Moving from Long Island to...? (Albany, Utica: insurance, teaching jobs, schools)
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People like your Aunt can tend to be that way if they are not only spending the money but whining about the fact that they
"can't get it here" (I am not assuming she is doing this).
The negative perception of Long Islanders elsewhere is that they are abrupt, loud, obnoxious, complaining about not finding good bagels and pizza, and that nothing is as good as Long Island or someone who grew up there. Many of these people can't adjust to a new environment and end up moving back. Don't do any of these things and you'll be ahead of the game.
Outside of the NY Metro area, no one, and I mean no one, discerns any difference between someone from Long Island vs someone from Westchester, North Jersey, etc. Whatever someone thinks of New Yorkers, they will think of Long Islanders. Inside the NY Metro area, most people are smart enough to know that LI is a big place, and it depends on where they are from. The rest of the metro area thinks people from eastern suffolk are country bumpkins; someone from Garden City, much less so.
Check out towns in Bucks County and possibly Montgomery County just north of Philly.
A few that come to mind, Upper Southampton(Centennial School District). Probably the closest to your budget. May not be exactly the downtown you are looking for, but they do have a main street with community parades. Lots of Italians in the area as well as similar food to Long Island.
Possibly Doylestown or New Hope. They are probably pricier, but if you don't need brand new construction, you could probably find something similar or better than what 350,000 would buy you on LI. Both have distinct/quaint downtown areas. New Hope is a little touristy or at least it used to be...sort of like Port Jeff. Cant think of specific towns in Montgomery County.
All these places are theoretically 2-2.5 hours from center of Long Island. Of course, that depends on all the planets aligning, perfect timing and traffic. Once you get the hang of that, you can usually do it on average 3 hrs.
Philly and surrounding area is more laid back than long island but I think you would be comfortable there. Weather is similar, but usually a bit milder.
You would probably get better info on the Pennsylvania/Philly forum and maybe some more specific towns that fit your criteria.
Another NY school district that may work, including the cultural component is the Schalmont SD in Rotterdam. Rotterdam has a pretty high Italian percentage due to its proximity to Schenectady's Mont Pleasant neighborhood, which is/was where the Italian population was concentrated. There may be a lack of walkability, but besides that, it fits much/most of the criteria.
Im just looking at it from a perspective of leaving LI and a better quality of life, yet not to far where you could drive to visit family/friends.
Just look at Roosevelt Field mall the past week to see what a cesspool Long Island has become.
There were incidents at malls in Charlotte NC and Louisville KY, among others. So, no location is immune to foul behavior in shopping malls.
True, but when the whole premise of living on Long Island is because the schools are the best, it's really safe, etc. etc. and then one finds out that despite the cost of living it's really no different than other places...?
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