| Author |
Message |
    
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 79
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 3:31 pm: | 
|
Just realized...what the heck is keeping us in NJ with its' high taxes, high insurance, high home prices etc etc. Anybody know anything about Asheville, NC. Where to Retire Magazine made it sound really nice. Any input? |
upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 604
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 4:23 pm: |
|
"what the heck is keeping us in NJ with its' high taxes, high insurance, high home prices etc etc."
The above average salaries we make that allow us to pay for all that plus our accumulated debt!
I got a yen to be running off to Wellsboro, PA. Voted one of the "100 best" cities in the US to live in. |
IShep
Citizen
Username: Twinsmom
Post Number: 161
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
|
We moved because of this last summer...we're in PA now and I must admit, very happy here. But...we were able to restructure our lives because we didn't need to be near Manhattan anymore. We're only 2 hours away from the city and we go in about once a month or so and get our fix. We're also about a half hour from Philly's city center and we love having a big city closeby.
For what it's worth, I have heard Asheville is beautiful and we considered parts of NC...but only for a short time. It's just a bit too southern for us, and Asheville was just too much out of the way (I need to be near a good airport for my job). We are in our mid-30s so are not thinking about retiring anytime soon.
There is a fun web site called findmyspot.com or findyourspot.com -- I don't remember which. Take the quiz and see what turns out for you...
|
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 74
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 7:22 pm: |
|
asheville is beautiful. i am from nc, though charlotte, not asheville.
but get ready for a big change. there is a small town strip with decent restaurants, coffee houses, and shops, but other than that there is not much out there. but then again, that is kind of the attraction. especially if you are the outdoorsy type. and you will definately lose the diversity, which is an attractive aspect of maplewood/south orange.
there is a small state university in town also. and many artists and writers...i also heard that andie mcdowell lives in asheville!
if it were up to me, i'd move back to nc in a heartbeat. though if i were retiring, i'd go for the beach! |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 80
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 7:31 pm: |
|
Upondaroof,
Maybe YOUR husband wasn't laid off last July but mine was. So before you start making cracks, try thinking for a bit. |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2105
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 8:09 pm: |
|
Sherri, you didn't give Uponaroof anything to think about. This is the first time you're mentioning the lay off. My sympathies and I'm sure upondaroof probably would have said the same thing. That, however, is not what you said or implied in your first post. Don't shoot the messenger. good luck in your future. |
upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 605
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 11:23 pm: |
|
wendy, thanks for taking my back; however, I'm getting used to being nipped at for my humorous comments(wise cracks if you will  )
The sorryass truth is that if you live in the metro, tri-state area, and are living what we call "the American dream", you have to be pulling down a good paycheck. The taxes, insurance and debt alone will eat you up. Get in the car and drive a couple hundred miles in any direction and check out the cost of living index. Big time difference, but the wages are lower, too.
Sherri, didn't know about your husband being laid off. 8 months is a long layoff, but didn't you say he was a home improvement contractor? |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 81
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 1:01 pm: |
|
Sorry Upondaroof. but I snapped at you because that just happened to be my last nerve of that day. Yes,
he is a handyman/contractor. But previously that was only a weekend thing. Since the corporate lay-off it has become our only thing. I thank heaven that my husband has the talent to do this, because the corporate world is a scary place these days. He loves doing the handyman thing. No bosses. Of, course I love my town, my house and my friends. I hate change and will do all we can to stay in the house we'ved loved and rehabbed over the past 22 years. Thank you too Wendy.
|
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2494
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 1:30 pm: |
|
Ishep's findmyspot link is wonderful! I belong somewhere in N Carolina, or Kentucky. I think I knew that!
I'm from Delaware, Sherri, and my family's lot since moving here has been harsh for the kinds of expense reasons you cite. Given your tenure in this place, and ties, I hope you can find a way to stay.
But, if you're feeling adventurous and looking for lower cost of living, don't be afraid. I've lived a mess of places other than here, and there are plenty of nice, intelligent people out there, all over the place. And diversity and all the rest. And so far as our salaries up here, it may be worth noting that while our salaries are higher, the cost of home ownership in many other locales is half of what it is right around here. After 3 years of living here I can confidently say that while my salary went up about 20% to move here, our housing costs went up 100% -- and that is the single biggest family budget item for us.
I work for a corporation and am in my early '50's so it was take the relo or quit. Given age and time in, it made best sense to relo here. Yes, corporations are scarey beasts these days. My sympathies to you. |
Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 135
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
|
I agree with the other sentiments. I would just add healthcare concerns. I do not know how old or the health status of your husband. My father is getting older and he is thinking of relocating to a cheaper easier way of life. But he has some health issues, so I just advise him to research the health facilities (how long of a drive to the nearest hospital, closeness of neighbors in case something goes wrong, reliability of roads, etc). Just something to consider. |
wunderdog
Citizen
Username: Wunderdogny
Post Number: 83
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
|
I went to grad school at NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, a great little conservatory in NC. Before I moved there, I had heard all these wonderful things about NC, that it's a really art-friendly state, lots of open minded people, a little oasis in the south, etc. I didn't find that to be true at all. I'm originally from the south, so I'm familiar with the area AND with the prevailing attitudes. I found NC no different from most of the southern states. Also, I was shocked at the economy there - much less thriving than the bigger urban areas I was used to - low incomes, lots of working poor, etc. While NC does have tiny pockets of "art-friendly" areas, some of Ashville included, I couldn't wait to leave once I graduated. Raleigh/Durham is also a little enclave of openmindedness and liberalism, but I simply found the rest of the state quite conservative and backward. |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page