Thinking of moving UPSTATE- How's BERKSHIRE, NY Tioga County- FEEDBACK Please... (Binghamton: fit in, mineral rights)
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Hi everyone. My husband and I lived in Salem, MA for a couple of years and loved the small town, historical feel and yet close to Boston aspects of it. We now live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. We moved here to start a meditation school. It is a very young place, with lots or aspiring artists, musicians and actors- much too 'hip' for us. We have lived here for almost 5 years and are really ready to leave the city and get closer to nature. We are quieter people who really enjoy nature, classical music and peace and tranquility. We love the Finger Lakes area, especially Ithaca- but taxes are so high there. We recently found a really nice house on lots of land in Berkshire, NY, on Route 38. We want to start a meditation school in the area, plant some fruit trees and just enjoy nature and a more relaxed way of living. I was a teacher for many years and could offer tutoring services or work at one of the universities as I have experience in HR and training. We haven't spent much time in Berkshire but have friend in Vestal, NY. I am just wondering if this would be a good location for such an endeavor and for what we like. Would love to hear back from people who live in the area or know the area well.
Hello Sue
Berkshire is a great town. I live there and have lived there for 5 years. it is a nice small town, not many people, but the people are all really nice. If you are thinking about starting a business, however, I am not sure how it will go, since there aren't many people there. But you could always try I know a few people who might be interested
Berkshire is very great for a break and to listen to the nature and it is great because it is only 30 minutes from Ithaca and 30 minutes for Binghamton
Aly
A one-post poster reply to a one-post poster from 2008, it might take some meditation.
Would fit in with the Eastern influenced complex (forgot what it is) visible from I-81 just south of the Whitney Point exit, perhaps using a similar locational criterion - which I'm guessing is to go far enough away from Ithaca in the direction of NYC to bring the land cost down.
Of course any prospective purchaser might need to look more into mineral rights than one did in 2008, not sure how well gas fracking and meditation mix.
In all honesty upstate NY does have a record of becoming home to places of quiet reflection both religious and not, perhaps with a better record of toleration of the different and neighborly than elsewhere. This history goes back to the 1840's or maybe earlier, perhaps when land started getting less desirable than elsewhere for agriculture. Not sure how many qualify for property tax exemption which would make cheap land upstate even a better deal.
I'd look into the New Paltz area in Ulster County. There are some monasteries there and the vibe is probably going to be better for a meditation school. You'd still be able to get to cities if you wanted to, and the nature in the area is really really incredible (Shawangunk Ridge). You probably won't get as much land to yourself, but if you just want to have land to hike on and enjoy you could offset some of the cost by selling a conservation easement (assuming your land has some ecological value) which would prevent you from developing the land or otherwise destroying it. It seems like you can still get a 3 bed/1.5 bath on 72 acres for less than 1 million. As NYCer's, I'm guessing that seems more than reasonable.
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My husband and I lived in Salem, MA for a couple of years and loved the small town, historical feel and yet close to Boston aspects of it. We now live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. We moved here to start a meditation school. It is a very young place, with lots or aspiring artists, musicians and actors- much too 'hip' for us. We have lived here for almost 5 years and are really ready to leave the city and get closer to nature. We are quieter people who really enjoy nature, classical music and peace and tranquility. We love the Finger Lakes area, especially Ithaca- but taxes are so high there. We recently found a really nice house on lots of land in Berkshire, NY, on Route 38. We want to start a meditation school in the area, plant some fruit trees and just enjoy nature and a more relaxed way of living. I was a teacher for many years and could offer tutoring services or work at one of the universities as I have experience in HR and training. We haven't spent much time in Berkshire but have friend in Vestal, NY. I am just wondering if this would be a good location for such an endeavor and for what we like. Would love to hear back from people who live in the area or know the area well.
