Bethlehem, PA ???

[zackaboo]

I am just a ball of nerves right now. After almost 6 months of having our house on the market with lots of showings and no decent offers, we finally got a contract last Friday. We have always planned to move just about an hour north, but still in NC, to a smaller city. We had exactly 3 days to be excited about this potential move and make an offer on a house that we having been eyeing there and then my husband found out that he was being flown to PA to his current employer's home office to interview for a supervisory position. This would be a great job move for him and I think it is something that he really wants. However, I just don't know if I can make the move to PA. I have grown up in the South and lived here all my life. Although I have never been to Bethlehem, I just can't imagine living there. Besides the fact that it would take me 7 1/2 hours away from my family which I have always been close to.

My husband is on his way back from the interview now and apparently it went really well. I am trying hard to be excited for him but right now I just can't. I am in tears as I type this. Is there anything that anyone can tell me about Bethlehem that could make me excited to move there?

[SueK]

I've never been to Bethlehem, but I am pretty sure that Alysha (Lindrusso), Gail (GabbyH) and Linsley will have some information that they can provide to you.

PA in general is a beautiful state, despite the humidity. ;) I'm sure it will be hard to move away from family, so hopefully you'll get some good information from others.

[Melman]

My favorite cousins have lived in Bethlehem their whole lives. I love it up there!! I can't give you an actual reference based on living there, but I would say it would be on my short list of places I would consider living. Notice I'm in SC not that far south of you.

Having said that, here are a few things I would put in the "plus" category (some will be on the lighter side but definitely are "pluses"):

* You're not that far from Philadelphia or NYC. So many opportunities to see and do lots more than Charlotte offers.
* Evidently, the schools are pretty darned good. I have triplet cousins who all went through the public school system there and have each just recently graduated Penn State.
* Fun shopping opportunities: Wegman's (grocery store), the Allentown Farmer's Market (OH MY!!!!!!!!!!! :D), and countless arts & craft shows. By the way, if you're into anything like arts & craft type shows, those in that area are NOTHING like what we have down south. My cousins have decorated their houses with some of the coolest items...picked up at various shows.
* Bethlehem itself...the old town (around Moravian College) is very very nice! Lots of fun shops and restaurants.
* You know how the ball drops in Time Square in NYC? Where else in the world can you have the world's largest PEEP fall at midnight? :D
* Speaking of...did you know that Peeps were manufactured in Bethlehem? Just Born manufactures lots of other candies you'd recognize.
* I've never been up there at the right time, but they have some summer music event with TONS of big-name artists. The relatives have seen some amazing acts that had never been to this area.
* The Amish country is just around the corner. We'll just say "good eats"... :D Also, wonderful crafts.
* Pottsville is the home of Yeungling beer. :D (Ok....that definitely fell into the fun category, but you cannot buy that beer in the upstate of SC. I just bought a case in Asheville last weekend.)
* Bucks County isn't far...it's another fun shopping area. I think it's possibly also known for its antiques shopping??

SueK is correct...I KNOW GabbyH (Gail) will pop in here as soon as she sees this. She lived there forever and just recently moved to Florida. She loved it! She's give you a huge thumbs-up!!!!! (And Gail, I hope I did Bethlehem justice... :D I know I barely touched the surface.)

Good luck!!!!!!! I hope everything works out for the best for you and your family!

(PS...I don't live in Charlotte, but I've listened to 107.9 for more than 14 years!! I never listen to my own local stations.)

[DeeK]

I lived in that area growing up. Go, go, go......you will love it!

Can you tell I'm a tad homesick?

[MISSINDI]

Love, love, love Bethelehem. We almost bought a house there six years ago, but decided the commute would do us in.

Best Cheddar Beer Soup ever is at Bethlehem Brew Works on Main Street... tried in vain to get the recipe, they wouldn't even give me the ingredients. They also have a delicious Christmas City Salad.

And then there's the fantastic Christkindlmarkt (http://www.christkindlmarkt.org/) in December.

The great candy store, Josh Early Candies, the only places that has these to-die-for mints.

[zackaboo]

Thanks everyone. Melman, your list helped a lot and parts of it definitely made me smile! Leaving Charlotte will be no big deal for us. We aren't huge fans of the city. Leaving family will be much harder but it looks like it might only be for 18-24 months, at which point the PA office will be closed and the job will become remote. That is a definite plus. I just need to have some things to look forward to. I would love to hear from anyone else who knows about the area. It sounds like there are quite a few BBers who know the area.

Missindi, Christmas in the area is definitely on my "pros" list.

And my DH loves Peeps!!!

