Scoop on Hartford, CT??

[Buzzworthy]

I am in the same river as 2P but not the same boat.

My wife goes on internship as the last step of her acquisition of a PhD. This will happen in June or July. Her first choice is Hartford, CT, then Charleston, WV, then Portland, OR, then SLC. She is jazzed on Hartford and vice versa: they have called her several times just to chat and help her with finding housing and what not. It sounds pretty promising. She submits her list rankings on Feb 5 and she is "matched" on Feb 20. Once the matching process happens, we go to the best "match", and that is that, we go.

I ask about Hartford, as it looks very likely. I have my concerns of moving back to the east coast, especially starting over with a new job and not being in the heart of this amazing land.

From a Philly boy in HS and WV boy in college, I know what to expect for outdoor rec and biking and what not, but I would like to know about the area in general more, costs, jobs???, ......

Proximity to skiing would be great too, I know Im close, but do not have a good idea of time.

Do I want to move to the east coast again, no. Do I want to do what is in the best interest of my family, yes. Im I finally looking at the long term, yes. Do I want to get back to the west soon enough, yes.

Tell me your thoughts, WWMD?

[iceman]

Shoot the hostage.

Then shoot yourself.

Sorry, just kidding. All I really know is that you're right on I-91, so access to Vermont is easy. Dexter could give you acccurate drive times as he pases through Hartford every time he goes to VT. I've been there a few times, and it's been nice enough, but that's all I got. I think Kevin Dineen is from Hartford, you might try catching him on Powmag.

[gonzo]

yuh. straight shot up 91 ain't too bad at all. hartford has some nice stuff. it also has some less nice stuff...not as progressive as providence, but better than, say Lowell...

Honc can give you some good info, although he probably only remembers about 2 weeks of the 4 years he spent there. as he should.

[OldLarry]

Hartford itself isn;t the greatest, but there are some okay towns around it and good schools I'd imagine. Closest skiing (take that w/ a grain of salt) is 2 hours up 91 to SoVT; Flatton, Bromley, Magic. Furthur northin is killington/pico and on up to Stowe, Mad river glen, Jay Peak etc. etc..

[CantDog]

Its definately a good location for driving to moutains, Sugarloaf isnt even out range. But I dont have any nice things to say about Conn in general, never much liked the place. The only thing I know about Hartford is that everyone I talked to who goes to UHart says the place blows hard.

[dipstik]

These guys are being nice. You are far from any good skiing, which is something you are going to have to come to terms with. I'm 60 miles north of hartford and it takes me 2 hours to get to killington. According to mapquest it'll take you 3. I have a good map in front of me from the newspaper of all the ski mountains in NE with all their stats. The most vert in CT is this place called "mohawk mountain" with 650 vert. The second best is "mount southington" with 425 vert. They have 14 trails and 33% "expert" The best news is that it has 100% snowmaking, night skiing, and is only 20 minutes from hartford. You might find luck in MA too, that is if you don't want to make the full trip up north. Some names to run off: Butternut, Catamount, Jiminy Peak, Bershire East, Wachusett. All decent places with at least 1,000 vert, 100% snowmaking, and night skiing.

[iceman]

Where do you live, Dipstik?

[telecb]

I grew up in Glastonbury, which is just across the river from Hartford. CT isn't my favorite place in the world, but its not horribly far from skiing. Sugarbush/MRG are between 3 and 4 hours away, and Mt. Snow is only about 1.5 hours. There's actually some decent mountain biking in CT as well - check out Pig Iron Bicycle Works in Glasonbury for info. Good luck - like I said, CT isn't my favorite place, but there are some positives.

[snorkeldeep]

hartford is 4 hours from jay peak if 91 is clear.. only place worth skiing. southern vermont inbounds blows unless its dumping and midweek.

[yaze_bro]

Originally posted by gonzo
yuh. straight shot up 91 ain't too bad at all. hartford has some nice stuff. it also has some less nice stuff...not as progressive as providence, but better than, say Lowell...


what would be worse than Lowell? ok, besides Lawrence.....

