What would you like folks to know about your neighborhood..

[Micro469]

I live in Brampton, just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto has 2.5 million people in it, Brampton has about 300,000 people. We are about 20 miles from Toronto and considered one of their bedroom communities. Not to mention Mississauga, Milton, Oakville,Port Credit, Woodbridge, Rexdale, Vaughn, Markham, Thornhill, Scarborough, Ajax, Pickering, Bowmanville.....These and numerous others were small towns surrounding Toronto, but now you can't tell where one ends and the other one starts. Used to be farms, cows, fields all around us, now its subdivision after subdivision. What with a major airport between us and Toronto, it seems every immigrant coming to Canada settles in this area. Thirty years ago, the population was made up of Dutch, English, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese/Japanese. Now it's about 80% Indian. I don't consider myself predjudiced, I can't afford to be, I am now a minority. There's a shopping mall on every corner, and multiple fast food places everywhere. But try to find a family run restaurant is near impossible. If you can't stand McD's your out of luck. Lakes,cottages and camping start about 2 hours north of us, but don't try to leave on a friday afternoon, you'll be spending 4/5 hours in traffic.To get to Toronto in the mornig will take you 1 to 2 hours in the morning, unless its raining ,snowing, an accident.....
Why do I live here? I was born here, my family is here,our jobs are here, and I'm getting too old to start over.

[Nitetimes]

Well, the roads suck, taxes are high, everything's expensive, the hunting bites, ATV's are soon to be outlawed, condo's and town houses are all the rage, drugs are the in thing, more people and businesses are moving out than in, the govenor's a sleazebag and did I mention the roads suck.
I used to think I'd never go anywhere else, now I can't figure out why I stayed.

[BILLYL]

I live in a suburbs of Washington DC - Gaithersburg, MD. We are about 20 miles north of DC. Have lived here - this time about 9 years - and have lived here before in the 70's for 6 years. We like the area and it is great that you can get on the Metro ( the subway) get downtown DC in about 40 minutes and visit the Smithsonian - and the cost in the Metro tix.

Bill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaithersburg

[asianflava]

Round Rock, TX

We're about 20 miles North of Austin along I-35, they call it "I" "H" 35 here for some reason.

Home of Dell computers, I pass it everyday.

Also the site of the "Sam Bass shootout". Train robber Sam Bass was shot here.

There was also a school bus vs. train accident here that had several children killed or injured. That is why school busses stop at all railroad crossings now.

Yes, there actually is a round rock here. It is a rock in the middle of a low water crossing. It was used as a landmark so you knew where you were on the trail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Rock,_Texas

[kirtsjc]

Mark Twain is attributed/alledged to have said:

"When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati - because they won't find out about it till seven years later..."

Nuff said.

However, Northern Kentucky is looking real good right now....

[anonymous2]

I live on the west side of Lancaster,Pa. in a small town called Mountville. The Amish are located on the east side of Lancaster. In our area farmers that want to retire can become millionares by selling farmland to developers. My taxes have tripled in the last 10 years,and the average home costs went from 90,000 ten years ago to 270,000 now. The roads suck,traffic bad,NY & Philadelphia attitude moved in,Amish now run the drugs{true},politicians are mafia,so is the governor,tourist kill people with their driving. Thinking of retiring soon ,and moving away,but after reading most of these posts ,where? Why do I stay,we live in a close knit neighborhood,and everyone watches out for everyone,black,white,hispanic,and we are crime free. I guess the high costs are worth the friendships. My neighbor was hit by a car in his yard ,by a lady using a cell phone. He is in bad shape,and the whole neighborhood is caring for his house,and kids while the mother is at the hospital with him. That's why we stay. We are not sure we could find the same thing anywhere else in the country.

pateardropper

[Ira]

I live on the west side of Lancaster,Pa.

SEND SHOE-FLY PIE!!!

And is Dutch Wonderland still open? My parents used to take me there when i was kid.

