Get away from the Coastal Madness!

As you've read in my blog here, I just recently moved back to LI, NY to be with family. However I have felt all along that my move here may be impossilbe to make long term due to the amazingly expensive property, or the amazingly high taxes, or the grueling commutes. Its simply obviously not a great place to live. So argues this book, Life 2. o. http://www.forbes.com/2004/07/27/cz_rk_0727karlgaard_print.html

Check out this quote:
"A sustained poor or flat stock market is what will trigger the professional middle-class flight out of cities and suburbs. The logic is easy to understand. We will suffer with a small house, a hefty mortgage and a grinding commute if we think by these sacrifices we can retire by age 55, thanks to our rapidly appreciating house and retirement portfolio. But take away double-digit annual appreciation of our two biggest assets and throw in worries about retirement, and we begin to feel like slaves. "

Exactly.

Nevertheless, I'll stick it out for some time and see where I am in a year or two, and where the housing prices are. I in no way regret the move! My job is going well, and I'm reuniting with my family in a way that 10 vacations wouldn't perform. I've gotten to see my mother, all my nieces and nephews, and old friends in their real day to day lives. I've seen the generosity of my whole family, from my sisters to their husbands. Its a good but stressful period in my life. But I seek freedom.