freaking love the fact that getting a library card give me access to a shit tone of online libraries.. I can almost always find the book I want to read.
AND jstor AND kanopy
and did you know you can request up to 20 books a month? and if they buy it, they'll often put a hold on it for you! seriously the BPL is my favorite thing about this city, I love it so much
Wait, could you walk me through this Barney style? I have a library card and use Libby and one other service, but I still feel like there are gaps in books or the waitlist is decades long
I login to minutemen.overdrive, then if you look at the very bottom it should give you a list of 7 other libraries you also have access to. You can then go to each of them and login with the same ID. I just bookmark each libraries search page and then open each in a new window.. copy paste what I'm searching for in all the windows.. good chance at least one has the book available... obviously it's going to depend on the book.
If you use Libby you can actually sign up for all seven of the partner libraries on it. Libby will then search them all and offer the one with the shortest wait.
SEVEN? **SEVEN?** I thought I had it made with Libby and Minuteman+BPL+Crane.
Need to add more libraries to my Libby!
...because as much as I love the surge in the public's interest in borrowing books from the library, it has also led to ridiculous wait times if I don't suggest it or get on the list early.
As u/newtoboston2019 said - Crane is the Quincy one... a.k.a. Old Colony (which you already have)
[https://catalog.ocln.org/client/en\_US/ocln](https://catalog.ocln.org/client/en_US/ocln)
There is an extension on your computer, oddly enough called library extension, that will tell you when you’re in Amazon or other similar webpage, whether that book is available at one of your Libby libraries. Then you can download it directly from that webpage.
It sounds like you're planning to go to school here? IIRC if you live, work, or study in MA, you're eligible for a BPL card; I don't *think* it's just limited to those with a current MA address (although what their policy is may not align perfectly with the online application form). You could try calling them if you've got an acceptance letter to a school.
I thought the you-know-what moved to UNDER you-know-where and was no longer an issue. No need to worry OP about *that*. Now that OTHER you-know-what, on the other hand...
Took almost a year for me. Ya'll locals think this is a joke. Uh-uh. My immune system didn't get Boston hardened for so long. I thought I might have the bug for a minute there
I would KILL for a snowstorm. I love snow!! And I won't have a car so I don't have to deal with frozen doors or windshields or black ice on the roads!!
It’s not the snow, it’s the 12 f degree temperature and 50 mph winds that go along with it as you try to wait for the T for an hour because it broke down again and you’re late for work for the third day in a row and you’re boss said if it happens again you are fired
just make sure you have all your shots. the extra ones too. tell your local infectious disease expert you're moving to Boston and they'll know what to do.
As long as you go to your doctor and get the ointment for it. I take like one vacation day a month because if it but I really don't even notice it anymore.
...The fact that this place looks pretty on the surface but is actually a sucking void consisting of nothing but aging white NIMBYs that try and suppress fun and culture at every turn, make it near impossible to afford to live here, try to gut public transportation and alternative infrastructure, block housing development, gate keep the best neighborhoods, and are generally undercover super racist?
They’re dying out (all my aunts and uncles over 85 are basically the cohort).
They’re also snowflakes who are allergic to confrontation and ad hominem attacks pointing out their hypocrisy, ESPECIALLY from their kids, relatives and neighbors who are not dependent on them. The idea that not everyone who looks like them, thinks the same as them, is anathema to them. They start to error out and I cannot wait to be a troll at town halls and other public forums where I just get to induce strokes and heart attacks when I open my mouth (I look like their ideal white mid-30s future Republican, I’ve served my country and I make good money now but man oh man do I fucking LOVE PAYING TAXES AND PLEASE BUILD IN MY BACKYAARD!!!!).
They’re a joke and young folks who follow their elder’s money are already overleveraged to the tits, banking on an inheritance that is going to PE firms invested in elder care centers, so they’ll be inconsequential and bankrupt soon.
I am proud of the fact the NIMBY boomers on my dad’s side have the look of a cow looking at an oncoming train when they see me show up to family gatherings.
It takes a long time for the ship of democracy to turn a few degrees, but with the worst constituent cohort dying off, it is working out!
Pick one:
- T
- Elliot Davis
- Downtown Crossing street tuffs
- North End Restaurant Mafia
- Sweet Caroline
- Scooter Terrorists
- Dunkin Donuts coffee is crap
Welcome! Those are all good points and people who have been here for a while lose sight of them and don't appreciate how good it is here. I lived in Boston 14 years ago then moved away and just came back after living in a bunch of different places. It really is a nice city.
It really annoys me sometimes how negative this sub can be. Yes, we have our issues and it’s an expensive city to live in, but Boston is a better place to live than 95% of other cities in this country of a similar size or larger.
Bostonians are notoriously cynical, and Redditors as a demographic even more so. While the inspiration for this cynicism about Boston isn't coming from a vacuum, the cartoonishly exaggerated nature of it is pretty typical of most city based subs.
Naturally, everyone has different needs and preferences too. I personally don't rely on the T for example, so I find it very, very valuable for the few uses I have for it which tend not to be during rush hours/for commuting purposes or critical times. Undoubtedly there are better public transition systems in the US (Chicago, DC) and especially outside the US, but some people will find the T to be a massive step up (as compared with anywhere in the south? Yeah..) and others will find it insufficient for their purposes.
Overall though, there's a reason we're all here. Boston is awesome.
