So I grew up in Arizona as well as Bay Area, CA (my parents were divorced). Moved to Austin, Texas in 2000 and NM a couple years ago. I’ve never lived in the Northeast, never even been further than NYC in that direction, though I loved Brooklyn.
I’ve been thinking lately, partly because I’ve always hated the heat and partly because I’m sure global warming won’t be kind to the area, that I’d like to check out the Northeast, maybe upstate NY or around there. Maybe Maine. Maybe even Canada if things get particularly a way here. In any case, besides taking time to actually visit the area which I plan to do next fall for about a month, hopefully, I’d love to get any opinions about living in that region. Likes? Dislikes? Favorite areas to consider? Suggestions? Anyone make the kind of geographic change I’ve described? Thanks!
I grew up near Binghamton. Back then we had several IBM complexes with thousands of well paying jobs. I don’t think any were in Binghamton itself but it lifted the economy of the entire region. Then IBM left. The jobs were gone and nothing ever replaced them. Young adults moved away to places with better economies. My younger brother was the last one left, talking about flipping properties with a credit card. Those towns directly affected may never come back.
But Binghamton was more diversified, the center of economy moved to different towns, the university has been doing great and incubating local business. It does have some culture, some sports, some nightlife. Property values have gone back up. The new local economic centers have new construction and new infrastructure, even if the older sections are still fading
I wouldn’t want to move back to the town I grew up in, but I can see moving to the area.