OT: Poll - Interesting that 1/2 of CT residents want to move away

[John]

I can understand Illinois and Connecticut being on the top of that list, but what's the deal with Maryland?

 

[Stinger92860]

As I've gotten older (46), I hate the winters. I hate the cold. I hate the wet bitter springs.

I hate Hartford. In travelling to most of the major US cities over my career, Hartford is undoubtedly in the bottom quarter of places to go. Cities like Milwaukee or Cleveland or Indianapolis that might not jump to the front of your list are light years better than Hartford. The Sound is a septic system and the CT shore is disgusting. The people are, generally speaking, rude and unfriendly (and that goes for a great deal of the tri-state area).

I mean, what's to like?

I frequently go out on the sound, while not pristine it's not septic either. I also find the coastline east of new haven to be beautiful.

 

[John]

I frequently go out on the sound, while not pristine it's not septic either. I also find the coastline east of new haven to be beautiful.

The thing I've found with CT beaches is that there's invariably garbage floating in the water and left in the sand. You just don't get that at places like Cape Cod. Might be the function of the Sound being enclosed, or maybe CT people are just slobs.

 

[WestHartHusk]

So, the 3rd suggestion you make is a generic Irish bar. The 4th thing is going for a walk. The 5th thing is an ice cream. Wow. And that's IF they left Hartford and drove 15 minutes. Great sales pitch.

You are the one pigeon-holing me into Hartford. Please tell me what is "must see" in Milwaukee, since that is on your list.

 

[Jerry1714]

Hartford is a distant third-best city in its own state. But the state still has a lot to offer despite continued mismanagement.

To sum it up, I'll just paste my post from this thread --



Why stay in CT?

1) In my line of work, I can make a New York City salary without paying New York prices. Yes, housing in the South would be 30% cheaper, but I'd take a 30% discount in salary to do the same thing there. If the time comes that I can't find a job here, I'll reconsider.

2) Real public schools. I know enough people who have either taught in or otherwise dealt with public schools in places like NC to know I want no part of them. You won't find better public schools than in suburban New England.

3) I'm not living more than 50 miles from salt water. End of story. I like to fish, particularly from shore in salt water. CT has one of the most diverse fisheries around, and the surf fishing capital of the world is a boat ride away. Southeastern CT, while lacking beaches, has a very underrated scenic shoreline.

4) Better, more diverse cuisine. I love barbecue, but I can make it just as well on my deck -- it isn't f^cking rocket science, and yes, you can use a smoker in the winter. Tough to make a decent pizza on your own, though. If it was easy, there would be good pizza in the South. I do admit to having my barbecue sauce shipped in from Alabama, though.

5) Winter sucks, but having skiing close by is important. I do get a bit jealous come February, but that's normally long gone come May when it's 75 and sunny here and 95 and oppressively humid there.

6) Fall in New England. Warm days with cool nights, the striped bass run, unmatched scenery.

7) I like my iced tea unsweetened, with lemon.

8) The false magnanimity of southerners. Up here, we're up front about being vindictive SOBs -- we don't hide it behind some fake charm.



So to sum up --

Reasons to move South:
Lower cost of living, more jobs.
Better weather 3 months out of the year
Better looking college girls

Reasons to stay:
Just about everything else by which I would measure quality of life.

Who knows, maybe the economic situation will deteriorate to the point that I won't have a choice. If that happens, so be it, but it won't be permanent.

In that thread you also state you have lived in CT your entire life, so your opinion is not exactly worth much. (Travelling a couple times to a place and knowing people there means little to nothing).

I moved out of CT in my early 20's as the state offers little to no entertainment or value for people of that age.

Live in Boston now, lived in the South, NYC, and Midwest prior.

CT is seriously lacking in excitement. Sure it has some nice scenery in the fall, but you peep the leaves once and your done, do not need to live in the state for it.

The Sound is pretty but it is not a great beach, it pales in comparison to the Cape, Maine, NC, Florida, and the West Coast.

The cities are downright terrible. Crime is high in all of them and options for entertainment in them are very limited.