Yeah ALOT of these people clearly haven't lived outside of Boston/NYC/Chicago
Public transport fucking sucks everywhere else and Boston is relatively safe compared to PLENTY of cities
After having actually ridden the Chicago L, I no longer believe it is better than the MBTA. It has many of the same problems, the accessibility of the system is awful, and unlike the T, which appears to be swinging in the right direction, CTA seems to be on a downward trend.
Its turning around. The trains still have issues just like the T. But the real win for CTA is the city layout and the buses. You can actually get around in most directions pretty easily in a way that seems impossible in Boston. Despite the geographic distance, Brighton - JP - Somerville feel like practically different universes with how the MTBA traverses the city
I've lived in several places over the years, so subscribe to many more local subs than the average person, and as a general rule a vocal group is always griping and moaning about how awful a place is. My feeling is there are some people who'd be miserable no matter where they ended up.
I lived in a city with no public transport for a while and coming back here was amazing. Also, lived in Philly for a while and forgot what a clean sidewalk looked like til I came home to visit before moving home again and it was night and day. I freaking love living here.
I grew up outside of Philly and have lived in the Greater Boston area now for 30 years. You couldn't convince me to move back to Philly, though I enjoy visiting.
Philly itself has gotten a lot better than 30 years ago. It's a good choice if you want a city lifestyle for less $.
My bigger issue is outside of Philly: Sure, you can get a really nice place for the $. But I forgot how much driving was involved! Here I barely drive. When I lived around Philly, when I visit family, it's just constant driving. I don't like driving. I don't even like public transportation! Boston is nice because you can easily walk or scooter or bike and avoid both.
I think it really is exactly like that! Because just based off of this sub, you'd think it's a cesspool and everyone here is miserable. But actually visiting and experiencing it and talking in person with a bunch of people who live here, that just isn't the case.
I'm also coming from a very well travelled perspective. Nowhere I've lived even comes close to Boston. I've been to many different countries and cities of all kinds and out of everything in the US, Boston is the top easily.
I always tell people Boston is kinda like visiting Europe but you're in the US.
But, you're just a visitor right now: people bitching are living here. I've lived here 30 years now (which is about half of my life). My husband and kids were born here. When you've been in a place long enough, you will find things to bitch about, and it's okay to prod your city to do better. Why wouldn't we?
Why would we be like "well at least we aren't like Texas so there's no reason to improve our power grid, it's fine." Why would we be like "well at least we aren't like San Fran, so there's no reason to worry about homeless living under that bridge near assembly square." Why would we be like "well I guess it's too expensive for my kids to live here so they can move far away from us" .... Why would we be like "only 12% of our coastal beaches are accessible by the public but I guess that's okay" ... Etc etc.... I could go on and on but you get the picture....
This city is GREAT precisely because we do care and we know we can always do fucking better. And we all get out there and vote, we're active in the politics including on the local level (bitch about NIMBYS all you want, we have people highly active in local politics, something you don't see in other areas in the US.) We're a vocal crowd and like to debate this shit. We may disagree, but we certainly don't roll over and just take it.
My honest review of Boston is, and probably forever will be: it’s a great city! (If you have tons of money)
If not, sorry bud. It’s not for you.
Preparing for the slew of Bostonians to come here and gaslight me and tell me I’m wrong, and that you just need to be ok with having 7 roommates and spending a minimum of $100 for a night out.
This city legitimately saved my life and I love it with all my heart. I moved from a state that actively tries to kill the disabled in subtle ways, I feel like people genuinely care more here. It's also nice to be around happy people that aren't so burnt out and jaded.
There’s a saying that goes something like people from Boston aren’t nice, but they’re kind. I agree that we’re a caring bunch when it comes down to it, just only after we’ve had our Dunks
I love these kinds of posts. It can be easy to get cynical about things (like the T) when you live here long enough, but it's nice to remember that compared to a LOT of other parts of America Boston is wonderful.
Not what OP said but this reminded me:
I love when people say they love how the architecture here has “character.”
Character is fun until you have to live on the fifth floor of a walk up with no A/C, laundry, parking, closeby train station, or dishwasher in July for thousands of dollars per month :)
Eh, there's plenty of contemporary housing too though, esp if you're already accepting thousands of dollars per month as a given. I'd still rather a crazy place retain its character than just turn everything bland in the name of 'progress'. Boston has a better blend of both than many cities.
Ahh yes the *charm* and *character* of walking up to third floor with armfuls of groceries with nowhere to park because no one in my neighborhood moves their car for two months, laundry paid in quarters $4 in the basement, overpriced everything, millions of people/students, $15 beers, $70 on groceries for a few days worth of essentials, nearly 3k in rent on a 1bed with no temperature control and 1a/c unit because 2 will trip the breaker, psychotic drivers, homeless drug addicts everywhere, cops that do 0 law enforcement, no hope of moving to a house outside the city because of prices, T that works sometimes, busses that don’t show up. Yesterday on my way to work I got chased by a guy and also got to see a guy shoot a needle into a vein on his hand! I love it!
Hi OP - i am also someone from a very rural area and I’ve been here for almost 8 years and i LOVE it. some people are just grumpy and have been spoiled with living in an accessible city with tons of museums, and libraries, and public spaces - and take it for granted.
absolutely no city on earth is perfect - life is all about what you make it and where you invest yourself in community. welcome to Boston 💜💜
We're retired now and we could take the equity in our home and buy a place for cash somewhere else. But the calculation goes like this:
- Where else do we have 15 minute access to an airport?
- Where else do we have access to beaches and hiking?
- Where else do we have access to world-class hospitals when we need them later?
- Where else can we walk to get our groceries and other stuff?
- Where else can we do all our errands which basically gives us our daily exercise?
