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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm the PP you're quoting -- one more thought. Whenever these threads come up people here are quick to say -- oh DC/Nova is soooooo awful, I'd go in a heartbeat bc you can get a huge mansion plus you're ONLY 1 hr from Philadelphia and 2 hrs from NYC so NBD. Reality is -- these people have never lived in such places. You need to consider whether you can be happy in the Allentown vicinity day to day. Chances are you'll go to Philadelphia and NYC somewhere between 1-6x/yr depending on your interests. Yet you have to spend every weeknight and weekend in the Allentown area. You need to figure out whether you think you can find a community there; whether you can find a job/do some serious networking there (if you want); or if it all seems a bit "settled" and insular. Bc the reality is if you're unhappy 51.5 weeks/yr, it will not matter one bit that you went to Philadelphia 2 months ago to see the orchestra and took in a long weekend in NYC at Christmas. What will matter then is that it feels like you go to work, come home and sit home alone because it feels like everyone in the world has their grandkids or cousin's kids or whoever visiting every weekend so they aren't up for seeing you.

And BTW you're moving to an area that's fairly provincial. Not truly provincial like say Williamsport -- but still the kind of area where if you say -- Mike & I had a great weekend, went to Philly to see the orchestra, some (not all) neighbors will recoil in horror that you went into the city. These are people who never go and don't understand why anyone wants anything to do with the city bc it's just so awful. Except the sports fans, they're ok going to Eagles games because it's highway driving, you exit the highway, park at the stadium, watch game, and come right back; no actual venturing into the city to eat at local restaurants or walk around a market bc it is soooooo dangerous bc you know . . . [black people live in the city . . . . [/quote]

Omg this. I grew up a little over an hour west of Philly and this is so accurate. Before I could drive myself there with friends, I think my family went to Philly exactly twice. In 16 years. And the casual racism all around is hard to swallow. Recent trips home for holidays have brought me face to face with lots and lots of Trump supporters.  The posters talking about the insular nature of these areas are right on the money. The vast majority of the people I grew up with still live within 30 minutes of their childhood homes.

Yes, cost of living is very low, but so are salaries. So do your homework on that first. I’m not saying it’s impossible to have a nice life in places like this, but coming from DC this will be major culture shock. Proceed with caution. [/quote]

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