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I'm barely extant on this forum these days but I thought I'd dip back in to suggest the Pioneer Valley (especially Northampton/Amherst) of Western MA. I first visited this area back in '93 and fell in love with it. Finally moved out here a year ago. Lots of college students (UMASS, Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, plus community colleges) which means lots of music of many kinds. Two-ish hours from Boston. Trees, rives, etc.

There's also Brattleboro, VT, which is only a little over two hours from Boston and has a lot going on for a town or city of about 12,000 people. Tough economy though.

A personal vote against Ithaca, NY, as once you leave town there ain't shit for miles and miles.

Ive always liked the pioneer valley, Easthampton has the best tap watah in the country, there's a bike path connecting it to Northampton, florence, Hadley, and Amherst, its within 20 minutes of anywhere in the valley by car, at least two breweries I can think of off the top of my head are in town, you can buy yerself a dozen duck eggs at a time at big e's, etc. None of that sounds too, too exciting but having grown up in the valley (not Easthampton, however) this is the only place that feels like home to me.

repoman wrote:Pretty much all of NE has high cost of living. High taxes, lots of driving, high heating costs, expensive gas/food/rent. Most of it has super shitty economy too. But it is a pretty amazing place in the summer. I'm in Vermont, it's basically heaven on earth in the summer. Rest of the year makes me want to eat a bullet, but Mid May through first half of Nov its incredible. You might want to look into Burlington, Vt (if you can stomach/like cold shit for 5 months a year). They have some music/cultural stuff. Montpelier too kinda. Crime that makes the newspaper in Vermont is like, someones mailbox getting blow up by firecrackers or someone smashing a someone elses pumpkin.

I've been doing interviews for a job up in Burlington. I've never been there and am suspicious of hippies. What's housing like there?

Burlington's a fairly small college community with a very large student population, so the housing around downtown and the schools is totally fucking nuts. Once you get outside of that it's a little more bearable.

Ugh, students. I'd be interested in a more secluded, not in-the-center-of-it-all type situation so maybe there would be something for me.

Students and hippies, intermingling together. Also Bernie.

If you're willing to live outside of that area, there's lots of nice spots that fit your criteria.

Phish too I hear.

Sweet. Nice spots that are outside of Burlington proper, or just outside of the center of the town?

Either or. basically Burlington is arranged around a hill. The colleges are at the top of the hill, mostly, downtown is at the bottom of the hill (mostly), and the housing that you probs want to avoid is on that stretch, but once you go to either side of that direct line it gets decidedly cheaper/nicer/mellower.

Also I feel like this is a good time to point out that I enjoy Phish so, you know, ymmv. There is a fairly large jam band contingent but there are also, you know, good bands. At least there were, the last time I lived there.

Very good to know, thank you. If I pass the latest interview stage they want me to come up there and check it out. I like to make fun of Phish but I think I've only heard like one or two songs. Mostly I make fun of jam bands because I was in one in high school.

friendship wrote: I like to make fun of Phish but I think I've only heard like one or two songs.

You should probably keep it that way.

If Phish was 20 years older and from Morocco Chank would love them.

Nah, I had a girlfriend who was a huge fan of 'em. I never got into 'em. They always sounded like bad '70s AM radio to me.

I know a lot of people are totally into 'em (obviously). Never was a big Dead fan either though. Maybe in the next lifetime?

(Also, there's no way they could fucking ever be from Morocco. Not enough rhythm.)

ok so sidenote that decidedly tepid Everclear song is now stuck in my head.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjg39XRkjVc[/youtube]

But this video, though.

is that the one song where art arkaklhalchlkax doesn't whine about his dad

in a fucking Scottie Pippen Trail Blazers jersey, no less.