https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:59:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924640 Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:28:15 +0000 foodiebee 2924640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beehive: I'd love to know more! We haven't decided re: commute yet and what we want in that regard, so everything is still on the table and any info is so appreciated and helpful as we brainstorm the future. Getting out and about like you're describing is exactly what we want. We have nowhere to go here and can't walk anywhere, and our DS just wants out of our house 24/7 after spending a year straight here. It'd also be a great change for my career, and after putting so much of my life on hold to have a child, I really really want to invest something in myself. </p> <p>@Anagram: Okay the holiday pics were a GOOD CALL. I'm now totally dreaming of a city Christmas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924637 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:13:13 +0000 Beehive 2924637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodiebee: I'm in NYC and love raising kids here (have a 4 and 8 year old). I really wouldn't want to go anywhere else. There are so many wonderful things to take advantage of (with kids!) - from restaurants to museums to just wandering around neighborhoods and exploring. Taking a ferry to Governor's Island during the summer and playing in their fantastic playgrounds. Having everything you need within walking distance, and the subway to get you anywhere else you want to go. The incredible parks. We live in lower Manhattan in a very family-friendly neighborhood. I'm happy to share more info!</p> <p>@Anagram: Love your photos! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924633 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:11:37 +0000 lady baltimore 2924633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, man, @Anagram, we have plans to take DD to NYC for the first time next month, and your photos are making me SO EXCITED! It will be my first time back in ten years, and I really hope we don't have to pull the plug because of COVID, as this trip is very overdue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924629 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:06:11 +0000 Anagram 2924629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Random photos I took over the winter </p> [attach=2976/21/qxmyab.600x337.DCABA02F-804E-49D5-B66C-432B70DFB4BD.jpeg] [attach=2976/21/qxmyac.600x337.9A6DB138-C83D-4510-9D3A-81EE9154B42F.jpeg] [attach=2976/21/qxmyad.450x600.3CE963CB-9645-4CAA-8270-1114EAE2DEDE.jpeg] [attach=2976/21/qxmyaf.600x441.C5FEAA1D-B889-4C3E-A523-1CE71EC772EA.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924628 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:59:04 +0000 Anagram 2924628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodiebee: let me further entice you with random photos I’ve taken. I’m sitting at a park watching my kids play for going on 3 hours and starting to be bored—so I have nothing else to do! 😂 </p> [attach=2976/21/qxmxyh.600x450.B7C71544-F591-4A1A-86B4-72EBCB3E6CE9.jpeg] [attach=2976/21/qxmxyi.600x450.AF4DDB5A-7945-49AB-BF3A-CAF7820F134B.jpeg] [attach=2976/21/qxmxyj.600x450.3C8D5F2D-5893-49F4-B243-0301F66D08F5.jpeg] [attach=2976/21/qxmxyk.450x600.30320816-D1B8-4523-84ED-4FC7710AA1B6.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924622 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 07:44:53 +0000 foodiebee 2924622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you to everyone! This is such good information and perspective to have. Nothing final over here, but I've shared all of this with DH and really, really appreciate it.</p> <p>@Anagram: This sounds honestly really fantastic! We've added Hoboken and Jersey City to our list to check out.</p> <p>@Mama Bird: Thank you for this perspective. My DS is 2yo right now. I do not have a backup for childcare anyway, as we have no family nearby. We had a school closure last week due to a covid case and now DS has hand, foot, and mouth, so he's been home and we're juggling it. That would't change. I am okay with DS not going to a show or restaurant until he's vaccinated because where we live now has one of the worst vaccination rates in the country, so we basically still quarantine for the most part (minus daycare). And we have no options to go to a show anyway where we live, so having the option in the future when it's safe would still be an upgrade! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924601 Sun, 08 Aug 2021 22:08:53 +0000 Mama Bird 2924601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, still NYC over here, sadly. I'd think long and hard about moving here. It's never been very family friendly (expensive, hard to take maternity leave) but it's dialed up to 11 lately. If you move here, do you have a backup plan to deal with school quarantine/closures? If you have older kids also, this possibility isn't off the table. </p> <p>Are you OK with your child possibly having to wear an N95 mask to school? I'd say the possibility of that happening is 50/50 right now. </p> <p>Are you OK with the possibility of kids under 12 not being able to go to a show or a café since they're not vaccinated? We came very close to having that happen last week. The mayor later admitted he "forgot" about kids when issuing his restrictions, and that they'll be exempt. But that's classic - you'd be bringing your family into a place where kids are very much an afterthought.</p> <p>We do have universal pre-K and 3K though, and awesome Early Intervention, and all kids are eligible for free school lunch. And (for now) there are great options for kids to learn just about anything. Unless more restrictions come down from above... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924599 Sun, 08 Aug 2021 19:11:51 +0000 nana87 2924599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re in Morningside Heights which is v family friendly and less than UWS (where we lived for many years) but NJ or other areas— We have friends who love Riverdale (Bronx) or Long Island City (queens) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924589 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 18:48:26 +0000 nwm 2924589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodiebee: it is a little hard to narrow down! i honestly believe NYC has dozens of neighborhoods that are wonderful, unique, and worth living in. it kind of depends what you want! i'm on the upper west side, living very close to where i grew up, and i think it is a magical place to be, but it is also extremely pricey! i think there are really good deals to be found in family-friendly areas of queens such as sunnyside and forest hills, and areas in upper manhattan that are underappreciated such as inwood and hamilton heights. brooklyn is lovely but at least as pricey as manhattan at this point. and totally agree w/ @Anagram: that hoboken (and IMHO jersey city) are worth considering.