Yankees: How accepted are they? (Birmingham, Auburn: how much, house, neighborhoods)

[TootsieWootsie]

How accepted are Yankees in Birmingham? I'm particularly interested in the Vestavia/Mountain Brook area of the city.
Are the natives friendly with outsiders or are Yankees looked somewhat down upon? I grew up in both the South and North, and had plenty of Southern relatives who were still fighting the Civil War when I was a kid--and still are today! I'm convinced it I wasn't their relative that they would ignore me (I'm from the Yankee branch).
What is the truth about how native Birmingham folks feel about Yankees? In other words, how Southern is it there?

[Back Again]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

How accepted are Yankees in Birmingham? I'm particularly interested in the Vestavia/Mountain Brook area of the city.
Are the natives friendly with outsiders or are Yankees looked somewhat down upon? I grew up in both the South and North, and had plenty of Southern relatives who were still fighting the Civil War when I was a kid--and still are today! I'm convinced it I wasn't their relative that they would ignore me (I'm from the Yankee branch).
What is the truth about how native Birmingham folks feel about Yankees? In other words, how Southern is it there?

Im a Yankee (or should I say a dam yankee) from NY living in the Birmingham area of Alabama. On a whole, I'm pretty much accepted. Oh, there are a few that don't like me, just because I'm an outsider from up north, lost a home deal because of it, but like I said, on the whole, I would not worry about it one bit. People are people everywhere.

You looking to move here?

[pvjd]

Birmingham is fine with people from the north, can't speak for all of AL. Alabama was not a pivotal player in the Civil War like South Carolina, Virginia, etc., so there isn't a whole lot of that mentality. You might come across the occasional "where ya from", but not any outright resentment. My wife is from Jersey and she is loved by all who meet her. Birmingham has a big mixture of whites, blacks, hispanics, and a pretty large Asian and Middle Eastern community. Several of my friends grew up in a section of town off of Green Springs Highway referred to as "Little Lebanon" because of all the Lebanese people. Believe it or not Birmingham is pretty accepting and a lot more progressive than one might think.

[TootsieWootsie]

Texas is still fighting the Civil War and has Juneteenth celebrations in case anyone forgets about it. Arkansas relatives, also, still fighting that big war on a daily basis. It gets old.
If the prejudice isn't bad there towards Yankees, I'm definitely interested.

[cpg35223]

Tootsie, we will pelt your car with rocks and garbage. We will make fun of your accents. We will constantly ask you when you're moving back Up North. Klansmen will ride past your house at 2 a.m. honking the horn and making threatening noises.

Not.

I'm from Chicago, and my wife and I have had no problems fitting in and making zillions of friends. Here's the secret: Step outside your comfort zone and realize that it's a different culture with different rules. That doesn't mean you have to change who you are, but the people here don't think like the people in Cleveland or Minneapolis or Buffalo. As long as you don't tell people how much better you did things in Wisconsin, they'll like you just fine.

One other thing. Pick a team. Auburn or Alabama. It's okay to do so. Even be relatively aware of how either one is doing. They'll think you're practically a local.

By the way, we live in Mountain Brook, near Overton Road. It's really a terrific part of town, convenient to everything. The schools are top-notch and the people couldn't be nicer.

[TootsieWootsie]

Mountain Brook is first class. I've done the homework.
I would assume--since Mountain Brook is quite educated--that diversity would be accepted there.
Just don't want to get into the "I hate Yankee" thing like in Houston again, which it is getting more diverse there every year, too.

[Dazed&Confused]

That all depends on whether you are a Yankee or a Dam Yankee.

A Yankee comes South for vacation. A Dam Yankee comes South with a U-Haul!

[cpg35223]

Moderator cut: AL vs Auburn post


Anyway, back to the OP. Tootsie, what part of Mountain Brook are you considering? It really is several different neighborhoods. Do you have kids in school? What are your interests?

[7 Wishes]

One thing I have found when I visit friends and relatives who've moved to the south is there tend to be specific parts of the area where more "Yankees" live than others.

Like in Richmond VA, I found many lived in the Glen Allen/Short Pump area. Or in the Raleigh-Durham area, they lived in Cary. Or in the Piedmont Triad area, they lived in specific sections of Greensboro, but rarely in High Point or Winston-Salem.

Just my observation.

[TootsieWootsie]

Where do the Yankees live in the Birmingham area then? Very interesting and, I'm sure, accurate observation.
In Houston, I couldn't tell you where the Yankees are, and I was in all parts of the city for 22 years. However, I do know many engineers at NASA are from Pennsylvania (came in during the 1980's), and live in the Clear Lake area where NASA is.
Since you asked: I'm a mid-60 year old single Caucasian woman who would likes Mountain Brook due to the high educational level of the citizens (stupid I know, but that's just me). Of course, the low cost of living and tax breaks there are a huge draw with me. And I had no idea that Mountain Brook was broken up into smaller areas.
What do I like? I do want an indoor pool to use year around for sure, so that will play huge in my decision of where to live. Other than that, cultural events, libraries and organizations to socialize with can be had in most neighborhoods probably in Birmingham. But the indoor pool is a must-do.
Being near a good teaching hospital with a cath lab is a must-do, also, but understand that U. of Alabama has a great one.
So, in short, an indoor pool and a great hospital and I'm set.