| Author | Message | ||
     mammabear Citizen Username: Mammabear Post Number: 164 Registered: 5-2001  |
MWF, local working mom of three youngsters. Been here in SO/M since 1997. I work locally and love the SO/M, but I am a NJ transplant and would love to get out of here! Not terribly political becasue I grew up in a very political house and hated it - my mother drove me crazy with it! I am liberal on some issues, but HATE John Kerry. I love music, beer, and the beach. I am open-minded and have a diverse group of friends. Sometimes I like to stir it up around here!  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 3782 Registered: 12-2001  |
What is keeping you from "Getting out of here"? | ||
| mammabear Citizen Username: Mammabear Post Number: 166 Registered: 5-2001 |
husband's job/career. I mean NJ is nice, but I've lived better places in my life. Plus, this is the first place I've even lived where I am not on/very near the water. Yea, I guess we could move to the shore, but that's not commutable, etc. and I can't say that I'd like it there either. I guess I just feel land-locked. So tell me Duncan, do you think I'm a bad person because I'm not gung-ho NJ??? | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 3649 Registered: 5-2001  |
I've lived here almost 15 years and still haven't accepted it. I don't think of our little corner as really being "NJ". | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 1655 Registered: 9-2003 |
Mammabear - there are plenty of people who live "down the shore" who commute north. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4701 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Bay Head line which goes into Penn Station NY serves a number of very nice shore communities. Well worth a look if you think you would be happier closer to the water. There are also nice and commutable communities along the south shore of Long Island. Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau county are all within easy mass transit access to NYC. | ||
| mammabear Citizen Username: Mammabear Post Number: 168 Registered: 5-2001 |
The commute from the shore is a nightmare. The trains are few and far between and it's a long ride. Also, unless you can move SO/M down there, I'm affraid it wouldn't work. I really like this town, even if I don't like NJ much. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 3783 Registered: 12-2001 |
EASY THERE mammabear.. you couldn't be more wrong about my thinking you a bad person for not loving Jersey. I am so totally on your side. I am here cause work keeps me here. I would move back to Boston today if my wife and I could both make it happen. I really was just curious. Funny how an innocuous remark like that can be mistaken for some sort of attack. I have met some wonderful people since living here in Maplewood, in fact, if I could uproot my neighbors two or three doors down on both sides (excluding the school ) and take them with me...all the better. I agree also that M/SO is more like New England than most other towns within a reasonable commute to the city. I actually did some checking on the moving back to Boston thing (we came here in 96)....we could not afford the size house and land we have the same distance outside of Boston as we are outside of NYC. Amazing no? Course, personally, I would like to move the whole shebang to Eastham or Orleans on Cape Cod, do my movies from there and fish all summer. But thats a few years away. I meant nothing more than whats keeping you from getting out of here, mammabear. Really, no insult or anything intended. | ||
| mammabear Citizen Username: Mammabear Post Number: 170 Registered: 5-2001 |
BOSTON??? Now we're talking!!!! I was born outside of Boston in Marblehead. (Have you seen the property prices THERE? Holy sh*t..it makes us look cheap!) I beg my husband every day to get a job in Boston so we can move there. Doesn't look too promising though.  | ||
| algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 2832 Registered: 5-2001  |
I'm from north of Boston too and I do miss being near the beach BUT I like Maplewood/NYC far more than Mass. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 3784 Registered: 12-2001 |
to each his own. I would move back tomorrow. and there are a great many posters who wish I would | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 967 Registered: 6-2001  |
Yes, the silence is deafening. I think New Jersey is the greatest place on earth. And most other planets. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1061 Registered: 9-2003  |
Hey, mammabear, I'm also a transplant. Or, a replant. Spent 2nd through 7th grade in Scotch Plains, NJ, then moved to Delaware. Have lived in Columbus, OH, Ann Arbor, MI, and NYC as an adult. Moved up here again about 2 years ago. Had to relocate due to work (kind of a move or leave situation)I'm making my peace, but would leave in a New York minute. For Delaware, or other places less costly. A university town somewhere.... I like Maplewood OK, but desperately miss a lower cost of living and a less abrasive culture. Still can't get used to the terrible driving, and the politicization of everything. Oddly enough, we came to NY etc. more when we didn't live near it because we had more free cash! | ||
| Meandtheboys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2004 |
