"So, why'd you move to Roanoke"? (transplants, unemployment rate)

[Kreutz]

Have to ask, I've been asked why I moved here no less than 15 times in the month I've been here (New Yawk accents a dead giveaway I'm not from here).

Why is this? I don't mind it, or find it intrusive, but I've moved round alot and never got asked why I was where I was, except here. What gives? Its not that out of the way is it?

Curiously none of my neighbors have said a word to me, lol. Just like home! Been asked by store clerks, contractors, priest, doctors, pediatricians, etc.

I think there's some "right answer" people are expecting to hear.

[VALover]

I can't say that I have been asked that much. Of course I have a very strong southern accent, sometimes I have been asked if I moved here from further south but never "why".

Maybe it is a conversation starter? People around here are pretty chatty. Or, maybe they are thinking that you moved here for a job and are hoping that the place is hiring.

I am doubting that there is a right answer they are wanting to hear, maybe you can ask!

[ShadowBat]

I must confess, I have asked this of some people. Usually it's because of genuine interest, or just to alleviate an awkward moment in a conversation. Others on the other hand might want to hear why their town is so special or unique as to attract someone from the NY area. Most here have an inferiority complex compared with the northeast and may be genuinely interested in what attracted you to the area. Some might have extreme pride in the area and want their ears tickled hearing about what was so special about the area as to attract someone from a much larger area.

It could be this or just plain nosiness.

[roanoker 4]

Many years I attended a pool party in Roanoke and a friend of mine who lives in France came to visit. Some of the neighbors came over to visit and to meet this
"alien" from France. Immediately some of the SW county neighbors asked him if he was a communist since Paris had just elected a socialist mayor. Also he had
brought his girlfriend from France who didn't speak a word of English. The funny part was that she immediately began to take off her top to get some sun. Well, needless to say it almost caused a riot! It was so funny I will never forget that evening. I don't know why so many people are asking you "why" you moved here from NY. It sounds like they are the more "southern" types who must know everything about someone new to make sure you don't rock the boat too much with your New Yawk ways. I get uncomfortable at times going to familiar restaurants and the servers think they know me. They will sometimes ask me
"why" I didn't show up last week, etc or they will get very chummy with me(in
a southern way)and I leave thinking they were patronizing me. I guess some people are more sensitive than others. BTW, I grew up in Roanoke and there are many things about the South I will never understand, especially from those
who still aren't comfortable with the fact that the South is now a part of the U.S. since the end of the civil war. So Funny!

[txtransplant2010]

I think saying it has anything to do with accents or the South is a stretch and I don't think it's b/c you're from NY... We moved here from TX (last I checked that was still the South, too) last year and people always ask where we came from and why we moved here. I just supposed that it was because it's a big move (a few states away) so people want to know what your motivation was out of curiosity.

[Aspe4]

I live in a small town and I the reason I ask people that is because I'm simply curious about why people want to move here. Roanoke doesn't have a booming population so it also doesn't get many transplants. The unemployment rate where I live is very high so I'm always curious as to what would want to make someone move here. I assume many Roanoke people ask for the same reason. To reverse the situation, I'm sure many NYC residents don't think to ask why someone would move to there because it's so common.