Expert: David Beckett - 9/25/2008

Question
Hi, David.  I was wondering if you could help me.  I am in my early 40's and desperate for a change.  I've always wanted to live out of State (I'm a born and bred New Yorker) and in or near the mountains.  My dream has always been to move to Colorado, but since I have no family or anyone I know out there (everyone is in the NY area), I won't do it.  I just don't have the courage to uproot myself and be so many miles away from family without anyone there that I know.  Since Vermont is a lot closer, I was thinking that maybe that would be a good alternative to living halfway across the country.

So here is my problem..  I'd know no one in Vermont, either, of course..and, I'm worried about how I'd make friends my age.  I don't have a "professional" degree; I've been a clerical worker for most of my life, although my interests lie mainly in artistic endeavors (music, singing, photography, writing, drawing, etc).  I'm wondering how difficult it would be to find a job in the Burlington area doing clerical work and also making friends that share my interests?  I would also love to learn a new skill, eventually; possibly something in the allied health field, but that would require going to work during the day and school at night.  I know there is a University in the area, but I was wondering if you knew of any smaller community or technical colleges that might fit the bill?  In addition, I don't drive, and I know you probably find that laughable because it seems like a place like Vermont necessitates the use of a car..but I could never afford one..and quite frankly, I've always been afraid to drive, unfortunately.  So, obviously, I would need to live somewhere where the public transportation was pretty decent and/or somewhere very pedestrain-friendly.

So, I'm a mess, I know. ;)

I also have some questions for you, if you don't mind, that are a concern.  For one, I read many times from other sources that Vermonters do not like "flatlanders", namely, anyone who's not a native of their beautiful State.  Is this true?  I also heard that the State is terribly expensive to live in.  I would need to rent an apartment close to amenities, and I wouldn't want to pay more than $900.00 "tops" a month.  Right now where I live, I am paying $750 (I'm actually getting a "break" as rents go for $1200-1400 in my area).  Also, I would love to visit Montreal and wondered if there are buses that go there from Burlington?..I also read, too (as well as was actually told years ago by a Canadian) that they HATE Americans!  Can you set me straight?..because I would hate to cast judgment based on heresay or a couple of "bad apples".  I've never been to Canada and I've always wanted to go.

Btw, for the record, I've never skiied, and wondered how much of a "requirement" it is to live in Vermont.  I remember my sister saying that the only reason to go to Vermont was to ski, so I just may be a fish out of water.
:(

Lastly, I know it gets very cold and snowy in the winter, but does that mean that the city shuts down?  Are there plenty of things to do both indoors and out so that cabin fever is not an every-winter occurance?

I'm so sorry this email is so long, David, and I just want to thank you for your patience and your time!  I look forward to hearing from you when you get a chance.

Sincerely,
Jo

Answer
Jo -

Thanks for your thoughtful note, full of questions which actually seem quite reasonable to me. Let me do my best to answer your questions, and offer you some resources. Then I hope you'll feel free to contact me with more questions as you research these concerns. I'm easy to reach and happy to help.  

Perhaps it's best if I start with items from your list I can reassure you about. People frequently ask perfectly reasonable questions based on what are frankly, myths. Here are few examples:

"Vermonters don't like flatlanders" Fortunately, this is nonsense...but it's easy to understand why this myth has caught on. Would I want to move to a really small town ANYWHERE ...from a large metropolitan area, expecting to be embraced immediately? Nope.
But I live in Burlington, which is a pretty cosmopolitan place. If I were considering living in VT without a car - that's where I'd want to live. It's also where I'd want to live if I was used to NYC and it's vibrant culture and fast pace: terrific for pedestrians, loads of arts and culture, decent bus system, a vibrant downtown, right near the lake, easy to travel to various places from, etc etc etc.

"Vermont is terribly expensive to live in" This one can be true, or not so much, depending on where in VT. Modestly priced rental property is actually available, but in Burlington tenants are competing with college students, which can make finding just the right place a bit of a project. But I'd guess Burlington's rental market actually compares favorably to yours at home. Jobs pay less though, I'd wager. I've found few places I'd want to live which are really cheap to live in.

"Montrealers hate Americans" This is perhaps the silliest myth in circulation. I hear it a lot. Mostly repeated by people who have rarely been to Montreal. It's not only just plain wrong, it's evidence of a sad kind of xenophobia, all the more puzzling because it's sometimes held to be true by those who should know better.
If you've never been to Canada and always wanted to go, I can't help but wonder...what are you waiting for? There's always something happening in Montreal which serves as an excuse. I've spent almost as much time in Manhattan as I have in Montreal, and as time passes, I find it easier and easier to enjoy Montreal. I can drive to Montreal the scenic route, right through (not a typo) Lake Champlain in little more than an hour and a half. It's like driving to Europe in the car, but vastly simpler. And yes, there's daily bus service. Like NYC, Montreal is vibrant and cosmopolitan, but in a COMPLETELY different way.

Where were we...yes...Weather. Yep, it's true: If we had one month less of Winter, none of us would be able to afford to live here. All the wealthy flatlanders would move in and gentrify the whole State. ;-) So let's keep it quiet, shall we? All kidding aside, The Burlington area has enjoyed the arrival of lots of new residents over the 4+ decades I've been here. That's been a very good thing.
VT isn't Siberia. The climate here is temperate. We're blessed with half a dozen seasons, and most folks only get 4, or 3, or (heaven help us) 2. Places with 2 seasons (hot and hotter) are very popular. Which baffles me. But that's why I'm so happy in Vermont I guess...
I enjoy walking in Downtown Burlington, and the city does a decent job of snow removal, so I can get around on foot throughout the year. I drive when I need to or want to, but don't have to make that decision wholly dependent on the weather.

Now - The skiing question: Thank goodness there are so many people who believe that "the only reason to go to VT is to ski". We call these folks "tourists", and they help keep our economy vibrant! The dollars they bring keep the ski areas in good order so folks like me can visit them on weekdays ...and have the slopes to ourselves ;-) Actually, (all kidding aside, again) having been a ski instructor for nearly 2 decades, I'd rather have company than ski alone - so I welcome folks from elsewhere who have the pleasure of discovering VT this way. But no, we don't require skiing. We try to explain that what non skiers see on TV isn't the way it really is - and we explain that living in VT without doing a little Cross Country Skiing, or even a bit of alpine skiing, is a bit like living in New York without ever having a bagel or a deli sandwich. But many people have done it. These days I don't work as a ski instructor any more, I just ski out my back door (in a city park) when the weather's just right (right in Downtown Burlington) and go to a ski resort a dozen times a year when it's warm Spring Skiing and just heavenly.

Here are some links you may enjoy, Jo.
I hope you'll contact me directly with other perhaps more specific questions as well! When it's time, I can offer more specific information on rentals, too.

I'm at david (at) askdavidbeckett.com

http://www.enjoyburlington.com/
http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/relocate/#recreate
http://www.7dvt.com/
http://www.freepressclassified.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colleges_and_universities_in_Vermont