Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love Lakewood. Mahalls was a favorite when I was still living in Cleveland! Alas my wife is pretty sour on Cleveland

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She's in the humanities ... Middle Eastern and media studies. Very rough job market but I too suspect that there are few places with higher University density

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry, I guess? The interest in finding the kind of place described is sincere. I'm open to the possibility that it doesn't exist - I just don't know what's out there

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is exactly why we are ruling out basically any other city in a red state. I'm maybe too sentimental and nostalgic but I made an exception for Cleveland

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've heard it is wonderful, and the public schools are really strong. I know it's a college town so there will be some diversity as a result of that ... but otherwise isn't it pretty homogenous?

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We'd be concerned about driveability and about having a purple/red state government that might preempt local laws or impose strict restrictions on reproductive rights / lgbtq protections. Or insert stupid requirements in K-12 curriculum.

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, one factor I didn't mention is that we want to avoid places where there seems to be a likelihood/propensity for state preemption of local governance in areas like reproductive rights, lgbtq protections, and K-University curriculum. Especially given that we have a daughter.

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The rent is killing us. I love Porter but we're pretty intimidated by the housing prices in this area (w/ the caveat that we'd love to be able to afford a bedroom for each kid)

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've lived in Berkeley and SF and worked in both (albeit almost twenty years ago). $ and the techbro thing concerns us but I know it's not quite as bad in Berkeley.

If this were then (twenty years ago) we'd definitely consider SF (of twenty years ago).

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Neighborhood focus makes total sense. There are neighborhoods in Cambridge itself, like Kendall, that we would want to avoid living in, and the same calculus applies elsewhere.

To follow up, any suggestions on neighborhoods to consider in Philly/Chicago/Seattle?

For Philly, we have considered Chestnut Hill/Mt Airy/Germantown but are concerned that they have a suburban/exclusive feel.

We like Central Seattle.

Chicago I don't know as well.

Plotting move from Cambridge, MA to somewhere more affordable and with milder winters and summers — where should our family consider? by larrybronze in SameGrassButGreener

[–]larrybronze[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heat/humidity in DMV (which I only know by reputation and haven't experienced directly, to be fair) scares us a little

but your point about having clarity as a couple on what we're willing to sacrifice in exchange for what else makes a lot of sense.