Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
#61
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
At the current moment, the only advantage I can see with the USA is the higher earning potential over the UK and the larger houses. Whether this can yield a better lifestyle overall remains to be seen at least for me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there are other parts of the USA that I can achieve my personal ideal American dream lifestyle. Perhaps historic Boston MA is suitable? Has anybody had the same thoughts as me here and gone through the same process?
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there are other parts of the USA that I can achieve my personal ideal American dream lifestyle. Perhaps historic Boston MA is suitable? Has anybody had the same thoughts as me here and gone through the same process?
OP - Portland Maine is wonderful. Take a look. It might restore your faith in the US as a place to live.
#62
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Joined: Jun 2017
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
I have been in NYC for 10 years, and from what I have seen of other immigrants/transients/ex-pats your choice of location plays a large factor in how much you enjoy the life over here. If you like the small town feel of walking to your local shops/restaurant/pub, then Manhattan might not be a great choice, as the rents take such a huge amount of your income that it is often difficult to experience the Manhattan social life. Likewise living out in NJ or Westchester can be more comfortable, but a car may be essential and the commute for Manhattan workers might not be some much fun in the hot Summers and cold Winters.
From my peers I work with parts of Bronx/Queens/Brooklyn seem to have a very good balance of parks and open spaces less noise and still a local community feel about them. For NJ Hoboken seems to be very popular too. Maybe it is time for a move, but I'd suggest looking closer to where you are now before heading to Mass/Virginia etc.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
P.S. I found Chester to be lovely to visit, but too noisy and full of tourists at weekends, and don't get me started on the driving down the narrow medieval streets.
From my peers I work with parts of Bronx/Queens/Brooklyn seem to have a very good balance of parks and open spaces less noise and still a local community feel about them. For NJ Hoboken seems to be very popular too. Maybe it is time for a move, but I'd suggest looking closer to where you are now before heading to Mass/Virginia etc.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
P.S. I found Chester to be lovely to visit, but too noisy and full of tourists at weekends, and don't get me started on the driving down the narrow medieval streets.
#63
Living the NYC dream
Joined: May 2016
Location: New York
Posts: 151
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Defending New York City here. I have lived in NYC for 16 years: half of that time single in Manhattan and the other half as a family in Brooklyn. For me now, nothing beats the buzz and convenience of living in Brooklyn. Within a 10 minute walking radius, I have access to an excellent public elementary school, two movie theatres, several summer day camps for my daughter, a library, several parks, many restaurants and bars, a free outdoor swimming pool, the subway station linking me directly to Manhattan, a Trader Joe’s and various department stores, my doctor and dentist and several urgent care centres. The subway can be crowded, hot, frustrating and dirty – but I can usually get from my kitchen to my desk in Manhattan in 40 minutes. In an hour, I can reach one of many beaches. I have been the victim of crime many times living in Berkshire and Hampshire, but not once in New York (touch wood).
But there are pros and cons to everything. NYC is not that different to London or any big city and it’s very much an issue of personal preference. By the way, during the first few years of living here, I wanted to go back to the UK many times. I applied for a couple of jobs in London, but nothing panned out and I ended up staying. Now I can’t imagine moving back.
But there are pros and cons to everything. NYC is not that different to London or any big city and it’s very much an issue of personal preference. By the way, during the first few years of living here, I wanted to go back to the UK many times. I applied for a couple of jobs in London, but nothing panned out and I ended up staying. Now I can’t imagine moving back.
#64
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 221
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Defending New York City here. I have lived in NYC for 16 years: half of that time single in Manhattan and the other half as a family in Brooklyn. For me now, nothing beats the buzz and convenience of living in Brooklyn. Within a 10 minute walking radius, I have access to an excellent public elementary school, two movie theatres, several summer day camps for my daughter, a library, several parks, many restaurants and bars, a free outdoor swimming pool, the subway station linking me directly to Manhattan, a Trader Joe’s and various department stores, my doctor and dentist and several urgent care centres. The subway can be crowded, hot, frustrating and dirty – but I can usually get from my kitchen to my desk in Manhattan in 40 minutes. In an hour, I can reach one of many beaches. I have been the victim of crime many times living in Berkshire and Hampshire, but not once in New York (touch wood).
But there are pros and cons to everything. NYC is not that different to London or any big city and it’s very much an issue of personal preference. By the way, during the first few years of living here, I wanted to go back to the UK many times. I applied for a couple of jobs in London, but nothing panned out and I ended up staying. Now I can’t imagine moving back.
