Get season passes, and then you don't need to worry about it. Yeah its a bunch of money upfront, but if you buy in April or whenever they go on sale this year and pay it off over a couple months, you're golden. Snow is shit that day? Who cares, pack it in and go back tomorrow. Want to ski from 08:00 to 16:00? Have a blast. You just need to ski enough to make it worthwhile. I think my family and I had 24 visits this season, very much a great value for us.

Omg.

Noise isn't even my primary concern. Living next to a highway is linked to many adverse health effects, including asthma and cancer.

I think the whole "asshole" part of Massholes is overblown. It mostly refers to the aggressive driving (which is definitely a real thing).

But otherwise I think what the other user is more referring to is the fact that New Englanders are reserved compared to the rest of the US (this isn't just a MA thing, it applies in most parts of New England). We don't really feel comfortable having small talk with strangers and we may treat a stranger coming up to us and trying to strike up conversation without a specific reason with some suspicion. This can be uncomfortable for people from other parts of the US where small talk is the norm, but for many New Englanders, having a stranger get into a long conversation with us makes us a bit uncomfortable, it's a cultural difference. My experience is that many Northern European countries are similar in this regard.

But it's not like everyone is going to swear and scream at you just because you said "hi." It can take a while to get to know people around here, but the people are generally perfectly kind and helpful if you have a specific reason to engage them in conversation. For instance, asking for directions, people will certainly help you. They may look at you weird if you just walk up to them and go "how's it going?" with no specific reason to talk to them.

Once you get to know New Englanders, they tend to be loyal friends, it just takes a while to get them to open up.

Nothing in my deed says its frozen in time. Zoning is presently decided on locally by local people looking out for their local community. Once you allow the state to start picking and choosing these elements for all zoning then Mass will have jumped the shark.

There is still a smaller population in Boston compared to the 1960's. The sewer and water infrastructure in place can handle any of this growth for the next few decades EASILY. Farm communities would have to build waste water treatment plants plus schools to do what can be easily done in the urban areas. Suburban communities would similarly have to increase the size of their piping systems and other infrastructure to handle large increases in population.

Plus most of the jobs are in the cities...so commuting shorter distances will put less a stress on both roads and rail infrastructure.

I never said it was BP's role to house everyone. There are other cities in the state plus I have stated here and elsewhere that I agree with increasing density near commuting options. I have these right in my backyard (defeating your main argument). I am 100% in favor of very dense housing options near MBTA stations.

I live near people now, I never said otherwise. You can't buy land near the quabbin anyways...its protected from development.

I don't live on a cul de sac...my house was built in the 80's from leftover scrub land (side of a hill) and wasnt much use for farming or anything. Removing the houses there now and replacing with triple deckers is not the answer to the housing "crisis".

FWIW, we should preserve rural farmland as much as possible so that we can feed people....building denser in the urban areas is the best answer to supply issues. Boston is going crazy building lab space...they should build more condos to go along with them.

Not sure what town you live in but my home town and the surrounding towns have seen nothing but student population growth. My current town and surrounding towns have also seen the same issue. In both cases there are more 2&3 bedroom units as opposed to 1 bedroom. I do agree the 1 bedroom would be only adults. Multi bedroom units I disagree as most are for either small families are single parents.

Also, it did take a few years to see the additional student population, because well, birds and the bees.

>We are the least conservative state out of all 50, with the highest wages, best healthcare, and best education.

This may just be an issue of interpretation, but I do believe the main reason the others are true is because we haven't gone off the liberal deepend in terms of spending. It's one thing I'm definitely proud of that Massachusetts has maintaining a balanced budget as a duty of the governor's office enumerated in our state constitution.

We're still very liberal, but other blue states can still learn a lot from us in terms of fiscal responsibility.

>Last time they tried to hold a “free speech” Charlottesville type rally up here like 100 people showed up, and something like 30,000 people showed up

Now that is proper free speech. :)

EDIT. And without getting too much into it, I'm with you on the gun rights thing too. Although I am more staunchly pro-2A, I recognize the LARPing weirdos you're referring to as indeed being weirdos. Own all the guns you want, but why base your personality around it. As long as you're a lawful citizen you owe nobody any justification.

Plug for my town - Holden, Ma even though I am sure some people will shit on it. Our town touches Worcester, so you get somewhat rural living with city close by. High school is regional, but elementary and middle schools are in town. Without looking, I would say average home price here for a 3 bedroom 2000sq ft house is probably around $600K. If you go a little further out (more rural, but still close to Worcester) you get Rutland, Barre, Hubbardston, etc.. Housing is slightly cheaper there.

