Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me this week
on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
We'll see if a pic alone is able to let readers figure it out:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2026/Zillow_dupe_oops.jpg>
-hh
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me this
week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
We'll see if a pic alone is able to let readers figure it out:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2026/Zillow_dupe_oops.jpg>
-hh
Hugh that is so f...ng pitiful.
Bragging about having to live in a tiny home in a congested area ...
when in other parts of the country ~$535k will buy you this:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9910-Culpepper-Dr-Carmel- IN-46032/73272204_zpid/
or this
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2189-Scarlet-Oak-Dr-Avon- IN-46123/85313390_zpid/
and your property taxes will be about half Denville's.
Plus your cost of living will likely be lower....and 'cost of living' isn't the same metric as 'quality of life'.
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me this
week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
We'll see if a pic alone is able to let readers figure it out:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2026/Zillow_dupe_oops.jpg>
-hh
Hugh that is so f...ng pitiful.
No, what's pitiful is why you tried to bring it up in the first place.
Bragging about having to live in a tiny home in a congested area ...
"Brag"?-a Got cite?
Because inventing other people's statements is blatantly dishonest.
when in other parts of the country ~$535k will buy you this:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9910-Culpepper-Dr-Carmel-
IN-46032/73272204_zpid/
Except that square footage isn't everything.-a For example, a two story elevation is a net negative for ease of retiring in place; a Ranch is superior.
Plus "location, location, location":-a is it really quiet location when
its located just ~700m from an Interstate Highway?
or this
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2189-Scarlet-Oak-Dr-Avon-
IN-46123/85313390_zpid/
Again two stories tall again; a net minus for aging in place.
And just how close is it to that "International" airport?-a Just five
miles as the Cessna flies: if we thought interstate highways are noisy, being near an international airport's flight paths isn't an improvement.
and your property taxes will be about half Denville's.
So?-a A difference of ~$3K/yr in property taxes isn't much, particularly since there's offsetting higher expenses too:-a just how quickly will a
mere $3K property tax savings get eaten away by the higher commercial airline flights to international destinations?
Plus your cost of living will likely be lower....and 'cost of living' isn't the same metric as 'quality of life'.
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning mistake.
-hh
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me this
week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
We'll see if a pic alone is able to let readers figure it out:
<https://huntzinger.com/photo/2026/Zillow_dupe_oops.jpg>
-hh
Hugh that is so f...ng pitiful.
No, what's pitiful is why you tried to bring it up in the first place.
Bragging about having to live in a tiny home in a congested area ...
"Brag"?-a Got cite?
Because inventing other people's statements is blatantly dishonest.
when in other parts of the country ~$535k will buy you this:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9910-Culpepper-Dr-Carmel-
IN-46032/73272204_zpid/
Except that square footage isn't everything.-a For example, a two story
elevation is a net negative for ease of retiring in place; a Ranch is
superior.
Plus "location, location, location":-a is it really quiet location when
its located just ~700m from an Interstate Highway?
or this
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2189-Scarlet-Oak-Dr-Avon-
IN-46123/85313390_zpid/
Again two stories tall again; a net minus for aging in place.
And just how close is it to that "International" airport?-a Just five
miles as the Cessna flies: if we thought interstate highways are
noisy, being near an international airport's flight paths isn't an
improvement.
and your property taxes will be about half Denville's.
So?-a A difference of ~$3K/yr in property taxes isn't much,
particularly since there's offsetting higher expenses too:-a just how
quickly will a mere $3K property tax savings get eaten away by the
higher commercial airline flights to international destinations?
Plus your cost of living will likely be lower....and 'cost of living' isn't the same metric as 'quality of life'.
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to mandatory
layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use just
one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find single
story homes galore at similar prices.
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but will
be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15 minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone.
Multiple
Chinese, Korean, sushi, Italian, Mexican, pizza, steak house, ice cream/ casual dining, Indian, Thai, seafood, and more offerings are all within
a 5-15 minute drive. Dining out is NOT an issue.
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these days.
You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have traveled as
much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as it once was.
International airfare is not material to our cost of living, and never
was even when we were traveling more.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less than
30 minutes away.
Two professional symphony venues are less than 30 minutes away. We
attend 20+ concerts a year. Average ticket prices are $50-60 for good
seats. NY Philharmonic tickets are $100-300. And you have to get there
from NJ...
Professional theater? We attend about 10 plays a year, all venues within
a 30 minute drive.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some of
the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high here.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never wantShorter term, yup. Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC too,
to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when I worked
in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as I could.
Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me this
week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to mandatory
layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use just
one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find single
story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what you
think is important.
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but will
be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another Mexican (El Rodeo) if
the pedestrian path is clear.
Multiple Chinese, Korean, sushi, Italian, Mexican, pizza, steak house,
ice cream/ casual dining, Indian, Thai, seafood, and more offerings
are all within a 5-15 minute drive. Dining out is NOT an issue.
It was merely one illustration.
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited the
driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a goalpost move, because there's always more when the search radius is increased.
Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course
there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to minimize it.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these
days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as it
once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
International airfare is not material to our cost of living, and never
was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less than
30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
If I really wanted to fly a Cessna around too, I have three airport
choices within ten miles, plus a couple more in roughly the distance
you're trying to brag about to your's.
Two professional symphony venues are less than 30 minutes away. We
attend 20+ concerts a year. Average ticket prices are $50-60 for good
seats. NY Philharmonic tickets are $100-300. And you have to get there
from NJ...
Merely your personal hobby choice.
NY isn't the sole choice, as there's four groups within 30 minutes too.
Plus I don't see why $100-$300/ticket should be an issue.-a Indeed, the
last Philharmonic we attended (less than six months ago), the tickets
were $541 each.-a FYI, that was actually a good value because {reasons}.
Professional theater? We attend about 10 plays a year, all venues
within a 30 minute drive.
Once again, merely your personal hobby choice.
There's two local theaters that we've attended performances at, at just
~15 minutes and ~30 minutes distant.-a Plus multiple small community
groups and of course, there's Broadway & off-Broadway in NYC too.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get away
from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some of
the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never want
to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when I worked
in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as I could.
Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC too,
and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the parallel
that you're attempting with much further north...
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me this >>>>>> week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to mandatory
layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use just
one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find
single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what you
think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your
travel destinations.
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but
will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once again,
you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of life.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake
House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Cafe,
Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another Mexican (El
Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2 miles ...
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited the
driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a goalpost move,
because there's always more when the search radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course
there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was
that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to
minimize it.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these
days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as it
once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense the proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that has us
staying here as long as possible.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply to youInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and
never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
but not us.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less
than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is to you.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get away
from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some of
the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life locations.
I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one with me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria cited in Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal preferences.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never
want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when I
worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as I
could. Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC
too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking
responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into happiness?
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me
this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to mandatory >>>>> layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are
less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher? >>>>>
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use
just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning
mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find
single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what you
think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your
travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high
degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop offerings are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but
will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once
again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of life.
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?-a Hardly.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake
House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Cafe,
Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another Mexican
(El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited the
driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a goalpost
move, because there's always more when the search radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course
there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was
that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to
minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these
days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as it
once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense the
proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that has us
staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply toInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and
never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition to
our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the way there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less
than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is to you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others by.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get away
from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some
of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high
here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life locations.