CT has great pizza, but their restaurants and food scene as a whole is extremely underwhelming.

The suburbs are great and so is the education, but that does not nothing for 20 something young professionals (this is the demo you need to attract)

The weather is awful, it is in much of the northeast though, but that is why people are moving to the South, Texas, and the West. If you think the weather is better only three months a year you have an odd view of "good" weather.

Oh, and you pay an extremely high cost of living and get little in return for it.

 

[aburks41]

The ONE thing that makes me want to live in CT all my life is...SPORTS. I cannot fathom moving away and having to leave my Huskies and NE Patriots behind. Cant do it. Wont do it.

 

[Deepster]

You are the one pigeon-holing me into Hartford. Please tell me what is "must see" in Milwaukee, since that is on your list.

1) I didn't pigeonhole you into Hartford. I said that's where the person was staying, had a car and was adventurous. You sent them to Old Wethersfield for ice cream.

2) Milwaukee is far, far more fun a city than Hartford. Miller Park is a tremendously underrated park. Retractable roof, nice venue, great concessions, fun group of fans. And the Milwaukee Riverwalk is a 3 mile stretch loaded with great bars and restaurants, all within walking distance of each other.

 

[John]

1) I didn't pigeonhole you into Hartford. I said that's where the person was staying, had a car and was adventurous. You sent them to Old Wethersfield for ice cream.

This made me LOL.

 

[superjohn]

Lol @ people crying about Connecticut weather. Overall CT. weather is pretty great, you get the four seasons and winters are much less harsh than the Midwest. Personally I can't stand places that have one and a half seasons of hot and hotter. Fall in Connecticut is awesome, there is a clearness and crispness to the air that can't be beat and you are surrounded by color. The only real gripes and reasons for not liking CT. is if you are getting crushed with taxes or you are a young person looking for the entertainment of cities but NYC and Boston are right down the road. If the economy was better and taxes were lower nobody would be badmouthing Connecticut, overall it's a great state.

 

[John]

Lol @ people crying about Connecticut weather. Overall CT. weather is pretty great, you get the four seasons and winters are much less harsh than the Midwest. Personally I can't stand places that have one and a half seasons of hot and hotter. Fall in Connecticut is awesome, there is a clearness and crispness to the air that can't be beat and you are surrounded by color. The only real gripes and reasons for not liking CT. is if you are getting crushed with taxes or you are a young person looking for the entertainment of cities but NYC and Boston are right down the road. If the economy was better and taxes were lower nobody would be badmouthing Connecticut, overall it's a great state.

I agree, I think if this State can get out of the economic doldrums then a lot of other things will fall into place.

 

[ffg53]

CT's strength is in it's suburbs. Hartford, just like Albany, Syracuse, Worcester, Springfield, N. Bedford/Fall River etc have seen their better days. Only NYC & Boston are desirable Northeastern cities (N. Jersey through Maine)
CT's burbs IMHO, are as good as anywhere.

You should visit Portland, Maine. It's a fantastic little city. It's everything a coastal city should be.

 

[Marat]

The thing I've found with CT beaches is that there's invariably garbage floating in the water and left in the sand. You just don't get that at places like Cape Cod. Might be the function of the Sound being enclosed, or maybe CT people are just slobs.

If you think they're dirty, then most likely you haven't been to NYC beaches. You'll wish you could getaway to the CT beaches after seeing this.

 

[DOZE860]

the thing i have notice with my peers that i grew up with, we all wanted to move out of CT when we were young, the ones that did, ended up moving back.. i live in SE CT, and love it. did not always feel that way but now the older i get, the more i like it.. Down here we the casinos, not far from RI beaches, (watch hill has be the best beach on the east coast --minus all the taylor swift groupies).. downtown mystic is a cool place to hang out. even in the summer, downtown New London is a cool spot to hang out.. Niantic has alot of cool places to eat down by the water. i know someone mention it already, but the coast from New London to RI border is very scenic if you get a chance to drive through there. Lots of parks to go hiking.. its not for everyone, but i do not mind it.

