Out of curiosity, what made you want to leave?

I would guess traffic and cost-of-living.

And the winter.

I spent a week in Rhode Island for work and spent one day sightseeing in Boston in the summer ~1998, it felt a lot like Houston in terms of heat and humidity which really surprised me (long time Texan at that point.)

Funny enough, I too spent some time in Boston during the summer of 1997. Reminded me of Florida summer weather.

I went back last year in October. 20 years is a long time, but the traffic now reminds me of Manhattan (apparently the bad drivers are called Mass-holes), with screaming cabbies and bumper cars.

I did have the best clam chowder of my entire life there, so there is that.

The traffic isn't as bad as NY except for certain times of the day and once you become a regular it's not difficult. The weather in the winter really only means the snow. The cold isn't terrible, but the snow just mucks everything up. It makes sense that you'd have the best seafood since Massachusetts has the largest fishing port in the entire United States.