[mdovell]

I'm not looking to change the place. The reason I mentioned development is it is quite a distance between more urban areas. The further away something is sometimes the higher the cost of living. When there is higher access to various things costs of living can go down. Burlington looks like a great place. I'm not asking for a box store at every corner.

The reason I mention the open areas is because frankly I'd assume that fewer people makes maintaining a area harder. If a fire breaks out for whatever reason I didn't see that much in the way of fire departments. Everything needs someone to tend the land or maintain it on some level, otherwise it runs a risk. I'm from Mass not NJ. There's no need to be insulting.

[Aurora369]

My husband and I come to Vermont each year for a week's vacation and I have come to really appreciate the state. Hopefully in a couple of years we will be buying a home in the Northeast Kingdom, Danville or Lyndon area.

As far as the box stores and suburbia, I would not want to see that happen in Vermont. I live in New Jersey and am so tired of seeing one strip mall after another. I also hate those big box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. We always went to our local, in-town, hardware store before it closed up. They carried a little of everything.

And someone made a comment about billboards...that is one of most disgusting things New Jersey and New York have...I loved driving through Vermont and seeing trees, mountains and NO billboards whatsoever. I hope that never changes.

[Dreamn]

Originally Posted by Aurora369

My husband and I come to Vermont each year for a week's vacation and I have come to really appreciate the state. Hopefully in a couple of years we will be buying a home in the Northeast Kingdom, Danville or Lyndon area.

As far as the box stores and suburbia, I would not want to see that happen in Vermont. I live in New Jersey and am so tired of seeing one strip mall after another. I also hate those big box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes. We always went to our local, in-town, hardware store before it closed up. They carried a little of everything.

And someone made a comment about billboards...that is one of most disgusting things New Jersey and New York have...I loved driving through Vermont and seeing trees, mountains and NO billboards whatsoever. I hope that never changes.

You mean you don't want "visit rock city" wrote on the side of every barn?

[jenny1951]

Originally Posted by Dreamn

You mean you don't want "visit rock city" wrote on the side of every barn?

Or see "South of the Border" billboards in three states before you arrive! Or maybe that place has (hopefully) vanished from the face of the earth.

[vtallison]

Originally Posted by mdovell

I'm not looking to change the place. The reason I mentioned development is it is quite a distance between more urban areas. The further away something is sometimes the higher the cost of living. When there is higher access to various things costs of living can go down. Burlington looks like a great place. I'm not asking for a box store at every corner.

The reason I mention the open areas is because frankly I'd assume that fewer people makes maintaining a area harder. If a fire breaks out for whatever reason I didn't see that much in the way of fire departments. Everything needs someone to tend the land or maintain it on some level, otherwise it runs a risk. I'm from Mass not NJ. There's no need to be insulting.

I never said you were from NJ. But if you really researched Vermont you would find that we all have local volunteer fire departments who respond to fire calls. They have great training and know their jobs. I have 1 FD 2 miles away and the other 3.5 miles away.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by vtallison

I never said you were from NJ. But if you really researched Vermont you would find that we all have local volunteer fire departments who respond to fire calls. They have great training and know their jobs. I have 1 FD 2 miles away and the other 3.5 miles away.

I understand what you are saying but at the same point I just have to ask as to why someone would have to research a given area prior to going.

A friend of mine found a pond in Florida once that was great swimming and when he asked a local why no one swam in it the reply was "Cuz there's gators in it"

My argument basically is that if a community is to be sustainable it has to establish equity (transportation, information, etc). If there are fewer options then it really isn't sustainable and it can then just become a remote area run by elitists. That's what can be seen in say Cape Cod and certainly on the islands.

I hate billboards as well. The worst road I was down was the turnpike in NJ because it feels like it just doesn't end. There isn't that much in the way of billboards where I am although some trucks have become moving ones.

It will be interesting to see how the single payer bill works. If Obamacare does not pass and the vermont plan stands it could receive significantly more people going there specifically for free care. How it could alter development will be interesting as well.

[FrugalYankee]

If the ACA does not pass then the VT single payer system collapses like a house of cards. True to Vermont style, the intent was to hold their hand out to the Feds to the tune of $18 million to fund it. Plus, don't expect the powerful state union to let their members give up the cushy health insurance they currently have. So many people will either opt out or be ineligible that the plan will more than likely not be viable.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by mdovell

I'm not looking to change the place. The reason I mentioned development is it is quite a distance between more urban areas. The further away something is sometimes the higher the cost of living. When there is higher access to various things costs of living can go down. Burlington looks like a great place. I'm not asking for a box store at every corner.

The reason I mention the open areas is because frankly I'd assume that fewer people makes maintaining a area harder. If a fire breaks out for whatever reason I didn't see that much in the way of fire departments. Everything needs someone to tend the land or maintain it on some level, otherwise it runs a risk. I'm from Mass not NJ. There's no need to be insulting.

cue twilight zone music

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

cue twilight zone music

No, cue the music from Deliverance, it'll keep the state from turning into NJ...lol

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

No, cue the music from Deliverance, it'll keep the state from turning into NJ...lol

...but it might turn the state into Northern Georgia - them hillbillies might get a hankering for Vermont.