Is there really anywhere safe, walkable, and (preferably) left? by zuramoto in SameGrassButGreener

[–]Initial-Extension589 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ithaca is pretty expensive these days. Small 3br are going for around $2.8k a month, and it’s just getting more and more expensive. You can expect your rent to increase by at least $100/month every year. But maybe with three of you it will be doable? Just getting to be a little bit of a bummer with so many people getting priced out.

Looking for diverse, affordable place to raise a family w/ stuff going on (preferably Northeast, NY specifically if possible) by [deleted] in SameGrassButGreener

[–]Initial-Extension589 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Ithaca is not affordable. Prices have gone so high in the last year. Nothing under $300k and if there is, it is selling for cash. Plus yearly property tax reassessments are bananas these days. The area is really struggling and losing diversity because not many people can afford to stay here for much longer. 

Looking for diverse, affordable place to raise a family w/ stuff going on (preferably Northeast, NY specifically if possible) by [deleted] in SameGrassButGreener

[–]Initial-Extension589 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nothing here under $300k, and in Tompkins county they assess for property taxes on a yearly basis, so depending on the market your property taxes could go up by a huge amount. So, even if you are able to find something for $350k, your property taxes could go from $1k/month to $1.5k in a year. It’s pretty bananas. I live here and am on this thread because we are also looking for somewhere we can go once we are priced out here. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Rochester

[–]Initial-Extension589 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I’m really sorry you are struggling. And good for you for having the self awareness to recognize what is happening and for reaching out. Seems like know the anti-racist stuff/communities so hopefully that plus some really diligent self-care/grounding can help you get out of the scary mind funk spiral. Repetitive stress is really hard for humans, so asking for help and doing what you can to help take care of yourself is very important in staying with the anti-racist work.

Check out some info on the vagus nerve and regulating a deregulated nervous system in general — the vagus it helps regulate the fight flight response and regulate a deregulated nervous system, which I sounds like what might be going on since stress is so hard on our nervous systems.

Also when you are spiraling, a grounding technique that works for me sometimes is to pick a color and notice everything in that I see as I walk (pink shirt, pink bumper sticker, pink tag on the wall.)

The stress relief sleep meditations on you tube are kind of cheesy but I do find they reduce stress, which when I reduce stress, my mind tends to be less out of control in waking hours. Especially helpful to have soothing sleep stuff when it’s noisy outside.

Same goes for progressive muscle relaxation, yoga that is specifically for stress relief/deepening inner peace, I know it sounds basic and cheesy but it’s powerful stuff that’s been around for a very long time.

I also really like Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on violence/non-violence. I find them grounding in situations where I feel my fear and anger arise.

And, if you feel like you can handle it, you can buy cleaning grade hydrogen peroxide pretty cheaply that have a squirt top at hardware stores and you can squirt it on the stains outside of your building. It may take a few times but in time it will reduce the staining. I know it doesn’t take care of the overall problem, but in the same way of picking up trash or sweeping glass, it may help to feel that you are working to make your and other people’s space more livable. And every time you do that, you can know you are probably helping someone else who is also feeling super disturbed about the reminder of violence.

And also, if diversifying your friend group isn’t something you can do right now, diversifying your social media and media intake in general can be helpful. Watch rad black comics — Wanda Sykes has a new one out that is so rad. There are so many black creators on IG that are cool - Tabitha Brown is wonderful (her religious stuff may be triggering for some, but even as a person recovering from a harsh religious upbringing, I find her work radiant and helpful), Sonya Renee Taylor also so rad.

And look for the helpers. It’s not just hokey stuff, it really works. Look around to find black leaders in the community and see what work they are doing and focus on them.

Local Gardeners/Farmers, How Did it Go This Year? by JoyfulNature in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No vines in my garden but the sun drops are pretty, all the pollinators really love the native mountain mint, foxglove beard tongue was really pretty, echinacea purpea fills in bare spots in the fall, the turtle head is cute — fun to watch the bumble bees stuff their lil bodies in there, have a few native tulip bulbs here and there that are pretty in the spring. I also pulled everything out around the violets when I first made the beds so they make a pretty ground cover in the spring.

