I'm looking for some good, honest, even gut-wretching advice if that's what's needed. Please, no flaming, no jokes, no wisecracks. I only have 48 hours to make a decision and I need honest, solid advice.
I want to thank everyone ahead of time for your responses and your help because after I post this I have to get back to work and I won't be able to get back on Free Republic for about 5 hours.
I’m from MA. What do you want to know?
having lived in Mass for many years, it’s not that bad.
You would have to suspend disbelief to move here if you pay attention to politics. I am too deeply rooted in my neighborhood to leave. I tell people I don’t live in MA. I live in an Italian neighborhood surrounded by it.
“POSSIBLE” vanity? Anything without a link to a news report/source is likely a vanity. But when the post is all about asking personal questions... one doesn’t even need to ask.
Please forgive me if this came across as crass. The headline with “(Possible Vanity???)” was rather.... well... nevermind.
I worked for the State of MA for 17 yrs in Boston. You are correct in your assessment that the cost of living is high and taxes are high. From Westover AFB you could commute from NH which would save you a ton in taxes and some in cost of living. Unfortunately many Massholes ruined their State and then moved to NH to get away fronm their dirty work and now NH is turning liberal. On top of that the housing prices near the border have gone way up. If I can stand the Libtards who work for the State you can manage the far more conserative people who work on a military base. I did however, have to learn to keep my mouth shut about politics in the State system. Glad I’m in VA now! Hope this helps.
never ever ever ever ever say that...on FR....on a "possible vanity".
cuz then you get posts like mine. :P
Good luck
Massachusetts is a liberal cesspool politically. But it’s a beautiful state. I spent a good deal of my childhood there, went to college there, and lived there for many years.
The hills and forests and landscape are a lot more beautiful than most of Indiana, where I spent one summer (not a very long stay, I grant). And the people are nice, too, as long as you stay away from politics.
The taxes are high. The Liberals infest every sector of government. The governor is a Baby Obama with a voice to match....he just floated a proposal to replace Mass Pike tolls with an 'on the fly' toll system. It works by transponder. If you don't have one your license plate will be photographed and you'll receive a bill for the tolls...plus a 'fine' for not having a transponder...which will effectively double or triple the toll.
If you own an AR-15, sell it before coming here. It's illegal. No firearm over 10 round magazine....no flash suppressor. No collapsible stock, etc, etc.
There are so many other reasons to stay away from this state it's not funny.
But...you are considering what is effectively a government job. You might be ok. 75% of the state's budget is to fund gubmint employee pensions. 75%.
The only reason to come here is for the seafood.
New Englanders are wonderful people. Go with Honesty, Integrity and a HUGE sense of humor, and you will have a good life there. If you treat a man like he’s your favorite person, he will treat you that way right back. And learn to play cribbage. :)
It’s a pricey place to live, plenty of HUGE taxes. Though it’s been a long time since I actually lived there, when I did, I had a good life.
Oh..and enjoy the food, too! Make a few trips to Boston and some points north for excellent historical sites, fine restaurants, night life, museums...
It’s a democratic state, but the revolution still plays a strong part in the atmosphere.
That's good and bad. Lower cost of living out there. But you'd see more poverty, too, and its effects . . . Springfield and its environs have its issues as far as that is concerned. And some of the most liberal of the liberals we have come from that section of the state as well.
Personally, I wouldn't move to the Springfield area, but my calculus could be a great deal different than yours, so your mileage may vary. In general, however, Massachusetts is not a bad place to live. It's just expensive and run by people who think they know how to live your life a whole lot better than you do.
Bad idea...one you would regret for the balance of your days.
There are good places to live and good places to visit. MA is one of the later. There are loads of fun things to do but the living environment is horrible. Basically, its an anti-freedom zone. If you enjoy being told when to jump and how long to stay aloft you’ll be all set.
I was born there and moved to the “deep, deep, South” with my parents at age 18. There is the gun issue as has already been mentioned, but the biggest down-side is the number of people EVERYWHERE. On the roads, in the stores, etc. Too many people in small areas for me.
Yeah, you can do it, but it ain't Indiana and you need to think long term rather than just getting a new job for the next six months. Living in a worker's paradise has consequences. You can do it, just know what you're getting in to.
FYI - I left the midwest (Illinois) several decades ago to move to NH - not far from the mASS. border - so this isn’t exactly what you asked but as a transplanted mid-Westerner, I can offer some perspective - (Why am I still here? Trapped by economics and the the state of the market. We survived living here but none of my kids live within 1000 miles of NE.
Do NOT expect a warm greeting from neighbors here - they don’t like people from ‘flyover’ country. Making real friends is hard - making acquaintances is really easy. You and your kids (even ones born after you arrive) are considered interlopers and ‘foreign’ but not exotic (if you are European or from the British Isles - you’re okay) - expect repeated, casual insults about the slow thinking, slow talking, ignorant people from the Midwest, south and everyone not an atheist or Unitarian - Congregationalists are tolerated and in some towns even among the favored.
