Mid 30′s looking to be near my family again, moving back with my native CA fiance- are we insane? I love my morning hikes…and trips to SB, wine country, etc. but I am over the fact that I can’t socialize with any of my friends because everyone lives a major traffic jam away- no matter what the day or hour. My company is giving me a job and I can live basically anywhere in the NY metro area- but we are NOT rich, very middle income. That’s part of the reason we’re moving because if you want to buy something affordable out here you have to go to godawful places like Palmdale, Sunland, and when you work in LA proper- forget about it. I’m in sales and in the car ALL the time. However, does it beat being in the SUBWAY all the time- rush hour in August I remember was way worse then the 405 on Friday at 5 pm- at least I have my radio, ac, and no body pressed up against me. HELP- I am struggling with this like you wouldn’t believe and making my fiance crazy!


Well… it’s really a matter of you making the decision…
you can hike through any number of the parks on Long Island or through Central Park… Long Island’s East End is one of the best places for wine in the country…
It’s VERY expensive to live in New York as I’m sure you know… if you are “very middle income” some places in Brooklyn may actually be out of your price range, as they’re gaining in popularity and prices are going way up.
The commute during rush hour, if you don’t have a car, really isn’t TERRIBLE. I’d rather be on the subway than stuck in my car wasting precious gas money…haha
I would maybe look into a few properties…come here and visit and see if you get the feeling that it’s right. Hop on the subway during rush hour, check out where you might be working and what areas of Brooklyn are in your price range.
Good luck!
You’re not nuts. But if inability to buy a comfortable home in a convenient location is one of your major reasons for being frustrated with LA and wanting to move, and hiking is something you expect to miss, NYC makes little sense as a destination to move to.
Consider living in northern Westchester near state parks and the Metro-North train line?