Is there anywhere in the state of MA that is friendly--as in NOT cliquey? (Boston: purchases, living in)

[Lookinforhomeagain]

I love MA but I keep hearing people talk about how Bostonians don't like outsiders--they grow up with their family and friends and they don't want anyone else in.
Seems rather close minded but is it NE thing or is there a friendly place that welcomes new people??
Mid 40's, no kids, and divorced. Outgoing, love animals--wow sounds like a personal ad! lol

Thanks!

[brightdoglover]

Dunno about cliques. I do think it's hard to make friends when one is older, especially if not living in a very urban setting. I have found this to be true for me, including the fact that I work third shift. I don't think Bostonians (or others) are unfriendly or such, just that people in most places are already there and especially if they are family people, it's not so easy to be a not-family person.
I'd consider meetup groups, especially outside the city- older people stranded outside the city. Like me. And my six dogs. There are a lot of animal people!

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Dunno about cliques. I do think it's hard to make friends when one is older, especially if not living in a very urban setting. I have found this to be true for me, including the fact that I work third shift. I don't think Bostonians (or others) are unfriendly or such, just that people in most places are already there and especially if they are family people, it's not so easy to be a not-family person.
I'd consider meetup groups, especially outside the city- older people stranded outside the city. Like me. And my six dogs. There are a lot of animal people!

I am from the NYC area and it is much harder here... People are very cliquey and love to purposely act snobbish because they think they are better than you .

[hamster21]

No, there is nowhere. MA is just a bunch of snobs. Whenever they see a new comer they shun them, even the huge numbers of students and professionals from other states and countries here do it. It's the only state in the country that does it, and everyone here does it. It's like a club, you have to be accepted, or you have to be native. Really nobody here is native, so you basically have to be accepted into the club. It's the one place where sweeping generalizations hold true. Really, I swear.

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by hamster21

No, there is nowhere. MA is just a bunch of snobs. Whenever they see a new comer they shun them, even the huge numbers of students and professionals from other states and countries here do it. It's the only state in the country that does it, and everyone here does it. It's like a club, you have to be accepted, or you have to be native. Really nobody here is native, so you basically have to be accepted into the club. It's the one place where sweeping generalizations hold true. Really, I swear.

I agree. Seems like everyone has this stuck up I an better than you attitude.

[hamster21]

I was being sarcastic, for the record.

[brightdoglover]

I guess in some 32 years, always working for a Harvard affiliate and having Harvard people around me, and living all over the area, I just didn't notice the snobbery. Must be that I'm a noble savage or something.

[hamster21]

The whole "bostonians don't like outsiders" thing makes no sense. It must stem from hurt feelings of someone who either doesn't mesh well with personalities/culture around here, or someone who had a few bad experiences and applied them to an entire region.

[helpiwanttomove]

Try Northampton area.

[donewithpretty]

In a city like Boston, it can be hard to make friends unless you find people with similar interests. Otherwise, people are just too busy to reach out to every new neighbor. I know that some of the "blue-collar" towns have a reputation for being unfriendly as well, but I haven't had that experience in Medford at all.

My nearest neighbors are Italian, Brazilian, Greek, and black, with some students sprinkled in there, and I'm none of the above. Still, they all chat with me at length on the street, invite me to see their renovations or come for a barbecue, etc. If someone's out of town, a neighbor invariably snowblows their sidewalk or even mows their yard. Medford has more than 50,000 people, but many of the local store owners tell me about their grandkids or tease me about repeated diet coke purchases.

Having good neighbors is somewhat a matter of luck, but you will mostly get out what you put into relationships, no matter where you are.