I lived in Lenox and Pittsfield for 10 years. GREAT people but limited public transportation and socialization. I worked in health care so I really saw the dark side of living there. The entitled second home crowd definitely made life hard for everyone else...It's nearly impossible to find reasonably priced hotel and motel rooms during the entire summer.
One other thing you could have covered is access to high quality or specialized medical care. Likely you will need to go to Boston or New York City to seek very high quality and specialized medical care.
I live in the pioneer Valley so know the Berkshires well. In regard to number 11, the weather, I would say even in the summer you can experience periods of rather cool rainy weather.
Also grew up in the valley and lived here for decades. For a lot of the small towns surrounding the Springfield / Chicopee area, a number of the things he mentions here will still apply, but definitely not all of them... TBH most of the places I've lived are 15-20 min from the CT border, so an hour-ish to Bradley Int for a flight isn't great, but it could be worse ... couple hours out to Boston, right? And a lot of the stuff he mentions are just pitfalls of living in rural areas... especially those that get cold and/or are a tourist destination. I remember when I was (briefly) staying in New Zealand. One day we wanted to buy an electronic item. We had to literally drive for over an hour, up and down some mountains, just to get to their version of Walmart / circuit City type stores! Yeah, if you want to live out in the pretty hills, there are prices to be paid. lol It is, as with anything, a trade off... But having lived in quite a few towns in the area, he's definitely not kidding when he says some towns are much better on the early plowing than others! lol
I grew up in Lenox and I always thought about retiring to the Berkshires but my wife and I travel a lot in retirement and not having access to a major airport was a big factor in deciding against the Berkshires. As to harsh winters, since I’m much older than you I can tell you that the winters are very much milder now than 50 years ago. To me the biggest downside now is that there’s a lot less snow which means the skiing is worse and less cold so it’s harder to make snow.
"If Massachusetts wasn't so woke, I'd move back." Nah that's okay. Guess we'll just have to take the L on this one. :-( But the good news is if enough people start to think like you, maybe the bay state can finally stop supporting Republican politicians! It's the northeast, not the Bible belt FFS. 🤷
@@fungi-gal888 "It's gone full on commie." You wanna know who else is "full on commie?" Mycelium. Mushrooms -- now there's a life form that knows how to care for it's own species... Shame we primates are such slow learners...
"I am a real estate professional, btw..." Ah, reverse psychology... Very clever. lol You can't tell me what to do, mr real estate man! Now I'm definitely gonna move there!
I grew up in that place and it had character when I was there, I'm glad I'm gone and I don't care if I never see it again. If I was living in Worcester I couldn't wait to get back there.
@@modernanimist2421 Not my kind of weather, too many mosquitos, too expensive, too limiting, winter and a bunch of other aspects are not my thing. It is heavenly compared to Worcester . It's a great place to get away to if you have a place in New York City.
I forgot the fun connecting with the world when I was on a short vacation just over the state line, a six-mile drive to join locals in the library parking lot to guarantee access. At least grocery shopping was across the street.
I loved it and my family is from the Berkshires but not now when I was young it was so different and we had family from Lee to Great Barrington and beyond. We spent tons of summers at the lakes but things change people move on and it's not as friendly as it once was is how I will leave it.
I grew up in Western MA 413, the major towns to me of the Berkshires, from North to south. North Adams, Pittsfield, Lennox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington.. all cool towns with character compared to anything mid to Eastern MA. Moving here is not for everyone.
Think of it like this. Think of the Berkshires as a body. North county ( Williamstown down to Lanesboro ), would be the head. South county ( Lenox to Sheffield ), would be the feet. Pittsfield would be in the middle, like the anus or the bowels. I live in Pittsfield, and work for the local gas utility. I travel the entire county daily. As someone who enjoys the outdoors, this is a fantastic place to do things like hiking, cycling, paddling, and skiing. The downside for some would be the extremely left leaning politics and excessive regulatory environment. I plan to flee after retirement.
