NJScott

Due almost solely to the draconian laws regarding firearms ownership and CCW in NJ, plus the fact that I can transfer fairly-easily to a location in PA, I've been looking for a place there as well. Started in Easton, and saw more gang colors and hood rats than you'd see in a day in Brooklyn. There are some areas that have been gentrified, but I'm not interested in being the pioneer sort, so... We started down Rt. 611 from Easton and found a couple of nice homes right on the river in Riegelsville and Raubsville. Only problem there was, due to the massive flooding from the Delaware (twice in the last decade) there were obvious signs of water damage, and the potential for mold issues in the future. If you look in those two towns, or in Williams Township, which is essentially Easton South, and go to the west a bit, you'll find some nice, rural areas not in the flood plain, and which can be had for anywhere from $159k to $300k, depending on the size and the lot. Heading out on 78 West, we looked in Hellertown: very quaint, throw-back town, but a real b*tch to get in and out of, due to the fact that there is only one, two-lane road in and out of there. It's down the road from Bethlehem, which does have some very nice, old homes and a happening downtown area--as well as the Sands Casino, but also a high crime rate for its size. Emmaus is very nice, very suburban with decent access to roads and a good school system. Allentown...well, poor Allentown has seen much better days, I'm afraid. Despite it's solid housing stock and beautiful parks, it's downtown area (numbered streets) has turned into a hell-hole. My wife volunteered to do help out a high school color guard one day last year, and while standing outside the school was offered some "Diesel" by a local skell. Diesel being one of the more popular brands of heroin, apparently. If you go due south of Allentown you'll come to Macungie, which has many gainfully-employed folks, thanks to the Mack Truck Plant, and a very rural feel. You can buy an old farmstead right outside of town for a ridiculous price, and the people are super-friendly. Macungie is the odds-on favorite for us right now, but we're always looking for that perfect home/perfect location before we make the move. Check out the above towns on www.trulia.com, or www.zillow.com for lots of good information and to get a good feel for the PA real estate market. Lots of luck! Scott

I can't tell you all how much knowledge and great information I've gained from lurking on this forum on and off for the last year or so. Several buddies of mine at work frequent your site and that's how I got turned on to it. As is the case with some of your veteran posters here, I'm from Bayonne and I'm hoping to get a chance to meet up with you down at 16th Street. I've been a handgun owner since the mid-80's, but honestly just got away from shooting for some odd reason. I've got a S&W .38 Chief's Special, 2", plated in nickel, and frankly, it's never been a comfortable gun to shoot or to really master. So...after reading about some of your posters' shooting experiences on here I decided to apply four months ago for two PP's from my local P.D., and just got 'em the other day. I also purchased a Ruger 10/22 for my nephew, who's going to be my shooting buddy (over the mild objections of his liberal mother, LOL), and have taken him on a few trips into Pennsy to shoot outdoors. I'm looking forward to doing my research on here as well as heading down to BA, SS or up to Sunset Hills to try out a few different .40's. The XD and the Glock model 22 are at the top of my list so far (I'm liking the Steyr in .40 just a little bit, too), but as I said I'd like to try a few rounds out, if possible, before purchasing anything in particular. Anyway, GREAT site, great folks and I'm looking forward to making up for lost time in the gun ownership/shooting activity. Scott