| Author |
Message |
    
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11087
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:35 pm: | 
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I guess I can’t stay in denial any longer. By the end of next week we Ks will no longer be Maplewood residents. After 27 years and two Maplewood houses we are at the point in our lives where we want to downsize our monthly nut and housing is, as it is for most people, our biggest single budget item. Our real estate taxes had ballooned to over $16,000 per year and we used some of our home equity to pay for our kids college educations. Between the home equity loan and the taxes the cost of remaining here would be burdensome in a couple of years when I semi-retire. I know a lot of the over 55s, empty nesters are faced with much the same sort of decision.
We had a lot of choices, including smaller houses here in Maplewood or in South Orange. In the end with the typical three bedroom house in Middle Maplewood now over $500,000 (and in need of substantial work) and with taxes around $12,000 a year we decided to move to a nearby Town with more commercial ratables, slightly lower taxes and a better history of controlling budgets in both the school district and the township. It was a tough decision.
My MOL addiction is a problem. Since we made our decision to leave I have been trying not to post opinions on local political issues, since these are no longer our concern. We will be gone before the BOE elections and what may very well be a rough and tumble Democratic primary season. I will, other than posting some factual information if I just can’t stop myself, refrain from comments.
Love and good luck to all,
Bob
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13270
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:38 pm: |
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You are still entitled to opinions! I still feel as if local elections in Manhattan are my elections. (I grew up there and lived there for a total of 23 years.)
Good luck. I'm sure you won't leave MOL.
Any reason you aren't saying what town you're moving to?
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11089
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:41 pm: |
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Nope, other than the ton of people who will say "you are moving there". 
We are moving to the St. Cloud area of West Orange. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1447
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:41 pm: |
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Bob - who are you kidding - it's not possible to leave MOL. Heck, there are a few people who moved to FLORIDA and haven't been able to stop... Don't leave us Bob....
Good luck to you and your family. |
tjohn
Supporter
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 4164
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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Bobk,
You are moving elsewhere in Essex County?!?!?! Taxes are the iceberg and Essex County is the Titanic. Isn't the idea to move to another ship rather than another part of the Titanic?
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11090
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:48 pm: |
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Actually, the difference between Union County tax rates and Essex County rates aren't all that great. I figure in our case it is around $200 per year. I think the issue here in Essex County is the lack of commercial ratables because most of the 'burbs were built before real estate taxes were an issue. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4202
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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Wow Bob, good luck! |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 994
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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after 11,000 posts I dont think you could stop if you wanted to. Dont be an MOL stranger. |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 5244
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 4:55 pm: |
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Bobk - On MOL, and in real life, you've been an asset to the community. Best of luck over there on the other side of the mountain. Don't be a stranger.
And, apparently the Ross Empire has preceded you there -
http://www.westorangenj.net/forum/
Go show them how it's done, big guy! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7087
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:06 pm: |
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I know you're not going far, but I feel like the little kid whose next-door-neighbor-friend's parents just decided to move away....
Happy new home and cheaper expenses. |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7011
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:09 pm: |
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MOVING TO WEST ORANGE??? That's the big goodby? MOVING 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD??!!!
What the heck? You'll probably still take the Maplewood train or maybe the So. Orange train...
West Orange, that's almost Maplewood except I DON'T LIVE THERE!. That's the only difference.
Dave and Jamie should start WOOL (West Orange on Line) so Bob can spend the next 20 years picking on the town leaders there instead..
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Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2656
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |
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It's too bad that our usernames and passwords don't automatically work on other Ross Bros. boards, I was going to reply to a post but will now probably forget about it by the time my username gets back to me.
Nevermind, wow that was fast.... |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7088
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
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I just saw WOOL. I'm not sure how I feel about it. A little cheated on, perhaps? Is this going to take up more of Jamie's time? |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1738
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 5:24 pm: |
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I'll miss you BobbestK!
Good luck to you and Mrs. K and your new adventure.
Come back and visit MOL once you're settled in!
Lydia
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cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 976
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 6:30 pm: |
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Good luck to you! I like West Orange, too. Aren't there some really good bakeries in the St. Cloud area? I thought that was where a friend of mine always bought the most delicious cookies! |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1150
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 8:03 pm: |
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West Orange is Nice! We bid on the 1st house we wanted over there, and looked in the St Cloud area too. We are always at the Metropolitan Plant Exchange on Pleasant Valley Way on warm summer weekends. They have a great sale every 4th of July week....