Don’t be surprised if your local Democrat committee-man/person is a proud Communist or has dedicated Communists as parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. If you hunt or shoot - you can get away with it in some of NH but many will be leery of your extremist views.
Many people do live in NH and commute to jobs in mASS. It does save some in taxes but if you earn your money in mASS. you pay taxes there andNH just elected another Democrat Governor and turned the state legislature over to the Dems - the Dem majority are ALL in favor of an income tax, sin taxes, any kind of taxes - so that advantage may not last long.)
Lots of transplants and fugitives from mASS. taxes - the common name for transplants and invaders (tourists or relocatees or tax-evading spenders) for our ‘neighbors’ from the south is MASSholes. It fits.
Keep in mind that the Obamas vacation in Massachusetts every year...the fact that they feel very welcome there should give any potential new residents something to think about...
Few things that might take getting used to.... the weather is bad. Always. Took me moving out of state to realize that sometimes the weather can be good.
Taxes stink. Politics stink. This shouldn't come as a surprise.
People don't speak unless spoken to, thus giving Yankees a standoffish reputation. However, the directness is also refreshing. If a Yankee says, "Hey, I'm glad to see you.", then he *is* genuinely glad to see you.
If they say nothing, then they still may be glad to see you and just didn't feel the need to comment on it. :-)
I moved to the south - which I love - but conversation here is an art form. For years, I'd step on people's toes by coming directly to the point - a statement such as "Hi, I'd like a cup of coffee, please." - can be offensive. Five minutes of chit chat about family, kids, weather, sports, etc....then a polite "When you get a second, could I please have a cup of coffee?" is the way to go down here, hoss.
Grew up a few towns away, get back about once a year.
* Heed the warning of the gent w/ the gun-laws stuff, it really sucks.
* Chicopee was prodominately Polish at one time with A+ rated Credit Unions, I have no idea now, as many industries are gone.
* I am in SE Michigan, IMHO Springfield is as close to Detroit as a City than people may wish to realize. Downtown in the late 70's thru the early 90's was a cool place to be. Now it is a War Zone.
* To your North Skinner Mountain, Great Restuarants in "No-Ho" but warning it like San-Fran if ya get my drift.
* The 5 College region is cool, but I am so over it.
To your west, Westfield etc and the Berkshires, beautiful, ditto that Turners Falls and CT River up to VT.
But I have been to Indiana, it is culturally conservative, you are in for culture shock.
The lay of the land it beautiful ( especially from the air if you are a pilot ) but other than that is is a socialist-cesspool. It pains me to go back and know one of the cradles of Liberty gave us the template for Obamacare, other new and weird stuff, and a Trigger Lock on a Flint Musket in the State House.
I Wish I had a better view for you, but I have to honest...
MA is a bit of a Christian wasteland. Sure, there are lots of churches around, and there is some attendance at those buildings. But, too often, what is preached from the pulpit is not Christianity. I once attended a fine church (Methodist), with a very good pastor --but he retired and was replaced by a woman who openly doubted the existence of God, preached about the importance of tolerance toward homosexuals regularly, and was deeply, deeply concerned about the souls of our pets.
I have similar stories from 3 other churches. I don't feel tied to a particular denomination and so my difficulties have not been limited only to Methodist congregations. I've had to do a lot of "church shopping" as good leadership within a congregation is replaced by bad leadership.
If you want a Bible-centered church, it can be difficult (but not impossible) to find one in MA.
Duct, I have lived in southern NH for 26 years. Mass is a beautiful state with a bad govt. However, do not let this scare you away. The weather is colder than IN, but the summers are great. Springfield is a dump. My brother inlaw grew up there when the Italians ran the city. Now it is run by the Spanish speaking immigrants. The only reason to go there now is Six Flags and the Big E(state fair for New England).
To the north, west and east of Springfield there are great places to live out in the country. Stay away from Amherst if you do not like liberal college types. I was in West Brookfield(northeast) a couple weeks ago for a wedding. It was a picture poscard town. To the northwest of Sporingfield are the Berkshire Mtns. This area is full a great places to live and raise a family. Also, outside of the major cities there are many conservative folks just like you and me. The moochers all live in the cities. That is where all the crime is too. The country towns are just like other places. The Mass public schools(outside the cities) are some of the best in the country.
The big difference is you can be in NYC in 2 1/2 hours. You can be at the best ski areas in Vermont in 2 hours. You can be in Boston in 2 hours. You can be in Newport, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in 2 hours. You can be at the beaches in CT in 2 hours. These are the reasons why it is more expensive to live. There is a lot more to offer than other areas of the country.