Do you.......

[Flaptail]

live where you really want to? I do, smartest move I ever made in some respects and not so in others. Gave up a promising career and great paying job ( for the time period 1983) and so did my wife but bought a home for peanuts on Cape Cod and had to rebuild our careers but I would really not rather live anywhere else.

Do you feel that way too or do you wish you were somewhere else or had made the move when you could of?

We were 28 when we jumped ship in Worcester for Cape Cod.

Let's hear your stories.

[RIJIMMY]

No, I'd like to live closer to the water. We live in MA, the town is a decent commute to Boston or Providence, but @ an hour from the ocean. Interestingly, my wife and I both work in RI and the plan was to move to a coastal town. But I worry about future job prospects and do not want to move to a location where I cannot find a job.

[BigFish]

Angie and I landed in Hanover. I saw a house that looked like what we might like. Hanover was not on our radar as parts of it can be a bit upscale. The house was a bargain at the time though we are in the middle of renovating it. We love it here and it is not far from the ocean, just 20 minutes, and just 45 minutes to the bridge and the Cape! We would love to live in Wellfleet but....."CHA-CHING!" $$$$$$$.

[fishbones]

I love the town I live in (Easton) for a lot of reasons. We have a 3 year old son and the town has great programs, school sytem, playgrounds, etc... for kids. Also, I work in Providence and the wife works in Dedham, so it's pretty much in the middle for us. We're 35 minutes from a good saltwater beach, and can get to my dads boat in about 50 minutes.

But if I could, I'd love a saltwater view or at least be able to walk to saltwater. Or better yet, walk out my door and hop in the boat and go.

[Jimbo]

We don't necessarily live in central NJ by choice. We just started out here because my wife had a job and then I got one, then we got married and little by little set down roots. Now it's partly that I've got a good job with good benefits, but it's unique and I would probably not be able to go anywhere else and do it if I were let go, so I'm handcuffed by that.
My mom's a Capee and my foilks are retired in S. Yarmouth now. My grandmother's still the reigning oldest living resident in Dennis, cousins and extended family I'm close to are in West Dennis or we hook up there during the year. The property has been in the family since post Civil War time. No place else I'd rather spend time or end up, and I will, just not soon, maybe when the kids move out and I can actually consider a career change.
Sort of related to this topic. I saw a truck in our parking lot with Hyannis Toyota and Mass places so I tracked down the owner. Really nice, new guy in our company that's lived in the center of Wellfleet for the past 11 years. He told me since he moved there he thought he couldn't live anywhere else and it's the toughest thing he's ever had to do, but he's got to move his family closer to work and is finding a place in PA.

[Flaptail]

I always shudder when I think or hear of people who have to move off cape to "make it" I don't think I could hack it mentally. Truro is where I plan to have a three season cottage someday for weekends and June July and August and keep the main house in Falmouth for winter living/main address. Sounds a bit strange I know.

Plan is to sell the camp in Charlton someday to my brother so he can split his time between Florida where he retired to in winter and New England by the lake in summer and there is the property in Worcester that will eventually be sold as well and that should take care of the college bills so my retirement doesn't suffer.

Got to have a plan.

[BigFish]

My plan is to work until I drop! This government is s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g the possibility of retirement right out of most folks! Sorry! Back to the scheduled programming!

[Slick Moedee]

Moved out to Rockport in late 90's, now living in Gloucester. Love the area, but just like any place you need to take the good with the bad. Town is completely mis managed, SHI@#Y neighbors ...... etc. But line is wet 5 min out the front door. Both the wife and I work in town so commute is nothing either.

[zacs]

i live in the general area that i want to.

in theory i would like a house on the water with a dock, which is what we are working towards, but it is still a ways off.

[Flaptail]

I always wanted a house on the water with a dock but after Hurricane Bob in 91', no thanks. I was in the electrical construction business then and I still rememeber houses completely wrecked and boats on the lawns. The risk is to great though it may never happen again it has happened twice since I have lived here so I would bet on it happening and with this global warming thing ( which I believe in) the category storm numbers will rise to more dangerous levels.

The only place I would live directly on the water here on Cape is a trout pond. ( A nice small mouth pond would do to!)

[Slingah]

For now, I am very happy...Growing up in Quincy, I always wanted to live in this area...in fact I remember driving to the beach here in Marshfield when I was in my 20s, and saying to my girlfriend at the time....this is where I'm going to live...well when my wife and I were looking for a house..we drove right by where I had said that 20yrs earlier and saw an Open House sign..and I said " thats our new house"...and now it's home.
We will move again though....wife is already talking bout it ...she wants a waterview.....I'd like a place for the winter down south someday too.