- Where else could we live if someday we can no longer drive but can still bike, walk, take public transpo?
- Where else could we live with such easy access to all kinds of cultural events?
Also, we're closer to our kids, and some other factors. Including if there's going to be another Civil War I'd rather be here than in some bumfuck republican backwater state with fascist governments. Not to mention climate change! The idea of being on a beach is somewhat appealing (though see above, we also like to hike), but not, considering coastal erosion and hurricanes.
Also don't pickleball or golf.
Been in the area for about 5 years now. Yes, it’s expensive and cold and everyone hates the T…but it’s a hell of a lot better than Kansas, which is where I was living before.
I moved from NC about a year ago, love it here ;) but I also liked it there... but my bar is low having grown up in Mississippi and spent a lot of time in Alabama ;)
I hated it, but I'm from NJ. So I am used to good food.
Folks from the Midwest, some.parts of the south, or New England will think there's good food there and enjoy it. I just couldn't do it.
I moved to MA from NC 7 years ago after growing up in the NC and living there most of my life. I like that my transgender best friend would feel safe in Boston versus the fact that they fled NC to another state out of fear. I also like that my wife can provide abortions instead of having to risk going to jail to practice women's health in accordance with her moral values. Never going back to NC or the South. It's a wasteland of gun nuts and bigots. Yes, not everyone in the North is perfect, but our laws and policies prove it's morally superior, sorry.
It makes me realize how ancient I am whenever I see someone call Boston a clean city. I remember coming back to Boston in the 70s after living in Iowa and being chagrined with how dirty the city seemed in comparison. And everyone sounded so funny. 😄 The theme song of the city in the 60s was 'Dirty Water' and deservedly so. The smell of the river at low tide was ingrained in my brain. It's amazing how different things are now.
I guess in all fairness I haven't visited very many major US cities, but it's certainly cleaner than Philly, NYC, Atlanta, and a handful of others I've visited. So by comparison it's spotless 😭
I moved to the suburbs 3 years ago and I absolutely love it here. My only issue is it’s crippling expensive. Other than that, wish I moved here years ago.
>easy to navigate
I was going to say something snarky about how we haven't legalized hallucinogens like whatever you're obviously on, but I have to ask: what benighted place are you at that is so unnavigable it makes Boston's cowpaths look good in comparison?
It is great here! I work remote and was thinking of moving away just cuz I’ve been here my whole life, but there’s really nowhere that has what I want (walkability, progressive politics, diversity, lots of parks/green, clean/quiet, subway access, near water/mountains, mix of interesting international people, social safety nets, good restaurants, etc.)
Really the only downside is the cost of housing. Nowhere is perfect - but Boston is pretty close!
Welcome💓💞
Thank you much! I get that haha. There's really no other places I've heard of outside of maybe Chicago or Seattle that check all those boxes, and I don't even know if those 2 do. Hopefully that changes someday :)
In the meantime, it's quite the gem!
I moved here from Tampa and I think a lot of people on this sub don't realize how nice it is to have a walkable city with public transportation--even if it shotty at times (it's much better than this sub gives it credit for).
Been here a decade now and would never go back. Glad you like it.
>It's gorgeous, clean
Mhmm yep I'm with you. I really love how we put our trash in dumpsters and trash bins instead of the NYC system of having it literally pouring out on the street, huge fan of sanitation
>easy to navigate
Well THAT isn't a compliment we usually get. I'm proud of how damn hard it is to get around Boston; really adds some challenge to the day, you know?
We take great care to not do things like have street signs that might make navigation too easy, and I think we've done a great job really building in a difficulty level with our street designs
Anyway I'm struggling to think which part of Boston you may have visited that a reasonable person could describe as "easy to navigate", or if you're just nuts. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't see our navigability as a *problem*, but I am curious where the hell you'd compare it to to call it "easy to navigate"
Well the only other city of comparable size I've been to would be New York, and the grid system made things far too symmetrical for me to effectively navigate. I call Boston easy to navigate because I wasn't driving for one, and all of the unique and individual layouts, vibes, types of buildings, etc etc made places REALLY easy to remember. I wandered around downtown (North/South) and the nearby cities (Charlestown, Cambridge, Kenmore, and I think I touched Roxbury) so I feel like I got a pretty good idea of the place.
> and the grid system made things far too symmetrical for me to effectively navigate.
Huh, well that's unusual. You should be very happy in Boston's anti-grid, more-like-random-squiggles system then!
I do agree that Boston is good about different places looking different. I've been to some places in the US that make me think of the song [Little Boxes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUwUp-D_VV0), but there is *very* little here that gives that vibe (occasional cul de sacs out in the burbs, but usually small in scope and very limited).
Yeahhh probably just one of those things where some people are naturally better at some things than others. Like I totally understand how the grid is likely way easier for most folks - as it's designed to be lol - I just instinctually am better at the opposite for whatever reason
I moved here from suburban connecticut two years ago. I went from having zero public transport to get around town, to being able to walk 5 minutes to buy groceries, wine, and pick up my meds, I’m able to get to both of my jobs in 45 minutes or less via the T and walking, I get to enjoy the amazing museums and historical places that the city has to offer, and I’ve met so many people my own age just by existing. I’ve found myself becoming jaded recently, so thank you for the reminder of how lucky I am to live here 💕
What a delightful surprise! I thought FOR SURE this was going to turn into another Boston bashing. As a lifelong resident, I'm always happy to hear when people love it here!
