I will never write about the place to live on Earth. I don’t think my analysis of anything is going to align with how you’d perceive something but, in my 6 months in New England, it’s been a pretty incredible experience. It’s not for everyone but I really think it’s a worthy adventure for any young person before or after a year or so in a big city. If you’re excited about a big city and are making good money, it’s easy to leave the big city but a lot of people go to big cities and the constant cycle of expensive rent and long hours for little money gets them stuck there to a point where moving out isn’t even feasible. You don’t want to get stuck in this cycle. A year out in the country is more affordable and it’s easier to save for your one day departure into city life.
Why New England? There are a few reasons:
- Boston is always 2 hours away or less. You’re two hours away from an International airport, 24 hour restaurants, good jobs (if you need to find work desperately) and culture with museums, history, cinemas, malls and other things big cities have to offer.
- Truly 4 seasons. Some places have two seasons. The coastal New England experience offers 4 unique seasons. Here in New Hampshire, you get a beautiful 4 weeks of changing leaves paired with 70+ inches of snow and a warm 80+ degree summer. It’s quite an experience.
- A different way of life where education is better, higher literacy, politically activated citizens and people who know what paying extra for local organic products means and how it benefits the community.
- Crime is low, space is plentiful and people are friendly, honest but also keep to themselves. This is the case with most small towns but I’m from a small town in Florida and things really are different here.
- You can find an apartment in New Hampshire for under $1,000 and there’s great public transit in towns. A Car isn’t required but it makes life much easier and farmers markets and the community events make things a lot of fun.
I have a list of places that are worth living in before I’m 30 (not because 30 is old but because I will be settling down at some point around that age). New England wasn’t on my list and I feel that’s the case for a lot of people reading this. New England is somewhere you were born or a place where you attend college. It’s not the place people go to live if they weren’t from here originally.
I think that’s a bad thing. California is a fun and expensive state riddled with a collapsing housing market, earthquake warnings and a high unemployment rate. New England has none of those issues and I’d vote that it’s equally as fun assuming you like playing in the snow and enjoy being outdoors.
It’s also important to keep a a piece of yourself when you go somewhere new. I like fancy alcoholic drinks, fancy dinners and entertaining and seeing the latest films. I can’t do that now that I’m out in the country so I stocked my fridge, bar, bought quality cooking equipment and a fancy home theatre setup. The result is that I can entertain, watch the latest films and try those fancy drinks with friends and I do it for cheaper than a night in SF at the Metreon + Swig + NOPA-SF. A night for two at those three places would approach $250. At home, I can do it for far less.
Keeping that culture that you’ve acquired and improving on it is a possibility here because things are cheaper. This is what I enjoy and you can do the same. Boston isn’t New England in my opinion. It’s best to go a little further north and take in the experience of shopping at farmers markets and buying furniture that the guy at the end of your road makes in his spare time. It’s a community feeling despite being spread so far apart.
What I’ve learned while living here is that seasons are great. It’s amazing to have snow in the winter and float down a river in the summer. Our coffee shop in town closes at 6 but you have an office in your house to work from home because cramped studio apartments aren’t really common here. Being social is as easy as going to local general store and starting a conversation with a stranger. It’s guaranteed to become a friendship if you show interest and there are so many outdoor activities that your head will spin.
I don’t think I’ll be in New England forever but this year has proven to be a real adventure for me and one that I wish more people would experience once in their lives. You never know, you might end up staying. It’s quiet, relaxing and easy going. It’s affordable, natural and the community you’ll have by living here is simply amazing. Worth a try and I recommend it to anyone…even if just for a short time.