[InTheHole]

I grew up in Waltham, and when we were kids my Dad used to bring us out to the Littleton area to hunt and I always thought it would be a great place to live. A few years after I got married we had the chance to buy some land and build a house there. Great small town, still has dairy farms, good schools and no crime to speak of, 2 stop lights and no neon signs.

[Backbeach Jake]

Steve, I'm one of those dolts who moved off the Cape. Been trying 35 years to get back, shoulda stayed. BTW Steve, Larry, keep an eye on the real estate ads. Everything is selling out there. Prices are slowly sinking.

[Backbeach Jake]

Originally Posted by Karl F

tried to talk the wife into dumping when the market was nuts a few years ago... inventory was turning over as soon as they listed it, and my zip code was hot them.... she was extremely happy here and could not imagine living in any other neighborhood... funny how things can change, she'd fly out of here in a heartbeat now.... markets dropped, high inventory and plummeting prices....
so now is not the time to put it on the market

(Larry... shop wellfleet now!!!... there are some deals... Flap... saw a corker of a 3 season, (that could go 4 with very little effort) in the fleet, almost to truro line, very reasonable)...

I could live off cape, no prob... just not too far from salt and fresh water....

if i had to do it again... i'd go for big acreage, privacy and security


retirement???? WTF is that????
yuppy

Karl an old Capie like yourself is considered an astronaut if he crosses the bridge. You must have frequent flyer miles by now. What is this retirement thing you speak of? Bedtime ? I just dunno...

[Jenn]

Nope. Live about 10 minutes from where i grew up. (ooh how worldly I know...) I dont MIND the area but if I could afford to I would be in Truro or somewhere in the most northeastern part Northeast Kingdom (I would probably have to flip a coin to choose between the 2). When I win the lottery perhaps I will buy both....but for now I am stuck 4 hours west or 4 hours south of either

[Rick Ackley]

Grew up in the Western Mass area, and old business kept me there. Now it would be a lot easier to move anywhere closer than 95 miles to the sea.

[saltfly]

that's an easy and tough question all mixed in one.I moved from Braintree to the cape in 1985.Took a 30% cut in pay[ma bell] and 50% raise in rent.Best thing I ever did.I sold my slide-in camper and 19' n.american c.c.,gave my brother my 76 f-250[mechanic at Dave Dinger ford].Bought a new 86 bronco and started "livin the good life".The first year I saved $12,000 by not hanging in the bars[weymouth landing] and partying.Working out of Orleans I learned all the back roads and little places not traveled.Took an offer to work on Nantucket for the summers.Locked up the appt.[w.dennis] the 1st week of may and came back after laborday.worked pretty much 7 days a week &fished most nights,heaven!!Did that ten years.Almost moved there but now I'm glad I didn't[too crowded].Got engaged bought a couple of acres and built a house in Truro.This was my "Nantucket".Things were great for a few years.Took an early buy-out at 52[34yrs] and then the relationship went into the toilet.Subdivided the property and sold the house.Moved to Orleans 3 yrs ago.Now with all the "issues" both natural and man-made with the beaches and infrastructure in general.I'm looking at the possibility of finding a "golden pond" or acreage in w.mass,vt,n.h.,me.I still co-own an acre in truro but can't afford to buy it.I love this place in the off-season,these next two months you can have it.When I have to go up to Boston and drive through my old"hood" I thank god I got out when I did.ANYONE WANT TO BUY AN ACRE IN TRURO??

[eastendlu]

Originally Posted by saltfly

that's an easy and tough question all mixed in one.I moved from Braintree to the cape in 1985.Took a 30% cut in pay[ma bell] and 50% raise in rent.Best thing I ever did.I sold my slide-in camper and 19' n.american c.c.,gave my brother my 76 f-250[mechanic at Dave Dinger ford].Bought a new 86 bronco and started "livin the good life".The first year I saved $12,000 by not hanging in the bars[weymouth landing] and partying.Working out of Orleans I learned all the back roads and little places not traveled.Took an offer to work on Nantucket for the summers.Locked up the appt.[w.dennis] the 1st week of may and came back after laborday.worked pretty much 7 days a week &fished most nights,heaven!!Did that ten years.Almost moved there but now I'm glad I didn't[too crowded].Got engaged bought a couple of acres and built a house in Truro.This was my "Nantucket".Things were great for a few years.Took an early buy-out at 52[34yrs] and then the relationship went into the toilet.Subdivided the property and sold the house.Moved to Orleans 3 yrs ago.Now with all the "issues" both natural and man-made with the beaches and infrastructure in general.I'm looking at the possibility of finding a "golden pond" or acreage in w.mass,vt,n.h.,me.I still co-own an acre in truro but can't afford to buy it.I love this place in the off-season,these next two months you can have it.When I have to go up to Boston and drive through my old"hood" I thank god I got out when I did.ANYONE WANT TO BUY AN ACRE IN TRURO??

