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DipDap007 t1_ixzju4x wrote

Where are you moving from? What kind of experience are you looking for? What appeals to you about Vermont? Does proximity to resources (jobs/transportation/healthcare) matter to you? What makes you nervous about moving here? Have you appropriately budgeted for housing and do you have reasonable expectations for finding housing?

This may provide folks some helpful guidance on how to answer your question.

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Putrid-Might-8839 OP t1_ixzpr0h wrote

I'm moving from all over, as I've lived in most areas of the country. Nature is the biggest appeal for us. I think what makes me most nervous is having things available for the kids to do besides just nature. The housing seems to be much better than the majority of places we've lived based on initial research, and I'm very resourceful with a large skill set, so finding work has not been extremely difficult for me regardless of where I have lived before, though the pay scale vs housing costs when I was living in Cali for 6 months was atrocious, and same for Denver metro in Colorado.

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Deep_Significance496 t1_ixzrrgn wrote

I’m not sure where you’re doing your research but housing in Vermont is an enormous challenge right now and unless you get extremely lucky and can pay in cash it will be hard to find what you’re looking for. Wages are also lower for comparable jobs and cost of living is high.

This might be an overstep, but I also think the ages of your kids could make for a difficult transition- most kids in Vermont have gone to small schools together since preschool, and high school is tough enough without trying to break into that kind of culture. Also it’s great that you all love nature, but there is not much to do outside of that in terms of teen activities. Even playing school sports often requires hours of driving to get to games, and busing isn’t always an option (in fact, none of the schools I attended had buses at all). Eta after reading your comment: homeschooling will make connecting with other teens even more difficult in my opinion.

In terms of jobs, trade work is generally needed. Hard to say with reflexology, but if I had to guess I’d say since many people are struggling financially and suffering from lack of housing demand for that type of service is reduced. The people who can likely afford extra health treatments are probably second-home owners who don’t spend time in the state year-round.

Eta suggestions: if I were you I’d seriously look at Upstate NY and Maine. Both have the qualities you are looking for and opportunities have not been totally bulldozed by people moving here based on a stereotype of Vermont.

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