Conference misery::feline_v1

    I live in Grafton, a small, country-like town.  Great for cats!  With a
    wonderful housecall vet too.  Grafton is about a half hour from
    Littleton though (maybe a bit longer), so it might not be a feasible
    place for you to live.  It's a suburb of Worcester.  My cats hate to
    ride in the car too so having the housecall vet is a real luxury.
    
    My husband's folks live on the Cape (Falmouth) and it takes us just shy
    of two hours to drive there.
    

    
    Hi!
    
    I recommend our small town of Berlin.  Nestled between, Hudson,
    Clinton, Northboro, and Marlboro.
    
    It is very rural.  Has farms to modern homes.  I live in East Berlin,
    towards Hudson.  I live on a dead-end street which is surrounded by
    woods.  Little traffic.  There are several areas within the main part
    of town that are full of fiels and trees.  Littleton would be about 20
    minutes to half'n hour, depending on your route.  We are physically
    near the corners of RT. 495 and RT. 290.  The whole area is quite.
    
    You are 30 minutes away from SearsTown Mall in Leominster and 30 - 35
    minutes from Shoppers World in Framingham.  You have a choice of
    grocery shopping in Clinton - Victory or shopping in Hudson, Shaws, Big
    D, or Victory.
    
    There are plenty of different stores in the surrounding towns.  Berlin
    has a Lumber Company, a Clinton Savings Bank, Gulf Gas station, 3
    resturants and two Garden places.  It is spread out and quite lovely.
    
    There is a vet in Lancaster, right near Clinton, and vets in Marlboro.
    
    There is a "lovely" Cattery right in Berlin.  Strickly for cats for
    people to place their babies there while on vacation.  She cares
    personally for each.  There can have their own food and toys.  I have
    had a friend use her and was quite happy.  It's called:  CatNips.
    
    Also in Berlin near Northboro, is a new Miniture Golf Course, and a
    Golfing Range.  There are farms and Strawberry Picking places.  Country
    Club and even quaint cemetaries.  People look out for each other here.
    
    Best of Luck,
    
    Wherever you go...
    
    Carol
    
    				Scruffy and the Dudley Road Gang
    
    

    i know of a small house for rent in Wilmintong, if interested
    call me at 264-3330.
    
    Janice
    

    Another vote for Grafton since they just happen to have TUFTS Vetrinary
    School there and a small animal clinic you can bring you fur face to if
    need me.
    
    I live in Boylston, nice little town, plenty of vets to scream at and
    trees to climb and birds to watch.  NO LEASH LAW though!
    
    

    ooppps!  meant "bring your fur face to if you need to"
    

    Well, Littleton itself is quite nice 8-}   We have an excellent clinic, 
    Littleton Animal Hospital, with three vets and they and the assistents
    really care.  Also, they care for many birds and other small animals,
    in fact, many other area vets refer small animal patients to them.  
    (They have a great picture of a baby possum that they treated!)
    
    Commute time is obviously an advantage - 5 min or less!
    
    I have found the people friendly, with a small town atmosphere, and 
    reasonable shopping in the area.  3 major malls, Searstown - 20 min, 
    Pheasant Lane in NH - 25 min, and Burlington - 35 min.  Local shopping
    is reasonable, many services available.  And it's location at the
    intersection of 495 and 2, means that it is fairly easy to go any 
    longer distance, like into Boston, or the cape.
    
    I haven't had occasion to use any "cat hotels", I have had friends of 
    my daughters come in, but recommendations for cat-sitters in the area
    are here in the file, and the place mentioned a few notes back would
    still not be unreasonably far for the occasional trip.
    
    Call me or send mail if you would like more info.   (BTW, I am
    currently renting a small house, and I know there are others in the 
    area.)
    
    Linda

    
    
      I would be another one for Littleton, and the Littleton Animal
    Hospital, I would definitely agree with, they are exceptional 
    and I have found from numerous trips over the years, that they really
    do care about your pet...
    When I lost my baby Sylvester, they were so good and even sent me
    a sympathy card hand written from the staff....
                                                                  
    Of course I also really like the town itself too....
    
