[identity profile] amy-s1.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] davis_square
Just curious as to how many of our community members here consider themselves residents of Somerville long term, or temporarily as in "when I have kids i'll move to the burbs" mentality.

Do you see yourself here as a long term, or potentially permanent resident?

Do you have kids here already? Are they in the Somerville Schools? If no kids would you raise kids here?

Do you own property or are you renting? If renting would you like to buy?
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Date: 2011-01-08 12:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] littlecitynames.livejournal.com
I love it here so much. I see myself as a long-term Massachusetts resident for sure, but I think I will end up in the 'burbs eventually because I will want to buy a house (not an apartment) at some point and I can't see being able to afford one around here.

I wouldn't have a problem with raising kids here if I could afford a big place though. I work at the Healey school and they have some incredible teachers, and I've heard similarly wonderful things about the other schools. They're clearly in the process of making huge improvements, and I am very happy with them overall.

Date: 2011-01-08 01:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aquaflame16.livejournal.com
My partner and I have been in Somerville (renters) since 2004, first Winter Hill now Ball Square. In that time we've both become fairly strongly involved in local communities, politics, etc. I really like a lot of the compromises this area has to offer (balance of city amenities/open space, etc.) I feel like we have strong ties here and I consider Somerville something of a hometown now, rather than just a place I live. I would really, really like to stay long-term, possibly permanently, including with hypothetical kids.

However, I have no idea whether we'll be able to afford to. As it is, we can barely even afford our current 1-bed rental.
I am feeling really antsy to get into something bigger, where we can have a dog (which probably means buying) and have someplace to put a baby should one appear in our lives ;)

Which makes me feel really conflicted about all this because I want to stay in Somerville, but we really need a bigger place and those two things, along with our current financial situation, are, um, not compatible.
Basically, the money is the only obstacle. If we had the money, I'd buy a house or condo here in a heartbeat.

Date: 2011-01-08 01:34 am (UTC)
cos: (Default)
From: [personal profile] cos
I lived in Somerville for seven and a half years. Now I live in Cambridge. I never had plans to either leave Somerville or stay, and could've seen myself staying there indefinitely, but living in Cambridge is a pretty similar experience for me. I may stay here in Cambridge for the long term. If I don't, then Somerville is one of the likelier places I'd move to. I don't plan to have kids.

Date: 2011-01-08 03:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tenshikurai9.livejournal.com
Live South of Boston. Would like to live somewhere directly in Camberville or Boston. Don't plan on having kids. Would probably rent till I find a neighborhood I won't budge myself from and then evaluate renting vs. owning.

Date: 2011-01-09 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] badseed1980.livejournal.com
I've been living here for almost 6 years now. I absolutely wouldn't MIND staying here permanently, but the problem is, I want to own a home. Right now, I rent in Ten Hills (which I adore). None of the homes I could afford in Somerville seem to be in parts of the city where I'd really want to live. Especially since I don't particularly want to own a condo, or own a two-family and rent out half. I don't have kids, and when that time comes, I'm going to want to do some serious research on schools. I don't know enough about that stuff at this point to be able to make a decision about it.

staying

Date: 2011-01-09 03:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] springhill02143.livejournal.com
Moved here in 1994 and only then came to know that my grandparents lived and worked in Teele Square in the 1940s, an aunt was born here, and my great uncle lived in Inman on the Cambridge side and owned a business in Union Square around the same time.

Met my spouse, who coincidentally lived here too, in the late '90s and bought a house in the Spring Hill area in 2003 after living in Teele Square and Union Square. Current plan is to stay here until we retire (another 20ish years).

No kids, but we'd at least try sending them to public schools here if we did.

I love the walkability and diversity (on cultural and other levels) of Somerville, and strongly prefer an urban environment to a suburban one. We would move to a more urban environment before moving to a more suburban one, but Somerville feels like the right mix of both: I can have a garden and walk to public transportation, we can live with one car and park in a driveway, there are parks and people to play with, businesses and more all within an easy walk.

Date: 2011-01-10 02:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] myselftheliar.livejournal.com
I have lived in Somerville (Davis area) for six years, have both lived and worked in the area and rent. I love the neighborhood and love the vibrancy of it all, however I do not see myself staying beyond another 2-6 years following a possible Boston-based MA/PhD. My heart belongs to London.

I do not have children, and am not at a point I have thought about such.

Date: 2011-01-10 04:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] on-reserve.livejournal.com
We were priced out of Somerville and live just over the line into Medford. We don't want any kids and even if we did we'd prefer to raise them in a more urban (rather than suburban) setting. We would totally buy property and live in Somerville if it were in any way possible to do this without a.) having two exceedingly well-paying jobs to finance this or b.) having to buy a multi-family and serve as a landlord.

Date: 2011-01-19 01:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elements.livejournal.com
If I could have my way, I'd live here forever.

I doubt I can afford to. Certainly I don't project being able to buy here, but who knows. Currently I rent, no kids. I'd happily put them in our schools - as many of my friends have done - if I were faced with that.

Also, while I might leave Somerville for someplace more affordable, it would never be "the burbs." Not unless say Medford counts.
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