I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one with me, with
citations. Of course you may not like the criteria cited in Carmel's
rankings as they may not match you personal preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few for
what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high
weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important
elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle services,
Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never
want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when I
worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as I
could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC
too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what decade?
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking
responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try to be judgemental of others.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one to
be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a retiree?
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me >>>>>>>> this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to
mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are
less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher? >>>>>>
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use
just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning >>>>>> mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find
single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what
you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your
travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high
degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international is
merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop offerings are
profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but
will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once
again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of life.
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?-a Hardly.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake
House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery
Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another
Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited the
driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a goalpost
move, because there's always more when the search radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course
there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was
that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to
minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original five
minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these
days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as
it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense the
proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that has us
staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply toInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and
never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition to
our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the way there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less
than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is to
you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others by.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get away >>>>> from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some
of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high
here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one with
me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria cited in
Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few for
what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high
weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important
elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle services,
Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We have
senior transportation services....
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on
criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never
want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when
I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as
I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC
too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst and
most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States, particularly
near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield Interchange: The complex junction
where I-95, I-395, and I-495 meet, causing heavy merge-density and
sudden slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC Corridor: Users on Reddit express
a consensus that this stretch is perpetually over capacity due to a mix
of local commuters and long-distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield home.
It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking
responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try to
be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based on information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in?
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided that,
not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing and decided
to stay and accept it.
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one to
be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a retiree?
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me >>>>>>>>> this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to
mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are >>>>>>> less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even >>>>>>> higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use >>>>>>> just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning >>>>>>> mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find
single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what
you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your
travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high
degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international
is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop offerings
are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But not the sole criteria.But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but >>>>>> will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once
again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of life. >>>
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?-a Hardly. >>>
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone. >>>>>
House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery
Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another
Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited
the driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a
goalpost move, because there's always more when the search radius
is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course >>>>> there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was >>>>> that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to
minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original
five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the
criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these >>>>>> days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as >>>>>> it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense the
proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that has us
staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply toInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and
never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition
to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the way
there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less >>>>>> than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is to
you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others by.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get
away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some >>>>>> of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high >>>>>> here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one with
me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria cited in
Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few for
what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high
weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important
elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle services,
Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We have
senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on "best
place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior services which
meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep down actually sucked.
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those years, and
it became a lesson learned we apply to our own retirement planning.
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on
criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never >>>>>> want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when >>>>>> I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as >>>>>> I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC >>>>> too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst and
most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States, particularly
near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add
major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River
Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top
bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495 meet,
causing heavy merge-density and sudden slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC
Corridor: Users on Reddit express a consensus that this stretch is
perpetually over capacity due to a mix of local commuters and long-
distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield
home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion, cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking >>>>> responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try to
be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based on
information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in?
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility to confirmation
bias, which ironically is the very reason why this thread exists.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided that,
not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing and
decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working & living
out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.-a Gosh, you're not the only person who's ever moved between States for a better job! /s
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one
to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a
retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear?
Nope.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own values
and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said.
-hh
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me >>>>>>>> this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to mandatory >>>>>> layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are
less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher? >>>>>>
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use
just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning >>>>>> mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find
single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what you >>>> think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your
travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high
degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international is
merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop offerings are
profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but
will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once
again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of life.
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?-a Hardly.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake
House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Cafe, >>>> Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another Mexican
(El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited the
driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a goalpost
move, because there's always more when the search radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course
there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was
that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to
minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original five
minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these
days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as it >>>>> once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense the
proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that has us
staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply toInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and
never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition to
our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the way there.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others by.More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less
than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is to you. >>
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get away >>>>> from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some
of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high
here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life locations.
I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one with me, with
citations. Of course you may not like the criteria cited in Carmel's
rankings as they may not match you personal preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few for
what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high
weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important
elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle services,
Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We have
senior transportation services. And
https://www.homeinstead.com/ppc/trusted-home-care/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=21629778663&utm_adgroup=166592837956&utm_term=home%20instead&customer_id=794-474-9682&matchtype=p&ad_id=742489413486&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21629778663&gbraid=0AAAAA9p2iOXPL1gAmHYWmoySznpPxPvWd&gclid=CjwKCAjwyabTBhBFEiwAM3mNULs7yhwywJfvORJqjcz4Pv90Dd-lMKr34ChCpAKuL_5cg_veIjOndxoC4cQQAvD_BwE
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on
criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never
want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when I >>>>> worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as I
could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC
too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst and
most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States, particularly
near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield Interchange: The complex junction
where I-95, I-395, and I-495 meet, causing heavy merge-density and
sudden slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC Corridor: Users on Reddit express
a consensus that this stretch is perpetually over capacity due to a mix
of local commuters and long-distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield home.
It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking
responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try to be
judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based on information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in?
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided that,
not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing and decided
to stay and accept it. Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
I grew up in Tennessee. Far from an international airport. Far from a
coast and mountains too. That shaped my priorities until I started to
move around and enlarged my horizons. Had I grown up in California early life priorities might have been very different, and my opinions of other places too.
You can hire snow removal here. In the meantime this is a VERY
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one to
be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a retiree?
pedestrian friendly community. The city has built out an incredible multi-use bike and pedestrian network connecting neighborhoods and businesses.
"Carmel, Indiana has a massive network of over 200 miles of multi-use
paths and paved greenways. The crown jewel is the Monon Trail (or Monon Greenway), which spans 5.2 paved miles through CarmelrCoconnecting to Midtown Plaza, City Center, and Central ParkrCoand links directly to Westfield and Indianapolis."
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me >>>>>>>>> this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to
mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are >>>>>>> less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even >>>>>>> higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use >>>>>>> just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave planning >>>>>>> mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find
single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what
you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your
travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high
degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international
is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop offerings
are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But not the sole criteria.But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but >>>>>> will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once
again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of life. >>>
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?-a Hardly. >>>
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake
minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone. >>>>>
House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery
Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another
Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited
the driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a
goalpost move, because there's always more when the search radius
is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are less
than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of course >>>>> there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The point was >>>>> that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so seeking to
minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original
five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the
criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these >>>>>> days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as >>>>>> it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense the
proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that has us
staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply toInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and
never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'.
you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition
to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the way
there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less >>>>>> than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is to
you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others by.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get
away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as some >>>>>> of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life is high >>>>>> here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one with
me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria cited in
Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few for
what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high
weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important
elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle services,
Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We have
senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on "best
place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior services which
meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep down actually sucked.
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those years, and
it became a lesson learned we apply to our own retirement planning.
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on
criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never >>>>>> want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year when >>>>>> I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as soon as >>>>>> I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC >>>>> too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst and
most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States, particularly
near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add
major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River
Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top
bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495 meet,
causing heavy merge-density and sudden slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC
Corridor: Users on Reddit express a consensus that this stretch is
perpetually over capacity due to a mix of local commuters and long-
distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield
home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion, cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone taking >>>>> responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try to
be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based on
information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in?
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility to confirmation
bias, which ironically is the very reason why this thread exists.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided that,
not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing and
decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working & living
out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.-a Gosh, you're not the only person who's ever moved between States for a better job! /s
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one
to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a
retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear?
Nope.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own values
and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said.
