why live in connecticut

[the dufferz]

Ok,

I'm from Washington, never been east. What attracted you to connecticut? What are the biggest selling points?

[ProEye]

Originally Posted by the dufferz

Ok,

I'm from Washington, never been east. What attracted you to connecticut? What are the biggest selling points?

Why not live in CT???

We moved here because of a business opportunity but I've always been fascinated by New England. We could have moved to any one of 30 states but we picked this area because we like the climate and the great number of things to do in a short driving distance.

Fall is gorgeous here. Vermont seems to get all the attention for fall color but in reality, CT has more hardwoods, so there is way more color here.

CT is in between NYC and Boston: Being only 2 hours to NYC and 1.5 hours to Boston. Kind of nice to get some city action now and then. We drive into NYC annually for Vision Expo East. You wouldn't believe it if you saw it-> Absolutely huge...

It's nice having a zillion airports within easy driving distance. We fly Southwest a lot and they have hubs in Hartford, Newark, and Providence. We haven't flown on any international flights from here but it would be easy flying out of NYC.

We are only 3.5 hours from Montreal, we are right on the coast, we get four seasons, Vermont and skiing is only an hour away, there's a million things to do, etc.

Really, it's not much different than Washington state, where much of my family resides, so I've been there a lot too. But there is quite a bit greater population, given that New England has 13 million people and New York state has 19 million. So there's probably over 30 million within 200 miles of my location.

But with people brings things to do and things are closer together. I'm sick of driving. Living in Texas told me that I needed to move where things are not so far away. Sheesh, it took FOREVER to get anywhere from there. We used to drive from Houston to Amarillo and it's 600 miles. Drive 600 miles here and you've either gone out of the country or crossed 6 states.

Living expenses are high but so are incomes. I like having patients who have money to spend. Sure makes it easier... Hey, I need to make a living you know... So it's about living standards rather than expenses.

Washington is fairly similar to the East Coast. Especially the Seattle area--minus the drizzle of course. The rainfall totals are similar, it's very green here, the city is very densely populated, just like an eastern city...

The people are very different though. West Coast people are more laid back whereas Eastern people are always on the go. People think that Easterners are rude but they really aren't. They are more blunt, not being afraid to say what's on their minds, so that may come across negatively. They also are a bit reserved because I think so many are on the go that they don't always take the time to chat or get to know you. But once the barrier is broken, Easterners are like anyone else--except of course they are going to tell you EVERYTHING that they are thinking...

I think it's refreshing having lived in the South for a couple of years. They don't talk about anything but the weather there. You never know what they are thinking--despite the fact that I think they are just as bad as anyone else at forming biases and stereotypes--if not worse considering their feelings on the Civil War which still seems to be on some people's minds. Kind of strange that they haven't left the battle flag behind nor have they stopped calling Northerners Yankees.

I think we fit in very well here!

[Spokanite]

I lived in CT during my childhood up to age 14 in Norwalk. I have great memories of living there and traveling to different parts of the state. My grandmother is still there in Mt. Carmel area and I have a childhood friend living in Trumbull. This past June I visited again and was intrigued with how narrow the roads are, specifically the Merritt Pkwy. for the amount of cars that travel it. I know it was not originally built to handle the kind of traffic it gets now. I'm not sure how Norwalk schools are now, but I remember when I was growing up that I get a superb public education with lots of extra-curricular activities. I also remember people being very friendly but with a certain "edge" - maybe it was the proximity to NYC.
Hopefully I'll get to go back there in the next couple years for another visit and get to relive old memories.

[dragonmaster]

Connecticut has many advantages; A sophisticated and open minded populace that is living in the 21st century- not the past. The state has its strong traditions, a long history but is pulsating with new ideas.

The state has maintained its historic landscape and heritage without becoming over run with sprawl and endless subdivisions.

[PDXnative]

How are your winters?

[dragonmaster]

How are our winters?

Connecticut winters vary despite the small size of the state at 5200 square miles. The northwestern part of the state has the coldest winters with the most snow- but winters even here are considerably milder then northern New England and many parts of the midwest.

Central CT near the state capital at Hartford in the Connecticut river valley is sort of a cross between the southeastern shoreline which has mild winters and the northwest hills. Hartford at mid state averages 40-45" of snow a year- while New London along the southeastern shore averages around 20" while Litchfield in the northwest hills averages around 65".

Temperatures below zero are uncommon in central, and southern Connecticut now during the winter. Connecticut's climate is split in two by the I 84 corridor- the area to the north of this highway has a 'Humid continental' climate- and the area to the south has a 'humid subtropical' climate.

[PDXnative]

That is a lot of snow. Someday we will make it over that way to check everything out. It looks like a nice place to live.