But there are pros and cons to everything. NYC is not that different to London or any big city and it’s very much an issue of personal preference. By the way, during the first few years of living here, I wanted to go back to the UK many times. I applied for a couple of jobs in London, but nothing panned out and I ended up staying. Now I can’t imagine moving back.
Where in BK do you live? We are moving from Canary Wharf to NYC in October and have been considering Brooklyn as our new home. Hubby is USC and lived his whole life in BX however we want a fresh start somewhere unfamiliar. I know Brooklyn quite well and would love some recommendations from someone who has a family as our daughter will be growing up there too.
#65
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Joined: Jun 2017
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Kate,
Where in BK do you live? We are moving from Canary Wharf to NYC in October and have been considering Brooklyn as our new home. Hubby is USC and lived his whole life in BX however we want a fresh start somewhere unfamiliar. I know Brooklyn quite well and would love some recommendations from someone who has a family as our daughter will be growing up there too.
Where in BK do you live? We are moving from Canary Wharf to NYC in October and have been considering Brooklyn as our new home. Hubby is USC and lived his whole life in BX however we want a fresh start somewhere unfamiliar. I know Brooklyn quite well and would love some recommendations from someone who has a family as our daughter will be growing up there too.
I know you asked Kate, but there are plenty of good options in other boroughs too. Brooklyn has become fashionable, but if you are single then Dumbo is going to be more attractive than Park Slope or Red Hook. Where you will be working is also a big factor as not all locations have easy access to all parts of Manhattan. If you will be working above 42nd Street, Bronx and Queens could be a shorter commute than Brooklyn and have some excellent options. Budget and price also come into play, and there is a big premium to be paid to live in the "better known" areas.
#66
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 221
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Hi Viitav,
I know you asked Kate, but there are plenty of good options in other boroughs too. Brooklyn has become fashionable, but if you are single then Dumbo is going to be more attractive than Park Slope or Red Hook. Where you will be working is also a big factor as not all locations have easy access to all parts of Manhattan. If you will be working above 42nd Street, Bronx and Queens could be a shorter commute than Brooklyn and have some excellent options. Budget and price also come into play, and there is a big premium to be paid to live in the "better known" areas.
I know you asked Kate, but there are plenty of good options in other boroughs too. Brooklyn has become fashionable, but if you are single then Dumbo is going to be more attractive than Park Slope or Red Hook. Where you will be working is also a big factor as not all locations have easy access to all parts of Manhattan. If you will be working above 42nd Street, Bronx and Queens could be a shorter commute than Brooklyn and have some excellent options. Budget and price also come into play, and there is a big premium to be paid to live in the "better known" areas.
I'll be working in Wall Street and hubby will be working on 149th. We've looked in the Bronx and queens but the apartments haven't been very nice and are quite old and tired looking. We want pref a new build with a lift as we have a tiny baby and buggy to take everywhere, built in AC and a washer dryer in the apt. Most places I've seen listed it's rare to find all three in other boroughs. It seems like crown heights and Flatbush by BK college are the best places alongside prospect park etc.
We aren't too fussy we just want a nice 3 bed for $2500?
#67
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Hey!
I'll be working in Wall Street and hubby will be working on 149th. We've looked in the Bronx and queens but the apartments haven't been very nice and are quite old and tired looking. We want pref a new build with a lift as we have a tiny baby and buggy to take everywhere, built in AC and a washer dryer in the apt. Most places I've seen listed it's rare to find all three in other boroughs. It seems like crown heights and Flatbush by BK college are the best places alongside prospect park etc.
We aren't too fussy we just want a nice 3 bed for $2500?
I'll be working in Wall Street and hubby will be working on 149th. We've looked in the Bronx and queens but the apartments haven't been very nice and are quite old and tired looking. We want pref a new build with a lift as we have a tiny baby and buggy to take everywhere, built in AC and a washer dryer in the apt. Most places I've seen listed it's rare to find all three in other boroughs. It seems like crown heights and Flatbush by BK college are the best places alongside prospect park etc.
We aren't too fussy we just want a nice 3 bed for $2500?
#68
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Joined: May 2009
Location: DC Metro Area
Posts: 305
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Hey!