On 7/29/26 8:19 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me >>>>>>>>>> this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll...
Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to
mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are >>>>>>>> less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even >>>>>>>> higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use >>>>>>>> just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave
planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find >>>>>>> single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what >>>>>> you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of your >>>>> travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high
degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international
is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop offerings
are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, but >>>>>>> will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ sq ft. >>>>>>And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once
again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of
life.
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?-a Hardly. >>>>
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15 >>>>>>> minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone. >>>>>>I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake >>>>>> House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery
Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another
Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited
the driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a
goalpost move, because there's always more when the search radius >>>>>> is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are
less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?" >>>>
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of
course there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The >>>>>> point was that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so
seeking to minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original
five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the
criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much these >>>>>>> days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and have
traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as appealing as >>>>>>> it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late.
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense
the proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that
has us staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply to >>>>> you but not us.International airfare is not material to our cost of living, and >>>>>>> never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'. >>>>>>
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition
to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the way
there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are less >>>>>>> than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is
to you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others by. >>>>
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get
away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as
some of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life >>>>>>> is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one
with me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria
cited in Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal
preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few
for what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high
weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important
elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle
services, Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We have
senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd
mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on "best
place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior services which
meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep down actually sucked.
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those years,
and it became a lesson learned we apply to our own retirement planning.
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on
criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic jams:There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would never >>>>>>> want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a year
when I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. Left as >>>>>>> soon as I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of DC >>>>>> too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw the
parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what decade? >>>
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst
and most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States,
particularly near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield
Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add
major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River
Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top
bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495 meet,
causing heavy merge-density and sudden slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC
Corridor: Users on Reddit express a consensus that this stretch is
perpetually over capacity due to a mix of local commuters and long-
distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield
home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or
worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion,
cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with
higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
Quoting Hugh?
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
I'm showing that my quality of life depended on getting to work.
That was by auto and sometimes bus.
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone
taking responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image.
What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try
to be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based
on information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in?
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility to confirmation
bias, which ironically is the very reason why this thread exists.
Which is my point. You are also guilty.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided
that, not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing and
decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working & living
out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.-a Gosh, you're
not the only person who's ever moved between States for a better job! /s
Dodged the point. You are comfortable in NJ because your values were
shaped in that are of the country. By your parents and having lived there.
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
My point exactly.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one
to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a
retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear?
Nope.
I can pay for a lot of services and still be financially better off than assisted living.
In the meantime our sidewalks are an important and useful
amenity. Drive through this neighborhood any time of day and you
will residents using them.
You don't see that, so your confirmation bias says they must have no
value since your narrow street area lacks them.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own
values and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really
being said.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own values
and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said.
On 7/31/26 07:47, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 8:19 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:Continuing the commercial airline flights to international
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to me >>>>>>>>>>> this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold.
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll... >>>>>>>>>
destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to
mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing.
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are >>>>>>>>> less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even >>>>>>>>> higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to use >>>>>>>>> just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave
planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find >>>>>>>> single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on what >>>>>>> you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of
your travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the high >>>>> degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting international >>>>> is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's nonstop
offerings are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of >>>>>> life.But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, >>>>>>>> but will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ >>>>>>>> sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once >>>>>>> again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior. >>>>>>
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations. >>>>>Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?
Hardly.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15 >>>>>>>> minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand-alone. >>>>>>>I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square Pancake >>>>>>> House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery >>>>>>> Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and another >>>>>>> Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2
miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited >>>>>>> the driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a
goalpost move, because there's always more when the search radius >>>>>>> is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are
less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even higher?" >>>>>
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816-
Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of
course there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The >>>>>>> point was that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so
seeking to minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original
five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet the >>>>> criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much
these days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and >>>>>>>> have traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as
appealing as it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late. >>>>>>>
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense
the proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that
has us staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may applyInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, and >>>>>>>> never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'. >>>>>>>
to you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to transition >>>>> to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very nearly all the
way there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are
less than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is >>>>>> to you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge others >>>>> by.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of lifeWe do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get >>>>>>>> away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as >>>>>>>> some of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life >>>>>>>> is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined. >>>>>>
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one
with me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria
cited in Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal
preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few
for what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high >>>>> weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important >>>>> elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle
services, Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We have
senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd
mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on "best
place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior services which
meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep down actually sucked.
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those years,
and it became a lesson learned we apply to our own retirement planning.
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on
criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would
never want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a >>>>>>>> year when I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again.
Left as soon as I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of >>>>>>> DC too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw >>>>>>> the parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what
decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic jams: >>>>
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst
and most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States,
particularly near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield
Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add >>>> major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River
Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top
bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495 meet,
causing heavy merge-density and sudden slowdowns.Fredericksburg to
DC Corridor: Users on Reddit express a consensus that this stretch
is perpetually over capacity due to a mix of local commuters and
long- distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield
home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or
worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion,
cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with
higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
Quoting Hugh?
Also from Google, the very same source you used.
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
I'm showing that my quality of life depended on getting to work. That
was by auto and sometimes bus.
Which isn't relevant for retirees ... or teleworkers, consultants...
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someoneWhat incorrect image?
taking responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image. >>>>>>
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Silence from Tom.-a Pathetic.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into
happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try
to be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based
on information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in?
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility to confirmation
bias, which ironically is the very reason why this thread exists.
Which is my point. You are also guilty.
No, you're assuming that others have as much confirmation bias as you do.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided
that, not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing
and decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working &
living out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.-a Gosh,
you're not the only person who's ever moved between States for a
better job! /s
Dodged the point. You are comfortable in NJ because your values were
shaped in that are of the country. By your parents and having lived
there.
False, for as I've already pointed out, I wasn't living or working in NJ just prior to accepting a new job in NJ.
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
My point exactly.
Because you wrote a self-fulfilling statement, not because it was
profound or significant.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having one >>>>> to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ for a
retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear?
Nope.
I can pay for a lot of services and still be financially better off
than assisted living.
But we're not talking about Assisted Living.-a This is enabling a 'retire
in place' strategy to defer having to move into AL.
In the meantime our sidewalks are an important and useful amenity.
Drive through this neighborhood any time of day and you will residents
using them.
On streets that are quiet, they're an embellishment which costs
additional resources to maintain ($$).
You don't see that, so your confirmation bias says they must have no
value since your narrow street area lacks them.
Nope:-a I've lived with & without, so I understand their trade-offs.
incorrect?Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own
values and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really
being said.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own values
and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said.
False, and the evidence is how there's been no NJ brags, despite tons of your "Carmel!" brags.
...and let's not forget who tried to troll with a putdown that was based
on an incorrect Zillow photograph.
So I was supposed to know the Zillow picture labelled as your address is
On 7/31/26 10:04 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/31/26 07:47, Tom Elam wrote:incorrect?
On 7/29/26 8:19 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:Continuing the commercial airline flights to international >>>>>>>>>> destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to >>>>>>>>>> mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing. >>>>>>>>>>
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to >>>>>>>>>>>> me this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold. >>>>>>>>>>>>
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll... >>>>>>>>>>
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type >>>>>>>>>> are less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20? >>>>>>>>>> Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to >>>>>>>>>> use just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave >>>>>>>>>> planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can find >>>>>>>>> single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on
what you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of
your travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the
high degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting
international is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's
nonstop offerings are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality of >>>>>>> life.But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, >>>>>>>>> but will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ >>>>>>>>> sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once >>>>>>>> again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior. >>>>>>>
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations. >>>>>>Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?
