RE: [UnschoolingDiscussion] OT: great places to live/homeschool - MA, NH, VT
cmkerin
My opinion on each of your questions from the perspective of living in Mass.
1. From what I know homeschooling in Mass. is pretty easy. I've had it
a little rougher than other HS families I know of in other towns locally (it goes by the local school
super how much the want to interpret the law) but I still think dealing with the local
school has been easy and unstressful, except for being unprepared for my first school year
and the paperwork they sent me which I thought looked very intimidating. That's what it
was though just intimidating not tough at all. There are enough unschoolers here that you
don't have to feel isolated but you *have* own a second car unless you live in the city
which is even more expensive than living in the suburbs and having a second car probably.
Since living here in the eastern part of Mass. is so expensive though having a second car
isn't easy on one income, unless dh is college educated and gets a high paying job
close to Boston where he has to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for miles and miles every
work day. The self employed homeschool families I know of do seem to do ok but buying a
house would be a problem for a new homeschooler moving into the area imo. Most homeschoolers
I know here own their homes and bought them before the house prices started skyrocketing.
2. You can be relaxed here and no one really bothers you if you homeschool but imo there
is the feeling among nonhomeschoolers and neighbors that both parents should work, not
homeschool, so you can afford the SUV,BIG house and after school activities.
I didn't feel like it was this way the more West you go in Mass. but I've never lived
in another part of Mass.
Dh and I were seriously thinking of moving to Brattleboro, Vermont. For all the reasons
you're looking for. My RI dad called Brattleboro Battleboro. It's full of homeschoolers,
hippies, co-ops, 7 used bookstores, indie films, nudist campground ect. It's like no other
town I've ever been too here in the states. It actually reminds me of the UK in that people
dress, act, and do what they feel. Tattoos and multiple piercings are not required but a
lot of people there in Brattleboro did seem to have them. ;o) A christian homeschooler
I know in NH won't go to Brattleboro.
NH seems to have a lot of christian homeschool groups. All the homeschoolers
I knew from Mass. who moved to NH either stopped homeschooling or joined
christian homeschool groups because they couldn't find any others. The groups do seem
to have alot of activities, and the former Mass. homeschoolers seem happy they moved
to the country with the slower life and much cheaper housing.
3. The town center of Brattleboro is full of artists. Dh and I would love to move there
but people do seem to need to be self employed and I'm not sure they need another used
bookstore. <g> I don't remember a British grocery store. The town always
had many tourists when we visited a few times last year so I think such a shop could do ok.
HTH,
Joyce
-----Original Message-----
From: Olga [mailto:mccluskieo@...]
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 10:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] sort of OT: great places to
live/homeschool
I have a question for everyone in the northeast and canada. Me and
dh have decided that we want to relocate. Huge decsion for us!
Right now we are in the preliminary stages of getting the business
ready to sell, figuring out how his parents will survive or if they
should come with us and of course where our business would do well.
We are considering the northeast (narrowed down to VA, MD, DE, CT,
ME, MA, PA, NH, VT and even considering PEI in Canada.
1: How are these states for homeschooling, obviously unschooling in
terms of being relaxed?
2. We really want to live a more relaxed, laid back lifestyle. Any
recommendations on cities that have an appreciation for that instead
of what car you drive? (we live in Boca Raton, FL now pretty much a
place of excess and we have had our fill)
3. completely OT: We run a british grocery business and bakery. We
would like to continue that and specialize in teas and such. Anyone
know any places that are needing of such a thing or would appreciate
artisan baking and the such.
Any info would be appreciated since we don't kow much about the
specifics of those places. THANK YOU!
Olga :)
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1. From what I know homeschooling in Mass. is pretty easy. I've had it
a little rougher than other HS families I know of in other towns locally (it goes by the local school
super how much the want to interpret the law) but I still think dealing with the local
school has been easy and unstressful, except for being unprepared for my first school year
and the paperwork they sent me which I thought looked very intimidating. That's what it
was though just intimidating not tough at all. There are enough unschoolers here that you
don't have to feel isolated but you *have* own a second car unless you live in the city
which is even more expensive than living in the suburbs and having a second car probably.
