[ab8mi]

Hi all,

I have the possibility of a very good job opportunity in Northern VT and have been looking at properties in various communities. Newport Center was one of these areas. Does anyone have any comments about this area. We definitly want someplace with a few acres of land and property prices seem quite reasonable in this area.

I am originally from a small town in New Brunswick (Canada), so I love the rural life and grew up hunting, fishing, sugaring etc. How do the locals take to new people as well. Don't want to take my family somewhere they will be unwelcome.

Thanks.

[VTeratheart]

Where is your job located? That would help narrow down places to live.

[ab8mi]

The job itself would be based out of Johnson VT.

[VTeratheart]

Well, Newport isn't very close to Johnson, so I wouldn't try and commute from Johnson to Newport. There is (I'm sure) land in Johnson, or houses on land, as it's fairly rural. If you want to live closer to ammenities, you might try Cambridge, Jeffersonville or Underhill, as they are closer to Chittenden county, where more goes on. I live outside of Burlington in the direction of Johnson, but am still 45 minutes from Johnson itself.

[ab8mi]

For the right property the commute wouldn't bother me all that much. I drive well over an hour to job sites every day now, providing there are no traffic problems and in MI that isn't often.

But Newport is about the farthest we would consider.

[square peg]

I'd do it for the right job too. It's 40-50minutes in good weather and Rte 100 has no congestion in this part of the state, downtown Morrisville aside, but you won't be driving through that to get to Johnson. You should understand, however, that we do get inclement weather in all seasons which will surely lengthen commuting time. Two weeks ago it was fog that got me. I'd never seen it so thick anywhere. And of course it was before dawn which only compounded the trouble. Last week it was freezing rain. I sat in my truck for two hours waiting for the town truck to sand the hill I was on. To be fair, this was just off of Rte. 100, but you get my drift. On really bad days like those you can easily expect to double your time on the road. There is bound to be an occasional day that you just won't go anywhere either. We had one of those days on Feb. 14th with a massive snow storm. Things like this happen, and if you live in Michigan, I think you know this already.

As for fitting in with the locals: Heck, half of us are from away, myself included. I live in the next town over which is North Troy. Most folks are truly wonderful people and you'll be able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone you meet. We all talk about the weather, so don't be shy. A good place to start would be Lucier's Store. Pretty good coffee there...

Good Luck / Jim

[ab8mi]

Well I will know this week about the job....keeping my fingers cost.