Hardly.
I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under 15 >>>>>>>>> minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end stand- >>>>>>>>> alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square
Pancake House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream & >>>>>>>> Bakery Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's and >>>>>>>> another Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2 >>>>>>> miles ...
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd limited >>>>>>>> the driving time to half that, so not applicable.-a That's a
goalpost move, because there's always more when the search
radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are
less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even
higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes.
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816- >>>>>>>>> Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of
course there's more options...but that was never the point.-a The >>>>>>>> point was that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, so >>>>>>>> seeking to minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville...
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original >>>>>> five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet
the criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much >>>>>>>>> these days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 and >>>>>>>>> have traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as
appealing as it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway.
It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late. >>>>>>>>
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense >>>>>>> the proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that >>>>>>> has us staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply >>>>>>> to you but not us.International airfare is not material to our cost of living, >>>>>>>>> and never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of life'. >>>>>>>>
Because we're still many years away from being forced to
transition to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very
nearly all the way there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are >>>>>>>>> less than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography is >>>>>>> to you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge
others by.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of lifeWe do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get >>>>>>>>> away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as >>>>>>>>> some of the most livable places in the country. Quality of life >>>>>>>>> is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined. >>>>>>>
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one >>>>>>> with me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria >>>>>>> cited in Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal
preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few >>>>>> for what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very high >>>>>> weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very important >>>>>> elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation shuttle
services, Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We
have senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd
mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on "best
place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior services which
meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep down actually sucked. >>>>
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those years,
and it became a lesson learned we apply to our own retirement planning. >>>>
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high on >>>>> criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would >>>>>>>>> never want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a >>>>>>>>> year when I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. >>>>>>>>> Left as soon as I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest? >>>>>>>Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of >>>>>>>> DC too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw >>>>>>>> the parallel that you're attempting with much further north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date.
And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what
decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic
jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst
and most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States,
particularly near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the Springfield >>>>> Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add >>>>> major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River
Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top
bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495
meet, causing heavy merge-density and sudden
slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC Corridor: Users on Reddit express a
consensus that this stretch is perpetually over capacity due to a
mix of local commuters and long- distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield
home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or
worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion,
cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with
higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
Quoting Hugh?
Also from Google, the very same source you used.
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
I'm showing that my quality of life depended on getting to work. That
was by auto and sometimes bus.
Which isn't relevant for retirees ... or teleworkers, consultants...
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someoneWhat incorrect image?
taking responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image. >>>>>>>
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Silence from Tom.-a Pathetic.
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility toAnyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into >>>>>>> happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to try >>>>>> to be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really based >>>>> on information or familiarity with circumstances we find ourselves in? >>>>
confirmation bias, which ironically is the very reason why this
thread exists.
Which is my point. You are also guilty.
No, you're assuming that others have as much confirmation bias as you do.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided
that, not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing
and decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working &
living out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.-a Gosh, >>>> you're not the only person who's ever moved between States for a
better job! /s
Dodged the point. You are comfortable in NJ because your values were
shaped in that are of the country. By your parents and having lived
there.
False, for as I've already pointed out, I wasn't living or working in
NJ just prior to accepting a new job in NJ.
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
My point exactly.
Because you wrote a self-fulfilling statement, not because it was
profound or significant.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having
one to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_
for a retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear?
Nope.
I can pay for a lot of services and still be financially better off
than assisted living.
But we're not talking about Assisted Living.-a This is enabling a
'retire in place' strategy to defer having to move into AL.
In the meantime our sidewalks are an important and useful amenity.
Drive through this neighborhood any time of day and you will
residents using them.
On streets that are quiet, they're an embellishment which costs
additional resources to maintain ($$).
You don't see that, so your confirmation bias says they must have no
value since your narrow street area lacks them.
Nope:-a I've lived with & without, so I understand their trade-offs.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own
values and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really
being said.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own values >>> and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said.
False, and the evidence is how there's been no NJ brags, despite tons
of your "Carmel!" brags.
...and let's not forget who tried to troll with a putdown that was
based on an incorrect Zillow photograph.
So I was supposed to know the Zillow picture labelled as your address is
No NJ brags? LOL.
You have bragged about Newark direct international flights,
access to NYC entertainment and dining options,
your quiet neighborhood,
the potential resale value of your home,
international scuba diving and photo trips,
bagging big cash discounts,
your vintage Porsche, etc. Really?
I appears that you have lived at your current Denville address since
1985, 41 years. At least that is the current deed date on Morris County property records. The house was built in 1950, so likely sold a few
times over the years. I did verify the deed date info via a 3rd party showing this address for you from 1985-2026. It also appears that you
paid $88,500 for the home.
Maybe: Further verification, LinkedIn shows a Margaret Huntzinger (nee Andrews) of Morris County NJ was employed by Prudential from 1984 to
2020. She graduated from Maryville College in East Tennessee in 1984.
Your deed is dated 1985, the next year. Maybe you met Margaret in
college??? Coincidence?
If you are as reported on radaris age 66 (64 for Maggie) you might have
been 25 when you bought the Denville home. If correct you did not have
much time to move around before moving to the current address. That is unless you rented it out. Margaret moved to Denville right out of
college? My checks showed no other addresses for you other than 2 in the next paragraph.
Your name is also associated with Milford DE and Dover NJ addresses.
Milford is no surprise, your mom had a beach home nearby at Slaughter
Beach and the arrangements were at a Milford funeral home. According to
her obit she raised you and your siblings in Dover New Jersey. So maybe
you and you siblings inherited some property? Margaret's name may be associated with a Florida condo.
Bottom line I'm not having a lot of confidence in your claim to have > extensive experience living anywhere but the east coast.
Not prying, just fact checking. Things are not adding up at all.
You made the claim of varied living places other than the East Coast,Because what happens when one drags goalposts to meet your agenda is
back it up.
On 8/2/26 16:19, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/31/26 10:04 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/31/26 07:47, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 8:19 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:Continuing the commercial airline flights to international >>>>>>>>>>> destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to >>>>>>>>>>> mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing. >>>>>>>>>>>
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to >>>>>>>>>>>>> me this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold. >>>>>>>>>>>>>
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll... >>>>>>>>>>>
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type >>>>>>>>>>> are less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20? >>>>>>>>>>> Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to >>>>>>>>>>> use just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave >>>>>>>>>>> planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can >>>>>>>>>> find single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on >>>>>>>>> what you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of >>>>>>>> your travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the
high degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting
international is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's >>>>>>> nonstop offerings are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality >>>>>>>> of life.But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, >>>>>>>>>> but will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, 3000+ >>>>>>>>>> sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why?-a Once >>>>>>>>> again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful behavior. >>>>>>>>
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two illustrations. >>>>>>>Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes?
Hardly.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under 2 >>>>>>>> miles ...I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under >>>>>>>>>> 15 minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end >>>>>>>>>> stand- alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square
Pancake House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream >>>>>>>>> & Bakery Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's >>>>>>>>> and another Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear. >>>>>>>>
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd
limited the driving time to half that, so not applicable.
