OT: Working virtual, where to live on the East Coast
- Thread starter DJ Spanky
- Start date
that's actually no longer true and wage disparity has all but disappeared in the financial sector. Being in metro area no longer means you are getting nyc wages only. Like everything, it's business specific and I'm sure there are outliers but it is most definitely not like 20yrs or even 10yrs ago
These threads always bring out the same chorus. They can’t wait to get out of NJ but will spend the best 30-40 years of their lives here just to bank the most money and some day retire to a “better life.” They can also be found in threads where a sixty-year-old passes away and be sure to note that he/she was “too young.”
This can actually be an interesting discussion if you break it down by profile and demographics. It could be fun
Retire to NC or FL and then they’ll come running back to your kids in NJ when you turn 80 and can’t fend for yourself. Those types.
Any surprise? LOL. Worst state in the nation.
New Jersey ranks at the rock bottom financially, according to a new study | Opinion
A former U.S. Treasury official says the study should serve as a wake-up call for all Garden State legislators and government officials.
A study by Truth in Accounting shows New Jersey had $43 billion available to pay $241 billion in outstanding bills. It designated the Garden State as a “Sinkhole State,” a state that lacks the necessary funds to pay its bills.
New Jersey had $43.4 billion available to pay $241.1 billion worth of bills.
• The outcome was a $197.7 billion shortfall, which breaks down to a burden of $58,700 per taxpayer.
• New Jersey’s financial position appeared to decrease in 2021. Its status will most likely decline further as federal Covid funding decreases and the market value of retirement system assets decline.
@tom1944
That’s our plan as well. Love it here in NJ and our taxes here in OC are relatively cheap at 1% compared to the rest of NJ. Will likely just rent a place in FL for a month or 2 during the winter though as opposed to buying, but we shall see
Answering the OP’s original question
1. Virginia - preferably the Charlottesville area
2. Pennsylvania - Bucks County or mainline
We’re out of NJ as soon my wife has her pension and benefits fully vested in the school system.
It’s Florida for us (Tallahassee) - not just bc of FSU (though that plays a huge part). Weather, taxes, panhandle feels like the true south with rolling hills, sweet tea, etc
Carolinas are great too. Chapel Hill or Vauxhall are both great
Clemson / Greenville upstate in SC are tremendous options
Buckhead/upstate GA also are really nice areas
Love NJ. Lived here my whole life. But it’s much different in the last 20/30 years and getting worse IMO
Taxes, weather, people and policies. Prices are outrageous.
Tons of diversity, food options, entertainment and great schools, but I’d leave tomorrow if I had my way
1. Virginia - preferably the Charlottesville area
2. Pennsylvania - Bucks County or mainline
We’re out of NJ as soon my wife has her pension and benefits fully vested in the school system.
It’s Florida for us (Tallahassee) - not just bc of FSU (though that plays a huge part). Weather, taxes, panhandle feels like the true south with rolling hills, sweet tea, etc
Carolinas are great too. Chapel Hill or Vauxhall are both great
Clemson / Greenville upstate in SC are tremendous options
Buckhead/upstate GA also are really nice areas
Love NJ. Lived here my whole life. But it’s much different in the last 20/30 years and getting worse IMO
Taxes, weather, people and policies. Prices are outrageous.
Tons of diversity, food options, entertainment and great schools, but I’d leave tomorrow if I had my way
+1
Living/owning in a shore town (barrier islands are best) is really the only option to mitigate excess property taxes due to the lower prevalence of school age kids.
Sad, but very true statement. Trenton and other gov entities just keep screwing up this once amazing state.
Exactly. You get what you pay for. If you're a homebody, don't like good food, great healthcare, diversity, culture, low crime, personable people, then yes, the south is fine. If you simply enjoy just staying in your home most of the time (which is fine), then yes pick the state with the least taxes overall.
Conversely, one can say the people down south are the epitomie of personal
Moreover, due to great weather, nobody I know down south stays home like we have to in winter
Different strokes for different folks… but there’s a reason nobody moves up north to retire
Bucks County PA is as expensive as NJ. The desirable towns - Yardley, Newtown, New Hope, etc. are out of control on real estate.
Nobody "has to" stay home in the winter.
I'd advise you to pick up a short-term rental where you "think" you want retire. Live like a local for a couple months.