Good luck on the move!
Maplewoody |
Suzanne Ng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 683
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 8:48 pm: |
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Hi Neighbor , Bob K... I am also in the St Cloud area! Maybe Jamie could set up a "former MOLer" section on West OrangeNJ.net
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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1424
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 9:03 pm: |
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My MOL addiction is a problem.
huh?  |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 482
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 9:05 pm: |
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Bob,
Let me be the first to say "you are moving there?"
Maplewood's loss is West Orange's gain. You do know you are kidding yourself about not posting here anymore?
Eric |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3303
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 9:34 pm: |
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I don't see anything "former" about you as MOLer, Suzanne. (Unless there's something you aren't telling us?)
And I suspect that the same is likely to be true of BobK.
In any case, good luck with the move! |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2200
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:04 pm: |
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My best Bob to you and your family moving oh so far away. Don't you dare stop posting here. I need your great challenges and early morning insights.
Wendy |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 9029
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:33 pm: |
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Bobk, I now pronounce you our first MOL Poster Emeritus, ex officio
(which means you can still post, even about M/SO politics) |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1612
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 4:31 am: |
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Good luck Bob. It seems like we were the only people awake at an ungodly hour. Keep posting early in the morning. |
Suzanne Ng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 686
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 7:21 am: |
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Thanks, sac... ( I think ) -- BTW, we should meet F2F (finally) next Wed 4/5. at 12:30? Come on over and introduce yourself this year. |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3308
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 7:53 am: |
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Suzanne - I didn't think of that, but you're right ... maybe.
I won't be there by 12:30, since I have class at SHU until 12:45 and I may have to go to work in the afternoon (payroll due by Thursday morning), but I'll try to stop by for at least a few minutes. |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1418
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Good luck, BobK!
I totally understand your reasons for leaving. In fact, although I am not an empty nester, as a single parent on one income, I too left after my tax bill hit $12K and moved to Livingston, where I cut my taxes in half, basically....although I have missed Maplewood greatly, continue to take the train from Maplewood, and still hang at the pub. Livingston is growing on me (in fact, I just started writing a blog about Livingston for NJ.com, reachable at http://www.nj.com/weblogs/livingston/ )
You won't leave MOL....I didn't! (Although, as you anticipate doing also, I refrain from participating in discussions about schools and town politics since they don't affect me). Once MOL is in your system, it's there for GOOD.
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4603
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 10:39 am: |
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Bobk- Good luck in your new home. I was on the verge of tears until you said West ORange ! Really, though BOBk, you and I certainly have spent lots of time together here on MOL so I feel like you are my real neighbor - we've been through so much!! Reval, dog parks, schools! I even remember when you left MOL "for good". It really was a long time though cuz people started to chant Bobk Bobk and well, you came back! I am sad for you that you will be leaving the community in which you've taken so much pride. Your neighbors will miss you. Don't forget to let us know all about your new digs via MOL.
From one addicted poster to another! Cheers, Bobk!
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kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1110
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 2:31 pm: |
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Dave sounds like the Wizard of Oz giving a heart to the tin man who had a heart of gold all along..... |
Suzanne Ng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 688
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 8:42 pm: |
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sac -- You'll get there in time for the baklava I'm bringing! (I am ordering it from the Parkwood.) Based on the info I am getting from my colleagues, looks to be a good spread this year! |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 864
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 7:59 pm: |
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Peace out Bob....... I moved out 10 years ago. |
J. Crohn
Supporter
Username: Jcrohn
Post Number: 2471
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 10:05 am: |
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All the best, BobK. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 5919
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 10:07 am: |
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Good luck Bobk. Keep us posted about WO. |
aquaman
Supporter
Username: Aquaman
Post Number: 824
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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Bobk,
Congradulations!
Did you sell your house yet? How much did you get for it? Or will you scour the Star-Ledger and post that data for us?  |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1504
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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Best of luck Bob to you and Mrs.K on your new journey…
and keep posting! |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2512
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 1:12 pm: |
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Good luck to all the K's, Bob. I hope you get/got a good price on your house and that it has helped with the ongoing tuition bills. Take care and don't be a stranger!
Cathy |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 2253
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 1:21 pm: |
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There's no such thing as a former MOLer. Good luck with the move! |
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