I'll be working in Wall Street and hubby will be working on 149th. We've looked in the Bronx and queens but the apartments haven't been very nice and are quite old and tired looking. We want pref a new build with a lift as we have a tiny baby and buggy to take everywhere, built in AC and a washer dryer in the apt. Most places I've seen listed it's rare to find all three in other boroughs. It seems like crown heights and Flatbush by BK college are the best places alongside prospect park etc.
We aren't too fussy we just want a nice 3 bed for $2500?
I'll be working in Wall Street and hubby will be working on 149th. We've looked in the Bronx and queens but the apartments haven't been very nice and are quite old and tired looking. We want pref a new build with a lift as we have a tiny baby and buggy to take everywhere, built in AC and a washer dryer in the apt. Most places I've seen listed it's rare to find all three in other boroughs. It seems like crown heights and Flatbush by BK college are the best places alongside prospect park etc.
We aren't too fussy we just want a nice 3 bed for $2500?
#69
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Not only will the UK not be the same, but the person moving back won't be the same either. People change too. We moved back to the UK after 7 years in Canada. It took over a year before we felt we were beginning to settle back into life in the UK. We had changed too - as had our friends and family. We also went back with 2 kids (we didn't have kids when we left the UK) so our circumstances had also changed.
We realized that, while we lived in Canada, we had retained an image of the UK frozen in time (the point at which we left). Everything and everyone had changed to some degree - some more than others. After 2 years back in the UK, we moved to the US.
#70
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
I think this is good advice - although sometimes people need to move back just to get it out of their system.
Not only will the UK not be the same, but the person moving back won't be the same either. People change too. We moved back to the UK after 7 years in Canada. It took over a year before we felt we were beginning to settle back into life in the UK. We had changed too - as had our friends and family. We also went back with 2 kids (we didn't have kids when we left the UK) so our circumstances had also changed.
We realized that, while we lived in Canada, we had retained an image of the UK frozen in time (the point at which we left). Everything and everyone had changed to some degree - some more than others. After 2 years back in the UK, we moved to the US.
Not only will the UK not be the same, but the person moving back won't be the same either. People change too. We moved back to the UK after 7 years in Canada. It took over a year before we felt we were beginning to settle back into life in the UK. We had changed too - as had our friends and family. We also went back with 2 kids (we didn't have kids when we left the UK) so our circumstances had also changed.
We realized that, while we lived in Canada, we had retained an image of the UK frozen in time (the point at which we left). Everything and everyone had changed to some degree - some more than others. After 2 years back in the UK, we moved to the US.
#71
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Anyway good luck.
#72
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Those are huge trans-Atlantic moves over a relatively short time. Hope you were able to persevere through those relocation stresses well. Interesting that rather than Canada, it was US the second time.
#73
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
We moved with young kids which, although harder than moving with no kids, is definitely easier than moving with older kids. We were actually planning to move back to Canada from the UK but then I heard about a job in Maryland and was lucky enough to be offered it on the spot during a phone interview (they were desperate!). So we moved to Maryland without having ever set foot in the place before. That was in 1998. Now we're currently planning on moving back to Canada in 2 years time (when our youngest finishes high school and the other 3 will all be done with college). I'm in Canada quite a lot as our oldest daughter lives there. I prefer Canada to the US. With the current political climate in the US, Canada looks even more attractive to us.
#74
Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
Studios and one-beds started at $2,000 16 years ago (when we were looking). I doubt you find much that is fit for human habitation at $2,500 today! And from what I hear, three beds are like hen's teeth at any price.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 14th 2017 at 2:51 am.
#75
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Re: Having seconds thoughts on USA (after 5 years in NYC)
We moved with young kids which, although harder than moving with no kids, is definitely easier than moving with older kids. We were actually planning to move back to Canada from the UK but then I heard about a job in Maryland and was lucky enough to be offered it on the spot during a phone interview (they were desperate!). So we moved to Maryland without having ever set foot in the place before. That was in 1998. Now we're currently planning on moving back to Canada in 2 years time (when our youngest finishes high school and the other 3 will all be done with college). I'm in Canada quite a lot as our oldest daughter lives there. I prefer Canada to the US. With the current political climate in the US, Canada looks even more attractive to us.
We had PR status and lived in Ontario for a year back in 2007, but I couldn't get a job in my field resulting in moving back to US for employment. Our PR status in the meantime expired, which would be nice now that we're retired. If we could, we'd move back immediately. Oh well, always have UK passports if things get worse. But best wishes on your move back in a couple years.