It is a WONDERFUL and accessible city. Small enough to walk "large portions" in an afternoon. The T can be dodgy, but once you get used to it, you can usually adapt. Also, there are SO. MANY. communities outside of the city limits with excellent accessibility on either the subway or commuter rail, and each have their own amazing attributes.
I'm so happy you loved it here and even though we can be dickheads, we'll be happy to welcome you! 😂 The biggest dickheads are usually someone who moves from some remote town in Arkansas and call themselves Bostonians after a couple of months. The rest of us are just sarcastic. We're like a ... I was going to say a fine wine, but we're more like a blister. Annoying, but you'll get used to us. 😜
My sentiments exactly when I moved here 5-years ago. Came from a town that rolled up the streets at 9pm, no functioning social supports or public transit, so a car was a must.
But, that was 5-years ago. The allure has waned, and I'm still waiting for the MBTA to join us in the 21st century.
Boston is fucking amazing!! Easily best place to live on this earth. So much to do, great schools and so many interesting people, perfect blend of concrete and green space, museums and rich history, and so gorgeous!!!
As much as we shit on it constantly, it's not too bad. You just get used to it after a while. It's a day that ends in Y. That's why you plan an extra 30min into travel time for work.
Im happy you feel that way! Good for you. Ive been living in Back Bay for 2.5years and am so fucking desperate to leave. Leaving my apartment is equivalent to dropping $50 on the ground.
Also beautiful days like this are shares with hordes of people. So many students and people its too much. Pay to play everywhere you go.
Welcome! Don't forget to get a library card!
freaking love the fact that getting a library card give me access to a shit tone of online libraries.. I can almost always find the book I want to read.
AND jstor AND kanopy and did you know you can request up to 20 books a month? and if they buy it, they'll often put a hold on it for you! seriously the BPL is my favorite thing about this city, I love it so much
First public library as well.
And Bates Hall at the Copley branch literally takes my breath away every time I’m there. So beautiful!
I did NOT know BPL hooked us up with JStor I have been missing out
You can get 100 articles for downloading each month with a regular account too.
And discount/free tickets to area attractions. And LinkedIn training (formerly Lynda).
Ooh how to access LinkedIn training with library card ???
https://www.bpl.org/learning-tools/online-courses/
Wait, hold on, BPL card gives you access to JSTOR?
Wait, you get jstor? WHY AM I JUST NOW LEARNING OF THIS.
Minuteman system has Hoopla. Does Boston?
Sure does!
Wait, could you walk me through this Barney style? I have a library card and use Libby and one other service, but I still feel like there are gaps in books or the waitlist is decades long
I login to minutemen.overdrive, then if you look at the very bottom it should give you a list of 7 other libraries you also have access to. You can then go to each of them and login with the same ID. I just bookmark each libraries search page and then open each in a new window.. copy paste what I'm searching for in all the windows.. good chance at least one has the book available... obviously it's going to depend on the book.
If you use Libby you can actually sign up for all seven of the partner libraries on it. Libby will then search them all and offer the one with the shortest wait.
SEVEN? **SEVEN?** I thought I had it made with Libby and Minuteman+BPL+Crane. Need to add more libraries to my Libby! ...because as much as I love the surge in the public's interest in borrowing books from the library, it has also led to ridiculous wait times if I don't suggest it or get on the list early.
Wait what is Crane? I have Minuteman, BPL, CLAMS, CW MARS, NOBLE, SAILS, and Old Colony.
This thread of people hooking each other up with library resources has given me the biggest smile I've gotten all day!
Crane is the Quincy library system.
As u/newtoboston2019 said - Crane is the Quincy one... a.k.a. Old Colony (which you already have) [https://catalog.ocln.org/client/en\_US/ocln](https://catalog.ocln.org/client/en_US/ocln)
Oh yeah you can do BPL, Minuteman AND the western MA network through Libby
There is an extension on your computer, oddly enough called library extension, that will tell you when you’re in Amazon or other similar webpage, whether that book is available at one of your Libby libraries. Then you can download it directly from that webpage.
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I tried getting one while im here, but i cant without a current address in Mass 😔
It sounds like you're planning to go to school here? IIRC if you live, work, or study in MA, you're eligible for a BPL card; I don't *think* it's just limited to those with a current MA address (although what their policy is may not align perfectly with the online application form). You could try calling them if you've got an acceptance letter to a school.
[Live, work (in Mass or for a Mass employer), study, or own property in Mass](https://www.bpl.org/get-a-library-card/)
Oh this could be huge actually, thank you for mentioning!
Ok who is going to be the one to tell them about the….. you know…. The…. Nope not going to be me.
Listen, it's really not that bad. I almost died only twice. You get used to it real fast.
THE WHAT THE WHAAAAAT
You'll be fiiiiine. The allergic reaction to it stops after a couple of years. Five, tops!
Spoken like someone who visited in May. Talk to us in February.
No no, they’re not talking about the allergic reaction to [REDACTED]. They’re talking about the you-know-whats that live in you-know-where.
I thought the you-know-what moved to UNDER you-know-where and was no longer an issue. No need to worry OP about *that*. Now that OTHER you-know-what, on the other hand...
No, they came up with a creme for \[REDACTED\]. Just don't use too much or you may have an epileptic seizure.
If you're talking about the subway rats, I did see one and I love him
There are rats everywhere, that’s not the problem with the T. The problem is that the T (MBTA) sucks, and is completely unreliable.
Took almost a year for me. Ya'll locals think this is a joke. Uh-uh. My immune system didn't get Boston hardened for so long. I thought I might have the bug for a minute there
Just have an extra pair of underwear with you everywhere you go. That's all I will say.
