So I am moving to Boston in mid-June and know only one or two people currently living there and am coming to my fellow Dopers to get advice about life there (things to do, tips for adjusting to not having a car/using public transportation, etc).
Just for background, I’ve previously lived in small rural areas as child/adolescent, attended college in Atlanta area, then further study/training in small-mid size cities (approximately 100,000 population). I’ve never lived in New England but have survived a stint in the upper midwest.
Where are you going to be living? There is a big difference between life in the city and in the suburbs. We live in the burbs. I’d be happy to give you advice and such, but it will depend on where you are living.
There was another thread about this a little while ago, but I’m too lazy to find it right now.
Yeah, another Doper was going to start a masters program at MIT… it was in IMHO.
I’ve lived in the Boston area twice. Once from Texas, the second time from… Atlanta.
Boston is a great city as far as culture goes. Cost of living, parking, driving, weather all leave something to be desired though. Once you get to know the city - not just the spots in front of Hynes with the trendy bars - you can find a little of everything. I liked the diversity of lifestyles - lots of working-class folks, liberal elites, and everything in-between.
As others have said, say a little more about where you’re going to live and what you’re going to be doing up there, and we can probably give you some pointers…
I’ll be living in the Longwood medical area and will be training at one of the hospitals (sorry, prefer not to be more specific about the job because if some one really wanted to, more details would allow people to figure out who I am in real life). Even if Boston doesn’t have the best cultural life, it will still be a huge improvement from where I am now! Other details (again a bit vague) is that I’m in my late twenties/early thirties, single, and female. I won’t have a car.
The T (that’s Boston code for the public transportation system) can get you most places. You may want to look into zipcar for occasional driving if you do drive and just don’t want to own a car.
If you’re working at Longwood, will you be living in Brookline? It’s a nice area–almost between living in the city and suburbs. Lots of parks, ect. But, it is expensive, as are most things in Boston. I moved here two years ago from a mid-sized town in Illinois, and it was something of a shock.
Check out this recent thread for more information.
If you have specific questions that you don’t want to post here, feel free to PM me.
Longwood medical area is very close to both the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, both of which are great if you enjoy art. You will also be in walking distance of Fenway Park, should you be a baseball fan. Pay attention to the home game schedule as that will have a major impact on T traffic. Right next to Fenway is Landsdowne St, which has a slew of clubs, bars, concert venues, etc. Fun nightlife if you’re into that.
Slightly further away, but still probably within walking distance are both Symphony Hall and the Huntington Theatre Co.
If you enjoy the outdoors, I would highly recommend getting yourself over to the Arnold Aboretum in Jamaica Plain. It’s not walking distance, but a very short drive and I’m sure there is a bus that goes there. It’s beautiful in the summer, with walking and bike paths, a bonzai house, ponds, etc. (It also happens to be the place where I proposed to my wife )
As others have said, I’d be happy to answer specific questions in the thread or by PM.
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