How much???

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by saltfly

that's an easy and tough question all mixed in one.I moved from Braintree to the cape in 1985.Took a 30% cut in pay[ma bell] and 50% raise in rent.Best thing I ever did.I sold my slide-in camper and 19' n.american c.c.,gave my brother my 76 f-250[mechanic at Dave Dinger ford].Bought a new 86 bronco and started "livin the good life".The first year I saved $12,000 by not hanging in the bars[weymouth landing] and partying.Working out of Orleans I learned all the back roads and little places not traveled.Took an offer to work on Nantucket for the summers.Locked up the appt.[w.dennis] the 1st week of may and came back after laborday.worked pretty much 7 days a week &fished most nights,heaven!!Did that ten years.Almost moved there but now I'm glad I didn't[too crowded].Got engaged bought a couple of acres and built a house in Truro.This was my "Nantucket".Things were great for a few years.Took an early buy-out at 52[34yrs] and then the relationship went into the toilet.Subdivided the property and sold the house.Moved to Orleans 3 yrs ago.Now with all the "issues" both natural and man-made with the beaches and infrastructure in general.I'm looking at the possibility of finding a "golden pond" or acreage in w.mass,vt,n.h.,me.I still co-own an acre in truro but can't afford to buy it.I love this place in the off-season,these next two months you can have it.When I have to go up to Boston and drive through my old"hood" I thank god I got out when I did.ANYONE WANT TO BUY AN ACRE IN TRURO??

Bob, for what we have for 10 months out of 12, I know you would not be happy inland or somewhere else. This place is in your blood more so than almost anyone I ever met. You know the land and the history and it's part of you, the winter beach walks, the trout fishing on kettle hole ponds and the two months the "others" are here mostly really suck for fishing along shore anyway. Yeah there are crowds and traffic and bird closures but there are pleanty of places still to get away and the same problems follow you/us wherever we make our homes such as bills , development etc. DEP, EPA TREE HUGGERS Realationships and others. those will be there wherever you go. ( Karl I think you know it too)

Our real problem, and I truly believe we are kindred spirits in this ( along with Karl), is that we were born 30 years too late.

I will die here, my ashes and my wife's will be scatterd by my daughters and friends at Brush hollow in Truro someday and I will walk those beaches for eternity.

It's in my blood and yours and there is no way to get it out and no way I want to either.

[lurch]

I like where I live, low taxes, good city govt and no worries about school closings but I live in the dead zone of saltwater fishing.

My goal in the next few years is to get a job working from home so I can move closer to the water....I can work from home most of the time now. My wife is a teacher and is certified to teach anywhere in the state.

[Swimmer]

If I had a choice of still living on the Vineyard and getting the chance to meet my wife I would have stayed there and not left in the early 70's. Dearly love the island, even when its crowded.

Only other place would be all they way down Somoset Road in Eastham up in Sunset Village on Beach Plum Lane.

[Flaptail]

This season, so far, it seems we have taken a small step back in time. There is a noticeable decrease in "other folks" coming to the Cape. My wife's summer job in a restaurant has notcied it and in my travels I have noticed it. The folks who owned summer cottages for family use are here, the hordes of renters ( except for this week ahead maybe) are not here as strong as they once were.

This is one of the only good things that can be said for the gas prices and thier fallout in food and other luxurys. Bad for local merchants to be sure but for us who do not rely on summer visitors for business and income to make the year in black, it's actually kind of nice.

Very noticable drop in the number of small boats at the ramp ( the weekenders) not the fisherman though there are fewer of them too.

But I can remember the 60's backed up in my parents overheating Dodge on rt 6 in Wareham trying to get over the bridge in summer.
Have not had one traffic back up yet this eason coming over onto the cape on Fridays, usually it's bad by 11am each week, not this year.

If gas and oil go higher in fall it will be even more noticable. There is a silver lining to everything and this is it as far as I am concerned though it's 15 cents more painful per gallon in the span of the Bourne Bridge from one side to another ( 4000 feet).

Oh well gotta see the positive or you'll go nuts.

Oh and BTW Karl, it's the natural progression of the sands of Nauset that has you really F'd up. Oh the old Long Bar days! sigh.......

