Moving back to Boston

[bbfen]

It should be clear by now that moving from Arkansas to Boston is a step down in quality of life and finances. Choose a better state that doesn't hate cars or waste transit funds so badly. Live near a university with social options. Just some possibilities include Austin Texas, Raleigh NC, Florida, Colorado, Arizona etc.. There is far more development and growth in the south than here, with associated growth in transportation instead of contraction.

I'll subsidize your move to one of those places if you stop trolling.

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

I'll subsidize your move to one of those places if you stop trolling.

He'll just reregister as Mark32826.

 

[datadyne007]

There's a fine line between disagreeing with the general consensus and trolling. Mark is way before that line with his mostly accurate statement about life in Boston vs. life in some other cities. Space is tight ("step down in quality of life") and everything is insanely expensive ("and finances"); however, there are plenty of reasons why Boston is far superior to those cities in terms of culture and urban life.

I'm getting sick of seeing members who aren't afraid to disagree being labeled as trolls because they are not. It's important to hear both sides of the argument because then you can strengthen your own beliefs based on theirs with which you find fault. Some members just need to grow up and learn some civil discourse.

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

There's a fine line between disagreeing with the general consensus and trolling. Mark is way before that line with his mostly accurate statement about life in Boston vs. life in some other cities. Space is tight ("step down in quality of life") and everything is insanely expensive ("and finances"); however, there are plenty of reasons why Boston is far superior to those cities in terms of culture and urban life.

I'm getting sick of seeing members who aren't afraid to disagree being labeled as trolls because they are not. It's important to hear both sides of the argument because then you can strengthen your own beliefs based on theirs with which you find fault. Some members just need to grow up and learn some civil discourse.

No, I don't think he is.

When the rest of the thread is talking about cars versus transit and one member's decision to move back to Boston, and you've got Mark from Arlington coming into say 'Move somewhere else in the south because OBVIOUSLY Boston is a step down,' that's not disagreeing.

That's trolling.

 

[JohnAKeith]

or, idiocy.

Time for a break from this board.

 

[Mark02474]

I just try to keep people from getting stuck in provincialism. Its a big world with many places having value besides Boston. Besides cost and stress from congested living and driving (or MBTA vehicles) is loss of free time from myriad, unwanted, time consumers. Many places, people enjoy life more and do less mental masturbation. Some even consider transportation as a way to get from A to B instead of a lifestyle, complete with spandex uniforms.

 

[HenryAlan]

It should be clear by now that moving from Arkansas to Boston is a step down in quality of life and finances. Choose a better state that doesn't hate cars or waste transit funds so badly. Live near a university with social options. Just some possibilities include Austin Texas, Raleigh NC, Florida, Colorado, Arizona etc.. There is far more development and growth in the south than here, with associated growth in transportation instead of contraction.

If it wasn't already obvious that this guy's a troll, I think the talk of Arkansas makes it a slam dunk.

 

[omaja]

I just try to keep people from getting stuck in provincialism. Its a big world with many places having value besides Boston. Besides cost and stress from congested living and driving (or MBTA vehicles) is loss of free time from myriad, unwanted, time consumers. Many places, people enjoy life more and do less mental masturbation. Some even consider transportation as a way to get from A to B instead of a lifestyle, complete with spandex uniforms.

... And Kahta wouldn't be considering a move back to Boston if it wasn't worthwhile, so the entire point you are trying to make is misplaced in this thread. Not to mention, most of the places you mentioned - certainly Arizona and Florida - are worse off in terms of job opportunities, real estate, etc., compared to anywhere in the Northeast. Boston is still a key player in the Northeast: the wealthiest and most vital economic region in the country.

 

[BostonObserver]

I just try to keep people from getting stuck in provincialism. Its a big world with many places having value besides Boston. Besides cost and stress from congested living and driving (or MBTA vehicles) is loss of free time from myriad, unwanted, time consumers. Many places, people enjoy life more and do less mental masturbation. Some even consider transportation as a way to get from A to B instead of a lifestyle, complete with spandex uniforms.

I was too provincial to even know I was provincial. It sure is swell to have someone like you here on this board to save us from our own provincialism.

ps Arlington is a pathetic Cambridge/Lexington wanna be for people with out the money to live in Cambridge or Lexington. I grew up there I should know.

 

[Kahta]

But the traffic times are based on a lack of traffic, which is what... 3AM-4AM only?

Also, I'm not sure, but I don't know how accurate the headways are on Google Maps. For example, I'm not sure if they figure in that headways are different at different times of the day. Could be more or could be less than what it says.

My friend that lives at my place said it takes her about an hour to get to MGH in the morning by taking the D-Line to Park st.

Monthly passes are only $70.

Why, oh why, would you not buy the monthly pass?

Forgot about that option-- I have never used the monthly pass before because I didn't work in an area covered by transit before.

