[nico7]

Originally Posted by pmeek2309

I am very shocked that a town can limit access to outsiders...

I think part of the reasoning by residents of those towns goes "I pay high taxes on really high property values for the right to live in this town, so why should someone who doesn't pay those taxes have the same privileges with respect to town facilities?"

In Greenwitch for instance, the taxes on many properties exceed the annual mortgage payments of reg'lar folks.

And there are, yes, people who have worked their whole lives to live in that town.

[flavorPacket]

Originally Posted by nico7

I think part of the reasoning by residents of those towns goes "I pay high taxes on really high property values for the right to live in this town, so why should someone who doesn't pay those taxes have the same privileges with respect to town facilities?"

In Greenwitch for instance, the taxes on many properties exceed the annual mortgage payments of reg'lar folks.

And there are, yes, people who have worked their whole lives to live in that town.

And many more who are working towards it.

I can identify with them, given that they pay 20K+ annually in just housing property tax, not to mention other possessions. And those are just the small timers, not the truly rich. Not that it's much less in Newtown these days...

For me, it's easy to draw a parallel here with education. Would it be OK if a bunch of kids from elsewhere attended Greenwich High? I certainly don't think so.

[BigHouse9]

Visiting last week and I had the door held for me at nearly every store I went into, and a nice guy smiled and talked to me when I went into LL Bean in Manchester. A friend of mine suffered a tragedy last week too and the outpouring towards her and her family was huge. So for people who think that CT is cold and unfriendly, think again. Strangers may not say Hi to you but the bond of relationships that people build in CT is very deep.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by flavorPacket

And many more who are working towards it.

I can identify with them, given that they pay 20K+ annually in just housing property tax, not to mention other possessions. And those are just the small timers, not the truly rich. Not that it's much less in Newtown these days...

For me, it's easy to draw a parallel here with education. Would it be OK if a bunch of kids from elsewhere attended Greenwich High? I certainly don't think so.

It's also an issue of over-crowding. Where I live, our town parks/beach/pool are open to out-of-town residents for an additional fee. Sometimes it is so crowded I just turn around and go back home. It does annoy me that as a tax-paying resident I can't even take my children swimming because there are so many non-residents there. On weekdays we even get busloads of camp children from nearby towns at the pool. But in our town the large park/pool/beach was donated to the town on the condition it remain open to non-residents. At any rate, the town does depend on the fees to help in the cost of maintaining the parks.

[Highpointer]

One of the things that I have observed in Connecticut is that people have bigger homes on larger lots than people in other regions of the USA. For example, my sister lives in Connecticut in a large house on a 12 acre property in Colchester. Most of the other houses in this town are spread out so people aren't living close together.

In contrast, I live in Tempe, Arizona, where every residential property is on a small lot. Most people in the Phoenix metropolitan area live in smaller houses that are closer together.

Therefore, if you want more room to live on, it would appear that Connecticut is a better place to be than Arizona.

[wanderintonc]

Originally Posted by BigHouse9

Yes, they work 7:30 - 3:30 (flex time)

Yes, this is true-in CT, at least central CT, we have 'rush hour' much earlier than other places, I have found. About an hour earlier. I hit much more traffic going home when I get out of work at 4pm, than on days when I get out at 6.

[JayCT]

Yes, it is true that most of Connecticut has large lot zoning that you won't find in large cities out west. Connecticut towns set up their zoning based on where they thought sewers would and would not be installed. Where it looked that sewers were not able to be easily installed was zoned for large lots to accomodate spetic systems which usually meant most parts of the state. This is not only true in central CT but throughout the entire state. Jay

[ch111]

Originally Posted by JViello

And hey it's just my opinion that some of the biggest hypocrites are in the "liberal" camp.

Unless you believe a guy that made 4 million dollars (Oback Barama) telling graduates they should focus on more than "just making money". LOL

Or it could be the Al Gore's running around in private jets telling people to conserve fuel. LOL

Or it could be the John Edwards living in a 30,000 SF house across from a trailer park full of people that never saw his face telling people "he's for and understands the working class".

On and on and on it goes.

The sword swings both ways. Don't be a koolaid drinker.

P.S. Studies show that conservatives (Religous ones at that!) tend to outgive those "compassionate liberals" by a "country mile". I mean, "I'm just saying."

Let's take the last one first, shall we?
Where are you exactly quoting this "studies that show conservatives, religious or not, tend to outgive -- etc.. ??

And I think we should put things in perspective for Gore's travel habits. If you had $100 mil or more, wouldn't you do the same? Gore deserves some slack--he's been ridiculed by almost everyone in political circle since the 70's for harping on Climate change--and he stuck by it. This was long before anyone had ever heard of Global Warming. And I think that we are much more aware of the big GW because of him. I know he got Bush to finally admit that it is happening--instead of saying " it's unproven science.--needs more data." And him spending approximately $1,359 a month ($16,308/year) on electric--his family home size being comparable to other home sizes in neighborhood (10K sq.ft.) and he does run his multitude of business out of his own house. He also had to fight the Tennessee law to enact change, just so that he can install solar panels. PLUS he IS Spending his own $ to pay for his carbon usage--his activities ARE Carbon neutral. This is the best market system we have, so far..I personally live in a very small apartment in NYC, and my electric bills last year ranged from $100 to $350 (varied by season). At least he puts his $ where his bills are.

As for Barach and his millions, what is exactly wrong with telling people that "they should focus---- " Yes, HE made $4 million(NOT from his father) but he is also running for president--I don't see the disconnect, here, at all. Just exactly how many poor (serious) presidential candidates have you seen?

It certainly is better than Mc-Man raising $ for himself,(the same day), compared to B-man,
who set up his website so that his would-be-contributors can forward $ to flood victims?>

I don't know much about John Ed--, but just because you are for something, doesn't mean you have to Live as or Be that something -- That, I would think, is the difference between Mere Mortals and Saints.

FYI -- I don't drink Koolaid--with or w/o poison.
Lots of water--although, since Bush, well, you know...
I understand people used to drink it straight from the faucet??

[JViello]

All I see is you making excuses for BS hypocritial behavior.

Thanks for sharing though...

P.S. Someone want to tell me how the inventor of the internet is now doing magic by turning dollar bills into carbon scrubbers? ROFL

[love2driveinct]

Originally Posted by new_haven_fan

As there are many regions of Connecticut here some regional stereotypes.

Southeast CT- Old Salt maritime types, fishermen, coast guard cadets.

Add to that "submariners, shipbuilders, and casino workers", lol...

But now that I've lived down here for awhile, I know there is so much more to this area -- beautiful coastline, friendly people, intense tradition & loyalty, and enough scenic drives to keep you busy for awhile.

Funny thread... it took me back to the night I met my hubby. We were at a bar, in college, and when he told me he was from CT, the first thing I thought was that he was probably from a wealthy family. Now of course I feel a little silly for thinking that, but growing up in the Boston area, we thought everyone in CT was rich! LOL