Posted by Jim Erhardt on August 31, 2008 at 3:35 PM
A few of you already know about this, but I thought it's now an appropriate time to share this with you all.
For many years, Donna and I have been wanting move away from the crowds, traffic congestion and high cost of living on Long Island. We have patiently waited over the years for our three children to become old enough - and independent enough - to make the transition. With our youngest now a junior in college and the older two out in the working world, the time had come to make the move.
The New England area, specifically New Hampshire, is where we've wanted to go for years so when a good job opportunity in northern Massachusetts presented itself last year, I decided to take it. Since November of last year, I have been working in northern MA and living in a small apartment in southern NH. Every weekend, I would make the 560 mile, 9 hour round trip back to Long Island to spend time with Donna and our family. Needless to say, the "extreme traveling" got old in a hurry.
Our plan has always been to sell the house on Long Island and buy another in NH. Unfortunately, the depressed real estate market made selling very difficult so it took some time to find a buyer. But our patience paid off and finally this past week, we closed on the sale of the house and made the escape from Long Island complete!
We are now located in Bedford, NH (which is near Manchester) and have updated our NPN contact info accordingly. With my weekends back, I can now spend more time on NPN - and may even have time for some nature photography again!
Posted by Bill Chambers on August 31, 2008 at 4:25 PM
I know you must be so happy not to have to make that arduous trip anymore. Congratulations on the move and best wishes to both you and Donna!
Congratulations, Jim & Donna. I also look forward to reaching the dream of my children being independent so we can move on to the next on the dream list. Congratulations, also, on selling a home in this difficult market. Personally, I am encouraged to keep going by a long list of dreams: there is always something to look forward to.
Pete D.
Posted by Jack Graham on August 31, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Jim,
Having grown up in Bergen CO NJ.. I know where you are coming from ---operative word---FROM!
JG
Posted by Paul Wegemann on August 31, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Congrats, Jim. As a former resident of both Long Island and NH, I can tell you you're making the right choice. I look forward to seeing some of your nature photos from NH.
Congratulations Jim and Donna! You are living in a beautiful area. Years ago my parents lived in Keene and we loved visiting them. Life is full of transitions and most of them prove to be good for all. This one sounds as if it will certainly be good for you.
We look forward to seeing some of your images now that you will have more time!!
Posted by Merle Cook on August 31, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Congrats Jim & Donna. When we retired we moved from Los Angeles to 10 acres in central Missouri. Man - talk about culture shock. I know the move is worth it and once you are settled in we will all enjoy some shots of the area.
Congratulations Jim and Donna! Great to see people patiently building a dream and then finally getting the chance to live it! I'm sure you are the envy of more than a few friends.
Way to go, Jim. Glad to hear you have been able to take advantage of an excellent situation and make such a positive adjustment all the way around for you and your wife Donna too. Good luck in your new location......enjoy it!
p.s. I was a Long Island transplant too, from Huntington Station.
Oh, very good Jim! Happy to hear you are able to realize your dream. Best wishes for continued success and prosperity, and happiness in your new home.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on September 1, 2008 at 5:17 AM
Thanks to all for your best wishes!
Even though I have been "living" up here since late last year, I've had little opportunity to really enjoy it up until now. We will most definitely enjoy the New England autumn foliage season (which will be starting soon) and I'll be sure to post photos of this year's color.
Congrats to you and Donna on your new life in this beautiful state. I didn't realize you had commuted every weekend. Whew!! Kudos to you for that!!
If you find yourself in the Great Northwoods, make sure to contact me...I'd love to meet you!!
Posted by Toni Lankerd on September 1, 2008 at 8:47 AM
Jim and Donna...I'm very happy to hear that your dream of moving out of the big city is coming true! Your patience while waiting to sell your house has paid off and now you can enjoy a slower pace away from the rat race.
Congratulations on the move....I wish you all the best in your new home!
Posted by Rob Graham on September 1, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Congrats on getting out of the city. Good luck
Posted by Frank Winters on September 1, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Good move, Jim! And so glad to hear you were able to sell in this market.
I was raised on Long Island in the 1950's -- its gotten much worse since then and was a kind of trap even then. For the last 18 years we have lived in north eastern Massachusetts and we like it a lot.
When we visit friends and relatives back on Long Island we are amazed at the congestion and at how urban it has become. The New York area is one of the most dense areas in the world -- a kind of impossibility that makes living crude and rough.
Happy days to you in New Hampshire!
Frank
Posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 1, 2008 at 11:09 AM
That's great news Jim. Is that one of those leaf peeping towns? Look forward to seeing some New Hampshire shots from you.
As someone who's been making a long (440-mile round trip) "commute" between the Chicago and Indianapolis areas for nearly five uninterrupted years now with no end in sight, even though I've now been able to finesse it to every other week, I know what you've been going through. Congrats on putting an end to that.
Posted by Dan Baumbach on September 1, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Congratulations, Jim. I'm glad it worked out. If I were on the East Coast, I'd definitely pick Northern MA or NH over Long Island.
Well done Jim! It will be interesting to see if your photography changes in more ways than subject matter. I "see" the nature close to home differently than when visiting. I think it has lots to do with repeated exposure to the same scenes under wildly diverse conditions.
Take that as encouragement to head out the door frequently and get closely acquainted with your new surroundings.