    

    Well everyone knows Concord is the best cat and kid town! But when
    it comes to cat care I go to the CAT Dr. just over the line in Bedford.
    How big a house are you looking for ?
    

    I live in Westboro, too! Although I keep my kids inside, cuz I live
    right off of Rte.135, I LOVE THIS TOWN! I'm from Hudson, we moved to 
    Westboro a year ago. Our place is getting too small, so we're moving.
    We have decided to stay in westboro, because it's a great place, with
    EVERYTHING you need, in a small friendly TOWN. 
    
    Bonnie

    
    
    .2----->>>>> CONTINUING!!!!!!!!!
    
    One more point, which I don't know why I didn't think of it!  Berlin.
    I have an apartment for rent.  It's a large apartment, of a two-family
    home, beside our home.  It is Colonial Blue. Has a lovely private deck.
    5-Rooms.  A very large kitchen dinning room area, Living Room, 2 bed-
    rooms, bath, hallway, storage area below with laundry facilities.  Your
    own driveway, fits 2 cars.  Quite peaceful neighborhood.  There are
    other kitties around and a few dogs.  Friendly neighbors and the
    tennants downstairs are friendly.  We just got Cable TV!!!!!!!!
    
    Let me know if you like the description of our town in (.2) and if you
    are renting.
    
    Carol
    
    
    o

         I live in Shrewsbury.  Here you have easy access to the Mass Pike,
    9, 20 and 140.  You have your choice of Shrewsbury Animal Hospital (7
    minutes from me), Northboro Animal Hospital (12 minutes from me) and
    Tufts (10 minutes from me).
    
         Shrewsbury owns most of its utilities - electric, cable, water and
    sewer.  I don't know about gas, and of course New England Telephone has
    control over the phone lines.  I've found Shrewsbury to be a friendly,
    efficient town.
    
         I know people who have indoor/outdoor cats in my neighborhood. 
    One cat has been around for the five years I've been here, so the area
    must be pretty safe!
    
    					- Andrea

         Shopping is easy.  15 minutes to Super Stop & Shop and BJ's
    Warehouse.  10 minutes for Home Quarters Warehouse, 15 to Somerville
    Lumber.  Shopper's World/Framingham is about 30 minutes, the Worcester
    malls (Galleria, Greendale) are readily accessible.  So you can be
    "country" and still have access to all of the "essentials" 8-) !

    
    another vote for Berlin!  I love that lil town... it is very 
    centraly located lot's of farms..
    
    there is only one thing I don't like and that is there is NO
    leash law for dogs..but we have never had a problem
    
    Louisa

    Well, lets face it, if you're working in Littleton and want to
    live someplace convenient to there then NOTHING is going to be
    convenient to Milton where your folks live.  Of the towns mentioned
    so far tho, I would say that Westboro or Concord are probably
    the most convenient.  Concord would take probably about 40-45
    mins to get to Milton and Westboro close to 1 hr.  
    
    Grafton is right on the Mass pike but I'd say you're looking
    at around 1.25 hrs+ to get to Milton from there.  Littleton is
    also going to be around 1 hr or so and the same for Berlin.  
    You are pretty much stuck taking 495 to Rt 2 or the Mass Pike
    and going to 128 and south from there.  Shrewsbury isn't really
    convenient to the major highways. 
    
    Since I live in Braintree (2 towns away from your Mom & Dad) I can
    give you the commute perspective.  It all depends on how long a
    ride you are willing to make to visit your folks (and vice versa)
    and whether or not highways bother you.  Since I commute 50 minutes
    one way to and from work each day I don't think much of driving an
    hour to get someplace.  I've also lived in rather urban areas including
    Boston, so highway and dense traffic doesn't panic me either.
    
    Hope this helps a bit.  Personally, I'd worry more about your work
    commute and finding a nice place for your kitties.  I'm sure the
    distance your folks would have to travel is a concern also.
      Nancy

    Middleboro is a great cat town!  My neighborhood alone
    has at least two indoor/outdoor cats per home!
    
    Lynne

    
    Thanks everyone for your replies...
    I've decided to look for a place in the Westboro / Hopkinton
    area.
    I'm looking for a house with option to buy if anyone has
    or hears of one...
    
    ellen/cino/buco