95% of the people complaining have never lived elsewhere. I swore I’d never move back here because it wasn’t an exciting state to me as a teen, but here I am. It’s so much better here than the several other states I’ve lived in. No contest. Quality of life is leaps and bounds better here. Very happy to be raising a family here vs. anywhere else I’ve lived.

Have you driven on other states’ roads? Have you noticed how when you cross from Mass or NY to CT, the road becomes markedly smoother.

Not sure where you’re getting that NC has quality public schools. They’re ranked in the lower half of states. CT has some of the smallest class sizes in the nation, which is huge boon for teachers and students, and the most spending per student. Virginia seems fine based on a cursory search (though I wonder how areas like Arlington compare to places like Danville), but to claim NC is on par with us is bananas.

I like living in a coastal town but not being on or super near the water due to flooding issues with storms. All coastal towns are pricier though, even the less posh ones. Summer people suck though, but it also means we tend to have more restaurants and amenities.

Wonder which sort of people are so focused on George Soros and New World Order conspiracy theories?

Probably the most breathtaking place we’ve traveled.

Since you’re in that area with these tips, I’d add walking around Old Lyme (Lyme Street) and going to the Florence Griswold Museum. Also it’s just a super cute, quiet, historic Main Street with some businesses. Definitely very few to no tourists.

That’s a good call. I’d also google how expensive an Uber to Watch Hill would be from there. The best beach in the region hands down. It’s probably a fairly reasonable price and OP wouldn’t have to deal with parking which is the only drawback to Watch Hill.

Same. I find some audiobooks are ok if the chapters are short and the topic jumps around a bit chapter to chapter (like a podcast). I listened to Under the Banner of Heaven on a road trip and was actually able to pay attention. It jumped around enough to feel podcast-y.

Niantic is nice. The Black Sheep is often a fun pub scene with live music and trivia (at least based on 5ish years ago when I lived in Lyme). Lyme/old Lyme has literally nothing.

As a former teacher, I agree. We used to let the kids (mostly boys) play basketball at lunch (high school) and then they took it away as punishment for a few kids doing something they shouldn’t. Made the post-lunch school day so much less productive. The kids who needed the basketball to get out their energy really really needed it.