Does anyone live in Derry, Auburn or Hooksett?

[Raineyrocks]

We're just south of Derry (so I am closer to work in MA) - Manchester is 20 minutes away and Concord is about 40 -- not too bad.

We drove to some other places too now that you said south of Derry, it made me remember.  I drove through Hampstead, Plaistow, and Rick wanted to go to Salem but the traffic started making me a little nervous so we didn't make it that far.

I've read about the great concerts in Manchester and my 17 yr. old daughter would love being that close also aren't there more homeschooling events in these areas?  I think I read a while back that you homeschool your kids, right? 

It's a shame I really like our house and the privacy but 4 hours everyday to go to work is too much for Rick.  Before we moved here he drove to Philadelphia from Delmarva but he stayed there for 4 days to work so he only drove about 7 hours a week.  My 2 little kids have never even known what it was like to have daddy home every night, now he's so tired by the time he gets home but he still tries to make himself stay up to spend time with them.

If  you have any ideas of certain areas that we might want to check out please let me know.   

[cathleeninnh]

Why don't you let me help you divest some stuff and organize what's left, then you can consider a wider range of options?

Cathleen

[Raineyrocks]

Why don't you let me help you divest some stuff and organize what's left, then you can consider a wider range of options?

Cathleen

Do you mean move in only 1 truckload this time?    Seriously though how would that give me a wider range of options?

[toowm]

We drove to some other places too now that you said south of Derry, it made me remember.  I drove through Hampstead, Plaistow, and Rick wanted to go to Salem but the traffic started making me a little nervous so we didn't make it that far.

I've read about the great concerts in Manchester and my 17 yr. old daughter would love being that close also aren't there more homeschooling events in these areas?  I think I read a while back that you homeschool your kids, right? 

It's a shame I really like our house and the privacy but 4 hours everyday to go to work is too much for Rick.  Before we moved here he drove to Philadelphia from Delmarva but he stayed there for 4 days to work so he only drove about 7 hours a week.  My 2 little kids have never even known what it was like to have daddy home every night, now he's so tired by the time he gets home but he still tries to make himself stay up to spend time with them.

If  you have any ideas of certain areas that we might want to check out please let me know.   

There are a number of homeschooling events; several farmers in the area homeschool, and can host pretty big gatherings. In southeast NH, there is usually a big tradeoff between privacy and price -- the nicer properties / quieter areas are expensive, although prices are lower than when we bought 2 years ago. The farther east you go from 93, the more rural things get, but you add commute time through Derry or Salem. I tried to post Rockingham county towns below.

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[cathleeninnh]

Life is simpler, easier, cheaper and more peaceful when pared down to the core issues. An obvious example would be the continuing cost of keeping, storing, moving and space for a hobby or part time business that doesn't fit into your current lifestyle, doesn't pay enough, or doesn't support your core values. Resources are precious and shouldn't be wasted. Things going unused when they could be put to use by someone else, is wasteful. Square footage, hours in a day, love are all precious and shouldn't be wasted.

Physical and mental stuff clutters up our lives getting in the way of what is important. Three bathrooms take more cleaning time than one or two. Heating 2 or three extra rooms all winter that only get used when relatives are in town is costly. Shuttling between jobs and children's activities is costly in terms of money, time and sanity.

Carefully weigh the costs of your life. Are the move and changes being considered taking you closer to your big picture goal of security or just a bandaid on one problem?

Cathleen

[Raineyrocks]

Thanks toowm!

[Raineyrocks]

Cathleen,

I agree with you I need to Feng Shui, (sp?), big time!   In regards to moving, Rick said he really likes his job but doesn't want to drive 20 hours a week anymore so that pretty much seals the decision about moving.

Right now we're paying a big mortgage on a 2600 square ft. house so if we can sell it we definitely are going to downsize the square footage and hopefully the mortgage price too.  I don't know if you remember me telling you that I really thought my oldest daughter and grandsons would move up here with us that's why we went with the bigger house.  I've kind of given up on them moving here so I have to face that.
Since Jon, (our 18 yr.old) left too, we're down to 3 kids and 1 is 17 so we'll probably be down to 2 kids before I know it so now if the 2 girls have to share a bedroom they'll have to adjust.  I would like to be closer to more events too.
If we do sell this house and buy a smaller one, want to help me go through my stuff?  You can be pretty persuasive when it comes to decluttering.

[cathleeninnh]

I will gladly help. And you should support Rick if he really likes the job. I know there are places out there that would be a step forward for you. I have started my project to move north and you can start yours to move south. Maybe we will meet in the middle and be neighbors! We are considering Barnstead, but that probably isn't close enough to I93 for Rick.

Cathleen

[Raineyrocks]

I will gladly help. And you should support Rick if he really likes the job. I know there are places out there that would be a step forward for you. I have started my project to move north and you can start yours to move south. Maybe we will meet in the middle and be neighbors! We are considering Barnstead, but that probably isn't close enough to I93 for Rick.

Cathleen

Thanks Cathleen!  I'll help you too if you want.  Barnstead is a little up there, it is right on the tip of the circle that Rick made around the "check these out" places on the map.  If we were neighbors I'd have to sneak in any crap I bought at yard sales when your sleeping so you don't yell at me about clutter.

I asked Rick if a Tsunami could wipe us out in southern New Hampshire and he told me to stop worrying about that stuff but when you think about it the higher up the better unless you have jets flying all over and in between the mountains and they crash into your house.

[JonM]

Seabrook is awfully close to Newburyport... taxes are a bit lower because of the power plant, but not what they were supposed to be.

[MaineShark]

I asked Rick if a Tsunami could wipe us out in southern New Hampshire and he told me to stop worrying about that stuff but when you think about it the higher up the better unless you have jets flying all over and in between the mountains and they crash into your house.

Heck, even some place like Northwood would chop off more than half his commute, and be safe from Tsunamis!

Joe

[Raineyrocks]

Seabrook is awfully close to Newburyport... taxes are a bit lower because of the power plant, but not what they were supposed to be.

I shall check it out, thanks!  What power plant, though?

[cathleeninnh]

With the number of floods we have had the last couple of years, I have looked very closely at obvious water runoff spots and newly repaired roads. If I live near Rainey, I have to worry about earthquakes. My personal fear has always been tornados. I like New Hampshire!

Cathleen

[MaineShark]

What power plant, though?

Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant

Joe

[Raineyrocks]

I asked Rick if a Tsunami could wipe us out in southern New Hampshire and he told me to stop worrying about that stuff but when you think about it the higher up the better unless you have jets flying all over and in between the mountains and they crash into your house.

Heck, even some place like Northwood would chop off more than half his commute, and be safe from Tsunamis!

Joe

I looked up real estate online for Northwood and it's really expensive but maybe a realitor would be able to find more.  Right now he is trying  to put resumes out because he really likes where we are but it's a hard choice for him because he really likes his job too.  I'm just going with the flow because ultimately I think it should be up to Rick and I love adventures.  When we started going out he would tell me where we were going all the time and finally I just said, "don't tell me, just take me there."