Moving to and living in the Lakes Region year round... whats the reality of....

[upthesaukee]

I can somewhat agree with Songkrai about folks moving here, saying how happy they are to out of whereever's hustle and bustle, and then want to change the town so that it is just like down there (insert whereever they came from.).
I have been coming up to the lake since I was a toddler, but moved here in 1996. I love the area, I love the people, and love the way of life. I could care less if I have a half hour drive to a supermarket or department store. I walk into the post office or the corner store and am always greeted with a smile, if not a verbal "Hi" "How are ya" "What's up?".
It is all what you make it. Do your due diligence and check out the school systems, the town's parks and rec. for their programs, church activities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.
Are we drug free and alcohol free? No.
Are we better off than in a large city? I think so.
bottom line, it will be your choice where to live, where to work, how far to commute, where your kids go to school, and family activities. Make your choice and enjoy it!

[songkrai]

I only state what I observe. I have lived in NH my entire life. I was born in NH.

I express my views from my knowledge and perspective. I do not use any disparaging remarks toward others with differing views.

Those that post such comments only reinforce my views and perceptions of those living here. Thanks for posting your remarks.

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by songkrai

I only state what I observe. I have lived in NH my entire life. I was born in NH.

I express my views from my knowledge and perspective. I do not use any disparaging remarks toward others with differing views.

Those that post such comments only reinforce my views and perceptions of those living here. Thanks for posting your remarks.

So what would you know about the drug and alcohol problems in a big city in order to make a comparison? I can tell you for sure that there is no way Moultonboro or Center Harbor or even Meredith could hold a candle to the suburbs of Boston in terms of a drug problem. While I am sure there are drugs in the area why would you begrudge someone moving to the area in order to lessen their children's exposure to drugs. As for your "parking lot" comment I can most assuredly tell you that was a negative and disparaging comment.

Unless of course you are one of those that is trying to discourage "flatlanders" from moving to "your" New Hampshire???

As someone so very correctly stated if you are looking for drugs you will find them. I wouldn't be surprised to find them in a church in this day and age. The reality is that the Lakes Region is a far far FAR better place to raise kids than some of the Boston area suburbs.

Bottom line is that it is better up there than it is down here.

[JasonG]

I wanted to learn more about the reality of moving here. Drugs were never a question of mine to begin with.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by JasonG

I wanted to learn more about the reality of moving here. Drugs were never a question of mine to begin with.

I sent you a PM, call if you want!

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by JasonG

I wanted to learn more about the reality of moving here. Drugs were never a question of mine to begin with.

And thank you Jason.

Your question provided a lively debate for some.

Maybe more than you actually sought.

But I do thank you for your question. Come on up.

And if you do make it up to the top of the lake do stop in at George's Diner or the Village Kitchen or any of the Dunkin Donuts and meet some of us.

Make sure to wear a Red Sox cap or jersey.

[JasonG]

Originally Posted by songkrai

And thank you Jason.


Make sure to wear a Red Sox cap or jersey.

That will get you some verbal action down here in FL

[topwater]

hazelnut
The reality is that the Lakes Region is a far far FAR better place to raise kids than some of the Boston area suburbs.

What are you baseing your opionion on? Is it that you live there and can tell us by your experience or are you making this judgement by what you see on television?

hazelnut
Unless of course you are one of those that is trying to discourage "flatlanders" from moving to "your" New Hampshire???

It sounds like to me, that YOU might just have a attitude about flatlanders, and/or might be one yourself. Did you have a run in with (locals) that you would like to share with us?


hazelnut
Bottom line is that it is better up there than it is down here

Yes it is. However it gets worse and worse every year. You can't dispute that, this area is nothing like it was 5-10-20 years ago. Drugs-there are plenty, Crime-there is plenty. Boston area suburbs have a hell of larger population then the entire Lakes regions. If you multiplied our population to that of Boston, the PERCENTAGE of crimes/drugs problems would be damn close. Don't believe we live in a Fairy tale up here, because we don't. Just because you don't think YOUR KIDS, or your neighbors kids aren't doing drugs, doesn't mean their not. Kids do not tell their parents everything, and they never will. Been like that for 55 years that I know of, and will be the same in 55 more.