@@ridethepace6005 extremes on any side suck. personally , i would not live in pittsfield if i ever come back... once you get around the berkshires' standard b.s. ,,there natural and cultural features are unlike any other and truly won't understand ,until you leave . i miss the berkshires . but not Pittsfield lol. i'll happily keep my visitors pass, thank you 🙂
@@JoanneGiangrande yes and no. also depends on where your from as to what you determine as "sketchy" lol i used to walk north st all hours ,,, common sense , should always guide you though
@@JoanneGiangrande Most of Pittsfield is not country. I wouldn't call anywhere the recommended spot of the Berkshires, it depends on what lifestyle someone's looking for.
I’ve been in the Hilltowns between Northampton and Pittsfield for 8 years. I don’t get it. I don’t get the appeal. Liberal elites that hate the working class.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 90 | คู่เอก "ก้องไกล vs แอนตาร์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VugIvOstzRI/mqdefault.jpg)
I lived in Lenox and Pittsfield for 10 years. GREAT people but limited public transportation and socialization. I worked in health care so I really saw the dark side of living there. The entitled second home crowd definitely made life hard for everyone else...It's nearly impossible to find reasonably priced hotel and motel rooms during the entire summer.
Too many New Yorkers. Same in Vermont.
Same in Litchfield County, CT.
The one and only reason not to live there is it's in MA.
One other thing you could have covered is access to high quality or specialized medical care. Likely you will need to go to Boston or New York City to seek very high quality and specialized medical care.
3 hours from some of the most advanced medicine on earth.
That's because it's a center of "alternative med/yoga.
This was my biggest question
Pittsfield has a Dark Vibe to it.
I just moved here and I love it.
I live in the pioneer Valley so know the Berkshires well. In regard to number 11, the weather, I would say even in the summer you can experience periods of rather cool rainy weather.
Also grew up in the valley and lived here for decades. For a lot of the small towns surrounding the Springfield / Chicopee area, a number of the things he mentions here will still apply, but definitely not all of them...
TBH most of the places I've lived are 15-20 min from the CT border, so an hour-ish to Bradley Int for a flight isn't great, but it could be worse ... couple hours out to Boston, right?
And a lot of the stuff he mentions are just pitfalls of living in rural areas... especially those that get cold and/or are a tourist destination.
I remember when I was (briefly) staying in New Zealand. One day we wanted to buy an electronic item. We had to literally drive for over an hour, up and down some mountains, just to get to their version of Walmart / circuit City type stores!
Yeah, if you want to live out in the pretty hills, there are prices to be paid. lol
It is, as with anything, a trade off...
But having lived in quite a few towns in the area, he's definitely not kidding when he says some towns are much better on the early plowing than others! lol
I grew up in Lenox and I always thought about retiring to the Berkshires but my wife and I travel a lot in retirement and not having access to a major airport was a big factor in deciding against the Berkshires. As to harsh winters, since I’m much older than you I can tell you that the winters are very much milder now than 50 years ago. To me the biggest downside now is that there’s a lot less snow which means the skiing is worse and less cold so it’s harder to make snow.
Yep i remember it always a problem for people traveling afar to Kripalu yoga center.
Where did you decide on as a retirement location?
@ I live near Boston giving us access to Logan Airport. The downside is that it’s an expensive area.
Born and bred in Western Massachusetts. I have spent much time in this beautiful area. Great hiking! If Massachusetts wasn't so woke, I'd move back.
Yeah it does really suck when people are kind and intelligent doesn’t it.
It’s gone full on commie, and it’s worrying
@@RichardBuckmanthis place is full of stupid people! Period. They may be kind but they are dumb.
"If Massachusetts wasn't so woke, I'd move back."
Nah that's okay.
Guess we'll just have to take the L on this one.
:-(
But the good news is if enough people start to think like you, maybe the bay state can finally stop supporting Republican politicians!
It's the northeast, not the Bible belt FFS.
🤷
@@fungi-gal888 "It's gone full on commie."
You wanna know who else is "full on commie?"
Mycelium.
Mushrooms -- now there's a life form that knows how to care for it's own species...
Shame we primates are such slow learners...
"I am a real estate professional, btw..."
Ah, reverse psychology...
Very clever. lol
You can't tell me what to do, mr real estate man! Now I'm definitely gonna move there!