Been in NJ since '76 when I moved to north Jersey with my family, when I was in high school. Love it hear in Maplewood and can't imagine living anywhere else (while trying to make a living--retirement's another story). One of the smaller states and it has so much to offer. The shore, farm country, skiing (yeah, I know it's not the best, but it's something), wetlands, pine barrens, Delaware river, easy access to the arts locally, or in NYC, easy access to the rest of the world via Newark Airport. Stumbled upon Maplewood by accident in 97, after getting married, while looking for a place to live that was easlily commutable to NYC. Didn't know Maplewood was hear even after 20 some years in NJ. Now I don't ever want to leave. Most people I've met here are great. Much more open minded, educated, diverse community than you'd find in most places. My sister lives in Ramsey--big, expensive houses on large properties--and has often talked about adopting a second child. I once asked her if she would ever consider adopting an african american or hispanic baby and she said no, it would never fly where she lives. How disgusting! I've visited many nice places in many parts of the country, but it's always been just a little to slow--physically and intellectually! Parents retired to Beaufort, SC. Stunningly beautiful place about an hour from Hilton Head. Filmed The Great Santini, parts of Forrest Gump, Prince of Tides, there. On the water, palm trees, beautiful historic homes, etc. Last time I visited I actually saw someone driving around with their child bouncing around in the bed of their pick-up truck! I was very frightened. My two cents, for what it's worth. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 3792 Registered: 12-2001 |
Its the manners. Its the way the girl at the video store threw done the replacement copy of the childrens video I had rented, driven home only find was broken, driven back to tell them about it and then was treated like I had done something wrong. If their inventory control is so bad thats my fault? The best comparison I can make is when I was the photographer for a rehearsal dinner on Cape Cod. I shot 9 rolls of 35mm film and thought it would be neat to have some prints to show everyone at the reception the next day after the noon wedding. I went into a "one hour" photo shop in Orleans at 9AM with 9 rolls, explained the situation and the man behind the counter said, and I quote..."I will do as many as I can so you can some to take with you, I love a challenge". Here when I walk into the "hour photo" on SA they ask what would be a good time to pick them up and if you say 'in an hour' they more often than not say they can't get them done in that time. Just a different mental setting I guess. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 972 Registered: 6-2001 |
It must be a mental thing, Duncan. I agree. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 3793 Registered: 12-2001 |
not surprising bets. Mamabear if you have to hang around here for work and the like, get involved. Participate in stuff and definately keep reaching out. Not everyone on this board is a mental case  There are only a few of us. | ||
| mammabear Citizen Username: Mammabear Post Number: 171 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan- maybe that's what it is here...attitude. Tons of bad attitude. I'll stick around and keep up my posts...even if I do get a couple of people all riled up! | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 4731 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan: Your Cape Cod vs NJ One Hour Photo example may have been more a case of higher volume and less staff/equipment (in NJ) in relation to demand for film development rather than a bad case of attitude. It does make you wonder why they call it one hour photo though. | ||
| ML Supporter Username: Ml1 Post Number: 2198 Registered: 5-2002  |
I keep reading people say that they like living here, but don't like NJ. Then they say they don't consider Maplewood to be NJ. ?????? I was born, and have lived all my life in NJ. Trust me. Maplewood and South Orange ARE New Jersey. There are only a few places around the country whrere the mix of people that we have here could come together, and NJ is one of them. Despite the stereotype, the state is not all rough and tumble urban areas with people who sound like "Sopranos" extras. Just admit it -- you like SOME of NJ, just not all of it. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 3800 Registered: 12-2001 |
ML my impression of NJ is nothing like the sopranos extras. It it, as I stated above, about manners. So many rude people around here. I think parts of the state are beautiful. I remember driving to Hackettstown on day when we first moved down here and driving along, when suddenly I saw a sign that said...Scenic Vista ahead. I nearly drove off the road I was laughing so hard. But I thought, what the heck, I'll take a look. And it was stunning. prior to moving here was my past trips down to Virginia and the like and the NJ TRNPK being my only experience of the state. But even here in Maplewood, the eden for so many, there are rude meanhearted folk. Thankfully, having met some really wonderful people here, it is tolerable. For now. But Joan, I challenge you to find a clerk at any one hour photo shop in a 3 mile radius of here where what the man on the cape said would even be considered. The people who work in the service industry here generally as a rule are not the nicest most gracious people in the world. I would say it is rather a case of someone who own their own store versus someone who just works in a small shop. For the non owner there is much less at stake. I love my neighbors though, and wouldn't trade them for anything. | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 1261 Registered: 9-2002 |
Not to contradict you Duncan because for the most part the service around here DOES SUCK... I took some black and white pics of the girls and wanted to have copies made from the negatives for Xmas pics. Of course I waited way too long to do this. They guy at One Hour Photo on Main in Millburn (I think that's the name of the place) did it in less than a day, 8 B&W 5x7's with great quality. And this was on December 23, the place was packed. And although the service in Texas where other family lives might be more attentive, they are no where near fast enough for me. I can put up with bad service as long as it is fairly fast. And if one more person calls me "hon" down there I will kill someone. |
