That is just a person dependent question. Just like anywhere what you prefer to do for fun/hobbies probably influences your choice of where to buy.

Yes completely agree with this too!

Rhode Island actually offers a grant currently for first time home buyers that could be worth checking out for some people!

https://www.rihousing.com/statewide-dpa/

I would need to save more money, but would consider buying over renting for a few reasons.

1. I have a dog and rent prices with a dog are completely and utterly insane (if you can find somewhere that will even take them to begin with)
2. Actually putting money into my own investment and not into the hands of landlords that don't give a crap about you.
3. rent prices I've seen can range from up to anywhere to over 3k for a 2 bed. Why not buy a house and have your own land for a mortgage that's going to cost the same.

I know most of this depends on where in RI you buy. Realistically you can get a house for 350-375k in Warwick, Pawtucket, Cranston, West Warwick,etc. If you're looking for a nice place closer to the ocean in South County or Aquidneck Island then you're going to be paying probably closer to 550-600k.

Ticks can actually live into temperatures in the negative, but spring is when they start coming out in droves. Basically before winter they attach to a mouse or deer (ie deer ticks)/ any host pending geographical region and when the weather starts to thaw is when they fall off and start reproducing. Female ticks can lay thousands of eggs a piece hence the abundance of them. Deer ticks are most prevalent in NE area.

It takes about 12-24 hours for a Lyme/disease transmission to even take affect so make sure to check yourself thoroughly immediately arriving home from a trail. They also love dark, moist areas so even if you think they didn't travel, don't underestimate it!!

I have some more gross facts, but I'll save those for another time. I had to go to an informative seminar on ticks one year and it was slightly traumatizing 😂

I hiked big river management area recently and that was very nice. As others are saying, it's near impossible to avoid ticks, but taking necessary precautions helps a lot!

Oak Hill Tavern in NK has wing Wednesdays. If you have a nut allergy (especially peanuts) you should not go.

Long term carprofen use can affect their liver, so they probably want to run some blood work, especially if your dog is older.

I don't understand this sentiment of "I'm not going to my vet who knows my dogs because I don't want to pay for a wellness exam. Let me take my dog to a new vet so I can pay for a totally different examination and have them run the blood so I can get these meds."