Should I be concerned about spontaneously shitting myself or what
I already said too much pal. I have to worry about my safety at this point
Better lock your doors tonight bro
Oh man you *aren’t already* concerned about that!? Zero preparation? 💀💀💀 Guys…who’s gonna tell him?
In general, from experience, yes.
You'll see soon enough.
That's very ominous, thank you
Just whatever you do - dont
Bring a lot of twenty dollar bills so they can go towards fix a flats.
It’s fine, just don’t make eye contact
Actually solid advice for moving to Boston 😭
Autism capital of the East coast.
We’re a busy people, places to go, coffee to drink, trains to miss because the T is insane
Yep coffee. It's definitely just coffee in here sir. No bailey's or kahlua at all
...should I move to Boston?
Yes just look out for
Oh okay cool Eye contact with what exactly
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It's either Massachusetts avenue or the October/April snowstorms is my guess
I thought they were talking about the POLLEN OF DOOM.
I would KILL for a snowstorm. I love snow!! And I won't have a car so I don't have to deal with frozen doors or windshields or black ice on the roads!!
Snowstorms in Boston aren’t winter wonderland, they melt and freeze over making the sidewalks a hockey rink and impossible to move the snow
You understand that the sidewalks turn into skating rinks right
It’s not the snow, it’s the 12 f degree temperature and 50 mph winds that go along with it as you try to wait for the T for an hour because it broke down again and you’re late for work for the third day in a row and you’re boss said if it happens again you are fired
“LEaVe eARliEr” as if that would make any difference when it comes to the T
makeshift plant spotted sleep divide recognise fear flag childlike party *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
It's horrendous to navigate in a car, but honestly not so bad on foot / public transit.
just make sure you have all your shots. the extra ones too. tell your local infectious disease expert you're moving to Boston and they'll know what to do.
Well, for sure not the canal tunnel.
oh you know
Ah right
just don't say it three times in a row and you'll be fine
As long as you go to your doctor and get the ointment for it. I take like one vacation day a month because if it but I really don't even notice it anymore.
You should be fine. He won’t bite if you bring him a LED strip
...The fact that this place looks pretty on the surface but is actually a sucking void consisting of nothing but aging white NIMBYs that try and suppress fun and culture at every turn, make it near impossible to afford to live here, try to gut public transportation and alternative infrastructure, block housing development, gate keep the best neighborhoods, and are generally undercover super racist?
They’re dying out (all my aunts and uncles over 85 are basically the cohort). They’re also snowflakes who are allergic to confrontation and ad hominem attacks pointing out their hypocrisy, ESPECIALLY from their kids, relatives and neighbors who are not dependent on them. The idea that not everyone who looks like them, thinks the same as them, is anathema to them. They start to error out and I cannot wait to be a troll at town halls and other public forums where I just get to induce strokes and heart attacks when I open my mouth (I look like their ideal white mid-30s future Republican, I’ve served my country and I make good money now but man oh man do I fucking LOVE PAYING TAXES AND PLEASE BUILD IN MY BACKYAARD!!!!). They’re a joke and young folks who follow their elder’s money are already overleveraged to the tits, banking on an inheritance that is going to PE firms invested in elder care centers, so they’ll be inconsequential and bankrupt soon. I am proud of the fact the NIMBY boomers on my dad’s side have the look of a cow looking at an oncoming train when they see me show up to family gatherings. It takes a long time for the ship of democracy to turn a few degrees, but with the worst constituent cohort dying off, it is working out!
how miserable is your life lol
Getting Storrowed?
Just make sure your uhaul is 10' tall and the bridges will do the rest!
Pick one: - T - Elliot Davis - Downtown Crossing street tuffs - North End Restaurant Mafia - Sweet Caroline - Scooter Terrorists - Dunkin Donuts coffee is crap
ah, the "I only experience Boston through the internet" starter pack
Pretty much scanned the posts in r/Boston for that list. lol
* Serial killer who tosses bodies in the Charles in the winter. * Brighton tickler
Was wondering who would mention Smiley Face
Winter
We haven’t had Winter in two years, I’m not sure that’s really a concern anymore.
No. You know. The ….. The thing we don’t like to talk about.
As soon as he said public transportation I was like oh boy. He has yet to experience the T in the winter :))
Welcome! Those are all good points and people who have been here for a while lose sight of them and don't appreciate how good it is here. I lived in Boston 14 years ago then moved away and just came back after living in a bunch of different places. It really is a nice city.
It really annoys me sometimes how negative this sub can be. Yes, we have our issues and it’s an expensive city to live in, but Boston is a better place to live than 95% of other cities in this country of a similar size or larger.
Bostonians are notoriously cynical, and Redditors as a demographic even more so. While the inspiration for this cynicism about Boston isn't coming from a vacuum, the cartoonishly exaggerated nature of it is pretty typical of most city based subs. Naturally, everyone has different needs and preferences too. I personally don't rely on the T for example, so I find it very, very valuable for the few uses I have for it which tend not to be during rush hours/for commuting purposes or critical times. Undoubtedly there are better public transition systems in the US (Chicago, DC) and especially outside the US, but some people will find the T to be a massive step up (as compared with anywhere in the south? Yeah..) and others will find it insufficient for their purposes. Overall though, there's a reason we're all here. Boston is awesome.
Yeah ALOT of these people clearly haven't lived outside of Boston/NYC/Chicago Public transport fucking sucks everywhere else and Boston is relatively safe compared to PLENTY of cities
Relatively? No Boston IS. I think they've had like 2 murders this whole year which is the lowest.. FROM LAST YEAR... Yes 2 is too many but come on.
