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dancerjodiWhat kinds of things to you look for in the community you live in? Does it matter to you? Is your house just a place where you put your body and it doesn't matter exactly where that house is?
I've been thinking a lot about the moving thing - the bottom line is that if we want to live in what would be my ideal community we're either going to continue to rent, buy a condo or pay through the nose for a teeny house. As a result of this we had resigned ourselves to the fact a while ago that of course there would be some compromises. I guess I always expected that, I mean, we aren't rich! But "community" wasn't the thing I thought I'd compromise on - it was the actual house itself.
I think moving away would be good for me as much as it upsets me. I just need a change of scenery, I need to get into another area and learn how to be part of a different community. And I can always visit.
Almost every person that I've told that we're looking at a couple of houses in Framingham has either said "um, what area is it in - I HOPE its not near the town center, its kind of crappy there" or they've said "oh my God, that's SO FAR away". I'd feel safe enough living there and there's definitely lots of stuff around (its just different stuff than I'm used to). And true the commute would be longer . . . its not right on many highways like Waltham is, but its on the Pike and Rt. 9. But there is a commuter rail. I just don't want to end up in this big ole house with a big ole yard and never go anywhere or have anyone come to visit (I think B would be perfectly comfortable with this, most times).
I'm definitely leaning in that direction (if we moved further North we may be closer to Boston and B's work and better T-accessible but we'd have less house and less land for more $, just like of we stayed in Waltham . . . only there wouldn't be the same sense of Community, I think).
Its such an odd decision to make - to choose where you're going to lay down roots and to choose something which will have such a serious effect on your life for years to come.
Odd . . .
I've been thinking a lot about the moving thing - the bottom line is that if we want to live in what would be my ideal community we're either going to continue to rent, buy a condo or pay through the nose for a teeny house. As a result of this we had resigned ourselves to the fact a while ago that of course there would be some compromises. I guess I always expected that, I mean, we aren't rich! But "community" wasn't the thing I thought I'd compromise on - it was the actual house itself.
I think moving away would be good for me as much as it upsets me. I just need a change of scenery, I need to get into another area and learn how to be part of a different community. And I can always visit.
Almost every person that I've told that we're looking at a couple of houses in Framingham has either said "um, what area is it in - I HOPE its not near the town center, its kind of crappy there" or they've said "oh my God, that's SO FAR away". I'd feel safe enough living there and there's definitely lots of stuff around (its just different stuff than I'm used to). And true the commute would be longer . . . its not right on many highways like Waltham is, but its on the Pike and Rt. 9. But there is a commuter rail. I just don't want to end up in this big ole house with a big ole yard and never go anywhere or have anyone come to visit (I think B would be perfectly comfortable with this, most times).
I'm definitely leaning in that direction (if we moved further North we may be closer to Boston and B's work and better T-accessible but we'd have less house and less land for more $, just like of we stayed in Waltham . . . only there wouldn't be the same sense of Community, I think).
Its such an odd decision to make - to choose where you're going to lay down roots and to choose something which will have such a serious effect on your life for years to come.
Odd . . .
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no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 07:50 am (UTC)I am thinking of looking for a place over the next year or so, but I am looking at it as an investment -- something I can do with my money other than throwing it away on rent. So the condo is appealing to me as I view it as a stepping stone to a larger house. Maybe I'm on crack?
I mean, I saw a condo out in sherry for a good price that appeared to fit the description of what I would want ( two bedrooms, large finished loft, basement with w/d hookup...), but sherry is WAY out there, and I wonder if I would ever come into the city anymore to hang out or if anyone would come out to visit me?
Hrm?
Date: 2002-04-19 10:36 am (UTC)Re: Hrm?
Date: 2002-04-19 11:03 am (UTC)Re: Hrm?
Date: 2002-04-19 01:09 pm (UTC)Go past 128
Go past 495
Fifteen minutes later, you're there.
So, it's like convienent to say...uh...Woosta and New Hamster
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 08:14 am (UTC)I was thinking about it. I moved to Boston and gave up tons of money (to pay in rent) but I am infinitely happier being closer to my friends and culture and all that. I just *love* my life these days instead of just being contented with it.
