An Expat Talks about Living in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Mountain Lakes

What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?

Since Mtn. Lakes is a small town with about 6 small lakes, most residents who move in, meet other residents while enjoying the lakes. Every home owner is allowed to purchase lake passes. People who don't live in the town are not allowed to purchases passes but can come as a guest of a resident. There are swimming areas around the perimeter of the beaches as well as docks for canoes, kyacks and "sunfish" sail boats. Motor boats are not allowed. This is to prevent excess pollution and to protect the many children who are enjoying the water. There are two clubs that residents generally join. One is the Mtn. Lakes club located on Mountain Lake and the other is the Rockaway River Country Club located right over the town border in Denville on the Rockaway River. Both offer dining, tennis courts and swimming pool. The Rockaway River Club does offer Golf and is a larger club in general. Since many of the residents move to this town for the school system a lot of the parents belong to booster clubs to support the athletic organizations of the school system. Lacrosse is by far the largest and even if you don't have children who play this sport you can still join to help support the team and meet other residents. There are many other clubs residents can join, such as the League of Women's Voters, Mtn. Lakes Garden Club and Volunteer Fire Department.

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In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.

It's a upper middle class small town but is evolving. Different groups have been moving in but the progress has been slow.

What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?

Mtn. Lakes is entirely residetial. There is a small market located on Midvale Rd. where you can buy perishables but major shopping is done at a larger market in one of the surrounding towns. Most residents commute to other towns and cities to work. NYC offers any career opportunity and the NJ Transit RR has a commuter line that only runs out of town and into NYC in the morning and out of NYC and into Mtn. Lakes at night. The NJ Transit bus line route runs back and forth NYC and Mtn. Lakes throughout the day. Mtn. Lakes is located in the county of Morris which has a diverse amount of industries, including pharmaceutical, construction and hospitality.

In general, what are peoples' priorities in this city? For example, do lives revolve around work, family, socializing, sports, etc.?

Small towns tend to revolve around family, socializing and sports. Mtn. Lakes is no differnt. There are 5 places of worship for members of the Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian, Methodist and Christian Scientist religons.

If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.

I would tell them to know what they are looking for. If they want small town living that offers a good school system, a secure place to raise there children and access to NYC then this is a town they should consider.