Let me start by saying that I left Massachusetts in 1973. I always thought it was a great place to grow up. I have never heard of MetroWest Boston. I also never heard of or used "wicked". I have used "pissah" and "pull a uhie". My dad moved from Malden to Melrose in 1961 and purchased an old (1904?) house. I think it goes for a million today. My brother lives in Tewksbury which I thought was out in the boonies. The schools in Melrose when I was there were top notch. The teachers were wonderful. I became a teacher too because of them. I know this doesn’t help you all that much, if any at all, but I wish you and your family good luck in your Bay Area endeavors. Go Pats! Go Bruins! Go Red Sox! Go Celts! Go Red Raiders!
Quite a bit has changed in the Bay State in 52 years.
Some very much for the better.
We definitely have a MetroWest now, and it's quite something.
Some losses.
Pretty much no one uses "pissah" or "bang a uhie" anymore. I hear "wicked" all the time, tho' I refuse to use it in that context myself
.Never heard of the Red Raiders around here. Most Native American team names have been changed.
Maybe you would enjoy a trip to visit your brother and be amazed at Boston and its no-longer-the-boonies!
To keep it to the OP, it'd be interesting to know what town his wife works in where she doesn't want to live. Also they might consider what might occur if they have 2 more kids. Or if they should consider other states altogether, if a strong tie to the Bay State isn't really important to them.
Oh, and they should definitely lock down childcare options. I have heard there are waiting lists but I don't know that for sure.
Statistics: Posted by PeninsulaPerson — Wed Dec 17, 2025 5:31 am — Replies 67 — Views 3312