Exeter living vs Portsmouth living

First, I’ll make some blatant comparisons.

Exeter - 2BD, 1BA, freestanding house, backyard for fires, yard to mow, one level, fireplace, no dining room
Portsmouth - 2BD, 1.5BA, carriage house, no yard, no mowing, two levels, no fireplace, dining room

Exeter - drive to downtown Exeter - because I’m lazy
Portsmouth - walk to downtown Portsmouth - most of the time

Exeter - maybe 10 good restaurants in driving distance
Portsmouth - maybe 40 good restaurants in walking distance

Exeter - 45-50 minutes to my Merrimack office, 20-25 minutes to my Portsmouth office
Portsmouth - 60 minutes to my Merrimack office, 5-10 minutes to my Portsmouth office

Exeter - 15 minutes to my MKP circle, 20 minutes to my Buddhist Center, 20 minutes to my Unity church
Portsmouth - 30 minutes to my MKP circle, 30 minutes to my Buddhist Center, 30 minutes to my Unity church

Exeter - 3-5 decent bars in driving distance
Portsmouth - 20+ decent bars in walking distance

Exeter - 20 minutes to favorite ocean spots
Portsmouth - 20 minutes to favorite ocean spots

Exeter - 25 minutes from Chipotle
Portsmouth - 5 minutes from Chipotle

Exeter - realistic dry cleaning prices
Portsmouth - ridiculous dry cleaning prices

Enough of that. I can’t seem to think about anything other than logistics. On to the quality of life piece. Still with me?

I moved from Portsmouth to Exeter in March 2007. After I moved, it dawned on me that I moved away from the entertainment center of the Seacoast to the ‘burbs. I fell in love with the house in Exeter and was blind to everything else.

Though Exeter was sleepier than I wanted it to be, I came to love the area and my home there. I found some GREAT spots to eat, drink, kayak and just sit.

I will miss (not in any particlar order…well maybe):
+ The feeling of “home” I had in the cute little house at 6 Gary Lane
+ Having all of the walls to myself in a free standing house
+ Seeing the moon and stars from my backyard - very little light interference
+ Sitting in my backyard in front of a fire in my firepit
+ Being a few quick minutes from Blue Moon Market
+ Closer proximity to the Big Three (not work) - Unity, Aryaloka and my MKP circle
+ Driving on backroads to the ocean on the motorcycle
+ Closer proximity to Amesbury, MA
+ Verizon FIOS (super high speed internet)
+ Closer proximity to Exeter friends

Moving back to Portsmouth has its advantages (not in any…why do I even say this?):
+ The Po feels like my New England hometown - moved here from Ohio
+ I can’t say enough about walking into downtown
+ A huge number of things to do in and around town
+ Independent films at The Music Hall
+ Walking Portsmouth for miles and miles - like training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day
+ Being a few quick minutes from Joe’s New York Pizza
+ Closer proximity to Portsmouth friends
+ Walk to the gym
+ Flatbread, Green Monkey and Fat Belly’s!

I’m glad for all of these experiences. They all help me understand more of what I want from a home/house/town/place to hang my hat…when I’m ready to settle into one. Some day.

Thanks for indulging me.

Happy weekend!
Gregory

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