Since living here in the eastern part of Mass. is so expensive though having a second car
isn't easy on one income, unless dh is college educated and gets a high paying job
close to Boston where he has to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for miles and miles every
work day. The self employed homeschool families I know of do seem to do ok but buying a
house would be a problem for a new homeschooler moving into the area imo. Most homeschoolers
I know here own their homes and bought them before the house prices started skyrocketing.
2. You can be relaxed here and no one really bothers you if you homeschool but imo there
is the feeling among nonhomeschoolers and neighbors that both parents should work, not
homeschool, so you can afford the SUV,BIG house and after school activities.
I didn't feel like it was this way the more West you go in Mass. but I've never lived
in another part of Mass.
Dh and I were seriously thinking of moving to Brattleboro, Vermont. For all the reasons
you're looking for. My RI dad called Brattleboro Battleboro. It's full of homeschoolers,
hippies, co-ops, 7 used bookstores, indie films, nudist campground ect. It's like no other
town I've ever been too here in the states. It actually reminds me of the UK in that people
dress, act, and do what they feel. Tattoos and multiple piercings are not required but a
lot of people there in Brattleboro did seem to have them. ;o) A christian homeschooler
I know in NH won't go to Brattleboro.
NH seems to have a lot of christian homeschool groups. All the homeschoolers
I knew from Mass. who moved to NH either stopped homeschooling or joined
christian homeschool groups because they couldn't find any others. The groups do seem
to have alot of activities, and the former Mass. homeschoolers seem happy they moved
to the country with the slower life and much cheaper housing.
3. The town center of Brattleboro is full of artists. Dh and I would love to move there
but people do seem to need to be self employed and I'm not sure they need another used
bookstore. <g> I don't remember a British grocery store. The town always
had many tourists when we visited a few times last year so I think such a shop could do ok.
HTH,
Joyce
-----Original Message-----
From: Olga [mailto:mccluskieo@...]
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 10:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] sort of OT: great places to
live/homeschool
I have a question for everyone in the northeast and canada. Me and
dh have decided that we want to relocate. Huge decsion for us!
Right now we are in the preliminary stages of getting the business
ready to sell, figuring out how his parents will survive or if they
should come with us and of course where our business would do well.
We are considering the northeast (narrowed down to VA, MD, DE, CT,
ME, MA, PA, NH, VT and even considering PEI in Canada.
1: How are these states for homeschooling, obviously unschooling in
terms of being relaxed?
2. We really want to live a more relaxed, laid back lifestyle. Any
recommendations on cities that have an appreciation for that instead
of what car you drive? (we live in Boca Raton, FL now pretty much a
place of excess and we have had our fill)
3. completely OT: We run a british grocery business and bakery. We
would like to continue that and specialize in teas and such. Anyone
know any places that are needing of such a thing or would appreciate
artisan baking and the such.
Any info would be appreciated since we don't kow much about the
specifics of those places. THANK YOU!
Olga :)
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
[email protected]
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Annie
Not far from the Brattleboro area is the Monadnock Region in NH with my
biggest recommendation being Peterborough.
Peterborough is very much "Our Town" and has lots of music and arts
opportunities. It is close enough for day trips and there is TONS to do
for day trips in the surrounding area. It has a lovely downtown area
with lots of neat specialty shops and unique boutiques. This is a town
that has so far resisted most of the trappings of homogenized America --
no fast food restaurants, for example. I would bet your British
specialities/artisan baking would be well accepted.
I agree with the comment that most homeschooling groups in NH are
Christian-based, however, there is a secular, all-inclusive
homeschooling group, Monadnock Homeschoolers, that has been going strong
over the last few years, even though it's not formally organized by any
stretch of the imagination. I'm not sure how unschooling would fit
specifically with the requirements of the state which are fairly loose
and there are portfolio review teachers out there who are
unschooling-friendly. I will put in this disclaimer: I haven't looked
into it too hard as my sons aren't old enough to require registration
and we're moving to CA next Spring to be closer to family, I'd be happy
to send you my booklet on homeschooling requirements in the state, if
you'd like to look it over though.
Prices for housing in the area are going up, but a lovely home on a good
piece of land can be had in the area for under $300K with prices
generally starting around $150K.
