about it. It would be hard to deal with the snow and gray, but it will depend on how much more the quality of life here in the Desert Southwest declines.

In your case, I'd say go for it. Use your vacations to visit potential new areas and see what you think. Look at professional job availability in those places. Make a list of what is important to you and compare that to your potential new homes. Then do it.

You can always return, as jle1985 did, if it turns out that the grass is not greener in other places. Or, like me, you may be captivated by 330 days per year of sunshine! Only you can decide what matters most to you. I hesitated for 16 years before deciding.

One thing is for sure - the Erie area's best days economically are behind it, like many Rust Belt cities. I am reminded of that each time I come back and view the continuing decline in the city of Erie. The job prospects are probably not going to improve, even when the economy does.

Best wishes while you consider your future!

[chazzer]

Like two of the other posters, I left North East at 17. That was 1962. Since then I have lived in Texas, North Carolina, New York City, Ohio, Harrisburg, PA, Florida, the Dominican Republic, Arizona, St. Louis, back to Florida, and now will be moving to California. Yes, North East is a comfortable little place, with lots of good, well-meaning people. But there is a big world out there -- lots of opportunities, lots of different kinds of people and cultures. Yes, there are places where the sun shines year-round, there are good-paying jobs, exciting night life, cities with alive downtowns, different climates, regional foods. I've never considered returning to North East. But that is always an option if the bigger world doesn't suit you. Once outside of NE, I realized that the community smugness was a kind of psychological comfort blanket. You live in other places and you realize that EVERY town has its advantages and disadvantages. But, you have to try it on your own. Better to try living somewhere else, even if it doesn't work out, than to always wonder what it would have been like. Good luck