Amherst, Northampton, Florence MA area?

[FtMPapa]

I just got accepted to the PhD program in sociology at UMASS Amherst!

I'm super happy duper excited about it, so I'm putting out feelers already to get to know people.

I'm planning on getting pregnant this summer, I'm a trans guy, and a single parent by choice. I'm kind of crunchy, and I feel myself becoming more so. I think parenting will bring out the crunch!


I didn't realize housing was so hard to find with pets in that area! Does anyone have any tips?

I am also kind of desperate to find affordable housing that will take me and my Great Dane. She's six years old, very well behaved, and she mostly sleeps. I don't need a big place because of her, she doesn't need a yard, though it would be nice! Right now we live in a junior one bedroom in Toronto, and we are fine.

I'm looking for a place that a grad student can afford, I'm happy to trade labour in lieu of partial rent - I.e. some yard work, childcare, housework, tutoring, anything I can provide, and I come with excellent references, both as a tenant and a childcare worker.

The place must be suitable me and a baby in a year or so, although if I find the right place now for the academic year and I move again next June or so, it's not the end of the world - undesirable, but not fatal.

Rural locations are great, I am hoping to buying a minivan this summer, so I can take something out there, but not too far from UMASS.

I'm looking to move in July or August, for the right place, I can take it sooner, for June. Feel free to pass my e-mail - rexlezard at gmail dot com to anyone you know who might have a lead or tips for me!

[MichelleW]

congrats FtMPapa on the acceptance!
I actually know nothing of that area, but totally understand your situation! We (my FTM partner & I) are now delaying my entry to the Uof Iowa's PhD program, as we are expecting in late September.
I hope all goes well for you this year!
Good luck!

[lexbeach]

Hi! We currently live in Goshen, which is 20 minutes west of Northampton, but we are moving into town this summer. My wife is a grad. student at UMASS--congrats on your acceptance! We don't have any pets right now, but we did live in Northampton with dogs for several years. We found most of our apartments through the local paper-- The Daily Hampshire Gazette. There are always a few listings that say "pets ok." Northampton is a big dog-lovers town, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to find something (Easthampton would be good to look at too). Unfortunately, you need to buy a subscription to the Gazette in order to see the classifieds online, but it would probably be worth it for you since the pet-friendly apts. tend to go quickly.

We are going to be renting a non-pet-friendly house in Northampton, so I can't help you out (though the idea of having someone live with us in exchange for occassional child care does sound lovely! And I LOVE Great Danes!), but it would be fun to get together sometime after you move. You will love it here!

Let me know if you have any more questions during your moving process!

Lex

[FtMPapa]

Oh, wow! That's great that you can take the year off and all, and that they'll let you defer!

[FtMPapa]

Originally Posted by lexbeach

We are going to be renting a non-pet-friendly house in Northampton, so I can't help you out (though the idea of having someone live with us in exchange for occassional child care does sound lovely! And I LOVE Great Danes!), but it would be fun to get together sometime after you move. You will love it here!

Let me know if you have any more questions during your moving process!

Lex

Thanks, Lex! I will keep you posted. I do love the area, and I have a number of friends there.

[bluezephyr]

UMass also has an online classifieds system. I haven't used it lately, but it's used very frequently for renting apartments, houses, extra rooms upstairs--and some of them do accept labor exchanges and pet friendliness is also listed. I don't remember the URL, but you and google ought to be able to find it. That's how I found all my apartments when I lived there a couple of years ago.