[oklahomajewel]

My neighbor was hit by a car in his yard ,by a lady using a cell phone. He is in bad shape,and the whole neighborhood is caring for his house,and kids while the mother is at the hospital with him. That's why we stay. We are not sure we could find the same thing anywhere else in the country.

pateardropper

You'd find that here in Oklahoma. I'm just about 10 miles east of downtown Oklahoma City and in my neighborhood , we still wave at passing cars, even if we don't know them.

Remember the Murrah bombing? We didn't gripe about the govt not taking care of us, and didn't wait for them too. We took care of ourselves.

ATV's....??? I was again not far from downtown Oklahoma City and there were some atv riders down by the river... no problem. Great hunting in the SE part of the state. Just have to put up with hot, humid summers.

Julie

[Chip]

Bill,, You already know about this area from your trips down south,,, we might call ya a "damn yankee" but its all in fun,,, course, iffin ya move to this area ya might have to put up with the Carolina's group of teardroppers,,,,

chipper

[anonymous2]

Hi all,

Ira ,Dutch wonderland is still here,but a bit run down,but still packing in the tourists. Shoo-fly pies sold by everyone.

Chip, Jonathan/Mariella has been trying to get us down there for years. I admit it is nice,but I see growth like that I am trying to get away from .Still thinking though.

Julie, It's nice to hear that there is still some old time America still left. We have even entertained moving to Europe,or Austrailia. We have friends that moved to Scotland,and it is very beautiful,but all my family is here.

pateardropper

[Gage]

Simple. There are too damn many people here already... stay the hell out..
I want the farms and orchards, not more kids and schools..... GO AWAY..!

I'm with you on this. When I moved to Palmdale in 1985 there were only 23,000. Now in 2006 there are 135,000 people. So when you think about moving to California, remember our EARTHQUAKES and stay where you are. Your much safer there.

Have a good day.

[Ira]

When I moved to Palmdale in 1985 there were only 23,000. Now in 2006 there are 135,000 people.

Haven't you guys ever heard of condoms?

[apratt]

Well lets see.... I from south Chehalis, Wa. . We are about half way between Seattle and Portland, an hour drive to the beach an hour drive or less to the mountians, where there are many beautifull campgrounds that are overcrowded all right if you can get there before noon friday. We have a population of only 7,500 people a town just north of us has about 15k people, not to bad (to you guys that have 20 or 30 or more population... UUUGGGHHH....to crowded!!!). Oh I forget we get 40 inches of rain!!!!

[JunkMan]

So when you think about moving to California, remember our EARTHQUAKES and stay where you are. Your much safer there.

I wish all of you Californians would stay out there, you're moving into the Black Hills and driving up the property prices!

When I moved to Rapid Cty 20 years ago, things werre pretty cheap, you could get a nice starter house for $30,000 - $40,000, land outside of town could be had for a couple of grand per acre. We had under 50,000 people in town. Now we're pushing 70,000 people, not counting the building boom that's going on in the outlying arreas, and you can hardly find a house for under $120,000, with the average home being closer to $200,000. Land outside of town now starts at $10,000 an acre, and goes up fast as you get closer to town or if it has a view.

Considering that wages SUCK here, I don't know how young people can afford to buy a house here. Property taxes on a $200,000 home run about $3000 per year.

BUT, we are right on the edge of the Black Hills, some of the prettiest land in the country. Mount Rushmore is 20 miles away, The Badlands about 50 miles, and Devils Tower less than 100. Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are just a easy days drive away. Camping, Fishing, Boating, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Snowmobiling, Hunting, and just about any other outdoor activity you might want to do are all great. Crime is not bad, and the people are friendly.

I've been here over 20 years, and have traveled (and lived) all over the US, but can honestly say that there's no where else that I would rather be.

[BrwBier]

We are from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Halfway between Milwaukee and Green Bay, right on the lake. Yes we are all Packer fans. Yes we eat cheese all the time. Their are probably as many cows as people in our county. We also live on the door step of 1/5th of all the fresh water on earth. My friends and I try to turn as much of it into beer as possible. If you are broke down or just need some help, just wait a minute, someone will be along, it's just the way it is. Did I mention you are all invited to visit (just call first)
Brwbier