[Melman]

MissIndi, I couldn't remember the name of the Christkindlmarket. I meant to include Josh Early in my list and totally forgot. Thanks. :D

zackaboo - I HAVE been in Bethlehem at Christmas. It's GORGEOUS!!!!! It sounds like the timeframe might not be such a bad ordeal at all. For 18-24 months, you can enjoy the area, check out the fun stuff, take in a couple of Christmas's...and then head back toward Charlotte or wherever your husband's job takes you.

And just think, you haven't even heard from Gail yet!!!! Just be prepared.... :D It will be good!!!!

[lindrusso]

Well......I haven't lived there for about 13 years now, but I'd live there again in a second. We're closer now - we just moved to Central PA this past June.

My DH and I both attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem. We lived there after graduating while DH pursued his PhD there as well. We were young, childless and didn't have much money, so our perspective on the area is much different than if we lived there now. ;)

I'm not sure what I can tell you about the area that would make you want to move there, but I can tell you that even my worst moves proved to be positive experiences. Only in my case, I was sad because I was moving AWAY from Bethlehem, PA. ;)

We were both born on the East Coast and lived up and down the coast all our lives. After living in Bethlehem together, we moved to Texas for 3.5 years. After that, Indiana, where we stayed for 9 years. I didn't want to move to either place! I never did actually acclimate to TX, but that was partly because DH was in the military and it was just a hard life and hard to feel settled when most people were coming and going so much. However, I loved Austin, TX and San Antonio, got to see New Orleans several times and might never have seen or experienced those places had I not lived in TX.

I had hoped to move back to the East Coast after TX, but no such luck. DH got a job (no longer in the Army) in Indiana. I didn't like it there at first, but we grew to really call it our home.

I can relate to being far from family - we had a 12 hour drive from Indiana, so it may not mean as much if I say that 7.5 hours being very doable. ;) But it is. :)

Another way I can relate.......Like you, we wanted to move across town to a bigger house. Only we did - just this past November - only to have DH lose his job which lead to an unexpected move back to PA just 7 months later. I can definitely sympathize with the unexpected curve ball. Only for me, it was like moving back home, so not as hard.

So, what I'm trying to say is to keep an open mind and make the best of it if it happens. Living in several different places (NY, PA, MD, TX, IN) has really provided me with invaluable experiences - I think it broadened my horizons and enabled me to experience things I never would have if I hadn't moved around.

One GREAT thing about Bethlehem is that you are so close to so many things. It's only about 2 hours from NYC. It's only an hour from Philadelphia. It's not far from Baltimore, MD or Washington, D.C. I really missed that when we lived in Indiana! So, if you do move, make the most of it - visit all the places you might never have gone if you weren't so close.

I hope to become reacquainted with Bethlehem all over again now that we're only 2 hours away. They didn't have a Wegman's when we lived there! Some of our old haunts are still there, but I'm sure there's a lot we don't know about.

Gail (gabbyh) is probably the best source for Bethlehem info. She only recently moved away.

Best of luck. Keep us updated. Try to focus on the positives if you can.

Alysha

[MusicMom]

* I've never been up there at the right time, but they have some summer music event with TONS of big-name artists. The relatives have seen some amazing acts that had never been to this area.


DD and I went to MusicFest a couple of years ago- it was wonderful. We stayed with a friend and found the area to be very nice.

My friend likes the school system and told me that bagpipies are very popular there. That's not something you find just anywhere! :)

[lindrusso]

Ah yes, Musikfest (http://www.musikfest.org) . I swore we would go this year, but ended up being too busy. Next year! Check out the link - it's a lot of fun.

[gabbyh]

Oh my! How on earth did I miss this thread??? My hometown...and the best place on earth to live and raise kids!

I could never say enough about it here, I'll PM you my phone # and maybe we can chat over the w/e!

I was born and raised in Bethlehem, and lived there for 50 years until 4 years ago...we moved to South Florida to be near my family, who all migrated down here over the past 17 years!

Bethlehem is a beautiful cultural area, also great because it's so close to Philly and NYC...right now Musikfest is going on...oh how I miss that!!!

And let's not forget the school system...one of the best in the Nation...I come from a family of teachers...my brother taught at the high school he graduated from in Bethlehem, and now is a Superintendent in NJ...but he still talks about the BASD.

~Gail

[SusanL]

We lived in Bethlehem after Gail and Bryan moved to Florida. For 5 years we lived there until DH's job changed. Loved it, we seriously consider moving back when we retire; BEAUTIFUL area, very friendly people, great restaurants, many things to do with children, and the Moravian Mile! I could go on and on about that city, don't forget the Moravian Bookstore. I love Christkindlmarket, still go up there a few times to shop, many artisans sell and make their items right there. "Best Cheddar Beer Soup ever is at Bethlehem Brew Works on Main Street..." we agree.
Please keep us informed, we really need to have a PA BB get-to-gether!!

