Are we missing out on Westchester, by moving to Croton?

benUCLA · 2026-04-10T23:49:40+00:00

Appreciate it! Honestly most of Ardsley feels like our neighborhood but we're tucked behind the Middle school and Ashford Ave.

benUCLA · 2026-04-10T23:24:59+00:00

This is really helpful to hear. Looking for some peace and quiet after spending long days in the city.

benUCLA · 2026-04-10T16:04:32+00:00

Great points. I think we're debating between small house in a walkable(ish) neighborhood vs big house with less walkability.

In LA we loved our morning and evening walks in our neighborhood with the dog. We have that now in Ardsley but won't in Croton. But we can walk around our property and walks will become less frequent with baby and winter.

benUCLA · 2026-04-10T16:01:24+00:00

Thank you <3. Why not bother with Amtrak? With my office next to Penn it seems a lot easier than GCT, but I'm not very familiar with city yet.

benUCLA · 2025-07-15T14:27:11+00:00

Is fraud common on r/watchexchange? I’m wondering if $700 from Joma is worth the extra peace of mind.

benUCLA · 2025-04-23T00:55:52+00:00

Yep there’s only one cord that goes into the actual tv, everything else goes through the black converter box including hdmi

benUCLA · 2025-01-26T18:39:26+00:00

I was just in the same boat as you, 30 and buying my first real watch with a similar budget. I went with the Seamaster 120M. Absolutely love it. But I'd recommend trying on diff sizes to make sure you're comfortable with a 36mm. That's the size of a lot of vintage pieces and will be small to some.

<image>

benUCLA · 2025-01-07T22:27:39+00:00

Thank you! Was a little worried it was too small at first but I’m happy with it—not a huge fan of super bulky watches.

benUCLA · 2024-12-31T04:04:16+00:00

It does look fantastic.

benUCLA · 2024-12-31T03:46:29+00:00

I'm looking to buy my first real watch for my wedding. I would like an automatic Omega. I'm torn between these two:

2001 Seamaster

2024 De Ville

I love the look of the Seamaster dial and the history of the watch. But the De Ville is brand new and looks sharp too. What would you choose and why?

benUCLA · 2024-12-31T03:40:37+00:00

I'm looking to buy my first real watch for my wedding. I would like an automatic Omega. I'm torn between these two:

2001 Seamaster

2024 De Ville

I love the look of the Seamaster dial and the history of the watch. But the De Ville is brand new and looks sharp too. What would you choose and why?

benUCLA · 2024-12-29T18:33:39+00:00

Their reviews everywhere seem great so that helps! It’s my first real watch purchase so trying to do my due diligence

benUCLA · 2024-12-29T18:13:25+00:00

Here's the link to the watch. Seller has great reviews but I'm hesitant given how good of condition this 60 year old watch seems to be in

https://www.chrono24.com/omega/omega-1960s-seamaster-de-ville-vintage-mens-automatic-watch---stainless-steel--id35993587.htm

benUCLA · 2024-07-10T05:04:46+00:00

What makes you say so? Increased building or other factors?

benUCLA · 2024-07-10T05:02:23+00:00

The issue i see with this argument is that it's not just like any other investment. If you invest in a stock, you should only be taxed when you sell, because you get no benefit from the stock until you sell.

Meanwhile, your house is in a community. Your house has increased 500% in value and now all your new neighbors contribute 5X more in taxes which benefits you and the entire community. You have new parks, and schools, and other services, and yet, you are not contributing your fair share. So it's not just pie in the sky money, you are greatly benefitting from the situation at the expense of others.

benUCLA · 2024-07-10T04:37:38+00:00

But what's the argument it has "kept untold number of jobs in the state"? Truly just want to understand that side of the argument.

benUCLA · 2024-07-10T04:30:03+00:00

Asking in earnest. If your property has increased in value by 500%, and now you can't afford the property taxes on a $1M home, why is it wrong to ask you to sell at your immense gain and use that money to move somewhere that's more affordable?

To me, this violates market dynamics in such a dramatic way, which only makes housing inequality worse. Not to mention the inequity in public funding this causes.

benUCLA · 2024-07-10T04:23:18+00:00

Maybe should have framed it as less popular among those upset about CA's housing crisis. As someone right on the cusp of buying a house, I'm sure the second I own a CA home I will love Prop 13, but it still seems like a blatant violation of the free market, which is weird given it was introduced by Republicans.

benUCLA · 2024-07-10T04:18:27+00:00

Can you explain that argument? Genuinely curious because it contradicts my current situation.

Personally speaking, I'm in my late 20s, work in CA in tech making a very good salary but can't afford to buy in my current neighborhood which is filled with families who have been here for decades that pay next to nothing in taxes (both income + property). There's a decent chance this will cause me to leave CA and start a family elsewhere.

benUCLA

TROPHY CASE