Links to check:
http://www.ci.peterborough.nh.us/ot
http://www.monadnockhs.org
How exciting to be able to pick up and do this! If in your place, I'd
probably choose to be up in the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia area -- there
are some lovely pieces of property right on the water for inexpensive
prices even in Canadian dollars to be had.
Annie
cmkerin wrote:
biggest recommendation being Peterborough.
Peterborough is very much "Our Town" and has lots of music and arts
opportunities. It is close enough for day trips and there is TONS to do
for day trips in the surrounding area. It has a lovely downtown area
with lots of neat specialty shops and unique boutiques. This is a town
that has so far resisted most of the trappings of homogenized America --
no fast food restaurants, for example. I would bet your British
specialities/artisan baking would be well accepted.
I agree with the comment that most homeschooling groups in NH are
Christian-based, however, there is a secular, all-inclusive
homeschooling group, Monadnock Homeschoolers, that has been going strong
over the last few years, even though it's not formally organized by any
stretch of the imagination. I'm not sure how unschooling would fit
specifically with the requirements of the state which are fairly loose
and there are portfolio review teachers out there who are
unschooling-friendly. I will put in this disclaimer: I haven't looked
into it too hard as my sons aren't old enough to require registration
and we're moving to CA next Spring to be closer to family, I'd be happy
to send you my booklet on homeschooling requirements in the state, if
you'd like to look it over though.
Prices for housing in the area are going up, but a lovely home on a good
piece of land can be had in the area for under $300K with prices
generally starting around $150K.
Links to check:
http://www.ci.peterborough.nh.us/ot
http://www.monadnockhs.org
How exciting to be able to pick up and do this! If in your place, I'd
probably choose to be up in the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia area -- there
are some lovely pieces of property right on the water for inexpensive
prices even in Canadian dollars to be had.
Annie
cmkerin wrote:
> My opinion on each of your questions from the perspective of living in[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Mass.
>
> 1. From what I know homeschooling in Mass. is pretty easy. I've had it
> a little rougher than other HS families I know of in other towns
> locally (it goes by the local school
> super how much the want to interpret the law) but I still think
> dealing with the local
> school has been easy and unstressful, except for being unprepared for
> my first school year
> and the paperwork they sent me which I thought looked very
> intimidating. That's what it
> was though just intimidating not tough at all. There are enough
> unschoolers here that you
> don't have to feel isolated but you *have* own a second car unless you
> live in the city
> which is even more expensive than living in the suburbs and having a
> second car probably.
> Since living here in the eastern part of Mass. is so expensive though
> having a second car
> isn't easy on one income, unless dh is college educated and gets a
> high paying job
> close to Boston where he has to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for
> miles and miles every
> work day. The self employed homeschool families I know of do seem to
> do ok but buying a
> house would be a problem for a new homeschooler moving into the area
> imo. Most homeschoolers
> I know here own their homes and bought them before the house prices
> started skyrocketing.
>
> 2. You can be relaxed here and no one really bothers you if you
> homeschool but imo there
> is the feeling among nonhomeschoolers and neighbors that both parents
> should work, not
> homeschool, so you can afford the SUV,BIG house and after school
> activities.
>
> I didn't feel like it was this way the more West you go in Mass. but
> I've never lived
> in another part of Mass.
>
> Dh and I were seriously thinking of moving to Brattleboro, Vermont.
> For all the reasons
> you're looking for. My RI dad called Brattleboro Battleboro. It's
> full of homeschoolers,
> hippies, co-ops, 7 used bookstores, indie films, nudist campground
> ect. It's like no other
> town I've ever been too here in the states. It actually reminds me of
> the UK in that people
> dress, act, and do what they feel. Tattoos and multiple piercings are
> not required but a
> lot of people there in Brattleboro did seem to have them. ;o) A
> christian homeschooler
> I know in NH won't go to Brattleboro.
>
> NH seems to have a lot of christian homeschool groups. All the
> homeschoolers
> I knew from Mass. who moved to NH either stopped homeschooling or joined
> christian homeschool groups because they couldn't find any others.
> The groups do seem
> to have alot of activities, and the former Mass. homeschoolers seem
> happy they moved
> to the country with the slower life and much cheaper housing.