[linsleyd]

Bethlehem is a gorgeous town especially around Moravian. Again, Wegmens, the farmer's markets, Musikfest is going on right now and that is a LOT of fun and the Christkindlemarket is really neat. And again being so close to Philadelphia and New York City.

You will love it while you are there it's such a neat area!

[TerriAb]

I have nothing to add, as I've never been there, but you all are making ME want to move there!

[zackaboo]

Thanks everyone! We still don't know if this move will happen, but if it does I feel much better about it. And if it doesn't, I will have to take a trip to Bethlehem around Christmas...and for Musikfest...and to try that Cheddar-Beer Soup. Ironically, my husband flew in for his interview Wednesday night (apparently in the middle of Musikfest) with no hotel reservation. He had to check out quite a few locations to find a room...

There were 2 job openings - one of which was his if he wanted it. However, that job would have involved a move to the Boston area in a couple of years, and while I love NE, I know that we don't want to love there. He is still being considered for the other one and hopefully we will know something today. The uncertainty is bugging me more than anything at the moment!

Regardless, I think I can be happy either way. Will keep you posted... :)

[kscm23]

Delurking for a minute...I live outside of Allentown, PA which is right next to Bethlehem. Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are usually all thrown together into what is know as the Lehigh Valley. The other posters have given you great information. I wanted to add a few other things. There are quite a few colleges in the area which add to the many cultural events already listed. Dorney Park (amusement park) is in Allentown and Hershey park is only about an hour away. It is very beautiful here, lots of open farm land outside of the cities and a lot of cute small towns like New Hope, Peddler's Village, Emmaus...There really are a lot of things to do - I wish I had the time to do more. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I'd be happy to help out.

[boisewinesnob]

As Alysha knows, my son and I visited Lehigh last summer. It was our first time to that area and I thought it was really neat. DS ended up not applying there, but not because of the area or anything. We stayed at a hotel really close to the Wegman's and it was a really nice store!

[MrsReber]

Here you are moving to PA (near me!) and I'm trying to move to VA (right where you used to live!)

Good luck- PA really is a nice place. DH and I considered it prior to looking in VA. There's a lot to see in that area. I can relate to the nerves, though. I'm still nervous about moving 7 hours away from my family!

[suebear37]

I bet you all envy me!!! I have 3 of 'em within a 10 minute drive of my house!!! I always check out other grocery stores when we travel & my comment always is, "Gee, I suppose I could live with shopping here, but it's no Wegmans!"

Best grocery store in the universe & reason enough to move to Bethlehem!!

[zackaboo]

Here you are moving to PA (near me!) and I'm trying to move to VA (right where you used to live!)

Good luck- PA really is a nice place. DH and I considered it prior to looking in VA. There's a lot to see in that area. I can relate to the nerves, though. I'm still nervous about moving 7 hours away from my family!

Crazy, huh? It should make you feel good to know that we would go back to Roanoke in a heartbeat. I am sure that you will love it there. I have been wondering about the status of your move. PM me when you have time. :)

[fci5767]

Crazy, huh? It should make you feel good to know that we would go back to Roanoke in a heartbeat. I am sure that you will love it there. I have been wondering about the status of your move. PM me when you have time. :)

Hmmm, my mother and stepfather just moved to Richmond from Quakertown (which is really close to Bethlehem.) My sister and her family live in Roanoke. Small world.

[NewMrsG]

There were 2 job openings - one of which was his if he wanted it. However, that job would have involved a move to the Boston area in a couple of years, and while I love NE, I know that we don't want to love there.

Um ... what do you mean you don't want to move to Boston?? :) I promise I'd bring you cookies on move-in day! :D

Keep us posted -

[zackaboo]

Um ... what do you mean you don't want to move to Boston?? :) I promise I'd bring you cookies on move-in day! :D

Keep us posted -

I was very careful how I worded that so as not to offend any New Englanders. ;) You will be happy to know that I did consider that if we moved there I would already know at least one person! I think that maybe I am just a Southern girl through and through. The Boston area is on my top ten list of favorite places to visit though. Surely that counts for something?!

We are having to spend our weekend in limbo because my husband didn't hear anything on Friday. We have talked at length about the possibilities of moving either place and I really think that we are just as happy to leave the decision up to someone else for now. Hopefully we will find out for sure where we are going on Monday.

[Kyra]

Just wondered if you had an update? Or was there another thread I missed?

I have only visited Bethlehem once, but can heartily endorse the Moravian bookshop...

[zackaboo]

Just wondered if you had an update? Or was there another thread I missed?

