80 Percent of New Jersey Residents Polled Intend to Move Out-of-State

Imagine that you woke up one morning, and all the neighbors on the opposite side of the street just disappeared ? I know it sounds strange, however, that is exactly what is happening right under our noses. According to a poll sent out by the Asbury Park Press (October 2007), 80 percent of the responders said they planned to leave the state. The question was not if but when. In this state you must earn approximately $100,000 to live here. It is especially sad for those of us who have spent our entire lives in the state.

In my case, the family lived in northern Jersey, (Upper Montclair), a bedroom community with lovely large homes. It was an old town because when I rode my bike downtown for milk or bread, the trees formed umbrellas of green that covered the sidewalks and streets---a delight on a hot sunny day. Our state's population was diverse. Of course we, the Garden State, had not only fruit and vegetable farms, but horse farms and trails in the mountains. Our fishing boats lined the docks with commercial and recreational vehicles. The Garden Arts Center was just that, art amid a garden. There were two types of horse racing and tourists, oh the tourists. With beaches up and down the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and lakes and rivers, it became a hard choice to decide where to go on vacation. We had it all here.( Oh, by the way, did I mention that we are 2 hrs. from NYC and Philadelphia offering the most varied choices of museums, concert halls and history of our nation.)

Fast forward to the present.

So you might wonder why, why leave this pristine, albeit flawed (with a greater number of corrupt politicians every year) garden of Eden? For young couples just starting out, that $100.000. price tag looks way too high if you plan to have a family. Keep in mind that NJ is highest in medical insurance and car insurance. It is far easier to pull up stakes and look at Pennsylvania. There you will find taxes that don't choke you, housing that is affordable and hopes that you can commute back to NJ to see family .So head for the NJ Turnpike and go west to the Pocono area. It is beautiful there too