VJW

Hello
We lived in Groton, then Mystic from 1999 - 2004, we now live in Albany NY. You'll definitely have to do the driving test thing, but its no problem just research on line and then take yourself off for the test. The driving test center is at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) in Norwich. We love that area and still regularly visit as we are in touch with our many friends that we've kept in touch with. In terms of places to live there are lots of great neighbourhoods with good schools. It depends what you want. We lived in Mystic because we liked the 'towny' feel to it. We could walk into town to the restaurants shops etc... However, in the summer it got busy, but we still loved it. Stonington and out to the East of New London/Groton is lovely, towards RI, but then equally as lovely is Essex and Old Saybrook to the West. All these areas are commutable to New London. Are you with EB? Pfizer? Private Message me and I can give you more info. Are you buying or renting, we could let you know where great places to rent to begin with are. Good luck in your move, it really is a beautiful area to move to.

Apfelkuchen

Even though doing the test isn't a big deal, having researched it a bit more I think I'm just going to go ahead and convert my UK license to a German one now while I can. All I need for that is €35 and a passport photo, and I can do it at the same office where I am going to get my police check next week, so it is no hassle at all. Then since Germany, unlike the UK, has driver's license reciprocity with CT (as well as many other US states)*, I can exchange my license using the out-of-state procedure once I get to the US.

* A bit more googling suggests that 27 US states have full reciprocity with Germany (no tests required) and 10 more (of which CT is one) have partial reciprocity - meaning only the theory test is required but not the driving test.

Active duty Navy.

Will do!

Probably buying relatively soon after getting there, but we will most likely rent in the beginning so we can look for somewhere to buy at our own pace.

Thank you! I'm certainly glad to hear that!

Brat1

If you can get a German license, that would probably be the easiest way for you. When we moved, we had 30 days in which to get a CT license, and both me and hubby had to do the 8 hour drug and alcohol class, the theory test, and a driving test.... I think I was more nervous doing that than I was when I took my test in the UK all those years ago

As for the New London area, I have no clue as we live in Bethel. I'm wondering if Nutek could help you there, I have a feeling he is possibly nearer where you're looking to live and could maybe give you a few pointers.

I love living here. You have definite seasons, which I love, although the first Winter we were here, we had Winter storm after storm, and the snow was still on the ground in April, but I loved all that. Summers are warm, but August can be extremely humid, sometimes to the point of it being oppressive, but I certainly wouldn't complain about it, after dealing with the damp and rain of Scotland for 40 years

Good luck with the move and if I can help at all, feel free to pm me.

Apfelkuchen

Heh, as I am teetotal (and always have been) I would really not appreciate that!

Much appreciated, thank you! I may well do that as the time draws nearer and more specific questions arise.

WEBlue

The husband and I moved to CT from England last summer, and were told there's no drivers licence exchanging with the UK. We not only had to take both tests--the paper test and the road test--but before we could even take the first test we had to take 8 hours of drivers ed classes. THAT was painful, since the pupils were mostly American high school students.

We were told the drivers ed was a somewhat recent CT requirement for anyone not in the US DMV "system". We tried but could not escape this requirement. A Czech lady took the classes with us, she was the only other non-teenager.

CT is surprisingly strict. If I were you, Apfelkuchen, and if it's possible to exchange with a German licence, I would do anything I could to get that German licence.

Southy_SWFC

The only thing I know about CT is that its Call Before You Dig instead of Digsafe there.
Happy to help

Ruth16

I love Connecticut wouldn't want to live any other place, green and clean not a tourist attraction and half hour from NY city by train.

Bob

You don't want to buy for at least a year. It's so much more expensive buying and selling as well as being very different to maintain and life style out here.

CT is lovely though, except Hartford, dump of a capital, but the rest of the state is lovely and no tolls on the road is a bonus..well makes up for the petrol being so much more expensive over there than any where else

Nutek

Fortunately, there is nothing IN Hartford, so there is no need to go there.

Well... Except Immigration that is. Bleh.

WEBlue

Wait, aren't both the Mark Twain House and the Louisa May Alcott House there in Hartford? Close to each other too. I liked both of those.

Nutek

Well yes,

But apart from the Mark Twain house and the may Alcott house, what has Hartford ever done for us?

Hardly makes for a fun packed night out though really.

Bob

If you're heading through CT to PA, it's the path of least resistance, till you hit traffic...and you get to experience some of the weird loopy spaghetti junctions that you see on tele and realise they are as shit as they look

It is a cool skyline though

Nutek

It is. So long as you know you aren't having to drive into it.

WEBlue

Yeah, agreed, but then again I don't need those nights anymore (if I ever did).

When Twain & the others lived there in the Nook Farm neighbourhood, it sounds like it was a lot more fun:
http://connecticuthistory.org/where-...-dream-houses/

Nutek

Same here really.


It's near I84 and some sort of a power station now isnt it?