No way that route will take 17 minutes in the peak. Travelling from Riverside by car takes 50% longer at peak than when uncongested: and that's all highways, no Harvard Avenue at rush. I will be happy to plug your location into my data gathering script if you like and get you some average travel time numbers. You can compare them to your experience.

Questions: you said you'd use Dean Road/Beaconsfield, but your map origin is close to Cleveland Circle/Reservoir. Which is your starting location? Also, when do you have to be at work in the morning?

Also don't forget the gas costs you'd be saving by not driving to work. That's probably a tank's worth per month, at least.

P.S. The Google maps driving directions alternative using Storrow Drive is showing an illegal turn from Comm Ave onto University Road. That's a mistake in their database. Instead you must turn right onto Mountfort and then make the so-called Jersey left by going around the loop.

I'm in various stages of the hiring process with a few companies right now-- I don't have many of the details. Dean Rd. is probably a better starting location.

Why don't you try bicycling?

I don't want to have to take a shower and change when I get to work

A few notes:
1. WTF car or loan rate do you have that has a $500/month payment? That seems asinine on a number of levels.
2. Your incremental cost would be more than $120/month. $200 for parking at work (which is being a bit generous - I think it can push $300+/month in that area) + $80 in tolls (assuming you would go around the Pike for other travel) = minimum of $210 incremental cost over the $70 monthly pass, not to mention the increased wear and tear you would be causing by more usage.
3. Like others have mentioned, those commute times are highly unrealistic on both ends of the spectrum. Add a good 10-20 minutes on the car travel times under ideal rush hour conditions and consider the T ride a good 45-60 minutes Government Center-Cleveland Circle.

1. I don't own a car right now. I have a company car and I as part of the salary negotiation, I have told them that when it gets to that point, I want to have the loss of the company car factored into my salary-- something everyone has agreed to.If I am buying my own car, I'll probably get a car that costs between $30,000 and $40,000. That's an estimate of the monthly payment.
2. Even if it's $200 a month, not including the time savings, its the other things I don't have to deal with: broken trains, other people, walking in inclement weather, standing at a cold stop, carrying a laptop and meal with me. Those are some of my concerns.
3. So a 90-minute each way commute on the T?

It should be clear by now that moving from Arkansas to Boston is a step down in quality of life and finances. Choose a better state that doesn't hate cars or waste transit funds so badly. Live near a university with social options. Just some possibilities include Austin Texas, Raleigh NC, Florida, Colorado, Arizona etc.. There is far more development and growth in the south than here, with associated growth in transportation instead of contraction.

1. My place in Brookline is 3 bedrooms, 2,400 square feet, and when fully occupied, the housing costs are lower in MA than AR.
2. Moving here won't happen unless my total compensation stays the same from my current job to my new job and my new job compensates me for the loss of my company car.
3. I'm moving back here because I want a balance of career, financial, and social life options. Right now, Arkansas is a great place to be for my career and finances, but my social life is a huge step down from MA. My best friends and family all live in the Boston area.
4. Quality of life-- Smoking in bars is allowed in Arkansas. I think that's all I need to say on the matter.

 

[Ron Newman]

ps Arlington is a pathetic Cambridge/Lexington wanna be for people with out the money to live in Cambridge or Lexington. I grew up there I should know.

That's pretty rude. It's an attractive town with frequent bus service, a first-run movie theatre (how many towns still have these?), a popular bike path, and lots of restaurants of all kinds. There are far worse places to live.

Yes, it's intermediate between Cambridge and Lexington ... combining some of the advantages of each. What's wrong with that?

 

[whighlander]

I was too provincial to even know I was provincial. It sure is swell to have someone like you here on this board to save us from our own provincialism.

ps Arlington is a pathetic Cambridge/Lexington wanna be for people with out the money to live in Cambridge or Lexington. I grew up there I should know.

Bos -- Lex and Cambrige ceased being bound at the hip long before you were born -- i think it was about 1715.

Both are fine places with their own good features and such -- but there is not too much in common between the Cambridge and Lexington lifestyles.

Actually Lexington, particularly East of the junction of Mass Ave with Rt-2A has a very lot in common with the Arlington Heights part of Arlington. Us of Eastey Lex just pay a bit more for our houses and a bit more in taxes for the privelage of not being called Menotomians.

 

[whighlander]

My friend that lives at my place said it takes her about an hour to get to MGH in the morning by taking the D-Line to Park st.




Forgot about that option-- I have never used the monthly pass before because I didn't work in an area covered by transit before.




I'm in various stages of the hiring process with a few companies right now-- I don't have many of the details. Dean Rd. is probably a better starting location.