>
>
> 3. The town center of Brattleboro is full of artists. Dh and I would
> love to move there
> but people do seem to need to be self employed and I'm not sure they
> need another used
> bookstore. <g> I don't remember a British grocery store. The town
> always
> had many tourists when we visited a few times last year so I think
> such a shop could do ok.
>
>
>
>
> HTH,
> Joyce
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Olga [mailto:mccluskieo@...]
> Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 10:44 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] sort of OT: great places to
> live/homeschool
>
>
> I have a question for everyone in the northeast and canada. Me and
> dh have decided that we want to relocate. Huge decsion for us!
> Right now we are in the preliminary stages of getting the business
> ready to sell, figuring out how his parents will survive or if they
> should come with us and of course where our business would do well.
> We are considering the northeast (narrowed down to VA, MD, DE, CT,
> ME, MA, PA, NH, VT and even considering PEI in Canada.
>
> 1: How are these states for homeschooling, obviously unschooling in
> terms of being relaxed?
> 2. We really want to live a more relaxed, laid back lifestyle. Any
> recommendations on cities that have an appreciation for that instead
> of what car you drive? (we live in Boca Raton, FL now pretty much a
> place of excess and we have had our fill)
> 3. completely OT: We run a british grocery business and bakery. We
> would like to continue that and specialize in teas and such. Anyone
> know any places that are needing of such a thing or would appreciate
> artisan baking and the such.
>
> Any info would be appreciated since we don't kow much about the
> specifics of those places. THANK YOU!
>
> Olga :)
>
>
>
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Nicolas and Madeline Donck; Rains
At 08:31 PM 10/11/2003 -0400, you wrote:
in Western Mass. in "the happy valley" as it is sometimes called. Western
Mass. was a great place to live. My stepfather is living there now and
moved there from Cambridge to get away from the things you seem to want to
leave. There are a lot of small and larger, village-y like towns and five
major colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, UMass and My. Holyoke). I lived
in both Northampton and in Amherst and there is a large college pop. but
the locals have a firm standing. Unless it's changed a lot, you don't feel
overrun by the college pop. I gave my step-father a book named _Home
Town_ by Tracy Kidder, that is about Northampton. Reading it convinced my
step-father's wife (my mother is no longer alive) to check out the area. I
have read it and don't know exactly what did this, but it is a good
book. There are a lot of possibilities in that area and it is beautiful;
mountains, valleys, great swimming watering holes in hidden bits of the
forests, a huge variety of culture and of people... I would love to move
back there. I don't know about the local hschooling laws there though.
Madeline
>****I didn't feel like it was this way the more West you go in Mass. butI lived in Boston as a child and teenager and years later went to college
>I've never lived
>in another part of Mass. ****
in Western Mass. in "the happy valley" as it is sometimes called. Western
Mass. was a great place to live. My stepfather is living there now and
moved there from Cambridge to get away from the things you seem to want to
leave. There are a lot of small and larger, village-y like towns and five
major colleges (Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, UMass and My. Holyoke). I lived
in both Northampton and in Amherst and there is a large college pop. but
the locals have a firm standing. Unless it's changed a lot, you don't feel
overrun by the college pop. I gave my step-father a book named _Home
Town_ by Tracy Kidder, that is about Northampton. Reading it convinced my
step-father's wife (my mother is no longer alive) to check out the area. I
have read it and don't know exactly what did this, but it is a good
book. There are a lot of possibilities in that area and it is beautiful;
mountains, valleys, great swimming watering holes in hidden bits of the
forests, a huge variety of culture and of people... I would love to move
back there. I don't know about the local hschooling laws there though.
Madeline
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Olga
I want to really THANK everyone who gave me input here (and please
feel free to give more!!!!!!!!) I have written down all the
suggested areas and that should really help get us started.
It is very exciting to finally be able to do this. I don't know how
long it will take to actually make the move. I really do want to
find something more peaceful! If anyone things of any other areas,
please let me know. You have all been wonderful!!
Olga :)
feel free to give more!!!!!!!!) I have written down all the
suggested areas and that should really help get us started.
It is very exciting to finally be able to do this. I don't know how
long it will take to actually make the move. I really do want to
find something more peaceful! If anyone things of any other areas,
please let me know. You have all been wonderful!!
Olga :)