[BigHouse9]

Thanks Jay! It feels good to be back. I would still love to get out of this transitional phase though.

[Smallville]

Well, I've lived in CT all of my life, but I recently came home after living in Los Angeles for a year for school.

[newenglanders2]

I agree with Cruikshl. We moved here to CT from Maine 3 years ago, and it is isolating, even with neighbors. We are in more expensive area (Farmington Valley), which can be a bit snobby (My bosses confessed to this!) and reserved. People are polite, but they size you up by where you work, how you look, if you have kids, etc. If you have money, or an upper management position, they suddenly get more interested. Otherwise, you can see the disinterest quickly set in. (people here love to make 'connections' in that respect)
We are middle class, down-home type friendly people, unpretentious. I think we must have moved to the wrong area of CT. I know there are other areas to live, and we have thought of moving to some of them, but the bottom line for us is, we don't know anyone here, no family here, and it's just too darn expensive unless you have a huge downpayment. Being 'not so far' from retirement, it's not a good place to 'start out' again. If it wasn't for his real good paying job, we would never have left Maine in the first place. (Maine is so much more friendlier - probably more so than any New England state.) Too bad the job situation wasn't better...sigh.

[cool_mommy]

Originally Posted by newenglanders2

I agree with Cruikshl. We moved here to CT from Maine 3 years ago, and it is isolating, even with neighbors. We are in more expensive area (Farmington Valley), which can be a bit snobby (My bosses confessed to this!) and reserved. People are polite, but they size you up by where you work, how you look, if you have kids, etc. If you have money, or an upper management position, they suddenly get more interested. Otherwise, you can see the disinterest quickly set in. (people here love to make 'connections' in that respect)
We are middle class, down-home type friendly people, unpretentious. I think we must have moved to the wrong area of CT. I know there are other areas to live, and we have thought of moving to some of them, but the bottom line for us is, we don't know anyone here, no family here, and it's just too darn expensive unless you have a huge downpayment. Being 'not so far' from retirement, it's not a good place to 'start out' again. If it wasn't for his real good paying job, we would never have left Maine in the first place. (Maine is so much more friendlier - probably more so than any New England state.) Too bad the job situation wasn't better...sigh.

I would just like to agree with you that Maine is the friendliest of the New England states. They seem to be honest, hard working, down to earth, no bones about it, friendly people. "Salt of the earth" if you will.

[aroundthecorner059]

Originally Posted by Cruikshl

I probably am not the one CT wants answering this question. We have been here one year. Our house went on the market two days ago. Coming from the southeast, CT has a very isolating feel about it. We are going to keep an apartment by his job and I will travel back and forth between here and Georgia until he retires. It's our way of keeping our sanity.

Cruikshl...

We are in similar situations. I moved to Oxford in the earlier part of the year and have found many people here to be aloof. I am not the type of person to visit my new neighbor with a Peach Cobbler and an autobiography but a wave hello or SOME type of acknowledgment would be nice! The neighborhood we live in has many stay at home moms (SAHM) who have their own group, and are skeptical of anyone who desires to be ''let in.'' I don't think I'm an outcast but living here now has me worried about myself! LOL. Over the summer, one of the SAHMs would jog by me daily as I planted flowers around my mailbox, did yardwork and played frisbee with my youngest. Not once did she ever look my way, and she lives two homes down. And btw ... I am the only mom (rather we are the only family) who doesn't hire a landscaping company to beautify our property. Currently all of our friends are transplants and had never been to CT before their move.

I know how you feel, cruikshl, and just cannot understand the CT way of thinking. Maybe I will in time, and I hope so, because I love the beauty of this state and all that it offers.

Where in the southeast are you from? GA here for 20 years, but grew up in NH.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by aroundthecorner059

Over the summer, one of the SAHMs would jog by me daily as I planted flowers around my mailbox, did yardwork and played frisbee with my youngest. Not once did she ever look my way, and she lives two homes down.

Welcome to Connecticut.

[Snowman27]

Originally Posted by mewith3

How long have you now been there and how is it going for you and your family (if you have one)?

Moved from Westchester County, NY to CT in 2003. We love it and we have no intentions moving back to anywhere in NY. Not even if you paid us or home was free!

I still have yet to explore all of CT but plan on staying here the rest of my life.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by aroundthecorner059

Cruikshl...

We are in similar situations. I moved to Oxford in the earlier part of the year and have found many people here to be aloof. I am not the type of person to visit my new neighbor with a Peach Cobbler and an autobiography but a wave hello or SOME type of acknowledgment would be nice! The neighborhood we live in has many stay at home moms (SAHM) who have their own group, and are skeptical of anyone who desires to be ''let in.'' I don't think I'm an outcast but living here now has me worried about myself! LOL. Over the summer, one of the SAHMs would jog by me daily as I planted flowers around my mailbox, did yardwork and played frisbee with my youngest. Not once did she ever look my way, and she lives two homes down. And btw ... I am the only mom (rather we are the only family) who doesn't hire a landscaping company to beautify our property. Currently all of our friends are transplants and had never been to CT before their move.

I know how you feel, cruikshl, and just cannot understand the CT way of thinking. Maybe I will in time, and I hope so, because I love the beauty of this state and all that it offers.

Where in the southeast are you from? GA here for 20 years, but grew up in NH.

I think you need to understand that Connecticut people respect the privacy of others and are not forthcoming. We call it reserved. I am sure if you approached some of these people and tried to find common interests, they would respond favorably. You have only been here a few months so give it time. But also make an effort to meet them as well. Jay

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I think you need to understand that Connecticut people respect the privacy of others and are not forthcoming. We call it reserved. I am sure if you approached some of these people and tried to find common interests, they would respond favorably. You have only been here a few months so give it time. But also make an effort to meet them as well. Jay

Why is this a one-sided thing? You have to be outgoing to CT residents, but they don't owe you the same courtesy?

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

Why is this a one-sided thing? You have to be outgoing to CT residents, but they don't owe you the same courtesy?

It's not about courtesy. It's about not wasting your time developing "relationships" with people who are just passing through momentarily. I think many of us don't particularly care for the transient types who can't stay in one area for more than a couple years. JMHO.