Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hello all! My wife and I are are wanting to relocate to a state/area that has a more tolerant attitude towards the LBGT community. We would like to live in a state where our marriage would be recognized by the state that we live in, unlike where we live now, in Tennessee. We would like to have the same job benefits that straight married couples have (insurance, etc...) and everything else that comes with being legally recognized by the state you live in.
We have researched and even visited a few states/cities that are LGBT friendly and we would like to look into Maine and New York State. Both of us grew up in the south (I in Texas, she in Tennessee), so northern living would probably be an adjustment for us.
Could you tell me some things to expect when visiting/or relocating to Maine or NYS? I hear that the job market and economy in Maine are some of the worst in the country. Is this true? What types of jobs are available in Maine? My degree is in Environmental Science. My. Wife's degree is in Biochemistry.
All people have their own opinions and beliefs, but is there anywhere in Maine or New York State that gays and lesbians should completely avoid or be afraid of? There are some small towns in the south where you have to be very careful and very private about who your significant other is. Are there any towns like that in Maine or NYS?
Now, to the good stuff. I enjoy riding my bike and being outdoors. Are there any towns/areas in Maine and NYS where you can get around on foot or by bike...and where it is safe to do so?
I can't do NYC. Too many people for my liking. We like being close to a moderate sized city but still out in the quietness of rural areas.
I'm not sure I could handle the cold. Can you give me the pros and cons on weather in Maine vs NY?
Can normal working folk afford to live in Maine or is it just a place where authors and retired people live? Lol!
What is the dominant attitude in Maine and NY? Are people friendly, warm, and welcoming or are people pretty standoffish and not eager to make friends?
Any other information would be greatly appreciated.
Hello all! My wife and I are are wanting to relocate to a state/area that has a more tolerant attitude towards the LBGT community. We would like to live in a state where our marriage would be recognized by the state that we live in, unlike where we live now, in Tennessee. We would like to have the same job benefits that straight married couples have (insurance, etc...) and everything else that comes with being legally recognized by the state you live in.
We have researched and even visited a few states/cities that are LGBT friendly and we would like to look into Maine and New York State. Both of us grew up in the south (I in Texas, she in Tennessee), so northern living would probably be an adjustment for us.
Could you tell me some things to expect when visiting/or relocating to Maine or NYS? I hear that the job market and economy in Maine are some of the worst in the country. Is this true? What types of jobs are available in Maine? My degree is in Environmental Science. My. Wife's degree is in Biochemistry.
All people have their own opinions and beliefs, but is there anywhere in Maine or New York State that gays and lesbians should completely avoid or be afraid of? There are some small towns in the south where you have to be very careful and very private about who your significant other is. Are there any towns like that in Maine or NYS?
Now, to the good stuff. I enjoy riding my bike and being outdoors. Are there any towns/areas in Maine and NYS where you can get around on foot or by bike...and where it is safe to do so?
I can't do NYC. Too many people for my liking. We like being close to a moderate sized city but still out in the quietness of rural areas.
I'm not sure I could handle the cold. Can you give me the pros and cons on weather in Maine vs NY?
Can normal working folk afford to live in Maine or is it just a place where authors and retired people live? Lol!
What is the dominant attitude in Maine and NY? Are people friendly, warm, and welcoming or are people pretty standoffish and not eager to make friends?
Any other information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
There are parts of the NYC metro that are somewhat un-populated. The eastern half of Suffolk county, on Long Island is actually somewhat rural.
There are parts of the NYC metro that are somewhat un-populated. The eastern half of Suffolk county, on Long Island is actually somewhat rural.
Well...probably not by my "standards". Lol! I don't mean that in a rude way either. The most populated area I've ever lived close to was 20 miles outside of a city of roughly 100,000. We would like to buy some land (acreage of at least 5 acres or more) and are looking more at upstate NY and Maine.
Are the areas in upstate NY still fairly liberal?
(Edit) Found this on Suffolk County NY.
Largely suburban, it is the fourth-most populous county in the state, with 1,493,350 people as of the 2010 census. It was named after the county of Suffolk in England, from where its earliest settlers came. The largest of Long Island's four counties, and the second-largest of 62 in the state, it measures 86 miles (138 km) in length and 26 miles (42 km) in width at its widest (including water).
Look into Tompkins County, which is where Ithaca is located. I think an area like Trumansburg/towns of Ulysses and Enfield would be a good fit. Ithaca is known for its liberal vibe and for being LGBTQ friendly. I believe that TCAT, the public transportation service there, has a line to and from the area as well. Parts of the town of Ithaca(there is a town and city of Ithaca) and Newfield may work as well.