 

[Marat]

The ONE thing that makes me want to live in CT all my life is...SPORTS. I cannot fathom moving away and having to leave my Huskies and NE Patriots behind. Cant do it. Wont do it.

I moved out to NJ and NYC areas and still within stones throw (driving distance) to see the Huskies in CT or nearby on the road. With the internet, Boneyard, and cable/satellite, etc I don't feel like I am missing out on the Huskies.

 

[Marat]

the thing i have notice with my peers that i grew up with, we all wanted to move out of CT when we were young, the ones that did, ended up moving back.. i live in SE CT, and love it. did not always feel that way but now the older i get, the more i like it.. Down here we the casinos, not far from RI beaches, (watch hill has be the best beach on the east coast --minus all the taylor swift groupies).. downtown mystic is a cool place to hang out. even in the summer, downtown New London is a cool spot to hang out.. Niantic has alot of cool places to eat down by the water. i know someone mention it already, but the coast from New London to RI border is very scenic if you get a chance to drive through there. Lots of parks to go hiking.. its not for everyone, but i do not mind it.

Yes, I remember growing up, the kids/students wanted to go college outside the state (further away from parents), and them talking about how boring it was in CT. Years later, after graduating, starting a family, etc I feel like it would be nice to be back in CT. Life is just crazy in the NYC area.

 

[david]

I moved to CT from San Diego and couldn't be happier. It's an amazing place to live if you have a good job. It's expensive though, so I could definitely see some people not being able to afford it and wanting to move to the midwest or south. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[SubbaBub]

I frequently go out on the sound, while not pristine it's not septic either. I also find the coastline east of new haven to be beautiful.

Chesapeake is worse than the sound. As for MD, I assume it's all the issues surround it's role as the DC bedroom community.

 

[aburks41]

I moved out to NJ and NYC areas and still within stones throw (driving distance) to see the Huskies in CT or nearby on the road. With the internet, Boneyard, and cable/satellite, etc I don't feel like I am missing out on the Huskies.

i was more referring to moving down south or midwest..not staying in the northeast region haha

 

[NorwalkHusky]

Honestly I know Connecticut will never be as exciting as New York, the weather with never be as nice as California or Florida, but trufully I absolutley love living here, in Norwalk specifically.

I'm relatively young, only graduated a couple of years ago and other then Storrs, I've lived in Norwalk my whole live. I love my City as well as the friends and family I have down here. To me it was the perfect place to grow up. Very diverse, great schools, a big enough city (86,000) with a lot of fun stuff to run around and do as well as trouble to get into. In the summer we have a great beach with a lot to to do. Norwalk has the nicest islands in the state with great fishing, boating, and clamming. And for nightlife SONO is a blast, great bars and resturants. Plus we got the original Stew's and just ask anyone from here that place is the . Just not on Sundays around noon.

To me this will always be my home and I hope to say that the rest of my life. Plus if you get bored were a short ride from Stamford, downtown there is great, plus Alive at 5 Concert series in the summer is awesome. There gonna anounce the lineup soon can't wait. If you have never been and love 90's one hit wonder bands I suggest you make the trip down. It is a freaking blast!

Now I am constantly hearing about how boring Norwalk is or CT in general. And to those people saying that, fine complain all you want it won't make it any better. I literally talk the crap out of how great Norwalk is any chance I get and you know what tell enough people that and they start to believe it. I want to make people believe it! Be the good you want to see in your hometown and homestate!

Someone very wise from probably one of the greatest movies once said. "I don't want to become a product of my environment, I want my environment to become a product of me." I take that is a very literal and happy way. I want my hometown and homestate to become a better place because of me.

Thats what I say to all those 49 percenters trying to leave!

Get busy livin (in CT), or get busy movin (The "F" Out)

God bless Norwalk, Connecticut, and The United States of America

 

[Excalibur]

In that thread you also state you have lived in CT your entire life, so your opinion is not exactly worth much. (Travelling a couple times to a place and knowing people there means little to nothing).

