Most of us who call ourselves Baby Boomers have been through our share of changes. I have passed through some of the most common ones, including the painful experience of losing a dear parent; raising two children to adulthood and realizing that the “mommy” role that I took so seriously and poured my life into is no longer what it was; watching my husband experience the physical challenges of diabetes and a heart attack; looking in the mirror and watching the the face that looks back at me change; supporting my husband as he went through the painful experience of realizing that after thirty years devoted to one company, surprise, he is dispensable, and now of at an age where there’s a tendency to go from one job to the other without settling, and what about retirement? Is it possible?
That brings us to our newest change, which could be looked at as a negative, or embraced as a new and exciting adventure, it’s up to us what we decide to do with it. It may mean a move from our home of 25 years, the home where I raised my babies, and how can I be the “New Jersey Baby Boomer” if we leave NJ? It may mean leaving behind friends of many years, and being further away from my now-grown babies than I want to be. It may not happen at all!
I want to take you along on this personal journey and intertwine it with the usual New Jersey info on this blog, and let you get to know me a bit better. More later this week!
My husband spent the weekend working around the house, including building a new enclosed area for our trash cans. We haven’t had any trouble with bears in our trash all summer, but wouldn’t you know, last evening after supper, only a day after his finishing this project, we had a visitor. I guess he likes the new design :-) My pictures are a little blurry because I was SO excited, but here’s a few shots off the side of my deck, he/she dragged a bag of trash from the can he knocked over and carried it into our neighbors yard. I quietly called my husband as I snapped these, and the bear ran, leaving a nice mess for us to clean up.
(Blurry zoom-in, shaky hands, just too excited :-))
As much as I love where I live in New Jersey, there are times when my husband and I get frustrated about certain things…like taxes, and such. We’ve even had moments when we’re ready to put a for sale sign out in front of our little lakefront cabin, but here we stay, so far anyway. It was nice to stumble on this article written by a travel consultant to remind me of the GOOD things about New Jersey.
Why New Jersey is the Best State to Live In
By: Frank Dalotto
Often the butt of jokes from visitors from neighboring states, and negative stereotyping from TV shows like the Sopranos, despite all of that, New Jersey continues to attract people looking for good paying jobs, quality health care and education, awesome leisure activities, and a great place to raise kids.
I am quick to acknowledge that New Jersey is not an inexpensive state to live in. The definition of best does not mean cheap or inexpensive.
While you may be paying more, New Jersey has the nation’s best state and municipal services contributing to an infrastructure that supports a safe environment and a variety of quality of life services.
As a wise old man once told me You get what you pay for.
The Top Five Reasons Why New Jersey is the Best State to Live In.
1. Health Care
By almost any measure, NJ is at the top of any list in states with the best healthcare. Ranked #1 in lowest (best) population under served by primary care physicians and ranked 7th in lowest infant mortality rate in 48 states. Source: AARP. Ranked 8th out of 50 states in number of Physicians/1000. Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2004 2006 Data. And just across the river in NYC and Philadelphia, New Jersey residents have access to some of the best medical institutions and doctors in the world.
2. Low Crime Rate
Ranked 4th in property crime and 13th in violent crime out of 31 states east of the Mississippi River. Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2004 2006 Data. And when you consider that New Jersey has the highest population density in the U.S., New Jersey is a very safe place to live and is a credit to the state and the municipalities in crime protection and law enforcement.
3. Student Education Grades K-12
New Jersey stands tall when it comes to education; New Jersey is Ranked #1 out of 50 states in Grade 8 to High School graduation rates; Source: National Board and Educational Testing Policy and Ranked #4 in the lowest (best) Student/Teacher ratio. Source: IES National Center for Education Statistics.
4. Entertainment
New Jersey is a Mecca for entertainment. Because of the states small size, world class entertainment is in easy reach of most New Jersey residents. There are major entertainment venues throughout the state as well as the hotel casinos, and the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, [Note from site owner: wasn’t too happy when Atlantic City became a Casino haven, a gaudy blemish on the otherwise beautiful Jersey Shore, but that’s just me.] New Jersey is a magnet for world class entertainment. New Jersey also has 2 NFL teams, a NBA team, and a NHL Team. And with New York City and Philadelphia, just across the river with Broadway shows and major entertainment venues, the entertainment options for New Jersey residents are unbeatable.
