You dodged a bullet!! Lol

Definitely the time of year, but it could also be what area you are looking in. For example, it just so happens that I recently lost my psychiatric nurse practitioner!! You must be a gift coming here!! Lol. Funny though because one of my sister-in-laws lives in Louisville and another lives in North Adams, which is closer to the Northampton, MA area. What a small world!

My sister-in-law out in Western MA also works at the Berkshire Eagle in a break away local cultural arts magazine that may be of some knowledge there.

If you enroll on www.masshireberkshirecc.com, you may be able to start visualizing more opportunities and apply early if possible?

If you like, feel free to send me a PM before the move and maybe we can help you expand your access or welcome your family when you arrive!! From what I hear from the Louisville sis, Western MA is waaayyyy different culturally and in general, so I think you'll like it here!!

Yes, but this is actually a serious issue and it's a problem country wide. I've dedicated a lot of time personally to a Veterans Non-Profit also so I could understand where the poster was coming from. Since much of the financial assistance has dwindled down, many of the only resource facilities that can help Veterans are Non-Profit, their CEOs and VPs receive 6 figure salaries, while many of the rest are overlooked for compensation. Some of them are just happy to have equal help available and maybe a little gas reimbursement. And they can put them on a W2 Wage. They should be providing a wage if they are repetitiously providing their personal time for over 10 hours a week, If the VA can provide at least that, so that advocates can be trained to help with services. People are more inclined to care deeper when they are appreciated and feel like part of a family. Less sloppiness, laziness and inadequate care, It also it is a reflection many times to them, in how those who help them are treated by others outside in an open environment, for everyone around to see. They find it disrespectful when their advocates are made to feel overlooked, like many of them felt when they come home from serving. They're very humble to have someone listen to them and have lunch with.

And the non-profit bullshit, refusing to pay and not providing a wage because you're "volunteering" doesn't allow a person to keep devoting their own time to put forth if they aren't receiving any type of income in the meantime. The United Way is worth to be over a $20 Billion (Non-Profit). If they weren't being compensated, they wouldn't be able to devote so much to fundraising and creating all the fun activities to keep them fun and active. If communities want the responsibility moved over to non-profits and away from the VA and other private groups, then someone should be stepping to assist in getting them up to par.

I'm sorry...my son has been sober for 2 years but sadly he lives in Portland, OR, now. I know he would hang out if he were here. Probably introduce you to some of his peeps too. It's hard meeting people nowadays... a lot of them have their anxiety, too, and have a hard time socializing. :(

You can't live your best life if you can't live your truth <3

I personally wouldn't even know where to suggest because I do know that all people are widely accepted all over....it's the sober people that may be a little challenging to discover?? I think they have some info on NAMI.org or 211.org on activities or social stuff in the area?? Enjoy your newfound freedom. :)

South FL culture is waaayyy different. I moved from MA to Ocala years ago but traveled down to Ft Myers and Miami a bit...everything is much different. The live music scene is all but obsolete...everything is just about pay to play, might get paid a few dollars more an hour here but rents are crazy high now. Everything is fast-paced and it is pretty dirty compared to the smell of orange blossoms. The scent of MA is basically weed now. Lol.

If you look at any of the Housing Authority websites or on HUD.gov, there may be some info there. Depending on what part of Southern NH you are looking in, there should be some help in Plaistow, Salem, Derry. You could also try 211.org or NAMINH for resources...as well as Community Action.

I believe they ran a similar news story close to Halloween cuz they were disguising it to look similar to kids candy, that may get distributed on Halloween. Sadly, we don't need cartels to push anything when they are easily purchasing pill presses online and manufacturing whatever they choose, so long as they can pass for whatever they want to get out onto the street. We are still experiencing record high fentanyl poisoning cases in NH, MA and much of our area in New England. Only this particular version of it, is easily marketed to kids. With cannabis becoming legal in many areas, fentanyl will often be disguised as a fun-looking candy type bracelet or candy necklace. Before people realize they are in trouble, poisoning can come on pretty quickly, starting with breathing problems rather abruptly. It also doesn't appear to be as harmful as once reported to First Responders, due to Covid masking and being transmitted in more of a solid form, rather than a loose powder. I believe this is still one of the highest rates of death in the area.

Me too!!!