You really seem to have a bug up your @ss about that post -- not seeing where you see this great insult to you. I also didn't realize that spending time somewhere and deciding it's not for you somehow disqualifies an opinion. I've seen a bunch of places, decided to stay here. The rest I'll leave to my response to you in the original thread, as well as the responses of others who tore you down pretty well on their own.

CT is seriously lacking in excitement. Sure it has some nice scenery in the fall, but you peep the leaves once and your done, do not need to live in the state for it . . . The cities are downright terrible. Crime is high in all of them and options for entertainment in them are very limited.

Never really argued the excitement factor. Though since the definition of "excitement" varies it's really a matter of opinion. If it means bars and clubs, then it depends on the city. Eastern CT not so much, but New Haven and Fairfield County have pretty good scenes for small cities.

The Sound is pretty but it is not a great beach, it pales in comparison to the Cape, Maine, NC, Florida, and the West Coast.

Never said it had great beaches. The proximity factor is what counts here.

CT has great pizza, but their restaurants and food scene as a whole is extremely underwhelming.

This is just an objectively incorrect statement.

The suburbs are great and so is the education, but that does not nothing for 20 something young professionals (this is the demo you need to attract)

What attracts that is economic -- and we know that the CT economy has been mis-managed for a while.

The weather is awful, it is in much of the northeast though, but that is why people are moving to the South, Texas, and the West. If you think the weather is better only three months a year you have an odd view of "good" weather.

There is a reason that nobody who had the choice lived in these places before air conditioning.

[/quote]

 

[Yonick]

You should visit Portland, Maine. It's a fantastic little city. It's everything a coastal city should be.

You are right, but, only in the summer months. Winter isn't too fascinating up there.

 

[UConnMike04]

Honestly I know Connecticut will never be as exciting as New York, the weather with never be as nice as California or Florida, but trufully I absolutley love living here, in Norwalk specifically. I'm relatively young, only graduated a couple of years ago and other then Storrs, I've lived in Norwalk my whole live. I love my City as well as the friends and family I have down here. To me it was the perfect place to grow up. Very diverse, great schools, a big enough city (86,000) with a lot of fun stuff to run around and do as well as trouble to get into. In the summer we have a great beach with a lot to to do. Norwalk has the nicest islands in the state with great fishing, boating, and clamming. And for nightlife SONO is a blast, great bars and resturants. Plus we got the original Stew's and just ask anyone from here that place is the . Just not on Sundays around noon. To me this will always be my home and I hope to say that the rest of my life. Plus if you get bored were a short ride from Stamford, downtown there is great, plus Alive at 5 Concert series in the summer is awesome. There gonna anounce the lineup soon can't wait. If you have never been and love 90's one hit wonder bands I suggest you make the trip down. It is a freaking blast! Now I am constantly hearing about how boring Norwalk is or CT in general. And to those people saying that, fine complain all you want it won't make it any better. I literally talk the crap out of how great Norwalk is any chance I get and you know what tell enough people that and they start to believe it. I want to make people believe it! Be the good you want to see in your hometown and homestate! Someone very wise from probably one of the greatest movies once said. "I don't want to become a product of my environment, I want my environment to become a product of me." I take that is a very literal and happy way. I want my hometown and homestate to become a better place because of me. Thats what I say to all those 49 percenters trying to leave! Get busy livin (in CT), or get busy movin (The "F" Out) God bless Norwalk, Connecticut, and The United States of America

^^^^ Born and raised in Norwalk, still live here. Lots to do (esp summer), don't forget the Oyster Fest as well. Can't wait for beach days and Alive@5!

 

[Jerry1714]

In that thread you also state you have lived in CT your entire life, so your opinion is not exactly worth much. (Travelling a couple times to a place and knowing people there means little to nothing).

You really seem to have a bug up your @ss about that post -- not seeing where you see this great insult to you. I also didn't realize that spending time somewhere and deciding it's not for you somehow disqualifies an opinion. I've seen a bunch of places, decided to stay here. The rest I'll leave to my response to you in the original thread, as well as the responses of others who tore you down pretty well on their own.

