I live in Woodbridge but I’m relatively new to the area. I’m part of “Moms of Woodbridge, Orange, Bethany” and yes, there is a special brand of crazy mom who belongs to that group. That being said, I’ve found priceless recommendations and tips for the area using the search function.

I also belong to “Progressive BOWA Parents+” and I feel much more aligned with the values of that group. I’m a POC and found the PTO of Beecher Road to have many POC as well. I can’t say definitively that the demographics are changing, but there’s now a “Woodbridge Like Me” day on the town green that celebrates different cultures, and a new proposal was passed to turn the old abandoned firehouse into a cultural center. So at the very least it doesn’t feel like we’re completely ignored.

Overall I’m very happy with my decision to live here, but housing and taxes are definitely VERY expensive. For us, it’s worth it. Our older son has a developmental delay and the school system has been fantastic so far (he’s still in preschool). We’re a 5 minute drive to Westville, and a 20 minute drive to downtown New Haven. Whole Foods, Costco, and Trader Joe’s are all a 15-20 minute drive away in Milford/Orange.

We considered Guilford and Madison as well but felt Woodbridge was a bit more down to earth, and technically it’s closer to NYC (my parents live there and come to stay with us all the time so that’s important).

If you have any questions about Woodbridge, I’ll do my best.

Yeah I don’t envy them moving here in December. January-March can be pretty depressing. Fall is amazing. Today’s weather was perfect.

Layers, lots of layers. Long johns (maybe two pairs). Make sure your head/ears, chest, hands, and feet and covered, warm, and dry. Canadian brands know what’s up.

Maybe take up skiing or snowboarding so you actually look forward to cold weather.

If you can’t find something free I recommend checking the returns section of Ikea. I’ve found lots of almost-new stuff at a steep discount. Some days might be better than others - some locations put returns out as they get them, others wait over the weekend and put everything out Monday morning.