From the city to the burbs...

I'm actually in a similar situation. I work in the city and moved in right after i graduated. FH worked and lived in LI. When we decided to move in together it made more sense to move into his apt since he owned and I rented, bla bla. I was miserable.

Its been almost 2 yrs, and i am still working in the city, i rather commute than lose all connection with it. if FH decided tomorrow he wants to move back to nyc I'd pack everything in a heartbeat! We live in RVC and its only a 30 min train ride so its not horrible. And its express. Children for us are not going to happen for another 5 years. Like you, I'd have to quit my job to find something on LI since my company does not have an office here.

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Posted by GiannisWifey

Personally, we are moving (well, FH is moving) to LI and will commute to Brooklyn by car everyday.......you can move somewhere closer, not necessarily Suffolk.......

I personally couldn't not work in the city, maybe I could now, but not later on when kids are involved. You get so much more for your money out here and you are still close to the city....if your kids get sick and you have to pick them up, you can't exactly leave them there for an hr while you take the subway home.....also, I find that if I needed to, I could run home during lunch if necessary or what not. Doesn't mean you have to drive to get lunch....your office could be located near many stores or what not or may have a cafeteria downstairs.......

this is of course just my opinion........

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All good points. And I know most of my logic for wanting to be in the city is sorta shallow which is why I'm trying to hear all of the good things about the change rather than harp on the bad things. It's jsut such a diff world. I couldn't help but laugh when I was at work the other day and we were having a conversation (who knows why) about how there's only one Olive Garden in the city bc almost no one that lives/works here would ever eat there. Then I go home that day to FH who works in LI, ask him what he had for lunch and he tells me Olive Garden! So shallow I KNOW! But...it's just...different.

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Posted by kerber981

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Posted by GiannisWifey

Personally, we are moving (well, FH is moving) to LI and will commute to Brooklyn by car everyday.......you can move somewhere closer, not necessarily Suffolk.......

I personally couldn't not work in the city, maybe I could now, but not later on when kids are involved. You get so much more for your money out here and you are still close to the city....if your kids get sick and you have to pick them up, you can't exactly leave them there for an hr while you take the subway home.....also, I find that if I needed to, I could run home during lunch if necessary or what not. Doesn't mean you have to drive to get lunch....your office could be located near many stores or what not or may have a cafeteria downstairs.......

this is of course just my opinion........

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All good points. And I know most of my logic for wanting to be in the city is sorta shallow which is why I'm trying to hear all of the good things about the change rather than harp on the bad things. It's jsut such a diff world. I couldn't help but laugh when I was at work the other day and we were having a conversation (who knows why) about how there's only one Olive Garden in the city bc almost no one that lives/works here would ever eat there. Then I go home that day to FH who works in LI, ask him what he had for lunch and he tells me Olive Garden! So shallow I KNOW! But...it's just...different.

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lol!! my FFIL LOVES olive garden. he says its the absolute best italian food ever!
i've been living in 1 of the 5 boroughs for over 12 years after spending my entire 18 years on LI
i cant imagine moving back there. we hope to find something in queens that is in a decent area so FH can continue working in NYC and i can continue working brooklyn.

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Posted by cateydee

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Posted by kerber981

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Posted by GiannisWifey

Personally, we are moving (well, FH is moving) to LI and will commute to Brooklyn by car everyday.......you can move somewhere closer, not necessarily Suffolk.......

I personally couldn't not work in the city, maybe I could now, but not later on when kids are involved. You get so much more for your money out here and you are still close to the city....if your kids get sick and you have to pick them up, you can't exactly leave them there for an hr while you take the subway home.....also, I find that if I needed to, I could run home during lunch if necessary or what not. Doesn't mean you have to drive to get lunch....your office could be located near many stores or what not or may have a cafeteria downstairs.......

this is of course just my opinion........

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All good points. And I know most of my logic for wanting to be in the city is sorta shallow which is why I'm trying to hear all of the good things about the change rather than harp on the bad things. It's jsut such a diff world. I couldn't help but laugh when I was at work the other day and we were having a conversation (who knows why) about how there's only one Olive Garden in the city bc almost no one that lives/works here would ever eat there. Then I go home that day to FH who works in LI, ask him what he had for lunch and he tells me Olive Garden! So shallow I KNOW! But...it's just...different.

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lol!! my FFIL LOVES olive garden. he says its the absolute best italian food ever!
i've been living in 1 of the 5 boroughs for over 12 years after spending my entire 18 years on LI
i cant imagine moving back there. we hope to find something in queens that is in a decent area so FH can continue working in NYC and i can continue working brooklyn.