CT is seriously lacking in excitement. Sure it has some nice scenery in the fall, but you peep the leaves once and your done, do not need to live in the state for it . . . The cities are downright terrible. Crime is high in all of them and options for entertainment in them are very limited.

Never really argued the excitement factor. Though since the definition of "excitement" varies it's really a matter of opinion. If it means bars and clubs, then it depends on the city. Eastern CT not so much, but New Haven and Fairfield County have pretty good scenes for small cities.

The Sound is pretty but it is not a great beach, it pales in comparison to the Cape, Maine, NC, Florida, and the West Coast.

Never said it had great beaches. The proximity factor is what counts here.

CT has great pizza, but their restaurants and food scene as a whole is extremely underwhelming.

This is just an objectively incorrect statement.

The suburbs are great and so is the education, but that does not nothing for 20 something young professionals (this is the demo you need to attract)

What attracts that is economic -- and we know that the CT economy has been mis-managed for a while.

The weather is awful, it is in much of the northeast though, but that is why people are moving to the South, Texas, and the West. If you think the weather is better only three months a year you have an odd view of "good" weather.

There is a reason that nobody who had the choice lived in these places before air conditioning.

[/quote]
Those people tearing me down must have deleted their posts, since you were the only one to reply to it, but ok.

Why do you think the food scene in Connecticut is so great? We agree on the pizza, but what else makes it so great to you? (honest question)

 

[Mots010]

CT is a nice place to raise a family. The scenery is beautiful, it has good schools and suburbs. NYC or Boston are close enough to be convenient attractions. I visit a few times a year and have a great time. I would pick CT over anything in the south or midwest, just due to access to big cities and mountains.

However, having moved to Colorado 8 years ago, I am never going back. Ever. For me personally, there is just so much more to offer out here.

 

[Baltic]

I'm a bit surprised by this result. Is it because of the weather or jobs?

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/30/5668588/illinois-connecticut-maryland-gallup-interstate-migration-rates

I left CT 6 years ago to move to NC coast (retired). I don't understand why any retired citizen wouldn't leave CT, except for being close to family. Taxes are exhorbitant, I would have maintained 2 locations but the taxes in CT made that impossible. I had a 2300 sq. ft. house in Glastonbury paid around $12K property tax, now have a 3800 sq. ft. house and pay $2300 property tax. Live in SE NC one mile from the Ocean so I do pay $2400 a year in Wind Insurance but still a deal compared to CT. Sales tax is about the same, income tax is lower.

There are more days in CT with the temps above 90 degrees than down here, by about 50%. Granted if you head inland by about 20 miles that is not true. The night time temps do stay in the high 70's rather than 60's or low 70's so air conditioning is a must. We have had one snowfall in the last 6 years of 3", although we did have 2 ice storms this year that pretty much closed down everything for a couple of days (unusual). Play golf at least 3 -4 days a week even in the winter.

Schools are no where close to comparable to CT, but with no kids to worry about it isn't an issue. If that is an issue the burbs surrounding The Triangle and Charlotte are comparable to most of the CT towns.

Wilmington is becoming more of a growth area, particularly on the restaurant scene. Restaurants in the Triangle and Charlotte are easily comparable to CT. People are friendlier, the pace is slower and there is significantly more open space. NC is 180 miles long and 500 miles wide so you could fit multiple CT's down here. Beaches are outstanding and a crowded day at the beach down here is much less than in CT. The sports section of the local weekly newspaper devotes 2 -4 pages each week on fishing.

I do miss UCONN sports but will attend at least 4 Football games and a handful of basketball games. It was easier to plan the basketball games in the Big East days, now have to go earlier in the season to catch the better games. Brought 50 people up to the Duke Women's game and will probably bring an equal amount or more for the ECU football game (which by the way will be a difficult opponent). Do get all of the games on TV and usually have a game watch.

State fiscal outlook is much better than CT's, probably because it is a growth area, net population influx rather than outflow.

I must admit that CT was certainly a pleasant state to reside but the politicians are doing there best to deter retirees from staying there.