Posted by Dave Gill on September 1, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Congratulations! having been born in Brooklyn; grown up in Morris County, N.J.; and Graduated from the C.W. Post Campus of L.I.U.; I appreciate why you would want to move from 'Lon-Gisland.' I've never regretted the move from the overly crowded NY Metro area to the 'it's just beginning to get crowded' Rocky Mountain West. Enjoy the freedom and breathing room!
Posted by Wayne Jones on September 1, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Jim and Donna,
Congratulations! Glad to hear your dream came true, and that you even tried out traveling in NH winters, so that won't be a shock.
Having travelled to Long Island for business many times, and enjoying some of the wonderful natural areas from Oyster Bay to the Hamptons, I have an appreciation for both the pleasures and the frustrations of "The Island." Yes, LI has it's assets, and I even know some people who love living on the eastern part, but I don't ever recall any of my colleagues who worked there being sad about moving to less populated areas "up north." (Especially with the real estate profits, even when the market was not so hot -- ) BEST WISHES in your new home and beautiful surroundings!
Posted by Richard Hahn on September 1, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Jim & Donna,
Good evening. While I am very happy for both of you & the rest of your gang, I will miss not seeing you guys. You are great people & were terrific neighbors. I wish you well and will looking for you posts of the New England life.
Hopefully I will see you some day on a Moose hunt (camera of course).
Rich Hahn
Posted by William Brozy on September 2, 2008 at 2:51 PM
It's nice to read that things are falling into place for you and Donna. I know you'll love the region! Good Luck Jim!
Posted by Jim Erhardt on September 2, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Thanks again to all!
Posted by Harley Goldman on September 2, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Congrats on your escape from the big city! Enjoy the relative peace and slower pace!!!
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on September 2, 2008 at 6:57 PM
Congratulations on the move - that must have made a huge improvement in your quality of life!
Posted by Stan Rose on September 2, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Congrats on the move, Jim! I lived on LI for a long time, dont miss it at all.
Enjoy the Fall colours Jim - once flew London-Boston during the autumn and then spent a day at Nashua before flying on to SF from Manchester... I was soooo jet lagged from that trip! I can still remember the colours in the trees tho'.
Posted by Mike DiRenzo on September 12, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Being a Long Islander I can certainly see why you chose to move up North. For instance, it took me 1 hour to get to work this morning on the Long Island Expressway (parking lot) from Coram to Huntington where I teach...a distance of 25 miles. Our plan is to head out West to the Moab area when I retire in 4 years. I hope all goes well during your transition.
Discussion
34 repliesFor many years, Donna and I have been wanting move away from the crowds, traffic congestion and high cost of living on Long Island. We have patiently waited over the years for our three children to become old enough - and independent enough - to make the transition. With our youngest now a junior in college and the older two out in the working world, the time had come to make the move.
The New England area, specifically New Hampshire, is where we've wanted to go for years so when a good job opportunity in northern Massachusetts presented itself last year, I decided to take it. Since November of last year, I have been working in northern MA and living in a small apartment in southern NH. Every weekend, I would make the 560 mile, 9 hour round trip back to Long Island to spend time with Donna and our family. Needless to say, the "extreme traveling" got old in a hurry.
Our plan has always been to sell the house on Long Island and buy another in NH. Unfortunately, the depressed real estate market made selling very difficult so it took some time to find a buyer. But our patience paid off and finally this past week, we closed on the sale of the house and made the escape from Long Island complete!
We are now located in Bedford, NH (which is near Manchester) and have updated our NPN contact info accordingly. With my weekends back, I can now spend more time on NPN - and may even have time for some nature photography again!
Pete D.
Having grown up in Bergen CO NJ.. I know where you are coming from ---operative word---FROM!
JG
We look forward to seeing some of your images now that you will have more time!!
-P
p.s. I was a Long Island transplant too, from Huntington Station.
Guy
Even though I have been "living" up here since late last year, I've had little opportunity to really enjoy it up until now. We will most definitely enjoy the New England autumn foliage season (which will be starting soon) and I'll be sure to post photos of this year's color.
If you find yourself in the Great Northwoods, make sure to contact me...I'd love to meet you!!
Congratulations on the move....I wish you all the best in your new home!
I was raised on Long Island in the 1950's -- its gotten much worse since then and was a kind of trap even then. For the last 18 years we have lived in north eastern Massachusetts and we like it a lot.
When we visit friends and relatives back on Long Island we are amazed at the congestion and at how urban it has become. The New York area is one of the most dense areas in the world -- a kind of impossibility that makes living crude and rough.
Happy days to you in New Hampshire!
Frank
Good luck to you, Donna and your family.
- Dan.
Take that as encouragement to head out the door frequently and get closely acquainted with your new surroundings.
Congratulations! Glad to hear your dream came true, and that you even tried out traveling in NH winters, so that won't be a shock.
Having travelled to Long Island for business many times, and enjoying some of the wonderful natural areas from Oyster Bay to the Hamptons, I have an appreciation for both the pleasures and the frustrations of "The Island." Yes, LI has it's assets, and I even know some people who love living on the eastern part, but I don't ever recall any of my colleagues who worked there being sad about moving to less populated areas "up north." (Especially with the real estate profits, even when the market was not so hot --
Good evening. While I am very happy for both of you & the rest of your gang, I will miss not seeing you guys. You are great people & were terrific neighbors. I wish you well and will looking for you posts of the New England life.
Hopefully I will see you some day on a Moose hunt (camera of course).
Rich Hahn
Mike DiRenzo