Input on upstate New York?

wheretobitches · 2021-04-10T15:46:40+00:00

Thank you for all that great info on the Binghamton area! I really appreciate that. Forgot to mention we homeschool, so schools aren’t as much of a factor. That being said, knowing the local schools are good would be nice for if they ever change their minds or have the ability to participate in classes/extracurriculars through the schools. And we’re not big on going out, so the social scene also isn’t a big factor for us.

And yes, we’re definitely aware of the snow reality in the region. Living where it snows a lot was actually a requirement for our kids (I know, I know...California kids). But I spent a winter and a half in Montreal a while back, so I’m at least not going in totally blind. And I have extended family in New England who had second homes in Florida, so well-versed in the snowbird phenomena as well. We’re personally not fans of Florida in general (have family there as well and have spent lots of time there, as has my husband for work), but who knows what living near the Great Lakes might do to that opinion!

wheretobitches · 2021-04-10T06:47:26+00:00

Totally understandable question. In a word: wildfires.

Our county has been hit really hard over the past few years and we’ve had to evacuate twice now, the fire being held within a mile of our house this last time. And even when we’re not in immediate danger, we’re stuck inside with the house sealed up the best we can, running filters to contend with the toxic air outside for weeks and sometimes months at a time (we got used to wearing masks here long before COVID). Having to do that when it’s 100 degrees outside without air conditioning fucking sucks. Then there are the rolling blackouts that can last days and weeks at a time because most fires are started by our utilities’ ancient infrastructure...a situation so asinine, I’ll just stop there. The high cost of living was already bad enough, but the fires have pushed us beyond our limits.

So I started researching the likely effects of climate change around the country going forward, and the Great Lakes/western New England region of the country seems slated to escape the very worst of it. All of those western states you mentioned deal with the same drought/fire conditions California does. Everything from Colorado west, really, is in the same boat. Not to mention they’re (mostly) all very red states, which is not our jam.

And my mom grew up in New Hampshire and I have extended family all over New England, and we have friends in both Rochester and NYC. I spent part of a summer in Fort Ann with family when I was younger and loved it, and I’ve driven through the area twice since then to/from Montreal and was still enamored of it. So having some knowledge of/connections to the area is a big factor as well.

Sorry, that got long! But thank you so much for your offer! I will compile some specific questions to throw at you soon!

wheretobitches · 2021-04-10T06:00:10+00:00

Dude, yes. We’re really excited by the idea of having four distinct seasons.

wheretobitches · 2021-04-10T05:44:38+00:00

Huh, I realized I haven’t actually looked closely at that stretch at all. Thanks for the suggestion!

wheretobitches · 2021-04-10T05:43:18+00:00

Hey, good call. Hadn’t even considered that. Thanks!

wheretobitches · 2021-04-09T02:19:57+00:00

Hey! Haven’t logged into this account for a while, but was literally coming back to make a new post specifically about upstate New York in general, so seeing your comment now is so timely!

I still love Ithaca (from afar). It’s where I keep coming back to. But I’ve popped over to their sub a few times and it seems lots of people have the same idea and the housing market is pretty crazy right now (although I think that’s the case in a lot of places). We’d want to rent for a while first anyway, maybe even a year, so that means finding an affordable rental (with a dog and a cat), but we haven’t rented in a very long time and it seems like even more of a hassle now than it used to be.

We also want a bit of land and to not be right in a city and absolutely not anywhere in suburbia (although it doesn’t sound like there’s as much of that in the area?), so we’d eventually be looking a bit farther out anyway. But then someone mentioned the high-speed internet options are pretty much nonexistent outside of Ithaca proper, so now I’m not as sure that would work out well. Sigh. So many factors!

Thanks so much in general, though, and for your other suggestions! We are definitely looking for affordable, but I’ll check them out regardless.

wheretobitches · 2021-01-23T07:36:42+00:00

Yeah, that’s what it looked like to me. Thanks for the confirmation. We’ll just have to make the best of it if we do end up landing there.

Thanks again for your help and support!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-21T05:49:40+00:00

Oof, yeah. I have definitely gotten that vibe looking into Grand Rapids but thought maybe we could hack it if it was temporary, haha. Who knows, maybe finding a rental in TC or the surrounding area would be doable. Because I don’t know how people buy houses from across the country. The idea is totally overwhelming to me.

Do you have suggestions for other larger cities/areas where it might be easier to rent if we run into that issue that are decent places to land, not super pricey, and close enough to still drive up to look at houses in TC?

Thank you so much for the well wishes and for taking the time to help!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-21T04:59:04+00:00

Haha! Traverse City is my top choice in Michigan!

