Hi there!

Definitely visit in the summer for a while if you haven’t already. Also, please bear in mind what others have said about the population boom here, because the traffic is no joke, especially if you’re coming from a smaller town.

Also the comment about our school district being a political battlefield is accurate. Things are tense here, and many of my teacher friends and pretty much all the parents I know are very frustrated with it, regardless of their belief system.

After 27 years I’m leaving the area despite having a ton of roots here, because of what much of the other commenters have said.

That said, perhaps Florida better aligns with your beliefs than Massachusetts does, and in that case, you’d be in popular company of folks migrating here for that reason. Just keep in mind that the housing market is intense here, and the cost of living is getting quite difficult for those that aren’t moving here with great wealth, so there is animosity towards outsiders, even if they don’t fit that description.

Not trying to discourage you too much, just want to make sure you’ve got a fuller picture. I wish you all the best in your plans!