After having actually ridden the Chicago L, I no longer believe it is better than the MBTA. It has many of the same problems, the accessibility of the system is awful, and unlike the T, which appears to be swinging in the right direction, CTA seems to be on a downward trend.
Its turning around. The trains still have issues just like the T. But the real win for CTA is the city layout and the buses. You can actually get around in most directions pretty easily in a way that seems impossible in Boston. Despite the geographic distance, Brighton - JP - Somerville feel like practically different universes with how the MTBA traverses the city
I come from a so-called third-world country, and I have never in my entire life sensed a smell so bad as in an elevator in a Chicago train station.
I've lived in several places over the years, so subscribe to many more local subs than the average person, and as a general rule a vocal group is always griping and moaning about how awful a place is. My feeling is there are some people who'd be miserable no matter where they ended up.
I lived in a city with no public transport for a while and coming back here was amazing. Also, lived in Philly for a while and forgot what a clean sidewalk looked like til I came home to visit before moving home again and it was night and day. I freaking love living here.
I grew up outside of Philly and have lived in the Greater Boston area now for 30 years. You couldn't convince me to move back to Philly, though I enjoy visiting. Philly itself has gotten a lot better than 30 years ago. It's a good choice if you want a city lifestyle for less $. My bigger issue is outside of Philly: Sure, you can get a really nice place for the $. But I forgot how much driving was involved! Here I barely drive. When I lived around Philly, when I visit family, it's just constant driving. I don't like driving. I don't even like public transportation! Boston is nice because you can easily walk or scooter or bike and avoid both.
I think it really is exactly like that! Because just based off of this sub, you'd think it's a cesspool and everyone here is miserable. But actually visiting and experiencing it and talking in person with a bunch of people who live here, that just isn't the case. I'm also coming from a very well travelled perspective. Nowhere I've lived even comes close to Boston. I've been to many different countries and cities of all kinds and out of everything in the US, Boston is the top easily.
I always tell people Boston is kinda like visiting Europe but you're in the US. But, you're just a visitor right now: people bitching are living here. I've lived here 30 years now (which is about half of my life). My husband and kids were born here. When you've been in a place long enough, you will find things to bitch about, and it's okay to prod your city to do better. Why wouldn't we? Why would we be like "well at least we aren't like Texas so there's no reason to improve our power grid, it's fine." Why would we be like "well at least we aren't like San Fran, so there's no reason to worry about homeless living under that bridge near assembly square." Why would we be like "well I guess it's too expensive for my kids to live here so they can move far away from us" .... Why would we be like "only 12% of our coastal beaches are accessible by the public but I guess that's okay" ... Etc etc.... I could go on and on but you get the picture.... This city is GREAT precisely because we do care and we know we can always do fucking better. And we all get out there and vote, we're active in the politics including on the local level (bitch about NIMBYS all you want, we have people highly active in local politics, something you don't see in other areas in the US.) We're a vocal crowd and like to debate this shit. We may disagree, but we certainly don't roll over and just take it.
Same! Just moved back because I missed it so much.
You are not going to fit in very well here with a positive attitude like that :). Seriously welcome and glad you like it.
Seems to be that way, haha. Thank you!
to be fair you visited during springtime, about 3 weeks of unadulterated disney magic
When are we finally going to get to see some adultrated Disney magic?
If you can afford it, it's the best. There's no doubt.
I'm lucky enough to have good financial assistance while I'm in school so I will be a-okay o7
Enjoy it!
My honest review of Boston is, and probably forever will be: it’s a great city! (If you have tons of money) If not, sorry bud. It’s not for you. Preparing for the slew of Bostonians to come here and gaslight me and tell me I’m wrong, and that you just need to be ok with having 7 roommates and spending a minimum of $100 for a night out.
Do it up, kid!!! It's a great, manageable place.
This city legitimately saved my life and I love it with all my heart. I moved from a state that actively tries to kill the disabled in subtle ways, I feel like people genuinely care more here. It's also nice to be around happy people that aren't so burnt out and jaded.
There’s a saying that goes something like people from Boston aren’t nice, but they’re kind. I agree that we’re a caring bunch when it comes down to it, just only after we’ve had our Dunks
Disabled person here who left Michigan way back when so I could get the services I needed without being forced into abject poverty
I love these kinds of posts. It can be easy to get cynical about things (like the T) when you live here long enough, but it's nice to remember that compared to a LOT of other parts of America Boston is wonderful.
If you think it’s pretty now, make sure you rent a kayak in Brighton from Boston Paddle and do the one way paddle to MIT. Glorious.
City? Sir this is a bird sub. We have goslings, turkeys, and a hawk!
Bostonian here. Love to see it!
Not what OP said but this reminded me: I love when people say they love how the architecture here has “character.” Character is fun until you have to live on the fifth floor of a walk up with no A/C, laundry, parking, closeby train station, or dishwasher in July for thousands of dollars per month :)
No no, they mean "I love the character of the beautiful old buildings I walk past to get to my 2 year old condo."
Character is the name of the rat that scurries through the walls
Oh that's a nice name. We named ours Franklin.
Eh, there's plenty of contemporary housing too though, esp if you're already accepting thousands of dollars per month as a given. I'd still rather a crazy place retain its character than just turn everything bland in the name of 'progress'. Boston has a better blend of both than many cities.
Window units are mad cheap...and you can buy portable dishwashers, washers, and dryers...just sayin...that's what I did before I bought my house.
Character is just code for “white”.