I have only visited Bethlehem once, but can heartily endorse the Moravian bookshop...

Thanks for asking :)! According to my DH's boss, they will be making their final hiring decisions on Friday of this week. My DH was told that he is a top candidate but they did have a few more interviews to do. So we are still in limbo and are just throwing ourselves into packing and taking care of the list of concerns that our buyers have with our house. :rolleyes:

I am so anxious to know something, either way...

[zackaboo]

Well...a little later than we had thought...but my DH got a job offer today so it looks like we are Bethlehem bound! I am so overwhelmed right now. I can't believe that I am moving to a place that I have never even been before. :eek:

As soon as we can pull it together and have all of the details about the relocation portion of the job offer, we will be planning a trip to the area to look around and come up with a plan. We have to be out of our house here in about 3 weeks so our time is very tight. To make it even worse, I am tied up with jury duty right now. I am praying that will end tomorrow...but it could be Thursday.

Gail, I am planning to send you another PM and will definitely call you soon.

My top two concerns right now are where to look for a house and finding a pre-school for my 4 year old. Who am I kidding...I have a lot more concerns than that but that is all I can handle at the moment!

[MISSINDI]

Wow, that is a fast timeline, but first, congrats on the exciting news! Don't worry, everything will fall into place. Just relax and b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Your $$ will go far in Bethlehem with regards to buying a house ... good luck with everything! :D

And your 4-year-old will love the Crayola Factory. :)

[lindrusso]

I was wondering about you the other day.........

How exciting and scary all at the same time. :)

I know what you mean about moving to an area you've never seen before. When DH accepted his job offer, I had never seen this area. Yes, I had lived in PA before for 9 years or so, but never in this part of PA and it was definitely nerve wracking.

Well, the PA bbers keep talking about having a klatch. Maybe we need to have one in Bethlehem when you get moved. :) Any excuse to go to Bethlehem/Lehigh............ ;)

Best of luck. I hope things go as smoothly as possible.

Alysha

[linsleyd]

Good luck, I wish I knew the area a bit better to help you with housing and childcare.

We'll definetly have to look into a PA Klatch!

[BarbaraL]

Delurking for a minute...I live outside of Allentown, PA which is right next to Bethlehem. Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are usually all thrown together into what is know as the Lehigh Valley. The other posters have given you great information. I wanted to add a few other things. There are quite a few colleges in the area which add to the many cultural events already listed. Dorney Park (amusement park) is in Allentown and Hershey park is only about an hour away. It is very beautiful here, lots of open farm land outside of the cities and a lot of cute small towns like New Hope, Peddler's Village, Emmaus...There really are a lot of things to do - I wish I had the time to do more. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I'd be happy to help out.

As kscm23 said, there are many excellent colleges in the area. That would probably be a better selling point if your child was older, but colleges do have alot of cultural events that are open to the public. I attended (and DD currently attends) Lafayette College in Easton - Go Leopards! Lehigh, Muhlenberg, Cedar Crest and Moravian are in the area. It's a really nice area, with access to cities like Philadelphia, NYC, Baltimore and Washington DC and more rural areas like Lancaster county (the Amish, etc).

It's interesting that the job will be for a limited time. Will they give you some kind of stipend to make it worthwhile to buy a house, knowing you'll have to move in 2 years? Or could you buy in your old area (assuming DH will be transferred back to his old office), and rent? Just a thought.

[zackaboo]

I am really doing okay with all of the fast changes (surprisingly). My jury duty ended today which was a good thing. We are planning to head up to PA this weekend and meet with a real estate agent who can help us figure out where exactly we might want to live.


It's interesting that the job will be for a limited time. Will they give you some kind of stipend to make it worthwhile to buy a house, knowing you'll have to move in 2 years? Or could you buy in your old area (assuming DH will be transferred back to his old office), and rent? Just a thought.

It is actually a great relocation package, which will cover a lot of expenses above and beyond the actual move - including closing costs, etc. We should get the same package to relocate again in a couple of years because the company will want him back in the SE territory. We are aware that we will have to be very conscious of finding an area with a good historical resale value because of the short term that we plan to stay. We discussed renting and I guess haven't entirely ruled that option out, but would prefer not to. We actually like to do work on houses so might look for something that a little work could increase the value of in a couple of years. We have only been in Charlotte 1 1/2 years and are managing to sell and take back out almost exactly what we put in (after agent fees). Hopefully we could do that again...

I would love to meet some of the PA BBers once we move - in Bethelehem or wherever. Two of my closest friends in Charlotte were women that I met through the BB before we moved here. :) And Missindi...you will have to let me know when you come down to Bethlehem and maybe we can meet over a bowl of Cheddar Beer Soup. ;)