Also, you may like some small town/rural areas near the bigger Upstate areas or near Upstate towns with colleges. You may like a town like Geneseo or Oneonta due to having a small college town vibe. Same with Hamilton or Clinton, which have small private institutions.
One more thing, Syracuse has SUNY-ESF, which has a strong focus on environmental studies. So, that may be a place to look for employment or the area in general.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 07-17-2013 at 08:28 PM..
Well...probably not by my "standards". Lol! I don't mean that in a rude way either. The most populated area I've ever lived close to was 20 miles outside of a city of roughly 100,000. We would like to buy some land (acreage of at least 5 acres or more) and are looking more at upstate NY and Maine.
Are the areas in upstate NY still fairly liberal?
(Edit) Found this on Suffolk County NY.
Largely suburban, it is the fourth-most populous county in the state, with 1,493,350 people as of the 2010 census. It was named after the county of Suffolk in England, from where its earliest settlers came. The largest of Long Island's four counties, and the second-largest of 62 in the state, it measures 86 miles (138 km) in length and 26 miles (42 km) in width at its widest (including water).
I definitely do not recommend Long Island. Despite being downstate and in NY, I don't find it tolerant at all. LIers are very provincial and close minded, IMO. Also, even eastern Suffolk will seem very big city for someone from the TN. Eastern Suffolk has Riverhead and the Hampton, two very crowded areas.
5 acres or more could easily be had in Upstate or Maine. Northern Maine would be cheaper tax wise and land price wise, but not near any cities for employment. Southern and Central Maine would offer slightly more job ops but at a higher price.
I've lived in the South and I'd say stay south of I-90 in NY for more reasonable weather. Finger Lakes, Syracuse metro, Rochester metro, all nice areas of NY. The cities aren't great Upstate with a few exceptions but they're getting better and the burbs are real nice.
In addition to Ithaca, which is a good suggestion, Burlington VT, Portland, ME, and the area around Northampton, MA are also progressive communities. Keep in mind that more progressive communities tend to cost more (wonder why that is? )
Yes, Northerners are colder, more stoic, and as a whole, more reserved than Southerners. But they also keep their word, and are generally friendly once you get to know them. They're real, Upstaters, Vermonters, and Mainers. Also they're not pretentious. Of course, YMMV. There are nasty people in both the North and the South.
I'm in the environmental science field and jobs are tough everywhere right now. Unfortunately, the more polluted and population dense areas tend to have the most jobs. That rules out a lot of rural, pristine areas with a clean 5 acres. Just keep that in mind.
New York State government may have openings in your fields, so check here: NYS Employment. Most state jobs are located in Albany, which is a very socially liberal and culturally diverse city, easily the most of any of the big upstate cities (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany). I lived there for 10 years, and it was the thing I liked best about the area -- and which I still miss 14 years after coming "home".
NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation has jobs around the state, and it might be a good place to look first. Also the SUNY colleges are scattered throughout the state. NYS also has numerous community colleges that hire instructors with bachelor's or master's degrees.
Buffalo has a growing biomedical research sector, both in its "medical corridor" and north of the city around the SUNY Bufflo campus (UB) in Amherst. Because of the area's legacy of some much heavy industry as well as federal and state environmental rules, there are numerous firms in the Buffalo area that specialize in environmental testing, evaluation, and remediation.
Buffalo is not particularly socially liberal for a large city/metro. It's not intolerant, just somewhat backward for a metro of a million people. IMO, that backwardness stems much more from the city's alleged "leaders" than it does from actual residents. Most of the suburbs are fine, too, but probably Amherst is the most socially liberal, probably because of the presence of the university there.
I would not worry about living in a small city or even in a small town in Upstate NY. There is a strong libertarian bias among upstate conservatives, so "live and let live" and "mind your own business" attitudes are pretty prevalent. Those attitudes are one of the reasons why so many Old Order Amish have settled in rural NYS (well, that and cheap land). For example, I live in Jamestown, in what I affectionately call "Redneck Heaven" in the southwestern corner of NYS, and the long time president of our city council is an openly gay professor from the local community college.
Certainly if you like being outdoors, you will find New York has wonderful opportunities for that. Many suburban towns have bike/hike paths. Some counties have turned abandoned railroad ROWs into hiking/biking trails. We have lots of state, county, and town parks. We also have beaches on our two "inland seas" ... and no sharks, jellyfish or alligators!