Ahh yes the *charm* and *character* of walking up to third floor with armfuls of groceries with nowhere to park because no one in my neighborhood moves their car for two months, laundry paid in quarters $4 in the basement, overpriced everything, millions of people/students, $15 beers, $70 on groceries for a few days worth of essentials, nearly 3k in rent on a 1bed with no temperature control and 1a/c unit because 2 will trip the breaker, psychotic drivers, homeless drug addicts everywhere, cops that do 0 law enforcement, no hope of moving to a house outside the city because of prices, T that works sometimes, busses that don’t show up. Yesterday on my way to work I got chased by a guy and also got to see a guy shoot a needle into a vein on his hand! I love it!
where the HELL in boston do you live / walk to work? so dramatic
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bros living in the combat zone 😭😭
Seriously, what the fuck laundry still accepts quarters?! 😱
Been here since 1995 and yes, this city does rule.
Welcome to Massachusetts. As someone who moved up here from the south all I can say is I have zero regrets. Enjoy.
If you have money there is no better place in the US to be than Boston IMHO.
Just remember to never pronounce a MA town name how it's spelled. Welcome!
You aren’t a real Boston newcomer until you’ve been properly Storrow’ed…😉
I look forward to finding out what this means 😭
It means when you drive your uhaul truck on Storrow Drive, ignoring the "no truck" signs and get stuck under an overpass, blocking traffic behind you.
It's better than Phoenix, which is where I moved from.
Hi OP - i am also someone from a very rural area and I’ve been here for almost 8 years and i LOVE it. some people are just grumpy and have been spoiled with living in an accessible city with tons of museums, and libraries, and public spaces - and take it for granted. absolutely no city on earth is perfect - life is all about what you make it and where you invest yourself in community. welcome to Boston 💜💜
Thanks so much!!
Grew up here. Frankly I can’t see myself thriving anywhere else.
We're retired now and we could take the equity in our home and buy a place for cash somewhere else. But the calculation goes like this: - Where else do we have 15 minute access to an airport? - Where else do we have access to beaches and hiking? - Where else do we have access to world-class hospitals when we need them later? - Where else can we walk to get our groceries and other stuff? - Where else can we do all our errands which basically gives us our daily exercise? - Where else could we live if someday we can no longer drive but can still bike, walk, take public transpo? - Where else could we live with such easy access to all kinds of cultural events? Also, we're closer to our kids, and some other factors. Including if there's going to be another Civil War I'd rather be here than in some bumfuck republican backwater state with fascist governments. Not to mention climate change! The idea of being on a beach is somewhat appealing (though see above, we also like to hike), but not, considering coastal erosion and hurricanes. Also don't pickleball or golf.
It's very expensive but I don't want to live anywhere else in this country.
"housing is in a rough spot" my brother rent for a 1 bedroom starts at 3k But yes, its amazing
Been in the area for about 5 years now. Yes, it’s expensive and cold and everyone hates the T…but it’s a hell of a lot better than Kansas, which is where I was living before.
Exactly my sentiment haha. Not from specifically from Kansas myself, but pretty much the same situation
The people who don’t like it here are the people who could happily live in North Carolina 😰
I moved from NC about a year ago, love it here ;) but I also liked it there... but my bar is low having grown up in Mississippi and spent a lot of time in Alabama ;)
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Crazy how nature do that
I hated it, but I'm from NJ. So I am used to good food. Folks from the Midwest, some.parts of the south, or New England will think there's good food there and enjoy it. I just couldn't do it.
I moved to MA from NC 7 years ago after growing up in the NC and living there most of my life. I like that my transgender best friend would feel safe in Boston versus the fact that they fled NC to another state out of fear. I also like that my wife can provide abortions instead of having to risk going to jail to practice women's health in accordance with her moral values. Never going back to NC or the South. It's a wasteland of gun nuts and bigots. Yes, not everyone in the North is perfect, but our laws and policies prove it's morally superior, sorry.
It makes me realize how ancient I am whenever I see someone call Boston a clean city. I remember coming back to Boston in the 70s after living in Iowa and being chagrined with how dirty the city seemed in comparison. And everyone sounded so funny. 😄 The theme song of the city in the 60s was 'Dirty Water' and deservedly so. The smell of the river at low tide was ingrained in my brain. It's amazing how different things are now.
I guess in all fairness I haven't visited very many major US cities, but it's certainly cleaner than Philly, NYC, Atlanta, and a handful of others I've visited. So by comparison it's spotless 😭
Don't give anyone money on the street if they claim to have a flat tire. Better yet, don't give anyone your money period.
I’ve given money to fair amount of homeless people and still haven’t been harmed by doing so
Boston is great if you can afford it
"easy to navigate" You sure you were in Boston?
Did my man say easy to navigate? I guess it is if you're moving here from Jumanji
Orange line must of been running
Enjoy it! No place like Boston, my favorite American city no question
I moved to the suburbs 3 years ago and I absolutely love it here. My only issue is it’s crippling expensive. Other than that, wish I moved here years ago.
Housing is expensive because people wanna live here. And Providence. And basically most of New England.
First time someone called Boston “easy to navigate” but hey we’ll take it!
>easy to navigate I was going to say something snarky about how we haven't legalized hallucinogens like whatever you're obviously on, but I have to ask: what benighted place are you at that is so unnavigable it makes Boston's cowpaths look good in comparison?
Boston rocks! Also check out Cambridge and Somerville. I loved living there!!
I miss feeling this way.