I grew up in that place and it had character when I was there, I'm glad I'm gone and I don't care if I never see it again. If I was living in Worcester I couldn't wait to get back there.
Why are you glad to be done and never go back?
@@modernanimist2421 Not my kind of weather, too many mosquitos, too expensive, too limiting, winter and a bunch of other aspects are not my thing. It is heavenly compared to Worcester . It's a great place to get away to if you have a place in New York City.
I forgot the fun connecting with the world when I was on a short vacation just over the state line, a six-mile drive to join locals in the library parking lot to guarantee access. At least grocery shopping was across the street.
Litchfield, Connecticut, which is nearby has exactly the same issues but then again, there’s something very special about these places
I hope to stop by the area this august
Love to hear it! let me know if you'd like to connect while you're in town.
I loved it and my family is from the Berkshires but not now when I was young it was so different and we had family from Lee to Great Barrington and beyond. We spent tons of summers at the lakes but things change people move on and it's not as friendly as it once was is how I will leave it.
I grew up in Western MA 413, the major towns to me of the Berkshires, from North to south. North Adams, Pittsfield, Lennox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington.. all cool towns with character compared to anything mid to Eastern MA. Moving here is not for everyone.
Very well done!
Premium Outlet stores in Lee are fantastic!
Whts the difference between north and south county
Yes... Need to know
Good question. I'm trying to think of the right way to articulate it - I'll have to make this into another video.
@@LivingInTheBerkshiresMA south county .. more touristy ...like stockbridge and lee ..
north country ... more hillbilly like adams and savoy ...lol
Think of it like this. Think of the Berkshires as a body. North county ( Williamstown down to Lanesboro ), would be the head. South county ( Lenox to Sheffield ), would be the feet. Pittsfield would be in the middle, like the anus or the bowels. I live in Pittsfield, and work for the local gas utility. I travel the entire county daily. As someone who enjoys the outdoors, this is a fantastic place to do things like hiking, cycling, paddling, and skiing. The downside for some would be the extremely left leaning politics and excessive regulatory environment. I plan to flee after retirement.
@@ridethepace6005 extremes on any side suck.
personally , i would not live in pittsfield if i ever come back... once you get around the berkshires' standard b.s. ,,there natural and cultural features are unlike any other and truly won't understand ,until you leave . i miss the berkshires . but not Pittsfield lol. i'll happily keep my visitors pass, thank you 🙂
Don't walk down North St. after dark...
Lol Berkshire gangs ?
Is it anything like 412 Wharf Avenue by the gentlemans club?
@@JoanneGiangrande Yes. Right next to MC PeePants.
@@JoanneGiangrande yes and no. also depends on where your from as to what you determine as "sketchy" lol i used to walk north st all hours ,,, common sense , should always guide you though
@@jimfish5981 I was always more of a Little Brittle fan, myself.
This guy is from SOUTH county. BIG DIFFERENCE from North County.
Nope! Born and raised in Pittsfield - right in the middle.
@LivingInTheBerkshiresMA do you consider Pittsfield country? Or would you say its the recommended spot of your region ?
@@JoanneGiangrande Most of Pittsfield is not country. I wouldn't call anywhere the recommended spot of the Berkshires, it depends on what lifestyle someone's looking for.
@@LivingInTheBerkshiresMA like if you want all the stores around but still be near stuff. My search is also extending to Worcester area as well.
Hey Cameron just want to mention can you handle a few clients who wants to sell there houses?
Absolutely, Call text or email me!
@@LivingInTheBerkshiresMA Sent :)
I like to call tourists in the fall “Leaf Lookers” 😅
Haha it’s always been “leaf peepers” in my book!
@@LivingInTheBerkshiresMAlike you I’m from Pittsfield and we always called them “leaf peepers”
Can’t blame them the fall foliage is awesome!
I’ve been in the Hilltowns between Northampton and Pittsfield for 8 years. I don’t get it. I don’t get the appeal. Liberal elites that hate the working class.
Ok
Tourist traffic?
thanks nerd!
You got it pal!
Thanks nerd.
Sure thing pal!
I was born and raised in Pittsfield..moved to North Carolina ..would never move back ..the crime is bad and it's way to woke for me..