That's a goalpost move, because there's always more when the >>>>>>>>> search radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are >>>>>>> less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even >>>>>>> higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes. >>>>>>>
All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away.Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street: >>>>>>>>>>
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816- >>>>>>>>>> Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of >>>>>>>>> course there's more options...but that was never the point. >>>>>>>>> The point was that with age, distance/time is a common barrier, >>>>>>>>> so seeking to minimize it.
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville... >>>>>>>
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the original >>>>>>> five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments there meet >>>>>>> the criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much >>>>>>>>>> these days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 >>>>>>>>>> and have traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as >>>>>>>>>> appealing as it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway. >>>>>>>>> It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late. >>>>>>>>>
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger sense >>>>>>>> the proximity of local businesses is one of the attractions that >>>>>>>> has us staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations.
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That may apply >>>>>>>> to you but not us.International airfare is not material to our cost of living, >>>>>>>>>> and never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of >>>>>>>>> life'.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to
transition to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very
nearly all the way there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are >>>>>>>>>> less than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography >>>>>>>> is to you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge
others by.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of lifeWe do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to get >>>>>>>>>> away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as >>>>>>>>>> some of the most livable places in the country. Quality of >>>>>>>>>> life is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so inclined. >>>>>>>>
locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one >>>>>>>> with me, with citations. Of course you may not like the criteria >>>>>>>> cited in Carmel's rankings as they may not match you personal >>>>>>>> preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a few >>>>>>> for what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many very
high weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss very
important elements for elderly, such as Senior transportation
shuttle services, Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, "Home Instead"). >>>>>>
have senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd >>>>> mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on "best >>>>> place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior services
which meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep down
actually sucked.
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those years, >>>>> and it became a lesson learned we apply to our own retirement
planning.
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high
on criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
LOL!There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would >>>>>>>>>> never want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for a >>>>>>>>>> year when I worked in DC. Been there done that, never again. >>>>>>>>>> Left as soon as I could.-a Have you ever lived in the Midwest? >>>>>>>>Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south of >>>>>>>>> DC too, and more than enough to know better than to try to draw >>>>>>>>> the parallel that you're attempting with much further north... >>>>>>>>
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date. >>>>>>>>And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what >>>>>>> decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic >>>>>> jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the worst >>>>>> and most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States,
particularly near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the
Springfield Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add >>>>>> major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River
Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top
bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495
meet, causing heavy merge-density and sudden
slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC Corridor: Users on Reddit express a >>>>>> consensus that this stretch is perpetually over capacity due to a >>>>>> mix of local commuters and long- distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my Springfield >>>>>> home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or
worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion,
cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with
higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
Quoting Hugh?
Also from Google, the very same source you used.
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
I'm showing that my quality of life depended on getting to work.
That was by auto and sometimes bus.
Which isn't relevant for retirees ... or teleworkers, consultants...
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone >>>>>>>>> taking responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image. >>>>>>>>What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Silence from Tom.-a Pathetic.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to
circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into >>>>>>>> happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to
try to be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really
based on information or familiarity with circumstances we find
ourselves in?
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility to
confirmation bias, which ironically is the very reason why this
thread exists.
Which is my point. You are also guilty.
No, you're assuming that others have as much confirmation bias as you
do.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided
that, not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing >>>>>> and decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working &
living out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.
Gosh, you're not the only person who's ever moved between States
for a better job! /s
Dodged the point. You are comfortable in NJ because your values were
shaped in that are of the country. By your parents and having lived
there.
False, for as I've already pointed out, I wasn't living or working in
NJ just prior to accepting a new job in NJ.
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
My point exactly.
Because you wrote a self-fulfilling statement, not because it was
profound or significant.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having >>>>>>> one to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ >>>>>>> for a retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear?
Nope.
I can pay for a lot of services and still be financially better off
than assisted living.
But we're not talking about Assisted Living.-a This is enabling a
'retire in place' strategy to defer having to move into AL.
In the meantime our sidewalks are an important and useful amenity.
Drive through this neighborhood any time of day and you will
residents using them.
On streets that are quiet, they're an embellishment which costs
additional resources to maintain ($$).
You don't see that, so your confirmation bias says they must have no
value since your narrow street area lacks them.
Nope:-a I've lived with & without, so I understand their trade-offs.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own
values and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really
being said.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own
values
and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said.
False, and the evidence is how there's been no NJ brags, despite tons
of your "Carmel!" brags.
...and let's not forget who tried to troll with a putdown that was
based on an incorrect Zillow photograph.
So I was supposed to know the Zillow picture labelled as your address is >> incorrect?
No NJ brags? LOL.
Nope, not in this thread.
You have bragged about Newark direct international flights,
In response to you trying to brag about how Carmel is so much cheaper,
as an illustration of the quality of life trade-off you're making.
access to NYC entertainment and dining options,
Same:-a in response to your brag attempts about how Carmel, to illustrate the quality of life trade-offs you're making.
your quiet neighborhood,
I did note that your suggested 'better' homes had noise issues, but did
I ever actually claim that my neighborhood is quiet?
the potential resale value of your home,
In this thread, or are you remembering your prior instance of envy?
international scuba diving and photo trips,
In this thread, or are you remembering your prior instance of envy?
bagging big cash discounts,
In this thread, or are you remembering your prior instance of envy?
your vintage Porsche, etc. Really?
Oh, I have a vintage Porsche?-a Mentioned in this thread no less too?
I appears that you have lived at your current Denville address since
1985, 41 years. At least that is the current deed date on Morris
County property records. The house was built in 1950, so likely sold a
few times over the years. I did verify the deed date info via a 3rd
party showing this address for you from 1985-2026. It also appears
that you paid $88,500 for the home.
So?-a That merely just proves a long ownership, not anything else.
Maybe: Further verification, LinkedIn shows a Margaret Huntzinger (nee
Andrews) of Morris County NJ was employed by Prudential from 1984 to
2020. She graduated from Maryville College in East Tennessee in 1984.
Your deed is dated 1985, the next year. Maybe you met Margaret in
college??? Coincidence?
How profoundly tacky is it to doxx people not even in the newsgroup?
Going to provide the same level of rundown for your family members?
If you are as reported on radaris age 66 (64 for Maggie) you might
have been 25 when you bought the Denville home. If correct you did not
have much time to move around before moving to the current address.
That is unless you rented it out. Margaret moved to Denville right out
of college? My checks showed no other addresses for you other than 2
in the next paragraph.
Your name is also associated with Milford DE and Dover NJ addresses.
Milford is no surprise, your mom had a beach home nearby at Slaughter
Beach and the arrangements were at a Milford funeral home. According
to her obit she raised you and your siblings in Dover New Jersey. So
maybe you and you siblings inherited some property? Margaret's name
may be associated with a Florida condo.
Bottom line I'm not having a lot of confidence in your claim to have >
extensive experience living anywhere but the east coast.
Merely based on your personal assumptions: confirmation bias much?
Case in point, you have a gap of years (decade?), yet that is supposedly
not enough for Tommy to consider as "extensive"...so by Tommy's own
goalpost move, it means that he himself never experienced VA/DC life.
Not prying, just fact checking. Things are not adding up at all.
Nah, you're prying & trolling some more, as you've squandered a whole
bunch of your time trying to deflect from having to admit culpability to your trolling attempt that used the wrong photo.-a Pathetic.
