Newer cars have auto-lane assist and auto-follow cruise control.

When I got the chance to drive in traffic with a car like that, it was amazing how much more calm I felt after driving. Something about not having to make split-second braking or acceleration to match other drivers just took the edge off for me.

It’s between that and someone saying y’all in Massachusetts.

I got buzzed by a bee last week which was a new one for February.

Daffodils are already starting to come up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tewksbury,_Massachusetts

It depends on what you are looking for. As far as I know it is a quiet town, and not too far from Boston or RT 128.

You may be able to find a starter home there for less than you would in surrounding communities.

The state hospital is there. So, I would avoid being in the immediate vicinity of that institution as some of those folks tend to wander.

Sutton is an hour from Boston. It’s quiet but easy access to Providence (45 min) and Worcester (15-20 min) property taxes in Sutton are obscene but the houses are only going up in value. School system is great. Residents are 50/50 on the political scale. Trump only lost the town by one vote but you don’t see it on the lawns like you do in grafton or Upton. Grafton, Sutton, & Upton are going to give you basically the same living experience IMO as some one who grew up and currently lives in the area again after 20 years in Boston.

Barely surviving. Fuel cost, food cost, energy cost, medical cost for diabetes, housing cost! I make good money and I am just getting by. I feel for people who work just as hard but earn less

[deleted]

Don’t. Towny Towny Towny. Do you know what it’s famous for? Gateway to Lowell. It’s the suburb of the failed mill town. I grew up there. ‘Tis an ignorant place.

I’d look elsewhere. Pretty grim place

The north shore is a big place. What area more specifically?

Rocco’s in Rowley is good. Sportsmen’s Barber in Beverly also.

The new Twix Berry candy bar from Mars coming to a store near you

[deleted]

Tewksbury is an okay place. Good highway access. Decently quiet.

Youbshoood look into Shewersberry or Worsechester

Any planet that has liquid water. We just happen to be towards the bottom of that range.

Slightly off topic but I just moved to Mass from Texas, and was worried there would be a period of adjustment due to people being "massholes" here. Honestly though, I haven't had a single bad experience yet exploring the state. Honestly everyone seems WAY nicer and more friendly than in Texas. Maybe I'm just only running into transplants lol

Twerksbury

I think a combination of access to the pike and new or redone houses in their price range probably knock these communities out.

All of what you said about Longmeadow is true but the houses are mostly on the older side since the town was built out by the 1970s. Getting an updated or new house in that price range might be difficult.

East Longmeadow and Wilbraham have newer houses but highway access can be difficult. They are also less walkable compared to Longmeadow but have more of the farm feel. That being said, they are also more politically conservative.

Based on the experience of family members OP’s age, I think Grafton is probably their best bet.

It's not terribly close to Boston and housing prices are still high - no matter how it is spelled.

This has been the strangest winter.. The birds singing outside my window definitely feels more April than February

Good point. In general warm planets are more habitable than cold planets right?

Global cooling would be far more devastating than global warming. We can adapt to the heat. Cold is life ending. Life thrives in warmer climates. Nothing grows and few animals live in extreme cold.

Obviously this is totally different, but studies have shown just the presence (not possession) of a weapon will make people more aggressive.

I wonder if it’s hitting a similar brain button for you because you hate cars so much.

Ab-so-fricken-lutely