</p> <p>sorry it is a little hard to give you a straight answer, but happy to chat through any specific questions you have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924588 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 16:34:22 +0000 bhbee 2924588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: ok I want to move to Hoboken now too :silly: We lived on the UES (90s) pre kids but only made it to Hoboken once! We live in Dallas now and I miss winter and the east coast (but maybe not crowds and expense … ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924579 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 08:14:45 +0000 Anagram 2924579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyDi: ha, well I do love it here! But I realize it’s all relative and depends so much on your own personality. I have a coworker friend who grew up here and wants to move to the south so bad, but all their family is here. </p> <p>But she hates winter (she gets legit SAD and really struggles), she’s also the breadwinner as a teacher and it’s very expensive in the tri-state area and I know that’s difficult, and she hates all crowds and gets anxiety so she never does NYC events because, well….they are usually crowded. So all the negatives for her are positives for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924578 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 08:08:11 +0000 LadyDi 2924578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Not going to lie, this really makes me want to move to Hoboken. You sold it really well lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924577 Sat, 07 Aug 2021 08:01:21 +0000 Anagram 2924577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodiebee: we still live in Hoboken, which is just across the Hudson from Manhattan. Hoboken is still pricey but lower in price then Manhattan or trendy parts of Brooklyn (a 3 bedroom for rent would depend on factors like if the building has an elevator, amenities like a gym, parking options, etc….but would probably be over 4500-7000 depending on those amenities and features). Buying a 3 bedroom also depends on building amenities but could be 1.2-sky’s the limit. </p> <p>But…I really like it here. Super easy access to Midtown (where my husband has worked for the 9 years we’ve lived here). His door to door commute is 28 minutes and that includes walking to the bus from our house and walking from Port Authority to his office. </p> <p>The school district here used to be “bad” (loaded word, there’s a whole history about that, but is quickly changing and my kids have had an amazing experience. There’s free, universal pre-k for 3 and 4 year olds and there’s just less to navigate in terms of school options here compared to NYC. It’s a very progressive school board here—very focused on equitable access to education. My kids are now going into 1st and 3rd grade. </p> <p>So pros of this are are:close to city, easy access, walkable urban vibe but somehow still small town feel, super family friendly (parks and playgrounds everywhere). Not cut off from other parts of US if you want to travel (compared to day, Long Island or far parts of queens/Brooklyn), so it’s easy to get out of town to the beach or mountains. Cons are expense. </p> <p>I can answer questions about most places in Hudson County and most of the popular NJ suburbs with easy commutes to the city, if you want to hear it. We have been toying with the idea of a suburbs move for more space, but ended up buying a weekend/beach house instead and now staying in Hoboken longer.</p> <p>I think you should figure out your wants: do you want a washer/dryer in unit? Will you have a car? Will you want easy access to other locations on the east coast? Where will you be commuting to/how often, how long do you want your commute to be? Do you want a single family home or is apartment living what you want? Do you need outdoor space? </p> <p>So many factors. </p> <p>We moved here from Dallas 9 years ago and at the time, thought it would be temporary. I loved Dallas, and I lived in the actual city of Dallas there and had great friends and a great life there. But even with that, I love this area more. I can’t actually imagine moving back anymore. Especially with all the craziness of the last few years, I’ve always been really pleased with my local area’s response to Covid safety, to social change like BLM and Time’s Up, etc. </p> <p>And the access to the city and the entire eastern seaboard is unparalleled. I’m super into getting out with my kids, and we go all over NYC, all over NJ/CT/NY. It’s just so easy to get around here compared to Texas. In Texas, going from Dallas to Austin is a “short” getaway, and that’s 3 hours/6 hours round trip. Here, in 3 hours or less I can get to various parts of Pennsylvania (rural parts like the Poconos for skiing or hiking, Amish country, Sesame Place, Hershey Park, Philadelphia, Jersey Shore, Connecticut shore, the Adirondacks, the Berkshires, Boston, Newport, RI, Cape Cod, parts of Vermont and New Hampshire. </p> <p>I could go on and on. After a lifetime of no real seasons, I love the 4 seasons here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924567 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 19:37:40 +0000 foodiebee 2924567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: Thanks so much! RE commuting: I suppose I don't know. We are in the suburbs right now, 2,000 sq. ft. regular old house with a garage and all, and I know that won't be possible in the city. We're okay with that! But I feel a little overwhelmed by the idea of narrowing down where exactly to look. I had a 30 min. commute before covid and so I'm used to that. I'm willing to commute if it means a better school/neighborhood option for us. Thoughts on neighborhoods you'd suggest? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924537 Wed, 04 Aug 2021 08:31:32 +0000 nwm 2924537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we live in NYC! happy to chat. childcare is definitely pricey in NYC and a little tricky to navigate post-pandemic but it can definitely be done! given your husband will be working from home, do you have any commuting requirements or does it not matter how far you are from manhattan? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-new-york-bees-still-here#post-2924530 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 15:04:47 +0000 foodiebee 2924530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are there any NYC Bees still hanging around? We are loosely considering a move to NYC for work reasons from where we are now (the South), and we have so many questions! I've browsed some previous threads but am curious for current info rather than from a few years ago. Our main concerns are where will have access to affordable, good childcare for our 2yo. We're in a montessori program now and everything I see online is quite a bit more expensive for montessori. Housing: We're curious which areas are family friendly and not astronomically expensive (a 3-bedroom is a must because DH works from home). Thanks, all! </p>