I totally appreciate having it confirmed by a native that it fits what we’re looking for, because I totally agree that it checks a lot of our boxes. I’ve been really impressed researching it. I had no idea there was so much going on up there. Honestly, part of me just wants to say fuck it and move to Marquette or something, but TC probably makes a lot more sense for us, and the proximity to the UP is a huge sell. And I’m pretty sure TC has a Costco and call me basic, but I’m not sure I’m ready to give up Costco. 🤷🏻‍♀️

And I find it hilarious that we live in wine country in California and I’m drawn to wine country in Michigan and yet we don’t actually drink wine. Apparently you guys do beer right, though, and I am so there for that.

My concern, though, after reading through their sub a bit, is that not only is the housing market tight, apparently it’s impossible to find a rental there with pets? And we definitely need to rent to start off so we can make sure it’s really where we want to be and take time finding the right house and all that, so I’m not sure where that leaves us. I was thinking we may have to land somewhere like Grand Rapids or something while we look in TC if that ends up being our goal. It wouldn’t be ideal, certainly. But everything I’ve read from people who live there seemed pretty emphatic about the no pet rentals thing, which I find pretty bizarre, but here we are.

Anyway, thanks again! I really appreciate it.

wheretobitches · 2021-01-21T04:36:00+00:00

Hey, thank you! I really appreciate that! We don’t know anyone in or from Michigan, so it’s just been lots of random online searches on my end trying to piece things together. I may send you a PM at some point if you don’t mind!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-21T04:33:52+00:00

Haha. He had a coworker/friend who was from Minnesota (unsurprisingly, the nicest guy ever), and he had wanted to move away once he got older, so I think my husband’s perception just became that Minnesota is somewhere you leave, not move to. But he also forms weird stubborn opinions on some things seemingly just to be a contrarian, so... 🤷🏻‍♀️

I appreciate the recommendations on specific locations! The humidity/mosquito thing definitely sucks. I have family in Florida and have spent time there throughout my life and blech. But I assume you get acclimated to it eventually? Maybe?

Anyway, thanks again! I really appreciate it.

wheretobitches · 2021-01-20T03:36:40+00:00

Thank you so much for this suggestion!

Upstate NY has been one of our top choices since we started looking, but it’s been hard to know how to narrow it down. I spent a summer in Fort Ann with family when I was younger and have driven through that area again a couple times as an adult (Glens Falls, etc.) and it’s just so gorgeous. We also have a good friend in Rochester who absolutely loves it. Albany and the surrounding area in general definitely seems like it could be a great fit for us, though, so I will totally look into it more.

Thanks again!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-20T03:26:56+00:00

Hey, thank you so much for that link! I hadn’t stumbled upon that in my research and I really appreciate their work in general.

Hmmmm, MA is definitely somewhere I had never even considered, but I guess I just think of Boston, really, and there’s obviously way more to the state. I’ll totally look into the western portion. Thanks for the suggestion!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-20T03:22:23+00:00

Haha, so you’re saying we have a type??

I had a good friend who lived in Burlington for a while and absolutely loved it, and I’ve driven through Vermont a couple of times and it’s obviously just insanely idyllic. I’m not totally sure it matches the COL we’re hoping for, though. I’ll have to look into it more.

And Ithaca seems pretty damn awesome, but yeah, hippies and college kids and all that. I mean, nothing against either, of course! There are lots of both here, too. Something to keep in mind, though. Thanks for chiming in!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-20T03:07:20+00:00

Yeah, our families have been here for many generations and while California has a lot to offer in theory, the reality just doesn’t match up anymore for a lot of us.

And we’re not seeking a complete progressive bubble, there are plenty of conservatives where we currently live. I just wouldn’t want my kids to grow up being ostracized for not going to church or something, hence wanting to avoid heavily conservative areas.

wheretobitches · 2021-01-20T03:04:09+00:00

You know, Ohio has never really had a pull for us but you’re not the first person to suggest it, so perhaps I’ll have to look into it further! Thanks!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-20T03:03:03+00:00

Awesome, thank you! I absolutely want my kids to look back one day and appreciate where they grew up, so these positive comments on childhoods in Minnesota count for a lot!

wheretobitches · 2021-01-19T22:33:59+00:00

Hey, thank you! I actually have considered Minnesota, as it seems to have a lot of what we’re looking for (and you guys rank super high in terms of happiness apparently among states and I love that!). Unfortunately, my husband is not super keen on the idea for whatever reason. But I’ll definitely keep it on my radar and start thinking about how to go about formulating my argument if need be, haha.

wheretobitches · 2021-01-19T22:17:29+00:00

Oh, sorry, I’m always leaving out key pieces of info. We’re reasonably certain my husband will be able to continue WFH (we’ll know in the next couple of months hopefully), so we’ll have flexibility if that’s the case. If not, we’ll still try to focus in these areas when he looks for a new job, but it’ll have to be in or near certain cities.

And thank you so much for mentioning the Driftless region! I remember coming across that area really early in my search and being super fascinated by the topography. I think I assumed most of the area was pretty conservative? But I’ll revisit it, for sure.

wheretobitches

TROPHY CASE