No place is perfect. But some are simply more suited to your needs and wants and overall lifestyle.
No place is perfect. But some are simply more suited to your needs and wants and overall lifestyle.
Simple advice for ppl who keep complaining about places being expensive... quit bitching and go make more money. You're all of the opinion that ppl need to pick themselves up by the bootstraps, right? Go get a second or third job.
Extremely good advice! Don't make a permanent move until you've tried a place out for a while. I would give it a year so that I have a sense for what's available in all seasons.
The ability / joy to do things outside in the winter is certainly less than summer
Team Smooth is at a Broadway play today. Love going - but it’s inside
Not me
Freezing my balls off on a ski slope or ice fishing with 19 layers of clothes on is equivalent to torture
Laying on a beach, tailgating in shorts & flops or heading out on a boat… sign me up
Or do a month in the worst possible. Florida in July or New Hampshire in February.
Not bad advice either! But I think I'd spend more time to give an area a fair chance.
Well that's the point. It's a choice, not a foregone conclusion.
Went hiking last week - sub freezing morning, snow-covered trail - saw two different people carrying infants in baby packs, several seniors, a number of runners, some in shorts, and a few dozen people overall. No one feeling they had to stay indoors or migrate south.
Relevant to this thread since OP was exclusive of the warmest southern locales, inclusive of much colder areas.
Exactly the point
As stated in my original post, different strokes for different folks
*Misstated in your original post (i.e. "we have to stay inside"). My only qualm. I'll let the "nobody moves north to retire" slide.
Same here. Born in Jersey, will die in Jersey. Love Metuchen, Central NJ, and the Philly-NJ-NYC region. So much to do: the best cultural attractions anywhere (Broadway, museums, music shows/venues, etc.), the best restaurants, Rutgers sports, beautiful/cool/funky small towns, the Shore, the mountains (even if small), great weather with all 4 seasons, awesome pro sports, and more. I'll gladly pay a bit more in taxes to live here, because it's worth it.
That's the one month I never leave NJ, lol - best chance of snow, of course.
Who are you- Gabby Johnson of Metuchen?
Never realized the actor who played Gabby Johnson was Galt in First Blood.
Night and day unfortunately
Still love it here - and when we move out, I’ll look back fondly with great memories
But honestly, b/c of the changes, I don’t think I’ll miss it one bit
I have some experience working with transplants. Moving for economic reasons makes sense for the years into early retirement. After that, age related issues make it more important to be near those family/friends who can help you with the unexpected. At that point, tax rates don’t mean diddly.
I'm actually in this exact situation. I'm working mostly remotely now and can live in any of the states you've listed and I have chosen to stay exactly where I am in NJ.
1. I have friends from the town I grew up in, college, and the town I live in. Out of all of them, about 95% live in NJ and we get together all the time. Not just tail gates, but parties, camping, golf, and nights out in the city. I would really miss that if I moved.
2. I have a 6th grader and a sophomore in high school and the schools are great.
3. I have one kid with special needs and the support that NJ provides is the best in the country. I have a friend that moved back here just for that reason alone.
4. My parents are in their 70's and will start needing my help soon. I need to be near them.
5. Any further north and it's too cold for me.
6. My job has a geographical adjustment. One guy I work with lives in Southern Virginia. He's at the exact level as me and has the same amount of years on the job. He pays $4,000 a year less in property taxes as me which is nice, but he also makes $40,000 a year less than me.
7. If I moved, I would have to find new fishing and hunting spots and I don't want to start all over.
8. I love going to Rutgers football games and wrestling matches.
Really, you sure about that? :)
As to #4, very important consideration. About 25 years ago, one of our parents suddenly passed. We moved back to NJ, and we never looked back. Kids lived near the remaining grandparents who made all the birthday parties, important school events, etc. Family is important.
#6- I alluded to this. Is $4,000-6,000/year worth it if you are making less money, and/or driving back up to NJ several times per year to visit friends, family and go to RU games, etc. Not to us.
As to #7- same for a lot of us who have favorite recreation spots. For me, the mountain biking trails in South Monmouth are superb. Can also bike ride to the beach. Our marina is a few miles away. Life is good here, regardless of others' complaints. Also, like that we can get a good sub, pizza, or any type of meal of various types from a wide variety of restaurants.