Politically, there are definitely right-wing people here (most of my immediate neighbors), but generally speaking, they're not assholes about it.

We've lived here for almost 7 years (was closer to Boston before that), and we really love it. The schools are great, and you can get anywhere relatively quickly. Holden main street traffic sucks because it's essentially the only route to get to the more rural towns if you're coming from the east. I've gotten used to it though and try to avoid it at peak times.

ETA: for reference, Rutland is the geographical center of the state, which is 1 town over from Holden.

You will fit right in MA! In Belchertown (Western MA) you can get a decent size yard and space from your neighbors for all your pups. The town is also has tons of waking paths, and Quabin Reservoir which is a wonderful place to spend time. You do have to be ok with knowing to get to most bigger shopping areas it will be about a 30min ride but for me the trade off of having a large piece of land and good schools is totally worth it. Just like with every area there will be closed minded people but for the majority is very respectful and accepting.

It's not a fantasy it's reality. Everyone moved out of the city during covid. Realized that rural life isn't for them and more are moving back to the city causing another "housing crisis". The housing crisis can be solved by building houses in rural areas not complexes. Costs to own a house is no more than renting. I currently own a house and struggle. If I were to sell it I would still struggle with a rental. Stop looking for the government to solve your financial issues and solve it yourself. Multiple jobs are sometimes necessary. Do we like to work more, no but unless you want to adjust your way of life then that's what's going to be needed.

Real estate agents call that an "opportunity".

I don't expect urban infrastructure in my rural town and don't want it. I expect my local taxes to pay for what my town needs, which it does. Our roads are well maintained throughout the seasons and the school system is highly rated and desirable for young families.

I think you are greatly overestimating how many people would live in these kind of 2 bedroom apartment. A lot of these apartments are filled with 1-2 adults at most. They have been building these builds for a while in my town and we haven't seen any rush on schools. In fact our school population has been shrinking.

That’s a nice fantasy that you made up in your head.

I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but there is a shortage of housing throughout much of the state.

But I get it, you got yours, screw everybody else, right?

Linux was on a crazy power trip it was actually amazing to watch how quickly it escalated.

You would think it's rare but it's happening and has happened in my town. Luckily not the 100+ acre farms mainly due to the farmers not wanting to sell. But we had 2) 50 acre farms sell and put up 400 unit complexes that burdened the town and didn't add the needed tax revenue to support them.

I'm not going to say you can't have it- it's just that it's unreasonable to expect urban infrastructure on a rural tax base. Frequently suburbia is subsidized by taxes in denser neighborhoods. Even if you don't have sewer access, you're getting a lot of road infrastructure that isn't paid for by gas taxes.

No you ahhh

Hey thanks, feliscat

*open roof concept

Ohhhh ok, no worries.

MA doesn’t have a lot of that. We are the least conservative state out of all 50, with the highest wages, best healthcare, and best education. Massholes (I say this affectionately) also don’t put up with a lot of bullshit. Last time they tried to hold a “free speech” Charlottesville type rally up here like 100 people showed up, and something like 30,000 people showed up to beat the snot out of them.

The major downside that you probably wont hear on this sub. The gun laws. I’m going to cut right to the chase. I am a lifelong liberal, I think the licensing system we have and background checks makes sense, I’m not some “muh rights” republicunt, but if you want to purchase a gun for personal or home protection, the laws are written to be confusing and contradictory, and people often accuse them of being predatory.

I will now sit back and accept my downvotes.

That’s great to know! We would love to be fairly rural, small town or on the far outskirts of a more populated area because we’re pretty laid back, quiet folks but also have the pipe dream of also being able to meet some like-minded ppl. I have no problems with people having different views than my own (well, I try) but hooooo boy when you’re so intensely surrounded by people and institutions that have almost opposite values and shout them loudly, it’s just hard to make friends and engage in community. Truly amazing that that’s possible in your state!

I just can't see a developer selecting a 100 acre plot of land unless there is enough around to justify sufficient demand to make the investment worthwhile. If it's a farm near or surrounded by a city, that would be snatched up, but I'm guessing this situation is pretty rare in the first place.

Maybe in the city 15 units per acre isn't a big deal, but I chose to live in a more rural Western MA town because I want an acre for myself. Call me a NIMBY all you want, I don't want to live in a densely populated neighborhood.

Personally, I would run like the wind away from this place.

While it may seem "reasonable" in some regards, this leaves you liable for $10's of thousands potentially owing. If you have home/renters insurance contact them to discuss this liability and if it is covered and for how much. Then I would see if you can find out if there is any past issues with this complex and the management company.

No apartment is worth being financially devastated or worse. Just make sure you protect yourself just as much as these people are trying to protect themselves.