[jeanne0626]

Originally Posted by westguy22

I visited CT in early January because we are thinking about a move to the Litchfield area. We looked at Woodbury and Roxbury- both classy towns but we can't seem to forget the rudeness of some people in CT. Not only some, but it seemed like most. It seems like they go out of the way to ignore you and NOT make eye contact, don't say thank you when you hold the door, fail to use signal lights on the roads and when you say something to them, they look at you as if you're from anotehr country. Dont get me wrong, i love CT but why do people here act this way? I've never been to a place where the population is so alike and distinct.

i'd love to hear other's opinions on this, esp people who moved here from outside of the northeast.

thanks

I am originally from western NY (4 hours from NYC) and have lived in CT for almost 10 years now. I have lived in Stamford, Fairfield and Norwalk and found people to be easy going, fun loving and not rude at all! -but I'm not familiar woth Roxbury and Woodbury. Have found that people tend to have pre-conceived notions about CT residents being rude though, but those have also tended to be people who didn't grow up here.

[LJP1]

You are right, being here in CT New Canaan, Norwalk & Greenwich for 40+ yrs people here are very rude and sel focused. However, it takes time but there are good ones here.

[jerseymama]

Just adding my two cents.....seriously, if anyone truly wants to experience rudeness at its best, come to northern NJ. My family and I are moving to SE CT. in a few weeks, and to give you an idea of our perception, my hubby is from Maine and I am born and bred NJ. We sort of find CT. to be what would happen should you mix our two hometowns together. And, already, I have met the most wonderful and friendly people in CT before I have even moved here. Obviously, being from the NE I don't have much to speak on about living in the south....but I do know stand-offish people from all over. As bad of a rap that NJ gets, there are some really great people here too...but our lives are so frenetic that it forces us to be in our world to just keep up. But, I do agree with many of the other posters in that you get what you give. Maybe that is why we have already found some helpful and friendly people in CT willing to offer advice or guidance as we are making this huge move in our lives. I have been reading the threads on this forum for weeks looking for insight on what will now be my home and the people on it have been nothing but helpful and friendly with sharing what they know. I am really grateful for that and so looking forward to slowing my life down a bit in CT.

BTW....Maine has to be one of the friendliest, "we all know each other" states I have seen....maybe not so much on the coast where there is a lot of inports, but, talk about slow paced life and neighborhood get togethers....:0)

[Ourdreamhouse]

Jerseymama,

What part of SE CT (town) are you moving to? How did you decide?

I'm also interested in that part of the state. I like Mystic and Stonington, and wonder if there are other towns equally attractive.

Thanks for any insights you can share.

[jerseymama]

HI,
We are moving to Colchester, which is about halfway between the shore and Hartford. We originally wanted East Lyme because we have stayed at this Bed and Breakfast in Niantic (right on the way to Mystic and that is why we stay there) called the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina....an absolutely FABULOUS place and we credit the inn keepers for helping us fall in love with the area....after visiting over 31/2 years, we finally decided to do it....so, they connected us with a realtor friend of theirs and we began to research other towns...we found that we could get more for our money the further inland we went....they recommended Colchester to us because it is a great and growing town that puts you equidistant to everything we want...beaches and Hartford (my hubby travels and such). We had finally narrowed it down to Colchester and Hebron (10 min. north of Colchester) after relentlessly researching these towns online (check cnn/money mags website where they rate CT towns...very helpful...forget the link, but search "rating CT towns" and you will find it easily). Hebron is great, but more pricey...we wanted new construction, so Colchester just fit....Mystic and Stonington are lovely towns, but in my research I have not found too much evidence that Stonington schools are that great.....I am no expert and perhaps there are those of you out there who know better to disagree.....just my findings.

What are you looking for in a town again (sorry, don't recall if you stated this already.....) I did so much research recently, I may be able to help you narrow it down.....

Good Luck,
Jen

Originally Posted by Ourdreamhouse

Jerseymama,

What part of SE CT (town) are you moving to? How did you decide?

I'm also interested in that part of the state. I like Mystic and Stonington, and wonder if there are other towns equally attractive.

Thanks for any insights you can share.

[Dolfan]

There are nice and rude people everywhere. When I visited Connecticut, many of the people were very nice. When I mentioned that I was from New Jersey, however, there were a few rude comments with the implication that the entire state looked rundown like Jersey City, something that allegedly did not exist in Connecticut. Ironically, this was near Bridgeport. I guess they have not been downtown lately. We do have pockets of urban decay, especially in the Northeast, but many areas of the state (i.e. Sussex County) are actually very attractive.

[Ourdreamhouse]

Jerseymama,

thanks for your reply and helpful suggestions.

The reason i asked you is because i too live in New Jersey, near Princeton, and have some issues with the locals on the "rude" dimension.

I'm semi-retired; my wife wants to work for another year or two. Our two boys are grown (and living in New England: SW CT and Boston), so schools aren't a concern. Mystic, with a river running through it and plenty of restaurants and pubs, strikes me as more fun than Stonington. I've begun to explore some of the towns away from the shore, where prices seem to drop dramatically. I'd like a small town, but some of them are TOO small. Ideally, there would be an historic town center/village within walking distance.

Any other information or suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Hal.

[jerseymama]

Hi Hal,

Princeton is a lovely area....my parents don't live that far from there. Mystic is lovely; my family and I enjoy visiting the town when we go up there....East Lyme is not far from there, and that is also lovely. Niantic (where that B& B i talked about) is a part of East Lyme. It is getting a bit pricey now, but what a quaint town...they recently put in a boardwalk (not like the boardwalk we think of here at the Jersey shore, thankfully.....actually, just place to walk and look at the harbor) and they are really building up the downtown. I know quite a few folks who are near retirement/already retired living there and loving the convenience of the water and shops and amenities right in walking distance. EL is known for outstanding schools, and while your children are not school age, living in a town with fantastic schools only helps to better your real estate investment. Essex is another lovely little quaint town close to Niantic, but not sure on prices there.

Are you looking to live right nearby to the water? You may want to check on Salem or Colchester....again, a bit more inland, so you might find it appealing. I would say stay east of the river though, as you get more for your money.

Good luck and hope to see you in CT.
Jen
ps....if you ever need a good realtor, I would be happy to recommend who we used....excellent!

[rabbitlover]

Originally Posted by westguy22

I visited CT in early January because we are thinking about a move to the Litchfield area. We looked at Woodbury and Roxbury- both classy towns but we can't seem to forget the rudeness of some people in CT. Not only some, but it seemed like most. It seems like they go out of the way to ignore you and NOT make eye contact, don't say thank you when you hold the door, fail to use signal lights on the roads and when you say something to them, they look at you as if you're from anotehr country. Dont get me wrong, i love CT but why do people here act this way? I've never been to a place where the population is so alike and distinct.

i'd love to hear other's opinions on this, esp people who moved here from outside of the northeast.

thanks

I found the folks in Putnam, Windham, Brooklyn, and Willimantic to be a nice bunch.
I can say, New Yorkers aren't all that bad either. You can TALK to them.

[cszostak]

My husband lives in Connecticut and I live in Michigan. I have noticed the coldness of the CT residents as well, BUT I will say that last year I was in a car accident in Waterford and several people stopped to offer assistance. One woman let me use her cell phone and a paramedic (off duty) checked my son out.
By the way, my husband loves the aloofness!