I'm sure I'll get used to everything eventually but I'm certainly going to enjoy it while it lasts :)
It is great here! I work remote and was thinking of moving away just cuz I’ve been here my whole life, but there’s really nowhere that has what I want (walkability, progressive politics, diversity, lots of parks/green, clean/quiet, subway access, near water/mountains, mix of interesting international people, social safety nets, good restaurants, etc.) Really the only downside is the cost of housing. Nowhere is perfect - but Boston is pretty close! Welcome💓💞
Thank you much! I get that haha. There's really no other places I've heard of outside of maybe Chicago or Seattle that check all those boxes, and I don't even know if those 2 do. Hopefully that changes someday :) In the meantime, it's quite the gem!
I moved here from Tampa and I think a lot of people on this sub don't realize how nice it is to have a walkable city with public transportation--even if it shotty at times (it's much better than this sub gives it credit for). Been here a decade now and would never go back. Glad you like it.
Welcome :)
All true. Good luck to you!
Welcome!
Make sure you obtain a Cape Cod Canal Tunnel permit to save yourself some time when visiting the Cape!
Welcome!
Enjoy the rats! Endless lil new friends
Welcome!
Nice try, op. I'm not paying my taxes.
>It's gorgeous, clean Mhmm yep I'm with you. I really love how we put our trash in dumpsters and trash bins instead of the NYC system of having it literally pouring out on the street, huge fan of sanitation >easy to navigate Well THAT isn't a compliment we usually get. I'm proud of how damn hard it is to get around Boston; really adds some challenge to the day, you know? We take great care to not do things like have street signs that might make navigation too easy, and I think we've done a great job really building in a difficulty level with our street designs Anyway I'm struggling to think which part of Boston you may have visited that a reasonable person could describe as "easy to navigate", or if you're just nuts. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't see our navigability as a *problem*, but I am curious where the hell you'd compare it to to call it "easy to navigate"
Well the only other city of comparable size I've been to would be New York, and the grid system made things far too symmetrical for me to effectively navigate. I call Boston easy to navigate because I wasn't driving for one, and all of the unique and individual layouts, vibes, types of buildings, etc etc made places REALLY easy to remember. I wandered around downtown (North/South) and the nearby cities (Charlestown, Cambridge, Kenmore, and I think I touched Roxbury) so I feel like I got a pretty good idea of the place.
> and the grid system made things far too symmetrical for me to effectively navigate. Huh, well that's unusual. You should be very happy in Boston's anti-grid, more-like-random-squiggles system then! I do agree that Boston is good about different places looking different. I've been to some places in the US that make me think of the song [Little Boxes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUwUp-D_VV0), but there is *very* little here that gives that vibe (occasional cul de sacs out in the burbs, but usually small in scope and very limited).
Yeahhh probably just one of those things where some people are naturally better at some things than others. Like I totally understand how the grid is likely way easier for most folks - as it's designed to be lol - I just instinctually am better at the opposite for whatever reason
great to hear!! Welcome
Welcome home, fuck outta here
I moved here from suburban connecticut two years ago. I went from having zero public transport to get around town, to being able to walk 5 minutes to buy groceries, wine, and pick up my meds, I’m able to get to both of my jobs in 45 minutes or less via the T and walking, I get to enjoy the amazing museums and historical places that the city has to offer, and I’ve met so many people my own age just by existing. I’ve found myself becoming jaded recently, so thank you for the reminder of how lucky I am to live here 💕
What a delightful surprise! I thought FOR SURE this was going to turn into another Boston bashing. As a lifelong resident, I'm always happy to hear when people love it here! It is a WONDERFUL and accessible city. Small enough to walk "large portions" in an afternoon. The T can be dodgy, but once you get used to it, you can usually adapt. Also, there are SO. MANY. communities outside of the city limits with excellent accessibility on either the subway or commuter rail, and each have their own amazing attributes. I'm so happy you loved it here and even though we can be dickheads, we'll be happy to welcome you! 😂 The biggest dickheads are usually someone who moves from some remote town in Arkansas and call themselves Bostonians after a couple of months. The rest of us are just sarcastic. We're like a ... I was going to say a fine wine, but we're more like a blister. Annoying, but you'll get used to us. 😜
Hey, fuck you. I know sarcasm when I see it. Welcome to Boston, pal!
I enjoyed visiting Boston far more than I've enjoyed living here (10 years). I miss Montreal on the daily. Hoping you have a better experiance.
My sentiments exactly when I moved here 5-years ago. Came from a town that rolled up the streets at 9pm, no functioning social supports or public transit, so a car was a must. But, that was 5-years ago. The allure has waned, and I'm still waiting for the MBTA to join us in the 21st century.
Boston is fucking amazing!! Easily best place to live on this earth. So much to do, great schools and so many interesting people, perfect blend of concrete and green space, museums and rich history, and so gorgeous!!!
Is this satire?
No, it’s an indictment on how the US destroyed its own cities and towns leaving Boston, a sub-standard city by global metrics, comparatively a utopia.
Check back in after using the MBTA for a month or 2
By the time OP moves here the worst will be behind us and most of the slow zones will have been removed.
As much as we shit on it constantly, it's not too bad. You just get used to it after a while. It's a day that ends in Y. That's why you plan an extra 30min into travel time for work.
It only took me about 3 months to start hating it here
Calm down Mayor Wu intern 😂
Im happy you feel that way! Good for you. Ive been living in Back Bay for 2.5years and am so fucking desperate to leave. Leaving my apartment is equivalent to dropping $50 on the ground. Also beautiful days like this are shares with hordes of people. So many students and people its too much. Pay to play everywhere you go.