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lol no offense to anyone who likes it. Obviously my FH does too!

i totally see where you're coming from...I don't live in NYC, but I live in center city philadelphia and I love it! I never was a 'city person' and was so nervous when we moved here, but now, I can't picture living back in the burbs...at least not til kids come into the picture, so I can see why you're hesitant. The city is just so much more alive, so much more fun, and i agree - not as many chain restaurantsss lol! When we lived on LI, we ate at chili's, fridays, and crap like that (not like we don't still eat there, but u know waht i mean). Now, there are so many cool lilttle places to try and i love that.
As far as the work situation, I used to live in LI and commute to NYC (wall street too!) and HATED it. I felt like my whole life revolved around work. Left the house at 7, didn't come home til 7 (on a good day - forget about if i had to work late). Thank God I was living with my mom and she cooked/cleaned/did my laundry. If I had to maintain a whole house with just me and FH and worked that much, I think I'd want to die. Its just so exhausting. Some of my neighbors commuted too and they said they couldn't see themselves not working in the city bc they just love it so much, so I think you just need to see what's more 'you'. If you move out to LI, maybe keep your job in NYC for a bit, see how you can handle the commute, and if you don't like it, then try for a position on LI. good luck!

I tried looking when I moved to the burbs, but the salary was no comparison. I'm making alot more in the city, even taking into account the high expense of the LIRR.

My schedule is pretty set, so I get home at 5:45 which is a decent time.

I still like having some tie to the city too..BUT, if I did find something making more money than I do now, I'd take it. I'm 90% sure that won't happen.

Yeaa i feel ya- i love working in the city too (even tho i currently hate my job hahah) but when i look for a new one, i def want it to be in the city!

But i dont think working on LI would be terrible... it would definitely feel different, but maybe it would be nice to mix it up for a little while. And maybe eventually, depending on income possibilities/how far out on LI you live, you could work in the city again

i think it really depends on what job opportunities are in LI.
i personally know for a fact that if i work any place but in Manhattan i will be making peanuts for doing the same work.
did you & FH discuss maybe you staying home when your children are very young?? then once they start school you can work 3 days a week. that could be an option too.

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Posted by christine2010

i think it really depends on what job opportunities are in LI.
i personally know for a fact that if i work any place but in Manhattan i will be making peanuts for doing the same work.
did you & FH discuss maybe you staying home when your children are very young?? then once they start school you can work 3 days a week. that could be an option too.

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That's, of course, the other problem. Salaries just aren't the same in LI. BUT FH and I both feel that that does not matter as long as I'm home or near the kids. It's funny, my hesitation is more about the environment than the money. Of course money matters but only to an extent. You have to be happy too.

If I lived in LI, I wouldn't want to work in the city. I hate commuting!!! Live and work in Queens - 15 mins away, and that is long enough for me!!!

Long commutes
crowded LIRR

is reason enough for me. I love working close to where I live.

I'd rather work in the city honestly. I own a house wayyy out east and commute 37 miles each way to Melville. It's a NIGHTMARE!

FH and I are considering moving to nassau eventually to be closer to our families and so I can get a job in Manhattan. THE LIE, Southern State and Northern State are all miseries. Trust me.

I've done both - lived in Queens and commuted to Garden City and Oceanside, and NYC for work, and now I live in south Nassau and commute to mid-town Manhattan every day for work (except on days I'm in court which would be Brooklyn/Bronx/Manhattan). All around, I thought working in LI was a better quality of life than working in NYC. Less stress, less commuting time but of course, the $$ was a little less too. There are always trade-offs, unfortunately.

If I could transfer to my firm's Melville office, I'd do it in a heartbeat. My commute would take only 40 minutes by car. Unfortunately law firm politics seems to disfavor transfer of attorneys to different offices. I hate the LIRR, hate the commuting, and really loved working on LI. Now that I have all the city action out of my system, I have zero desire to live in Manhattan - all the noise, pollution, traffic. etc. I personally don't find it appealing to live but I'd prefer to visit once in a while. The ironic part is that I live very close to Oceanside and before I was engaged to FH, my job was only 2 miles away from FH's house. Then I switched jobs to NYC (more $$) and ugh...I just wish I could be home in 20 min instead of 1 HOUR and 20 minutes.. Grrrr...

So I def echo the above comments - even though gas/mileage may be a pain, its a different story when you have children and a short commute.