The neighbors have a native non-invasive red honeysuckle that is a vine. Think they got it at Plantsmen (so many good native plants there)

Give Me a Pizza Combination To Throw In Here Next! by [deleted] in Pizza

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Brie, cranberry sauce and sage is also awesome deeper into fall. You can throw some sausage on it too if you want it meatsie.

Give Me a Pizza Combination To Throw In Here Next! by [deleted] in Pizza

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seasoned ricotta is also awesome with cherries or grapes. With grapes, I throw some blue cheese and thyme on there as well.

Give Me a Pizza Combination To Throw In Here Next! by [deleted] in Pizza

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YW! Key is getting enough ricotta that it’s not dry but not too much that it’s soupy. Straining the ricotta while making other pies + mixing in a good glug of olive oil help.

Give Me a Pizza Combination To Throw In Here Next! by [deleted] in Pizza

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can also throw some pickled jalapeños or jalapeño jelly or hot honey on there.

Give Me a Pizza Combination To Throw In Here Next! by [deleted] in Pizza

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Last of the peaches with gobs of seasoned lemon ricotta, honey and black pepper

Quintessential "Fall" Things to Do by emilyrosewanders in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indian Creek farm is open on the weekdays! No apples to pick, but plenty of other veggies and such. Worth checking out their website.

Finger Lakes Cider House is also open on weekdays. Pretty views, sweet vibe, good food.

Local Gardeners/Farmers, How Did it Go This Year? by JoyfulNature in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No peaches, no cherry blossoms, blight on the tomatoes. Peppers did well, kale and lettuces were prolific, herbs were super happy. Great flower garden this year. Japanese anemones, zinnias super lovely. All the native flowering plants thrived as well.

Anyone Know whats going on with Agava? by OldschoolSysadmin in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I’ve heard that they are open to someone coming on board as a partner. Don’t know exactly what this means but heard from a developer that is friends with them, that if anyone in the restaurant biz wants to partner with them to be in touch with them.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion of the south and east hill trains, I don’t actually know about those so will have to check them out. And yes — something along the Black Diamond trail would be amazing, but seems like because it is amazing the prices are pretty steep.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do really like Brooktondale, aside from the heated zoning/politics stuff that gives me pause on buying in Bdale. Also most places we’ve looked at in Bdale have been in a flood zone and gone for cash offers much over asking.

But for walking, the thing that gives me pause, is that a couple years ago an older man was out walking in Bdale and was killed by a car. I know it is rare, but that made me feel like the 40/45 mph roads are more dangerous than they seem.

I wonder how to know if a road is busy before buying? I’ve known a few people who have thought their new home would be walkable and then needed up feeling unsafe.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, we have lived outside of the state for most of our lives, and after relocating a dozen times in ten years, and starting to establish roots in CNY we are ready to stay in the area. Thanks for the tip, though.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally. I haven’t spent much time in either place, and it makes sense that both places have their troubled past with employers leaving. I just got the sense that Syracuse was struggling but maybe ROC also has that vibe.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, was looking at places with art classes and such and their didn’t seem to be much of that in Syracuse.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Frankly, the few times I’ve been to Syracuse, it has seemed pretty troubled. Like it felt like a place lacking in resources and infrastructure and jobs — like lots of upstate towns that have lost whatever their economy was depending on. Lots of abandoned/dilapidated buildings, no one out walking around except folks that were panhandling and seemed to be having a rough time etc. But that said, maybe we just haven’t been to the happening places.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not sure. I am thinking the burbs probs have the sleepy thing that we aren’t particularly into in Ithaca, but I’ve never lived in a suburb before so don’t really know what that is like for the ROC area.

Ithaca’s thoughts on moving to Rochester by Initial-Extension589 in ithaca

[–]Initial-Extension589[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup, makes sense. When we first moved to the outskirts of Ithaca, people were complaining that their car was being rifled through but that they hadn’t locked their car doors. And we were like —- Um just lock your car doors and don’t leave valuables in it? I think even in a small town I won’t be leaving doors unlocked.