[Raven]

a yellow submarine

[BMEUPSCOTTY]

I don't remember all the details of how I ended up here, but yes, I love it here. Across the street from the river and 5 or 6 miles from Gooseberry Neck. Farms by the ocean. The only thing I don't like is sharing it in the summer, though people watching at Lees Market or Handy Hill ice cream can be fun, 'specially on a Holiday week.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by saltfly

that's an easy and tough question all mixed in one.I moved from Braintree to the cape in 1985.Took a 30% cut in pay[ma bell] and 50% raise in rent.Best thing I ever did.I sold my slide-in camper and 19' n.american c.c.,gave my brother my 76 f-250[mechanic at Dave Dinger ford].Bought a new 86 bronco and started "livin the good life".The first year I saved $12,000 by not hanging in the bars[weymouth landing] and partying.Working out of Orleans I learned all the back roads and little places not traveled.Took an offer to work on Nantucket for the summers.Locked up the appt.[w.dennis] the 1st week of may and came back after laborday.worked pretty much 7 days a week &fished most nights,heaven!!Did that ten years.Almost moved there but now I'm glad I didn't[too crowded].Got engaged bought a couple of acres and built a house in Truro.This was my "Nantucket".Things were great for a few years.Took an early buy-out at 52[34yrs] and then the relationship went into the toilet.Subdivided the property and sold the house.Moved to Orleans 3 yrs ago.Now with all the "issues" both natural and man-made with the beaches and infrastructure in general.I'm looking at the possibility of finding a "golden pond" or acreage in w.mass,vt,n.h.,me.I still co-own an acre in truro but can't afford to buy it.I love this place in the off-season,these next two months you can have it.When I have to go up to Boston and drive through my old"hood" I thank god I got out when I did.ANYONE WANT TO BUY AN ACRE IN TRURO??

I will trade you 3/4 of an acre w/ house in western ma

[Raider Ronnie]

I love where I live (Wrentham Ma. )
I bought in 1989, before the housing price boom of the mid 1990s , now the value is 4 times what I paid!
Most all of the town is 2 acre minimum, so NO living on top of each other like lots of other towns and especially any city.
NO 2 familys, NO low income housing, No appartment buildings ect... = No riff raff scum living in the town !
Great schools !!!

If I ever moved it would Be to Maine !
I like the laid back pace of life up there much better than the cut throat way of life in Ma. !

[stiff tip]

i tryed to leave the cape .mashpee .about 5yrs ago ...i bought 2+ ac in douglas ma and sat on in for 3yrs ....bottom line is ... i,ve been here 20+ yrs now .i aint going no where..i have a nice( too) big home w/ a view of johns pd..10 min from the ocean, 5min from pheasent and quail hunting and 20 min from the canal i just could not leave the cape. i,ve raised my kids here and i,m going to retire here. in actuality i am retired, i just get up every day and go to work.... and i love my job... flap your right ...if i left i would hate myself ......hay i can smell the ocean

[Backbeach Jake]

For those of us who remember what was, the old ways on the Cape, when fishing , clamming , berry picking, hunting was a necessity, only we will know what was lost. This Cape Cod was a remote and nearly lost, newly found corner of this country. Primitive in living, close to the earth. I am profoundly saddened by the changes that I have witnessed and the way of life that is now nearly lost. Breaks my heart. But change is inevitable and unrelenting, it comes with a steady pressure that can't be stopped. Sad but true. "Progress" is a glacially slow, unstoppable freight-train. Our idyllic, bucloic lives have been transformed over the decades, never to return to the way it was. We were free men, earning our way from the earth, and there was a measure of satisfaction in our lives. It has slipped away. What we once made, we must buy. What we once had taked for granted is owned by our government. But in all this, I personally take great satisfaction in knowing what once was. I was given a simpler, more fulfilling life. The heyday of that life is long ago past, but it's skills and lessons will sustain me into what is left of my future. The good old days of Cape Cod were indeed good.

[Grapenuts]

i sit LOL....now you know what us real injuns feel like when all you washashores showed up..place is going to ell we'd say.Progress or regress

Fred you have have me by 33 days.

[HESH2]

have been going to the cape for over 50 years,bringing my kids for vacations and fishing.was there before national seashore and caught my first stripers off long point.wanted to buy a place there for years but never pulled the trigger.college bills etc.i'm thinking back alot of years in a motel in truro fo like $75 a week.up on rt 6a truro see for sale sign for building lots on bluff on water overlooking bay for $7500.said to wife that alot on money at $75 for week we can come here for like 100 years.shows how bright i was back then,had no clues on anything.youngest son was born in may and took him to cape in july,washing diapers in motel machines,warming bottles in motel office.he's up the now with his kids and fishing it hard.