November 17
...serving up your daily dish.
Yes, in Baristaville, people and come and go all the time. Earlier this year, the Glen Ridge dynamo Jane He left town, looking for lower property taxes. Now, it's Alison Meyer, formerly of Bloomfield, and in many ways the heart-and-soul of the parents-with-young-kids set. Alison took it on herself to attend meetings and debates and take copious notes, which she posted online, either on her own site or on NJ.com's message board. Luckily, she's still blogging here, and she's discovered good sushi and Chinese food outside Baristaville (in Tom's River, we think.) Alison, you'll surely be missed.
Gee, thanks, Barista! Yes, we're settled in Toms River, still living out of boxes, but overall doing well. Of course, we still have to come up for the dentist and orthodontist and dinner at Brookside Thai and visiting friends, but we might try to bring a bit of Bloomfield to TR on the 4th of July 2006. . .
Posted by: Alison Meyer | Nov 17, 2005 5:55:47 PM
Alison, want to know when you're coming up to visit and, offline I guess, why you left.
Posted by: The Barista | Nov 17, 2005 10:56:59 PM
Wow! Thank you for calling me a "dynamo" - I'm flattered. Had no idea I was one, but I like it.
Yes, we left GR mainly because of the taxes. We are now in Wayne in a beautiful area called Pines Lake - way up north near Franklin Lakes and Oakland. No, there is no flooding where we live. Didn't get a drop of water with all that rain. Our taxes are more than $4,000 a year lower, the schools are wonderful and we live 3 blocks from the lake. We have a canoe and have been fishing a lot and there are activities for the kids at the lake all summer. On a good day, we are 30 minutes to the GW Bridge. It was one of the toughest decisions we've ever made, but it all worked out for the best for us. Living in Glen Ridge with one spouse staying home with the kids was a struggle. Glen Ridge is a hard town to beat and we miss our neighbors and friends terribly, but we think we found the next best thing in Pines Lake, and for less taxes. Thanks for thinking of us - we're still hooked on barista for all the news!
Posted by: formerridger | Nov 18, 2005 8:16:41 AM
By the way, Alison Meyer GAVE me a gorgeous upright grand piano about 2 years ago. I saw her ad for it on barista. Alison - the piano survived the move and my son is about to finally start piano lessons - so thank you again. I'm sure Bloomfield will miss you, but look out Toms River!
Posted by: formerridger - Jane He | Nov 18, 2005 8:19:31 AM
I never had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Meyer and (unfortunately) never made the effort to ask someone who might've known her to point her out to me so I could introduce myself...which may have gone something like his (with hand extended), "Hi, I'm Surrounded". :)
Best wishes and good luck with that sandy soil! ;)
Posted by: Surrounded | Nov 18, 2005 11:32:23 AM
I was going to ask you if you still had the piano, Jane! We're using an electronic one, mostly just to get the kids to play the right notes on the violin and saxophone.
I have no compunctions about telling the reason we left - it was the money. Not only did the move cut our taxes in half, but we were also looking at a seemingly endless parade of home improvement expenses (the house was built in 1870, after all) and the expense of heating and cooling, plus the fact that any time something goes wrong with an old house, it's not just a simple trip to Home Depot for a part. We're getting close to needing money for college and retirement, and those had to take priority. Our new house is only a bit smaller, newly renovated, and well-insulated, and our taxes are about $4K less. It's also 100 years younger, so we don't have nearly as much trouble finding replacement parts!
Posted by: Alison Meyer | Nov 18, 2005 1:39:55 PM
And you are closer to the beach.
Actually - this is a chagriningly important thread which is doomed to be buried by relentless site chatter (as such, a technical qualm).
Keep us posted (somehow) as to whether you really save anything, actually get to the beach or can find a falafel in mid-left field...
Posted by: waves2ya | Nov 18, 2005 3:11:56 PM
I'm keeping a blog, a silly little fluff piece, that will tell of the Toms River adventures, if you're so inclined to visit. http://www.alison.com/blog will do it.
Posted by: Alison Meyer | Nov 19, 2005 2:16:24 PM
