If you moved south of NY

Where did you move?
What is the biggest adjustment?
Do you have extended family w/ you?
Any other opinions, comments, complaints, suggestions?



(Background: DH & I have always discussed moving off the island. Recently, we were set on Orange County NY. DH's job requires him to travel. Yesterday he ended up in Mass. where the weather was worse than here, and he came home saying, let's move south, i hate the snow. Wherever we move, his job/salary will move with us.)

Re: If you moved south of NY

We moved to south FL in '07. DH's entire family is down here (we wouldn't have moved if they weren't here) so that helped make the transition easier. The biggest adjustment for me was learning my way around... i'd been on LI for 27 years (except the 4 years I was at college), but it ended up being so easy to navigate down here.

PROS:
-much cheaper rent & real estate (and very low taxes)
-able to live below our means
-we have MIL here to watch DD while we work
-both have good jobs that we like
-near DH's family, DD has cousins close in age
-gorgeous weather most of the year... NO SNOW!!
-outdoor activities all year
-near disney, beaches, cruise ports, etc
-lots of visitors

CONS:
-my family is in NY
-we definitely miss LI, esp now having DD... it's hard to call somewhere you didn't grow up "home"
-people DO NOT know how to drive down here, it's awful. I hate I-95.
-lower salaries, but it all works out since the standard of living is lower and no state tax taken out of paycheck!

Re: If you moved south of NY

We moved to CT a while back. Fairfield county is just as expensive as LI. New Haven County is a little cheaper. We live in a great town, right on the shoreline, with an awesome school district. Our taxes are very inexpensive but then again we have a small piece of property.

I have to say the only con is family and friends but we are close enough where we see everyone at least once a month. To be honest, when we first moved I hated it but now I wouldn't move back.

Re: If you moved south of NY

Where did you move?

Summerville, SC

What is the biggest adjustment?

The food!

Do you have extended family w/ you?

My inlaws moved down with us.

Any other opinions, comments, complaints, suggestions?

I miss it. We moved back to NY because my MIL said she hated it and wanted to come back to NY. We didn't know if we wanted to be there alone. We regret moving to NY. We still have our house there and talk about moving back - DH just needs to find a job there.

Re: If you moved south of NY

Where did you move? South FL almost 5 yrs ago

What is the biggest adjustment? the food is actually not bad. there are alot of NY'ers around here. the first year was very hard. It's a different way of life. It's way more relaxed, not slow really, but different.
We love it. It's hard to get into the Xmas spirit sometimes, when its in the 80's.

Do you have extended family w/ you? Nope

Any other opinions, comments, complaints, suggestions?
Rent for the first year. Moving out of NY will afford you the house of your dreams, just do a little searching first, and then decide where you want to live permanently. The weather here is to die for. We are just getting into the 'cooler months', which is 70's. Everything is so clean, and new, everywhere you go. We love that a weekend away to somewhere new is in driving distance in a few hours to the Gulf coast, or miami, orlando, etc.
We see family alot, so be prepared for visitors.. everyone wants to get out of the cold...

All in all, we love it. We'd never move back. And besides.. its a 2 1/2 hr plane ride to see everyone.

Message edited 11/9/2010 8:19:05 PM.

Re: If you moved south of NY

Where did you move?
Charlotte, NC
What is the biggest adjustment?
No friends, no family, just DH. Moving from SI, I knew everybody.
Do you have extended family w/ you?
Now I have a sister down here.
Any other opinions, comments, complaints, suggestions?
IF a salary moved with us and I had to pick a city down here, I would pick something coastal.