[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by AmILost

I found this post entertaining. People don't care to keep their places looking Nice? That's part of vermont's CHARM! Roads are in horrible shape despite high Taxes? That's part of vermont's CHARM! Taxes are really High? That's okay cuz everyone else is doing It! As for finding a new RENTAL, no there is NOT a PLETHORA of places to choose from, as you claim.

Just a thought -- you came here in February after Irene caused a lot of damage. People were and are still working on cleaning up. Could any of what you had seen be storm-related? There are still some folks in my area who are cleaning up.

Instead of taxing residents for garbage collection in VT, the residents have options -- buy tickets and go to the transfer station or contract privately with a carting company such as WM. My conclusion, after having seen several properties with 'junk' in the yard, is that those people don't have the money to opt for transfer station or private carter. When one has to choose between food, electric, and debris removal...

This doesn't mean I condone their debris.

Roads are kept in much better condition in VT than they are in my area of NY.

[tkln]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Roads are kept in much better condition in VT than they are in my area of NY.

I always laugh when I hear how bad the roads are in Vermont. It's all relative I guess...

[jenny1951]

I am amazed at the number of people who move here without doing any research beforehand, complain about it ad nauseum, but don't go back to wherever they came from. It is what it is. Get over it or get out, it's that simple. Why stay where you are miserable? From reading all these posts, one can only conclude that Vermont has a high COL, innumerable problems with entitlement programs, bad roads, low wages, high taxes, trashy people, and more. So why do people come here? Why don't they leave if they find it so terrible?

[68vette]

I think people fall in love with place they vacation. The issue is Vermont is very different from the vacation place people fall in love with. Jenny1951, I think part of the issue is some of the downsides you were making a point with. I think if Vermont was the utopia many make it out to be or imagine it is, our population would be skyrocketing. We have one of the lowest growth rates in the country and our youth are not staying. Many people move in, but they are gone in a year or two.

[jenny1951]

Originally Posted by 68vette

We have one of the lowest growth rates in the country and our youth are not staying. Many people move in, but they are gone in a year or two.

Exactly what my son did after graduating! But he wanted to try the big city life. He was offered a job in Burlington making the same money he was offered in Boston. Go figure....

[68vette]

Originally Posted by jenny1951

Exactly what my son did after graduating! But he wanted to try the big city life. He was offered a job in Burlington making the same money he was offered in Boston. Go figure....

Jenny, I'm not sure if you are native to the state or not, but what I have experienced is one of two things. Families move in and the kids were old enough to remember where they came from or the experiences they had out of state. The other is Vermont does not have what a big city can offer from entertainment, activities, culture, etc. I lived in NYC and in my early twenties, I think I would have strung myself up if I had to live in Vermont at that time. we always here Vermont is great for families. I think this is the last thing kids or post college age kids want to hear. Let's face it, family fun typically means boring for young people looking for a good time.

[harpoonalt]

No states perfect or everyone would go there. But from my experience with Vermont and Irene. If the cow dung hits the fan, this is the place I want to be and the people I want as neighbors.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by harpoonalt

No states perfect or everyone would go there. But from my experience with Vermont and Irene. If the cow dung hits the fan, this is the place I want to be and the people I want as neighbors.

This is one of the things my husband and I love best about living here. We know our neighbors, help each other, and care about each other. A friend doing rescue work just after TS Irene heard several FEMA people talking about the way Vermont is unique in their experience, in terms of people helping themselves and each other and not standing around demanding handouts. That's the feel of Vermont to me. Not everyone, obviously, but enough that it's part of our daily lived experience wherever we are in Vermont.

[jenny1951]

I too come from NYC. Grew up on Long Island, moved to Queens, then Manhattan, and had my son in '89. I left NYC for New Hampshire (Plainfield, just across the Connecticut from where I am now in Vermont) for a better place to raise my son. I have no regrets at all. I moved across the river to Vermont in 2007, mainly to buy a more affordable house, so there wasn't much difference from my son's perspective. In fact, attending college in Burlington was his first taste of "the city". He moved to Boston for an even bigger city environment (and it didn't hurt that a special girl lives there that he is now dating) and I can't blame him. I too would have not liked living in the Upper Valley as a young adult, but to raise my son, I couldn't have wanted better. It remains to be seen where he settles down once he has a family. I couldn't live on Long Island now. Vermont has spoiled me.

[j_jimerino]

Originally Posted by jenny1951

I am amazed at the number of people who move here without doing any research beforehand, complain about it ad nauseum, but don't go back to wherever they came from. It is what it is. Get over it or get out, it's that simple. Why stay where you are miserable? From reading all these posts, one can only conclude that Vermont has a high COL, innumerable problems with entitlement programs, bad roads, low wages, high taxes, trashy people, and more. So why do people come here? Why don't they leave if they find it so terrible?

In their defense, Vermont seems to show up in a bunch of magazine and news stories as "best places to live" for some odd reason. I never quite understood why as apart from a generally low crime rate and decent air quality (although it is manure scented part of the year) the state doesn't actually offer anything particularly special IMO. And it certainly has its drawbacks. I suppose if one showed up during the fall festivals in one of the well off resort towns for a vacation you might even believe it was that great due to myopia. But I would hope most people would at least run some numbers. Its certainly not the worst place to live or anything though, I just think some people expect it to be perfection when they show up and its really just another place with its own warts.

I wouldn't think it was ever particularly attractive to young people though. Even disregarding the job situation it has to be a tough singles market like any rural area is.