So, when I buy a house, I think I *will* sacrifice some needs (like the desire to own a huge beautiful victorian) for the desire to be close to my friends & the city. After all, I can always change my mind, sell it for a huge amount of money, and move to the country if I want to.
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 08:19 am (UTC)1. it had our 'must haves' (at least 2 bedrooms, garage) and our 'nice to haves' (3 bedrooms, more than one bathroom) and some pleasant surprises (gas grill, generator, wood pellet stove)
2. location (5 min from rt 3 and 495, right off of 3a, 2 min walk to the commuter rail)
3. neighborhood (off any main roads, cul-de-sacs, a lot of families, quiet, we feel safe)
4. town (i like billerica. it's neither totally blue collar or totally white collar. no 'suburban yuppie' feel to it - i.e., no starbucks or gap or whatever. it's not too expensive or too run-down.)
5. price was right. like exactly right. ($249,900)
6. schools are decent (class sizes a little above average, SAT scores and percentage of students attending college above average)
di
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 10:09 am (UTC)and, really, you're not that far away. you both have cars, so everything's less than a half hour away.
and my dad will be your animal control officer! :D
so, you know, if squirrels end up nesting in the attic, or raccoons start getting in your trash, i can hook you up!
and there's a beach down the street,too. so that's a happy thing.
and im pretty much positive, if you're still interested in the public school issue, that that district goes to my elementary school. which is really good.
and you can start doing your grocery shopping at shaw's and visit my mommy in the bakery!
yay!
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 11:01 am (UTC)what matters to me are my friends. when i came to boston, i knew almost nobody. there was Lee over in brighton, who i moved in with, and there are
now i have a circle of aquaintances and a few dear friends who i don't want to leave behind. my community is somewhat geographic but very distinctly not city-based. i don't live in the community of Davis Square -- i live in the community of bunicula and dancer and niralth and br0k3n and anime chick and bhakti and puck and coffeekitty and tember and skaven and alex and lauren and ... it goes on. a few are dear friends, many are good friends, some are just aquaintances whose company i enjoy. they're all here in boston, or near it, and this is the community i live in and want to remain a part of. (hell, i've even gotten most of the nuts out of my life and stopped being a nut myself ;-)
so what's my criteria on where i want to live? for sheer convenience, i'd love to buy a home here in davis square, but that ain't happening -- i'm not sitting on $400k and i sure as hell can't handle a morgage that large. so when i'm ready, i'll start looking outside the city. what matters to me? a garage, to be west or north of the city (not south), and no more than 30 minutes from Boston. if i can get that, i can stay with my community. i can go see movies with friends, hang out on the weekends, go to thursday night goffee, and so forth. if i'm lucky enough to be within 15-20 minutes (bwahaahahah) i could even hold parties. (i've learned from my own tendencies that if you're more further out than 128, good luck getting more than six people.)
this is where i think we differ. you like your city, and want to remain part of it. for me, a city is convenient but disposable, because my community is made up of people who are somewhat scattered already. i don't really care what goes on in my community ... although when i buy a house i expect that will change (i'll have an investment in it, so i'll show up to town meetings and such). but even there, it's a case of i'll find something convenient, then join whatever local community is there ... but that's secondary to practical considerations based on a very different sort of community than the traditional city-based one.
i suspect this wouldn't have been the case pre-internet... my community would be more geographically centered. but it's not -- and i think that's a strength!
hope these ramblings provide some insight as you think about this...
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 11:25 am (UTC)Another key component for me in my permanent place of residence will be nearby services that I can walk to (food, groceries, theater, etc) and a public transportation system.
And it must be close to my community - netgoth and all that its branched out into. As I've told my parents, this is the rotary club of my generation, really. I am in a loosely defined social club that includes real estate agents, accountants, lawyers, computer geeks, recruiters - a whole network of people that are usually a little more willing to help out their fellow "freak" than someone off the street. And it's cool that as we all grow up, the community grows with us.
no subject
Date: 2002-04-19 11:38 am (UTC)