I've seen both black and white squirrels but I've never seen a bird like this! So interesting

Boy, the things you learn on Reddit. Before I saw that, it would have scared me if I saw it in the wild.

Both come from reservoirs well beyond their cities. NYC water also tastes wonderful, I agree.

Can you ship some of the stuff ahead? I just did that after a long trip away. The convenience is such that I think I'll be doing it a lot more often.

As long as there are other stores available where you can shop, why do you care?

Some people live near them and don't have cars. Some people prefer to shop in their own neighborhood. Some people like knowing it's a union shop. Some people don't think about other options. Some like to stay with what they know. Some people don't care about prices. There are some possible reasons why.

Wasn't someone on here recently asking about the liveability of Bellingham? Obviously here is their answer.

It might not be your thing, but there are transit-obsessed people all over the place who live for this stuff.

Down comforter (real down) and flannel sheets. If you are still cold, wear a nightcap. I don't try to wear socks anymore in bed, I was always taking them off in my sleep when I got too hot and then I had to hunt for them in the morning.

I'm a proponent of light down sweaters indoors. You will never notice wearing them because they are weightless and you can turn your thermostat down 5 degrees if you do.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/your-eligibility-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave-pfml

It's not entirely clear to me, though the web site seems to imply it's contingent on employment and doesn't mention residence.

Scroll down at the link for their telephone contact number. They should be able to answer this question.

Thank you for caring about how to pronounce Quincy (no "e")--it is Quinzee.

Your next lesson is that the green space in Boston, Cambridge and many other New England towns/cities is the Common, not the Commons, which is a dining hall or meeting space. Some places they call it The Green.

Third lesson: Tremont not "tree-mont," but "Leech-mere, not Lech-mere"

Yes, it's weird but I used to live in Indiana where a town name spelled "Buddha" was pronouned "Bu-dee" Go figure!

Sort of works the other way around,also... I was in Spokane, Washington for a meeting a few years ago and at one point my local friend drove onto I-90E and i said, "oh, let's just stay on this--it goes to Massachusetts" (never mind everything in-between!)

If you are a strong summer hiker and have an interest in winter hiking, the Appalachian Mountain Club chapters have some winter hiking courses from time to time. I did it many years ago and there were two different levels of activity offered, one for snowshoers and the other for people interested in 4000 footers in winter. I had a great time with fun people, enjoyed our snowshoeing trek in the snow up Mt Cardigan, and decided this was not for me! It was a safe and fun way to learn that with experienced leaders. I realized I had more fun making pancakes for 45 people at the lodge than I did breaking trail on snowshoes when it was my turn. YMMV.

Google the AMC to find out what's on offer.

Yes it's a very good idea to do this. Read my other response.

Go to a state university in the Midwest. Much cheaper tuition and cost of living, and in the end you will get the same degree. Also these big universities have very diverse populations and are usually in really pleasant towns or small cities where it's easy to make friends.

Look at Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska. Do NOT look at private schools. I lived in Boston before graduate school, but I went to the Midwest and got a great education, moved back here and have had a good career. I came out with minimal loans, long ago paid off.

We have a fabric store in Arlington that has trims (it's called Fabric Corner, Mass Ave & Mill Street). Also PlayTime in Arlington Center (Broadway) an independent arts & crafts store has things like feathers. If you go to PlayTime, head downstairs.

Both of these are indies, and real town treasures.

Oops, sorry, I just saw that you say in you are in Boston for the day...you probably aren't shlepping out to Arlington---I can't help you with Boston proper.

Local chocolatier Taza, Somerville based, sells bulk chocolate, very expensive. I'm not a huge fan of the texture of their bars, but that's just me. No question it is high quality. If you like a certain brand, search for their website and order in bulk if they have it available. (e.g. you can buy 35 lbs of Ghirardelli from the website for around $7.20 a lb; Valhrona has a wide selection for higher than that, some in bar form, some not; Lindt sells not quite 1/2 lb bars for a little over $5).

Otherwise here's a Serious Eats article about good chocolate bars, many of which I have seen at Whole Foods or other higher-end stores like Pemberton Farms or Cardullo's in Cambridge.

https://www.seriouseats.com/baking-with-chocolate

I call this historic research. It's not weird at all.

Did you see this video on YouTube where a props guy recreates Ted Kennedy's 1969 license:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMDP3Iz6D6A

u/Ken-Popcorn was spot on with the manufacture

Dentists were pro #2.

Do dental insurance magnates live in Great Barrington? In an insurance company headquartered there? The insurance companies were against it.

The northbound trains (from NY) are delayed depending on what happened on the way north from DC, but the trains almost always leave Boston on time

December weather averages:

https://weatherspark.com/m/26197/12/Average-Weather-in-December-in-Boston-Massachusetts-United-States

It can be really beautiful or super miserable if it is 38 and raining...

Big snow month in Boston is usually February, although we can certainly have some snow any time from November on -- until at least April ( there have been some later, but that's truly atypical)

In 1984-87 I had a small but ideally located apartment on Beacon Hill that was $450 a month. I wanted to live alone and knew I had to spend more for that reason. All my friends were living in co-op houses in Cambridge for practically nothing.

It was a dream location, so glad I got to live there. $450= about $1250 today. I don't think you can get an apartment like that on Beacon Hill for that now. I was making about $18,000 a year at a nonprofit, equiv now to about $50,000. I wasn't living extravagantly, but I had a perfectly nice life. (and yes, I'm old).

I also just found this, but it's odd that the Burlington town website doesn't refer to it. There's a customer service number you could try to call. This service may not exist anymore.

https://massridematch.org/provider/?pid=1687

It's not great. I think you'll probably need a car, though it pains me to say it!

Burlington town info: https://www.burlington.org/736/Transportation

While the commuter rail stops in Woburn, I couldn't readily find information about other public transport except for senior citizens.

Boston folk are very active people. Think about what you like to do and then ask about organized activities around it. There's everything from amateur sport teams to mountaineering hiking clubs to young people's events at museums. Volunteering was one way I used to meet people--trail work, in my case, but there is probably some sort of volunteer gig around anything you're interested in.

And it's a year-round treat