What should I know about Long Island?

[schatje]

My husband was just transferred to Long Island from the Midwest. What should I know about Long Island before I move there? What are the schools like? Where is a good place to search for a home? Are there nice parks? Is it a crowded place, or is there a lot of open space? Is it possible to swim in the ocean from the island? Is there anywhere I should avoid? I know I sound like a tourist, but having only been to New York City twice in my life, it is a scary prospect to move there!

[Sully]

Well for starters, for looking for a home you can try the classified ads on this site, the links are the pictures above the forums, under the title.

It's always a scary prospect to start anew! Where are you coming from?
I hope you enjoy Long Island, it's a beautiful place, really!
Best of luck on the move, remember to put extra newspaper and padding around those china dishes! :-)

[mikelbeck]

My husband was just transferred to Long Island from the Midwest. What should I know about Long Island before I move there?

Long Island is just that... A Long Island. Some parts are good, some parts are bad. But all in all it's a nice place to live. Keep in mind that it's one of the most expensive places in the country to live, though.

What are the schools like?

From what I've read, Long Island has some of the best schools in the country.

Where is a good place to search for a home?

That depends on how much you're looking to spend. Suffolk County is cheaper than Nassau County in most cases. The middle of Suffolk appears to be cheaper than the rest of the county, the west is too close to Nassau and the east is too close to the Hamptons, so it's cheaper in the middle.

Are there nice parks?

Some!

Is it a crowded place, or is there a lot of open space?

Some!

Is it possible to swim in the ocean from the island?

Yes! The Sound as well!

Is there anywhere I should avoid?

Many, many places. ;-)

I know I sound like a tourist, but having only been to New York City twice in my life, it is a scary prospect to move there!

Long Island is NOT New York City. Very much different!

[Juanzo]

This forum is really useful for newcomers. What places should we avoid until we are comfotable enough with the surroundings Mike?

[staxmag]

It is very expensive. Housing, taxes fuel.......In addition, since there are few major roads which take you the length of the island, the roads are crowded. I work in NYC but the road during rush our on LI can be quite fustrating. Generally a good place to raise a family. Beaches are great. Yes you can swim in the ocean but like every other crazy thing happening on this earth, beware. Some great parks, although the infrastructure is getting old and needs some updating which the tax base isn't supporting since so much of it goes toward the schools. Schools are better than avg but we have the worst and most amorale bunch of school administrators and superintendents ripping the public off of their hard earned tax dollars.
Suggest you get involved. LI also has a reputation as having clusters where the incidence of breast cancer is high. Suggest you install a water filtration system or use bottled water for your water needs. Lastly, Allstate has decided to start dropping insurance on LI since their meteorlogical forecasts indicate that the Island will be hit by a cat 3 or 4 hurricane sometime in the near future. :cool: :rolleyes:

[cerulean sky]

Hey there- My husband and I just moved here to LI last September. BOY whatta change! LI is NOT NYC!! There is a BIG difference!!
LI is split into two counties, Nassau to the West (by Brooklyn) and Suffolk (larger county) to the East of Nassau-
I hope you guys make good money- houses here in East Meadow and surrounding areas of Nassau County go for around $400K and UP (shocker for us)
Renting is expensive too, with a 3 BR running you about $2200+/mo and you have to pay Broker's fees and security and 1 months deposit= $6000
Hope you kno't have pets either, or you will have to cough up more $$

Not to scare you, but I sure wish we knew this stuff before we came!!!!

LI has nice parks, I live in East Meadow and we have Eisenhower State Park and it is HUGE and really nice w/ golfing etc. We are close to the beaches, Jones Beach etc. and they are nice.
It is crowded here, and the traffic sucks, but you get that in a lot of other places too- There are some crappy parts of town- I like my area of town but you can got 5 minutes in a couple directions and be in a not so nice area. Of course, if you can afford it, Live near the BEACH!!! :boat:
GOOD LUCK AND WELCOME TO THE ISLAND!!:D