My husband, from Wellsboro, NE butt of the Poconos, joined the Army and got the hell out 40 years ago. It takes effort to find a better life.
Hmmmm.... "butt of the Poconos"? Wellsboro isn't even _in_ the Poconos. It's up in the Rt. 6 corridor, running along the mid-top of the state.
Having said that, being from southwestern Connecticut (just above "The Gold Coast"), I think rural Pennsylvania offers a welcome change for someone looking to get away from "liberal suburbia". Indeed, Wellsboro is one of the towns to which I'm considering retiring, when that time comes in a few more years.
I've been to Lewistown, too, as I have a friend in Beaver Springs, not that far away. Indeed, I rented a small apartment in Montgomery, a few miles north, back in 1987, but didn't stay (was trying to relocate to another part of the railroad, actually glad I didn't do it, because I'd be working for the Nazi Subdivision [NS] if I had). I don't see why others call the place a dump... just another small Pennsylvania town. Go about 10 miles west up Rt. 45 to Mifflinburg, and it's like something out of a picture book: beautiful old-time town.
Compared to suburban Connecticut -- overcrowded, cultured, fabublously wealthy, and fabulously EXPENSIVE -- to me, the small towns of rural Pennsylvania _are_ "the better life" I'm seeking in retirement. A much more conservative "attitude", as well. And... since the folks there don't have lots of cash to be throwing around, I doubt you'll see many illegal Mexicans mowing lawns, or doing much of anything else. Nothing for them to do there. Conversely, here in my Connecticut city, there are numerous "illegal immigrant hotels" - houses with 30 people in them and a dozen cars parked outside - within a few doors of my home in this not-so-long-ago-nice neighborhood.
I'm sensing that there are many other boomer-age folks who feel as I do: that, when the time comes, they're going to entertain migrating from "high cost" areas into "lower cost" ones. All these currently-depressed small towns, are going to find new roles: as havens for those who are sick of progressive society, and are fleeing towards places where they can recapture the spirit of times past, such as the 50's and early 60's when they were growing up...
Cheers!
- John