I don't want to have to take a shower and change when I get to work




1. I don't own a car right now. I have a company car and I as part of the salary negotiation, I have told them that when it gets to that point, I want to have the loss of the company car factored into my salary-- something everyone has agreed to.If I am buying my own car, I'll probably get a car that costs between $30,000 and $40,000. That's an estimate of the monthly payment.
2. Even if it's $200 a month, not including the time savings, its the other things I don't have to deal with: broken trains, other people, walking in inclement weather, standing at a cold stop, carrying a laptop and meal with me. Those are some of my concerns.
3. So a 90-minute each way commute on the T?



1. My place in Brookline is 3 bedrooms, 2,400 square feet, and when fully occupied, the housing costs are lower in MA than AR.
2. Moving here won't happen unless my total compensation stays the same from my current job to my new job and my new job compensates me for the loss of my company car.
3. I'm moving back here because I want a balance of career, financial, and social life options. Right now, Arkansas is a great place to be for my career and finances, but my social life is a huge step down from MA. My best friends and family all live in the Boston area.
4. Quality of life-- Smoking in bars is allowed in Arkansas. I think that's all I need to say on the matter.

Try East Lex:

1) because we have smaller lots the prices are lower than the most of the "Top Towns"
2) find a place within walking distance of Mass Ave and Park Ave in Arlington -- you will have abundance of nature (foxes in my neighbors backyard), walk to local shops, restaurants,
3) the #77 bus to Harvard -- nearly as frequently as the Green Line at Arlington Heights
4) Mass Ave also has buses to Alewife or you can drive down Rt-2 and park in Alewife -- house to downtown in less than 30 minutes at peak times
5) Rt-2 also provides access to Rt-128 in 5 minuts, and on to the turnpike in less than 30 mintues
6) I-93 in tens of minutes via Lowell St and Middlesex Tpk
7) and of course the Minuteman Bikeway passes right through

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

2) find a place within walking distance of Mass Ave and Park Ave in Arlington -- you will have abundance of nature (foxes in my neighbors backyard),

Wild foxes? That's not cool, man.

The closest I ever want to be to nature is the Franklin Park Zoo, or the Arboretum.

 

[whighlander]

Wild foxes? That's not cool, man.

The closest I ever want to be to nature is the Franklin Park Zoo, or the Arboretum.

Commute -- the foxes are here because we have an abundance of rabbits

The rabbits are here because we have a lot of people who like to create gardens

But the foxes are mostly defferential to people and wary of dogs of which we have quite a few -- mostly you see the foxes in the park at the edge of the conservation land at dawn and dusk in the shaddows

 

[George_Apley]

Wild foxes? That's not cool, man.

The closest I ever want to be to nature is the Franklin Park Zoo, or the Arboretum.

?

You're afraid of a cat-sized dog?

 

[davem]

That's pretty rude. It's an attractive town with frequent bus service, a first-run movie theatre (how many towns still have these?), a popular bike path, and lots of restaurants of all kinds. There are far worse places to live.

Yes, it's intermediate between Cambridge and Lexington ... combining some of the advantages of each. What's wrong with that?

Mark02474 lives there, that's whats wrong with it.

They also collectively worked to stop the red line extension at Alewife, hence the popular bike path. I know Arlington is a nice place and they have the 77 and blah blah blah but I really think (and Mark confirms my suspicions) they strive for:

 

[Kahta]

Try East Lex:

1) because we have smaller lots the prices are lower than the most of the "Top Towns"
2) find a place within walking distance of Mass Ave and Park Ave in Arlington -- you will have abundance of nature (foxes in my neighbors backyard), walk to local shops, restaurants,
3) the #77 bus to Harvard -- nearly as frequently as the Green Line at Arlington Heights
4) Mass Ave also has buses to Alewife or you can drive down Rt-2 and park in Alewife -- house to downtown in less than 30 minutes at peak times
5) Rt-2 also provides access to Rt-128 in 5 minuts, and on to the turnpike in less than 30 mintues
6) I-93 in tens of minutes via Lowell St and Middlesex Tpk
7) and of course the Minuteman Bikeway passes right through

I already have a place-- it's been in my family since my great grandfather bought it after the second world war. It's close to the B, C, and D lines.

 

[Matthew]

The trip I placed in the data gathering script, near Cleveland Circle -> State Street, averages about 23 minutes at 8:30am, according to Google traffic delay estimates. That's largely using the Mass Pike route although there was a time or two when it was faster to take Storrow. Does not include time spent navigating driveways or finding parking.

Now the question I have is: how accurate are those estimates?

 

[bch2014]

The trip I placed in the data gathering script, near Cleveland Circle -> State Street, averages about 23 minutes at 8:30am, according to Google traffic delay estimates. That's largely using the Mass Pike route although there was a time or two when it was faster to take Storrow. Does not include time spent navigating driveways or finding parking.

Now the question I have is: how accurate are those estimates?

Navigating driveways????????