[yaze_bro]

Originally posted by dipstik
These guys are being nice. You are far from any good skiing,


I agree.

[Twoplanker]

As you know, I don't know Jack about the East.

I think you should make sure she understands that you're going to be supportive of what she needs to do, regardless of where that takes you. Maybe someday it will pay off, she'll make the big bucks and she can be your sugga-momma while you stay at home. ;)

[rightcoast]

hartford...eh.
not terrible, but not really cool either.
i honestly havent spent much time there, im sure if you look around theres a lot of nightlife, etc.
as far as biking, hiking, im sure theres quite a bit of fun stuff not too far away. skiing, yeah, thats quite a ride to anything decent, as has been stated before. definately weekend trips, maybe a little night skiing with me at wachusett!

[hev]

Originally posted by telecb
I grew up in Glastonbury, which is just across the river from Hartford. CT isn't my favorite place in the world, but its not horribly far from skiing. Sugarbush/MRG are between 3 and 4 hours away, and Mt. Snow is only about 1.5 hours. There's actually some decent mountain biking in CT as well - check out Pig Iron Bicycle Works in Glasonbury for info. Good luck - like I said, CT isn't my favorite place, but there are some positives.

whoa! small world I was gonna write the exact same thing.

I grew up in G-bury also and used to race for the CVC/Pig Iron Team back in the day.

Also worth mentioning that your close to a decent airport for skiing.

[Honc]

Spent 4 years of college in beautiful H-town...

Put nicely, there are some very nice surrounding "suburbs," I don't know that you can call them that because Hartford is not much of an urb.

Hartford itself is a washed-up dump. The former insurance capital of the universe is now served by a few brokerage houses that cater to the few people left with any money. There is enough money generated through big firms like Aetna and the Hartford to keep the economy stagnant, but economic growth, and subsequent improvement in quality of life are not likely. Simsbury, West Hartford and Avon are starting to see a rise in business activity because it is a preferable work environment.

Where do you want to live (city or 'burbs). What kind of scene are you looking for? I know quite a bit about the area and am happy to assist. Hartford is a dump but there are a whole bunch of upsides and I am familiar with a lot of them. Feel free to PM me for more info.

[acostiga]

they've got a krispy kreme out in the suburbs, so you've got that going for ya. there's a place (http://hartford.about.com/library/weekly/aa072400a.htm) on the berlin turnpike which serves two-foot long hotdogs. i'm sure i've posted this before, but it's so, so worthy...

[Honc]

Doogie's was my hungover home away from home. Many great little places to grub on the Berlin D-bag. Even a place to grab lobster rolls...check out the Blue Lobster...or Brue Robster as my Asian-American friend used to say

[cumerritt]

damn, lots of g-bury dudes here. i also grew up in town and spent time at pig iron. you can make the push to stowe and MRG if you leave around 4AM and be there a little before the lifts open. there isnt much in the job market but it is beautiful country with some nice biking.

[snowsprite]

The Hartford area is quite nice and there's plenty of outdoor recreation. However, for living arrangements I agree...it's worth a little extra commute to get out of the city and live in one of the surrounding suburbs. Traffic is not great, but the highways in and out of Htfrd are multi lane so you won't be facing the commuter nightmare that we have in Southern Ffld county.

As an added plus...housing is quite cheap in the Hartford area compared to other Connecticut towns (southern). So you'll be getting a bargain there most likely.
Sprite

[Buzzworthy]

We would be looking to live out of town as we have two Great Danes. I know it will be a bit of a hike for decent skiing, but I'm trying to look at the big picture and the long run. I have heard a lot of "its a dump" and so on. That concerns me.

Upsides, what are they?? Job market for a salesperson??

And yes, the deal is that if I have to head back east, and she starts making some money, I get a winter off and play.

She would be at a consortium, 3 rotations. One at the VA, one at the University and one in a Private hospital. That will give here excellent experience and put her into a good job after.