5. Geographic DiversityWith outstanding beaches like Wildwood [picture below at sunrise] being the best on the East Coast, beautiful hills and mountains in Northwest NJ [the area where we live also pictured], and quaint Victorian towns like Cape May, New Jersey’s diverse geography is easily accessible within an hour s drive from almost any place in the state. National Geographic magazine has called New Jersey America in Miniature.
Author Resource:-> Frank Dalotto is a freelance writer and travel consultant. His specialty is writing articles about New Jersey travel, including attractions, events, and restaurant reviews. Frank is the owner and editor of http://www.new-jersey-leisure-guide.com/ New Jersey Leisure Guide and a travel consultant for Leisure Travel Mart.
A day or so ago, I gave you a view of our home from the street, here’s what we see out our bedroom window. The leaves are just beginning to grow on the trees, so you are not seeing them in their full green glory, but it’s been quiet, beautiful and serene for the past few days.
I have a swing on the deck that I love to sit in on quiet evenings, as the sun is just beginning to go down. This picture wasn’t taken at that time of day, but it is beautiful looking across the lake…the water is still, with only the fish eating causing rings that spread out, out, and out some more, joining rings formed by other fish. An occasional mallard will fly and land on the surface. Geese will join them, and now the little gosling’s and ducklings are appearing.
This is our “little cabin on the lake”, it is set down over a foot below the the lawn and garden, with a rock wall that my husband worked on all weekend, he reset the stones which had shifted a lot in the years since we moved here.
Yes, in this cozy little cabin with a lake in the back, we have raised two children, and now the cabin is just the right size for the two of us…or three, as our son is still living with us at present. Will we ever move? I don’t know, it would be hard to leave behind the natural beauty that surrounds us, and all the memories we’ve made here. Time will tell.
Do you remember the show “The Wonder Years” that lasted a quite a few seasons after it’s release date in 1988? It was a show that many Baby Boomers can relate to, it was our time and stirred up so many memories. When my brother and I would watch the show, we could relate, right down to the late ’50’s to early ’60’s suburban developments with their perfect streets, sidewalks, neatly mowed lawns and, for us at least, ranch style houses.
Keeping a perfect lawn was a BIG deal in those days…I suppose it is in many places today, but living where we do now, in a rural woodsy area some 40+ years later, it’s not our lifestyle…we’re more a product of the hippie years, living close to the earth, natural living, and all that came from those years when we decided to rebel against “the establishment”. Of course enjoying nature and natural living is one of the GOOD things that came from those times, but back to those lawns.
Most men were out early on Saturday mowing & feeding their lawns, and keeping them trimmed along the sidewalks. Almost every front yard had two neat “squares” of green, parted by the sidewalk that went up to the front door, and a little strip of green along the road between the main sidewalk and curb.
My Dad would brush off this ritual between men of keeping the perfect lawn as “keeping up with the Joneses” as if it was something to be scorned, as if he were above all that. But believe me, he was right out there “keeping up” himself, and I have proof of his passion for the competition, think I’ll save that for my “Memories and Nostalgia” blog.
I live in Northern New Jersey, in a town called West Milford. There’s lots of “weird New Jersey” lore around our town, most of it originates short drive from our home, with stories of ghosts, ice-men, devil worship, and other strange sightings.
It was popular “scarey” fun for my children when they were teens to go out after dark and drive Clinton Road, and see if there was really anything to be scared about…they never saw much of anything, but did spend a good bit of time scaring each other. Below is one video that I found that will take you on a trip that we’ve driven many times. If you turn off the sound, you’ll feel like your driving down a beautiful country road surrounded by woodlands in the fall with rivers and streams and a lake or two along the way. But if you turn ON the sound, you’ll hear all the things that have made this road worthy of being included in the “Weird New Jersey” book.
What do I think of it all? My husband and I think this is one of many beautiful roads in our local area, we’ve driven it many times, and often get out and enjoy spots along the way…but drive it at night, there’s no street lights, and it is DARK.
Enjoy this video visit from youtube of a bit of my home town. Sound on, you’ll hear all the “scarey” stories, sound off, it’s like a pretty country drive…you choose!