You made the claim of varied living places other than the East Coast,Because what happens when one drags goalposts to meet your agenda is
back it up.
that since TN, VA/DC, & IN are all east of the Mississippi, Tommy
himself has only ever lived "on the East Coast".
Cue the pathetic "but that's not what _I_ meant!" walk-back attempt.
Ironic how he tries to accuse others of confirmation bias.
-hh
On 8/3/26 8:48 AM, -hh wrote:
On 8/2/26 16:19, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/31/26 10:04 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/31/26 07:47, Tom Elam wrote:incorrect?
On 7/29/26 8:19 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 17:56, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/29/26 9:53 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/29/26 08:48, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/27/26 3:53 PM, -hh wrote:
On 7/27/26 08:28, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/26/26 11:46 AM, -hh wrote:
On 7/26/26 09:40, Tom Elam wrote:
On 7/25/26 8:08 PM, -hh wrote:Continuing the commercial airline flights to international >>>>>>>>>>>> destinations, many of these will degrade from nonstops to >>>>>>>>>>>> mandatory layovers:-a that difference isn't worth nothing. >>>>>>>>>>>>
Just happened to have something interesting pointed out to >>>>>>>>>>>>>> me this week on a neighbor's home that's recently sold. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Which coincidentally reminded me of a recent lame troll... >>>>>>>>>>>>
Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type >>>>>>>>>>>> are less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20? >>>>>>>>>>>> Even higher?
The list of examples goes on & on, because you're trying to >>>>>>>>>>>> use just one factor in isolation at a time, which is a grave >>>>>>>>>>>> planning mistake.
-hh
Hugh, those were just two examples picked at random. I can >>>>>>>>>>> find single story homes galore at similar prices.
Irrelevant, because you're still making assumptions based on >>>>>>>>>> what you think is important.
Just like you assuming that an airport is important because of >>>>>>>>> your travel destinations.
No, not because of the destinations per se, but because of the >>>>>>>> high degree of flexibility in choice destinations.-a Noting
international is merely an easy way to highlight this, as Indy's >>>>>>>> nonstop offerings are profoundly slim.
Per Google, it looks like it is merely these five:
Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
Canc||n, Mexico (CUN)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
San Jos|- del Cabo, Mexico (SJD)
But let's use my home. It is multilevel. So far not an issue, >>>>>>>>>>> but will be I'm sure. Zillow valuation is at over $500k, >>>>>>>>>>> 3000+ sq ft.
And its size & valuation is important to mention ... why? >>>>>>>>>> Once again, you're trying to avoid acknowledging your pitiful >>>>>>>>>> behavior.
Because affordable housing is one of many criteria for quality >>>>>>>>> of life.
But not the sole criteria.
Yo do not have that, and you proved it with your two
illustrations.
Because you notionally "saved" just ~$3K/yr in property taxes? >>>>>>>> Hardly.
Not everything is on that map. At 10-15 minutes walk and under >>>>>>>>> 2 miles ...I can walk to about 10 restaurants of various kinds in under >>>>>>>>>>> 15 minutes. Everything from national chains to a high end >>>>>>>>>>> stand- alone.
I see just ~5 on the map, all out by 421:-a Lincoln Square >>>>>>>>>> Pancake House, Stone Creek, Moe's SW Grill, Homemade Ice Cream >>>>>>>>>> & Bakery Cafe, Tropical Smoothie Cafe .. plus a Jersey Mike's >>>>>>>>>> and another Mexican (El Rodeo) if the pedestrian path is clear. >>>>>>>>>
2 miles in 10 minutes = 12mph.-a That's _walking_?
Zionsville is a 10 minute drive.
Plus then more miles from that landmark, despite how I'd
limited the driving time to half that, so not applicable. >>>>>>>>>> That's a goalpost move, because there's always more when the >>>>>>>>>> search radius is increased.
You mentioned 10 so I used it.
No, you misread:
"Or for daily life, how many restaurants/etc & of which type are >>>>>>>> less than just a ~five minute drive?-a Is it 10?-a Or 20?-a Even >>>>>>>> higher?"
That was for the quantity of establishments within five minutes. >>>>>>>>
Google Maps says that its more than 3 miles just to Zionsville... >>>>>>>>All those Zionsville restaurants above are under 3 miles away. >>>>>>>>Here are some local places on and near quaint Brick Street: >>>>>>>>>>>
https://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g37659-d120816- >>>>>>>>>>> Brick_Street_Inn-Zionsville_Indiana.html
Dining options are NOT an issue!
Because once one is willing to drive dozens of miles, but of >>>>>>>>>> course there's more options...but that was never the point. >>>>>>>>>> The point was that with age, distance/time is a common
barrier, so seeking to minimize it.
...and a ~10 minute drive, which is twice as long as the
original five minute benchmark, so none of the establishments >>>>>>>> there meet the criteria.
The airport is a 30 minute drive, but we do not use it much >>>>>>>>>>> these days. You were right about one thing, once you hit 80 >>>>>>>>>>> and have traveled as much as we have that next trip is not as >>>>>>>>>>> appealing as it once was.
Not what the actual advice was, but moot now for you anyway. >>>>>>>>>> It actually was to not wait until it invariably becomes too late. >>>>>>>>>>
Which is what we did. And it does apply to us. In a bigger
sense the proximity of local businesses is one of the
attractions that has us staying here as long as possible.
Local businesses are irrelevant to holiday travel destinations. >>>>>>>>
BUT you make a major point about cost of airfare. That mayInternational airfare is not material to our cost of living, >>>>>>>>>>> and never was even when we were traveling more.
That's why I'd noted that 'cost of living' isn't 'quality of >>>>>>>>>> life'.
apply to you but not us.
Because we're still many years away from being forced to
transition to our "No Go" years, whereas you're already very
nearly all the way there.
More important to me I have personal aircraft I fly that are >>>>>>>>>>> less than 30 minutes away.
Merely your personal hobby choice.
Not merely, part of my quality of life...Just like photography >>>>>>>>> is to you.
Which is precisely why your metrics aren't relevant to judge
others by.
We do have some highway and air traffic noise, but hard to >>>>>>>>>>> get away from that in this area.
But best of all the communities north of Indy are regarded as >>>>>>>>>>> some of the most livable places in the country. Quality of >>>>>>>>>>> life is high here.
There's places with higher quality of life, for those so
inclined.
True, but this one is high on many lists of quality of life >>>>>>>>> locations. I do not see many NJ towns on those lists. Share one >>>>>>>>> with me, with citations. Of course you may not like the
criteria cited in Carmel's rankings as they may not match you >>>>>>>>> personal preferences.
I don't bother with such 'best' lists because I've analyzed a >>>>>>>> few for what they used for their scoring.-a For example, many >>>>>>>> very high weightings on cost of living.-a Similarly, many miss >>>>>>>> very important elements for elderly, such as Senior
transportation shuttle services, Meals on Wheels, Home Care (eg, >>>>>>>> "Home Instead").
I have delivered Carmel's Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. We >>>>>>> have senior transportation services....
That's just not relevant to my criticism of web "best" lists.-a I'd >>>>>> mentioned this because I'd found that a location which was on
"best place" lists actually had a profound dearth of senior
services which meant that what superficially seemed nice .. deep
down actually sucked.
It was an eye-opening experience for us to get through those
years, and it became a lesson learned we apply to our own
retirement planning.