Now what do I do for a job??

[Buzzworthy]

Originally posted by Twoplanker
As you know, I don't know Jack about the East.

I think you should make sure she understands that you're going to be supportive of what she needs to do, regardless of where that takes you. Maybe someday it will pay off, she'll make the big bucks and she can be your sugga-momma while you stay at home. ;)

This is why we did not get together with anyone this weekend, we were doing some serious talking about our options.

[Am Bill]

Put nicely, you can sell a TV in any store within city limits

[sea2ski]

If you're concerned about job prospects I would suggest living south of Hartford. Longer distance to get to skiing but more access to potential employment. Fairfield County is the 3rd largest area in US for Fortune 500 comapnies after NYC and Chicago. Of course that means housing is also really expensive, so you may not want to live there.

[snowsprite]

Well it's the "insurance capitol" so you could go to work for one of them. What kind of sales do you do? If you'd be up for a career change you could try working for the state, the state offices are in Hartford and you'd probably get shorter hours/more time off so you can enjoy life a bit. Just a thought...
Sprite


Originally posted by Buzzworthy

Now what do I do for a job??

[Buzzworthy]

I am the North American Rep for a company that makes rugged field computers (PDA's on steriods) for forestry, fisheries, all that jazz. I have a forestry degree and have 5 years sales experience.

Insurance is the last thing I would want to get into.

[iceman]

Ummmm....Hartford is in North America.

[Odin]

HartFord?
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics43/1987-gary-hart-enquirer.jpg http://www.newgenevacenter.org/portrait/ford-grld.jpg

[snowsprite]

Forestry degree...what about something in Environmental Protection? The agency is in Hartford and field offices abound. There are lots of state forests and recreation grounds. That a possibility for you?
Sprite

[snowsprite]

LOL Odin! Veeerrrry corny--I love it! That took me like 5 minutes to process though...it is Monday afternoon you know.
:p

Sprite

[iceman]

Originally posted by iceman
Ummmm....Hartford is in North America.

[crickets chirping]

By which I mean, why not sell the things from Hartford?

[Buzzworthy]

Originally posted by snowsprite
Forestry degree...what about something in Environmental Protection? The agency is in Hartford and field offices abound. There are lots of state forests and recreation grounds. That a possibility for you?
Sprite

Now we are onto something!!! I likey, more, more. :D

[Buzzworthy]

Originally posted by iceman
[crickets chirping]

By which I mean, why not sell the things from Hartford?

Yes I got ya Ice. I have thought of that already. Once this all happens, I am going to see if I can do what I do from a satellite office. There is a slim chance, but they do spend over $50,000 a year sending people out east. They could save money and keep me out there. THis is something I will explore at a later time, but I gotta see what all happens first.

And I had a 1.5 hour meeting, and I heard crickets in there too. :rolleyes: More like Peanut's "Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, blah, blah, blah."

[dipstik]

Originally posted by iceman
Where do you live, Dipstik?


a small town right outside exciting Worcester...about 15-20 minutes from Wachusett. It's actually longer for me to get to most places in VT because I have to shoot way west on 2 before picking up 91 north. Actually, I'm just pretending to know what I'm talking about, the few times I do go up north its usually not me driving. But yeah.

[iceman]

Smart kid. Maybe a little obnoxious, but smart.

[Buzzworthy]

Damn, after the day here, I'm ready to bolt. God pissed in everybody's cornflakes today. I'm out!!

[snowsprite]

State jobs are good dude!

Department of Environmental Protection Jobs page (http://dep.state.ct.us/fss/hr/jobop.htm)

state jobs and more (http://www.ct.gov/ctportal/taxonomy/ct_taxonomy.asp?DLN=27188&ctportalNav=|27188|&ctportalPNavCtr=|27255|27259|#27259)

Good luck
:)

[Steven S. Dallas]

You might try and talk to someone from the very excellent Yale School of Forestry about what employment is available in-state. You probably thought of that already.