In areas like Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown/Oswego, and the lake shore areas, snow is more an issue than cold. Temps below 0 happen a few times a winter in those areas. Temps below -10 area unusual. What is an issue, though, is wind chill as these areas near the lakes tend to be windier than other areas.
In more inland areas like Albany or Ithaca, temps will get higher in the summer and lower in the winter but they don't get nearly the amount of snow that the "snow belts" near the lakes get.
The solution is to simply dress for it. You get to know LL Bean, North Face, and Columbia really well.
I'll second what Vintage Sunlit said about Northerners' attitude.
One thing you'll find is that salaries in Upstate New York, particularly in the more rural areas, will tend to be lower than in some other places. However, housing prices are also lower. I would say they are probably comparable to East Tennessee. Unfortunately, property taxes are probably much higher.
New York State government may have openings in your fields, so check here: NYS Employment. Most state jobs are located in Albany, which is a very socially liberal and culturally diverse city, easily the most of any of the big upstate cities (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany). I lived there for 10 years, and it was the thing I liked best about the area -- and which I still miss 14 years after coming "home".
NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation has jobs around the state, and it might be a good place to look first. Also the SUNY colleges are scattered throughout the state. NYS also has numerous community colleges that hire instructors with bachelor's or master's degrees.
Buffalo has a growing biomedical research sector, both in its "medical corridor" and north of the city around the SUNY Bufflo campus (UB) in Amherst. Because of the area's legacy of some much heavy industry as well as federal and state environmental rules, there are numerous firms in the Buffalo area that specialize in environmental testing, evaluation, and remediation.
Buffalo is not particularly socially liberal for a large city/metro. It's not intolerant, just somewhat backward for a metro of a million people. IMO, that backwardness stems much more from the city's alleged "leaders" than it does from actual residents. Most of the suburbs are fine, too, but probably Amherst is the most socially liberal, probably because of the presence of the university there.
I would not worry about living in a small city or even in a small town in Upstate NY. There is a strong libertarian bias among upstate conservatives, so "live and let live" and "mind your own business" attitudes are pretty prevalent. Those attitudes are one of the reasons why so many Old Order Amish have settled in rural NYS (well, that and cheap land). For example, I live in Jamestown, in what I affectionately call "Redneck Heaven" in the southwestern corner of NYS, and the long time president of our city council is an openly gay professor from the local community college.
Certainly if you like being outdoors, you will find New York has wonderful opportunities for that. Many suburban towns have bike/hike paths. Some counties have turned abandoned railroad ROWs into hiking/biking trails. We have lots of state, county, and town parks. We also have beaches on our two "inland seas" ... and no sharks, jellyfish or alligators!
In areas like Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown/Oswego, and the lake shore areas, snow is more an issue than cold. Temps below 0 happen a few times a winter in those areas. Temps below -10 area unusual. What is an issue, though, is wind chill as these areas near the lakes tend to be windier than other areas.
In more inland areas like Albany or Ithaca, temps will get higher in the summer and lower in the winter but they don't get nearly the amount of snow that the "snow belts" near the lakes get.
The solution is to simply dress for it. You get to know LL Bean, North Face, and Columbia really well.
I'll second what Vintage Sunlit said about Northerners' attitude.
One thing you'll find is that salaries in Upstate New York, particularly in the more rural areas, will tend to be lower than in some other places. However, housing prices are also lower. I would say they are probably comparable to East Tennessee. Unfortunately, property taxes are probably much higher.
According to that list, Albany's average annual pay is on par with Dallas, Austin and Houston. Ithaca isn't too far behind. Syracuse's average annual pay is on par with Raleigh, Phoenix, Charlotte, Richmond, Columbus OH and St. Louis. Rochester is slightly ahead of Salt Lake City, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Buffalo is on par with Miami, Fort Worth-Arlington, Tucson, Albuquerque and Omaha. Binghamton and Elmira is on par with Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Winston-Salem and Columbia SC. Utica-Rome and Glens Falls is on par with Lexington KY, Greenville SC, Tulsa, Little Rock and Baton Rouge. Only Knoxville is ahead of Utica-Rome and Glens Falls and other Eastern TN areas are lower than all of the Upstate NY areas. While there may be some changes to this list, it is the lastest list of this kind that I know of and can give an idea of average annual pay by area. They got the information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the way.
Overall cost of living will probably be a little bit higher up here versus E TN and Texas, but not necessarily too far ahead.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 07-18-2013 at 09:02 AM..
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 07-18-2013 at 02:56 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
) 
