Our moving sale was great! Thanks to everyone who showed up and helped us rid ourselves of worldly possessions. Most of the folks I conversed with were curious as to where we were moving. About 90% were surprised when I told them we’re heading back to Brooklyn. I was informed that we’re heading in the opposite direction of everyone else.
It seems there’s a mass migration to the Hudson Valley again and Beacon is hot at the moment. Good for us, since we want to sell our house. I say, bring it on!
We chose to move back to Brooklyn after six years away for many reasons. The main one is that Hubby has been working in Greenpoint for the past year + and stays in Brooklyn most nights while I live upstate. Just doesn’t make sense.
But just in case you’re thinking of leaving the city for greener pastures, I’ve compiled a list of questions to ask yourself before making the big move. These factors bothered me, but everyone is different.
1. Food delivery! My husband jokes “What does my wife make for dinner? A phone call.” I don’t cook, I don’t cook, I don’t cook. My mother isn’t much of a cook. I come from a “Let’s order in” family. I think there’s ONE place in Beacon that delivers.
2. Restaurants. Again with the food. I’m a Jew. We like to eat. The restaurants around here are meh. IMO, there are finer dining establishments further north in weekender territory, but they are too far from Beacon.
3. Sidewalks and bike lanes. Ok, so maybe it’s not such a big deal, but some streets lack sidewalks. I’m sorry, I don’t like walking in the road or on someone’s grass. Although I don’t cycle, there are no bike lanes. Not really a reason not to move up here, but it just bothers me.
4. Everyone all up in your business. Small town life. How quaint. You see the same people. Everyone knows one another. For me, it was charming for 5 minutes. There’s something to be said about anonymous city life and that is “I miss it”.
5. Shop hours. Oh, this is a killer coming from “The City That Never Sleeps”. The Main Street store owners seem to come to work whenever they feel like it. I gave up on many of the mom and pop shops because they were never open when I needed something. Special thanks to Beacon Natural and Artisan Wine who open 7 days per week, normal hours.
6. Strip malls. It’s an inevitable part of suburban life. Face it. If the Main Street shops ain’t helping ya, that’s what’s left. Which brings me to….
7. It’s a car culture. OMG, I used to make fun of people who drive a few blocks. Now I’m one of them! Something you would never do in the city because of traffic and parking. Something I do here because the Main Street shops are so unreliable that I may end up driving to the strip mall.
All of the above being said, there are many pluses to living in the Hudson Valley. How about clean air and fabulous mountain views? Being near the Hudson so you can kayak or sail (We said we would, but hardly ever got around to it). No crowds. Better quality of life. Larger living space and back yard.
It’s really about everyone’s own choice. I grew up with the rat race. As much as I wanted a quieter lifestyle, I feel like a fish out of water here. Do I regret leaving the city? No, it was a lovely vacation. But now it’s time to go home.
8 Comments
Wow that’s a big revelation for yourself. I was raised in the suburbs and I pretty much always prefer quieter lifestyles. But everyone has their own preference.
That’s the thing! Everyone is different. And there are people who grew up in the city who prefer the country and people who grew up in the burbs who prefer the city. I grew up in the city and I need to go back to feel alive again, if that makes sense.
We’ve been wanting to move up to the Hudson Valley for years. The husband and I got engaged in Rhineback and we just love that place, but of course, cannot afford it.
We are also open to surrounding towns, but having a mortgage here and also there is out of our reach right now…
I grew up in Brooklyn and the city and the husband grew up in Florida and we’re just about ready for more space and mountains!
But I hear ya about the food and being spoiled with everything at your fingertips here…that will definitely take getting used to!
Donkee, My advice: Rent a country place for the entire season and try to stay there full time as much as possible. We had a weekend getaway in Ulster County that we loved sooo much until we moved up there full time. Then we felt pretty isolated and disconnected. Not that it happens to everybody!!!
Thanks for posting this in-depth discussion of the issues of moving to Beacon and moving out again. As you know, I’m looking for a home in the area. However, I hadn’t thought of the take-out food factor. I’m living in a remote college town right now, and while delivery options are pretty gross, they exist. And then the Jew factor — coming to the Hudson Valley from NYC, via Israel, how weird will that be? Will I have to drive to Monsey to find matzo? And then the store-hours issues…. oy, so much to consider…
A new place opened in Beacon! A raw food joint and it’s really good.
Look, as I’ve said before, there are people who absolutely love it here. My problem in life has always been that I’m from the best place in the world. I get pissed off, I leave, but nothing compares. If Beacon had 20 awesome food places (it doesn’t) it still can’t compare to the thousands I have at my disposal in the city.
The Jew factor: Yes, you can find matzo in the supermarket! It’s not that bad! But I will be honest…not too many Jews around. I’m a loud NY Jew and sometimes I think people are looking at me funny. The mayor is Jewish. I think. Gold? Must be.
I’ve always wanted to have a weekend house upstate because I knew being up there fulltime would make me mental for all the reasons you listed and more. (You forgot to mention serial killers lurking in the woods.) Just need to make more money to make this all happen. . . .
Nah, Beacon isn’t country. It’s a small town in a suburban area. I know the serial killers you speak of though! They were stalking me in the Ulster County home.