You need not bother with the lists because NJ will not rank high >>>>>>> on criteria important to quality of life. Carmel does.
But the above isn't referring to NJ at all, dumbass.
There are compromises no matter where you live, but I would >>>>>>>>>>> never want to live in your area. I was in Springfield VA for >>>>>>>>>>> a year when I worked in DC. Been there done that, never >>>>>>>>>>> again. Left as soon as I could.-a Have you ever lived in the >>>>>>>>>>> Midwest?
Shorter term, yup.-a Similarly, along the I-95 corridor south >>>>>>>>>> of DC too, and more than enough to know better than to try to >>>>>>>>>> draw the parallel that you're attempting with much further >>>>>>>>>> north...
LOL!
Still true.
...especially since your experience is ~50 years out of date. >>>>>>>>>And has not improved with time.
Because the last time you were on I-95 to know that was .. what >>>>>>>> decade?
Do not need to go there. Current info from Google I-95 DC traffic >>>>>>> jams:
"Interstate 95 around Washington, D.C., features some of the
worst and most frequent traffic bottlenecks in the United States, >>>>>>> particularly near the Occoquan River/Woodbridge and the
Springfield Interchange."
"Weekday rush hours (6:00rCo9:30 AM and 3:00rCo7:00 PM) routinely add >>>>>>> major delays.Worst Bottlenecks & Trouble SpotsThe Occoquan River >>>>>>> Bridge (Woodbridge, VA): Consistently ranked as the region's top >>>>>>> bottleneck for both frequency and severity of delays on both
northbound and southbound sides.The Mixing Bowl / Springfield
Interchange: The complex junction where I-95, I-395, and I-495
meet, causing heavy merge-density and sudden
slowdowns.Fredericksburg to DC Corridor: Users on Reddit express >>>>>>> a consensus that this stretch is perpetually over capacity due to >>>>>>> a mix of local commuters and long- distance travelers.">
Ah, the Mixing Bowl! I was on my route to work from my
Springfield home. It was bad in 1979, and sounds worse now.
Maybe try asking the relevant question:
"Is the quality of life in the suburbs of Washington DC better or >>>>>> worse today than it was in 1979?"
Answer:
[quote]
The quality of life in the Washington D.C. suburbs is generally
considered better today than in 1979 due to economic expansion,
cultural diversity, and improved amenities, though it comes with
higher costs and worse traffic.
[/quote]
Quoting Hugh?
Also from Google, the very same source you used.
You're showing that you care about the automobile.
I'm showing that my quality of life depended on getting to work.
That was by auto and sometimes bus.
Which isn't relevant for retirees ... or teleworkers, consultants...
In the meantime, there's still also the avoidance of someone >>>>>>>>>> taking responsibility for their trolling with an incorrect image. >>>>>>>>>What incorrect image?
In the OP; the one you "found on Zillow" and commented about.
Unfortunately for you, Zillow has the wrong house photo.
Well that is Zillow's problem.
Oh, did Zillow post the reference to it here?
Nope.
That is 100% on you.
Silence from Tom.-a Pathetic.
Anyway,
Do we all not think we make great choices or do we adapt to >>>>>>>>> circumstances beyond our control and rationalize ourselves into >>>>>>>>> happiness?
Irrelevant to the error of using one's own personal choices to >>>>>>>> try to be judgemental of others.
Relevant. The question is are choices we think we make really
based on information or familiarity with circumstances we find
ourselves in?
A significant factor is one's personal susceptibility to
confirmation bias, which ironically is the very reason why this
thread exists.
Which is my point. You are also guilty.
No, you're assuming that others have as much confirmation bias as
you do.
For example, you grew up on the east coast. Your parents decided >>>>>>> that, not you. So you became accustomed to high high cost housing >>>>>>> and decided to stay and accept it.
Accustomed?-a No, your assumption is incorrect.-a I was working & >>>>>> living out of State just a few weeks prior to starting in NJ.
Gosh, you're not the only person who's ever moved between States
for a better job! /s
Dodged the point. You are comfortable in NJ because your values
were shaped in that are of the country. By your parents and having
lived there.
False, for as I've already pointed out, I wasn't living or working
in NJ just prior to accepting a new job in NJ.
Had you grown up elsewhere would it look different?
Invariably, it couldn't have been identical.
My point exactly.
Because you wrote a self-fulfilling statement, not because it was
profound or significant.
For example:-a "Narrow streets with...no sidewalks..."You can hire snow removal here.
Since sidewalks have to be kept clear of snow, would not having >>>>>>>> one to be obligated to maintain actually be a positive _feature_ >>>>>>>> for a retiree?
Do those service contracts get cheaper when there's more to clear? >>>>>> Nope.
I can pay for a lot of services and still be financially better off >>>>> than assisted living.
But we're not talking about Assisted Living.-a This is enabling a
'retire in place' strategy to defer having to move into AL.
In the meantime our sidewalks are an important and useful amenity.
Drive through this neighborhood any time of day and you will
residents using them.
On streets that are quiet, they're an embellishment which costs
additional resources to maintain ($$).
You don't see that, so your confirmation bias says they must have
no value since your narrow street area lacks them.
Nope:-a I've lived with & without, so I understand their trade-offs.
False, and the evidence is how there's been no NJ brags, despiteWhich means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own >>>>>> values and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really >>>>>> being said.
Which means once again, you've been so intent on pushing your own
values
and crassly sling putdowns that you missed what was really being said. >>>>
tons of your "Carmel!" brags.
...and let's not forget who tried to troll with a putdown that was
based on an incorrect Zillow photograph.
So I was supposed to know the Zillow picture labelled as your
address is
No NJ brags? LOL.
Nope, not in this thread.
You have bragged about Newark direct international flights,
In response to you trying to brag about how Carmel is so much cheaper,
as an illustration of the quality of life trade-off you're making.
access to NYC entertainment and dining options,
Same:-a in response to your brag attempts about how Carmel, to
illustrate the quality of life trade-offs you're making.
your quiet neighborhood,
I did note that your suggested 'better' homes had noise issues, but
did I ever actually claim that my neighborhood is quiet?
the potential resale value of your home,
In this thread, or are you remembering your prior instance of envy?
international scuba diving and photo trips,
In this thread, or are you remembering your prior instance of envy?
bagging big cash discounts,
In this thread, or are you remembering your prior instance of envy?
your vintage Porsche, etc. Really?
Oh, I have a vintage Porsche?-a Mentioned in this thread no less too?
I appears that you have lived at your current Denville address since
1985, 41 years. At least that is the current deed date on Morris
County property records. The house was built in 1950, so likely sold
a few times over the years. I did verify the deed date info via a 3rd
party showing this address for you from 1985-2026. It also appears
that you paid $88,500 for the home.
So?-a That merely just proves a long ownership, not anything else.
Maybe: Further verification, LinkedIn shows a Margaret Huntzinger
(nee Andrews) of Morris County NJ was employed by Prudential from
1984 to 2020. She graduated from Maryville College in East Tennessee
in 1984. Your deed is dated 1985, the next year. Maybe you met
Margaret in college??? Coincidence?
How profoundly tacky is it to doxx people not even in the newsgroup?
Going to provide the same level of rundown for your family members?
If you are as reported on radaris age 66 (64 for Maggie) you might
have been 25 when you bought the Denville home. If correct you did
not have much time to move around before moving to the current
address. That is unless you rented it out. Margaret moved to Denville
right out of college? My checks showed no other addresses for you
other than 2 in the next paragraph.
