it's passable for the most part unless you're trying to get something done. Like someone else said, it's very socially liberal but even that can drift into right wing but fiscally and action-wise (like I said when you actually want to get things done and improved) it's pretty conservative.

obviously it depends on who you talk to around there or where you are specifically, but imo the worst are places like cohasset, weymouth, marshfield, Salem in October (tourism crowds), and further inland places like lakeville

Haha I remember when you told that story 3 times. ;)

It’s trustafarian/nimby vibes. Very vocal socially liberal majority that just doesn’t want anything affordable in their town.

I worked for a human services program for years. The best special Ed program in the area is north grafton, not too far. I also supported a few families in the mendon/hopedale area and there are many programs in this area as well

Albany, New York

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Preemptive welcome to MA! I just wanted to say that my parents moved here in the 90s to raise children as a gay couple, and it’s been one of the things I’m most thankful they ever did. I was able to actually meet other kids from LGBT+ households and feel truly normal.

If you tell us the state/town where you now live we can offer comparisons.

I live in a neighboring town. It's relatively quiet - even the main roads through these small 495 towns generally aren't a distraction, and things are more or less peaceful, quiet, and pretty chill.

No input on the Mendon schools (I don't have kids in school), but as others have mentioned, having a zoo nearby is pretty sweet. It's not a world-class zoo by any means, but it's an awesome way to spend the day a couple times a year. For adults and for kids. I'm a grown ass adult, and when my parents drove up to stay with me for the weekend, we went to the zoo. We had a great time.

If the kids are outdoorsy, this neck of the woods is much better than most places inside 95. There are so many trails, parks, ponds, etc.

And Mendon has one of the few drive-ins left. If the kids are restless to the point that going to a movie theater isn't ideal, the drive-in could be pretty sweet. There's always people wandering about when it's warm before the movie (tailgating, throwing a frisbee, people-watching, going to the concession stand, etc)

Another comment mentions the traffic in Framingham. 495 is nothing compared to 95 most days. The stretch of 495 from about Milford to the Pike can get slow, but rarely as bad as 128 gets. If your work hours are even an hour out of "the norm", you'll be fine - not a lick of traffic. And I guess you could take 16 into Holliston and then 126 North into Framingham. Surface roads, but at least it'll be moving.

In this case, the government protects us from the disgusting exploitative practices of private health insurance.

There's like 190 miles of Massachusetts coast. You should say which region you are considering. North shore? South Shore? The Cape?

Government knows better what's best for you.

HR

You get a passport card now that you ca easily carry. Also it’s only 1 of many federal ids.

They have a drive in. I think its the guy that does phantom gourmet owns it. They also have a zoo which is pretty good too

Sounds like you live in a bad area

It’s like schooling: If you’re wealthy it’s ok. If it isn’t you’re automatically subclass, inferior, and according to this culture, you’re undeserving.

Maybe do the bootstraps thing harder? Maybe open your mouth for The Trickle?

Can’t speak to Mendon, but 495 to Rt 9 in Framingham is a miserable drive during rush hour.

No job info, but I also moved to the Northampton area from Ky last year! Happy to talk more about the experience. Feel free to DM me.

Funny how wherever you look whether it’s

School admin Politicians Executives

They all wring you dry of life so they can pull the strings

Yet then you go crawling back to them like the sucklers that created them

Funny how that works

Bootstrap culture, I Got Mine Calitalism, and American boomerism is the most laughable form of peasantry devised. Just voting for their own demise! And then they go cry like they didn’t do it to themselves 🙄 you get what you give

Who the fuck carries their passport around everywhere with them?

I remember back when the Easthampton one first opened up, back before all the dealers found out about it and would clog it up for hours with their transactions. You could walk in and literally go straight to the counter because there were maybe 2 other customers total.

She will also need to make sure she completes her SEL certification or finding a job will be tough.

It’ll pop up in the spring. I’m in my second hear teaching in Massachusetts and secured my job in May or June before moving here.

Edit to add: it’s a competitive job market. I only had one year under my belt when I moved here and the desirable school districts didn’t even look at my application. Your partner will have no problem finding a job in Holyoke, Springfield, or Chicopee, but they’re not great districts. Also she will have to get her masters within five years of teaching here. It would also be beneficial if she started the MA license requirements before moving.

True

Absolutely! Our first kiddo is in kindergarten and I'd say about 1/3 of the kids in his class have same sex parents.