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by topwater

hazelnut
The reality is that the Lakes Region is a far far FAR better place to raise kids than some of the Boston area suburbs.

What are you baseing your opionion on? Is it that you live there and can tell us by your experience or are you making this judgement by what you see on television?

BOTH! I live here and there. I split time so I am basing it from personal experience. You have no idea how dramatic the difference is.

Originally Posted by topwater

hazelnut
Unless of course you are one of those that is trying to discourage "flatlanders" from moving to "your" New Hampshire???

It sounds like to me, that YOU might just have a attitude about flatlanders, and/or might be one yourself. Did you have a run in with (locals) that you would like to share with us?

Nope the locals I run into are primarily awesome folks. Unfortunately topwater the fact is that many people come off with that attitude on these anonymous forums. The response from songkrai had shades of that attitude.

Originally Posted by topwater

hazelnut
Bottom line is that it is better up there than it is down here

Yes it is. However it gets worse and worse every year. You can't dispute that, this area is nothing like it was 5-10-20 years ago. Drugs-there are plenty, Crime-there is plenty. Boston area suburbs have a hell of larger population then the entire Lakes regions. If you multiplied our population to that of Boston, the PERCENTAGE of crimes/drugs problems would be damn close. Don't believe we live in a Fairy tale up here, because we don't. Just because you don't think YOUR KIDS, or your neighbors kids aren't doing drugs, doesn't mean their not. Kids do not tell their parents everything, and they never will. Been like that for 55 years that I know of, and will be the same in 55 more.

It gets worse and worse everywhere. So the relative principal at work here is that it will always be better up there than it is down here.

[fatnoah]

than some of the Boston area suburbs

That statement is far too broad to make any decisions on. The areas around Boston change very dramatically in very short distances.

I grew up in Laconia and now live in one of the nicer suburbs of Boston that is similar to Laconia in many ways, such as feeder elementary schools, one middle school, 1 high school, a local K-8 Catholic school, etc. Due to the larger population of the town and generally high property values (and therefore taxes), the middle & high schools offer far more options in sports and extracurricular activities than were available in Laconia. (Of course, I endured a couple years of the "Straight Arrows" when I was at LHS)

All that said, if my chosen job field didn't generally require proximity to Boston, I would consider it a toss-up whether to live in my area or the Lakes Region. Both are great places and offer many opportunities for things. A person can be happy and thrive in either place.

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by fatnoah

That statement is far too broad to make any decisions on. The areas around Boston change very dramatically in very short distances.

I grew up in Laconia and now live in one of the nicer suburbs of Boston that is similar to Laconia in many ways, such as feeder elementary schools, one middle school, 1 high school, a local K-8 Catholic school, etc. Due to the larger population of the town and generally high property values (and therefore taxes), the middle & high schools offer far more options in sports and extracurricular activities than were available in Laconia. (Of course, I endured a couple years of the "Straight Arrows" when I was at LHS)

All that said, if my chosen job field didn't generally require proximity to Boston, I would consider it a toss-up whether to live in my area or the Lakes Region. Both are great places and offer many opportunities for things. A person can be happy and thrive in either place.

True. That statement should have been "many" of the Boston Suburbs.

Seriously though the original point and post was a simple request for information from an individual that is thinking of relocating. Someone chose to turn this thread into their personal soap box in order to "educate" us on the area.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I can somewhat agree with Songkrai about folks moving here, saying how happy they are to out of whereever's hustle and bustle, and then want to change the town so that it is just like down there (insert whereever they came from.).
I have been coming up to the lake since I was a toddler, but moved here in 1996. I love the area, I love the people, and love the way of life. I could care less if I have a half hour drive to a supermarket or department store. I walk into the post office or the corner store and am always greeted with a smile, if not a verbal "Hi" "How are ya" "What's up?".
It is all what you make it. Do your due diligence and check out the school systems, the town's parks and rec. for their programs, church activities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.
Are we drug free and alcohol free? No.
Are we better off than in a large city? I think so.
bottom line, it will be your choice where to live, where to work, how far to commute, where your kids go to school, and family activities. Make your choice and enjoy it!

I couldn't agree more.