Your name is also associated with Milford DE and Dover NJ addresses.
Milford is no surprise, your mom had a beach home nearby at Slaughter
Beach and the arrangements were at a Milford funeral home. According
to her obit she raised you and your siblings in Dover New Jersey. So
maybe you and you siblings inherited some property? Margaret's name
may be associated with a Florida condo.
Bottom line I'm not having a lot of confidence in your claim to have
extensive experience living anywhere but the east coast.
Merely based on your personal assumptions: confirmation bias much?
Case in point, you have a gap of years (decade?), yet that is
supposedly not enough for Tommy to consider as "extensive"...so by
Tommy's own goalpost move, it means that he himself never experienced
VA/DC life.
Not a decade.
College years and maybe a job or two before relocating to
Denville, likely for the career position working for the Army.
Not prying, just fact checking. Things are not adding up at all.
Nah, you're prying & trolling some more, as you've squandered a whole
bunch of your time trying to deflect from having to admit culpability
to your trolling attempt that used the wrong photo.-a Pathetic.
The photo was incorrect. I did not know that at the time. My bad. This
is your home:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FP9uPMXOhHJSbQSTTTE8hb7KyOp8WCHz/view? usp=sharing>
You made the claim of varied living places other than the East Coast,
back it up.
Because what happens when one drags goalposts to meet your agenda is
that since TN, VA/DC, & IN are all east of the Mississippi, Tommy
himself has only ever lived "on the East Coast".
Cue the pathetic "but that's not what _I_ meant!" walk-back attempt.
Ironic how he tries to accuse others of confirmation bias.
Nothing but desperate deflections. Back to the point.
Sorry, but TN/KY/IL/IN are not East Coast states.
All are very different Southern and Midwest culture.
You lied.
VA/DC is one year of my life.
My 6 years in NC is the first 6, not exactly formative years. All my school years past first grade were in Tennessee, then never went back.
You lived in Dover NJ through high school (per a yearbook or two)
and worked at nearby Picatinny Arsenal for quite a few years (1985 onward?)
NJ is an East Coast state and you have lived there almost your entire
life. But, we share this, you apparently have traveled quite bit.
On 8/3/26 10:24, Tom Elam wrote:
All are very different Southern and Midwest culture.
Yet you can't contemplate there being differences in culture between,
say, NJ and FL, despite both being "East Coast states"? What a tool!
You lied.
Nope. You've made invalid and unsupported claims which were clearly due
to your own incorrect assumptions & mistakes.
Oh, I have a vintage Porsche?-a Mentioned in this thread no less too?
Most of your international travel was brief business trips.-a For
example, July 1998/Brussels:-a 5 days including 3 travel days.
Your "on your own dime" international travel was thin until age ~65.
Prior to that age, I'd swag it as roughly sixty-ish days life-to-date.
VA/DC is one year of my life.
Oh, was it really one _full_ year?
Or are you cheating by rounding up? /s
My 6 years in NC is the first 6, not exactly formative years. All my
school years past first grade were in Tennessee, then never went back.
Yet NC is east of the Mississippi, plus its a "East Coast state" as per
your second goalpost move attempt, so your own standards, its 'culture'
must be identical to NJ.-a Hey and identical to Florida!-a And VA/DC too. Heck, your goalpost tosses in Maine too:-a they're all fungible!
You lived in Dover NJ through high school (per a yearbook or two) and
worked at nearby Picatinny Arsenal for quite a few years (1985 onward?)
You merely found a few snapshots, but then extrapolated to force-fit it
into your agenda.-a I'm not obligated to point out your mistakes.
On 8/4/26 12:52 PM, -hh wrote:
VA/DC is one year of my life.
Oh, was it really one _full_ year?
Or are you cheating by rounding up? /s
My 6 years in NC is the first 6, not exactly formative years. All my
school years past first grade were in Tennessee, then never went back.
Yet NC is east of the Mississippi, plus its a "East Coast state" as
per your second goalpost move attempt, so your own standards, its
'culture' must be identical to NJ.-a Hey and identical to Florida!-a And
VA/DC too. Heck, your goalpost tosses in Maine too:-a they're all
fungible!
You lived in Dover NJ through high school (per a yearbook or two) and
worked at nearby Picatinny Arsenal for quite a few years (1985 onward?)
You merely found a few snapshots, but then extrapolated to force-fit
it into your agenda.-a I'm not obligated to point out your mistakes.
Just to pick up on a few of your false replies based on your assumptions that I must be untruthful.
VA/DC was a year within a few days. Moved there in July 1978, moved to Indiana in July 1979. When I moved to VA I was given moving expenses
based on staying on for a year. I resigned effective the day after that
year was up. Moving was involved on both ends of relocation to VA but it
was a year within a week or two.
Yes, NC is East Coast. But the point was I was not shaped by any East
Coast culture.
You were in NJ through high school. Your mom's obit
states she raised here family in Dover NJ.
I also found a references to your Project Manager position ...
On 8/4/26 12:52 PM, -hh wrote:
Most of your international travel was brief business trips.-a ForWrong: 1984-2011 the overall average was 7 days over 103 trips.
example, July 1998/Brussels:-a 5 days including 3 travel days.
Your "on your own dime" international travel was thin until age ~65.
Prior to that age, I'd swag it as roughly sixty-ish days life-to-date.
Right: It took a while to get to a point where we could travel overseas more. But, over the last 15 years 27 trips average 2 weeks per trip.
More to the point. A little research reveals that Morris County is,
relative to the rest of NJ, a quite nice place to live. Except for
housing costs and crime compared to here.
So I get it. Morris County works for you.
On 8/3/26 8:48 AM, -hh wrote:
Oh, I have a vintage Porsche?-a Mentioned in this thread no less too?
IIRC a few years back you bragged about finding a CarPlay solution for a vintage 911.
...let alone understood it.-a Perhaps if you had spent time in over 75%
of the States before you finished schooling, you could have a better informed perspective on how much cultural variation there is within just
the USA (plus the rest of the world).
On 8/15/26 9:19 PM, -hh wrote:
...let alone understood it.-a Perhaps if you had spent time in over 75%
of the States before you finished schooling, you could have a better
informed perspective on how much cultural variation there is within
just the USA (plus the rest of the world).
Since 1979 I have visited all 50 states and 60+ countries in the
Americas, Europe, Asia and Asia Pac. In most of those countries I worked closely with the local Lilly organization staff. I am quite informed on cultural variation. In India I was told (by a rich Brahman) that the untouchables (Dalit) are quite happy with their lot outside the caste system. When reincarnated they think they may become a Brahman in the
next life. That what I was told! There was no sense arguing with that
deeply ingrained Hindu logic. My personal observation was they are not
very happy.
Visiting 75% of the states before age 26 (PhD grad)? Not likely many
people who were non-stop students can do that. Are you saying you did?
From what year?
Remember, I'm still not obligated to point out your mistakes.
On 8/15/26 9:19 PM, -hh wrote:
-aFrom what year?
Remember, I'm still not obligated to point out your mistakes.
Well, well, the post below shows you at the arsenal in December 1989.
ARDEC.ARPA is identified with the Arsenal. You sig file implies you had
been there a while.
This link https://asc.army.mil/docs/pubs/alt/archives/2018/Jul-Sep-2018.pdf
Shows you still with the Army in 2018.
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