[vermonter16]

Originally Posted by RunawayJim

This is very true. Most kids don't want to stay where they are.

That said, no matter where I'm living when my future kid is getting ready for college, I will push him/her to go to the state school or get the general requirements completed at a community college prior to going to a 4 year school to save money. Because I won't be taking on additional loans for my kid to go to school, so it's gonna fall on him/her.

Now, many kids will realize how much they liked where they're from later on in life, unless their values change (mine did, which is why I won't be moving to suburban CT ever again).

Well said. I don't think parents should be 'required' to pay for college. Certainly - they can help but for some reason in the last ten years it seems to be 'expected'.

I wasn't given a choice about leaving Vermont since my parents left when I was 12. However, I know that I will go back. I've had the 'best of both worlds' if you will. I've gotten to experience the poverty (if you will) of having most of my childhood in Vermont - although I never knew it! I didn't realize we were poor and I didn't realize that a lot of my friend's were poor as well. We played outside and used our imaginations and had a grand old time. I figure out the whole 'poor' concept when my dad took us to Virginia to try and make a better life. I tell you - it wasn't the best experience coming from 'country' to 'city'. I didn't know that my no name shoes and clothes from Kmart would ever have been an issue. But - that having been said, now as an adult and still living in this super, fast paced area - I have gotten to experience a bit of the 'high life' if you will. I have eaten at plenty of 5 star restaurants, traveled first class, and lived a very comfortable life...and yet still....there is something missing. Oh, I've got it pretty nice here in Virginia with my husband - if we choose to stay....but I have come to realize that we can have everything materially and still be missing something in our soul. And for me - that is going back to a simpler way of living.

But that's just me....and everyone is different.

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by vermonter16

Well said. I don't think parents should be 'required' to pay for college. Certainly - they can help but for some reason in the last ten years it seems to be 'expected'.

I wasn't given a choice about leaving Vermont since my parents left when I was 12. However, I know that I will go back. I've had the 'best of both worlds' if you will. I've gotten to experience the poverty (if you will) of having most of my childhood in Vermont - although I never knew it! I didn't realize we were poor and I didn't realize that a lot of my friend's were poor as well. We played outside and used our imaginations and had a grand old time. I figure out the whole 'poor' concept when my dad took us to Virginia to try and make a better life. I tell you - it wasn't the best experience coming from 'country' to 'city'. I didn't know that my no name shoes and clothes from Kmart would ever have been an issue. But - that having been said, now as an adult and still living in this super, fast paced area - I have gotten to experience a bit of the 'high life' if you will. I have eaten at plenty of 5 star restaurants, traveled first class, and lived a very comfortable life...and yet still....there is something missing. Oh, I've got it pretty nice here in Virginia with my husband - if we choose to stay....but I have come to realize that we can have everything materially and still be missing something in our soul. And for me - that is going back to a simpler way of living.

But that's just me....and everyone is different.

Part of what I like about VT (and RI as well) is that no one gives a crap what you look like, what you drive, or what kinds of clothes you wear. I did not grow up "poor" but also not "rich". However, I had those same experiences as you when I was a kid. I spent a lot of time playing outside and using my imagination. We had friends with a pool and we went to the local beach. All this was in southern CT where nowadays you are judged based on looks, clothes, and car.

[vermonter16]

Well, when I say poor....we still had a roof over our head and food on the table....maybe not a lot, but we weren't starving.

Southern CT sounds exactly like Northern VA. For example....my neighbor next to me has a Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes. The neighbor across the street has a Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes SUV. I'm looking at the parking lot right now (we have a townhome) and there is a Mercedes Benz, Chevy Tahoe, Honda Accord, Jaguar, Toyota Corolla.....mine is the Corolla . The only other two cars that are home right now - across the street as well....Toyota Camry and another Mercedes....oh, lets not forget the Porshe Keeping that in mind - I live in Manassas, VA in Prince William County...not Fairfax County and not in an upper class city....but - as you can see - everyone must keep up appearances! LOL!

[RunawayJim]

Originally Posted by vermonter16

Well, when I say poor....we still had a roof over our head and food on the table....maybe not a lot, but we weren't starving.

Southern CT sounds exactly like Northern VA. For example....my neighbor next to me has a Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes. The neighbor across the street has a Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes SUV. I'm looking at the parking lot right now (we have a townhome) and there is a Mercedes Benz, Chevy Tahoe, Honda Accord, Jaguar, Toyota Corolla.....mine is the Corolla . The only other two cars that are home right now - across the street as well....Toyota Camry and another Mercedes....oh, lets not forget the Porshe Keeping that in mind - I live in Manassas, VA in Prince William County...not Fairfax County and not in an upper class city....but - as you can see - everyone must keep up appearances! LOL!

That sounds just like Fairfield County in CT. I grew up outside New Haven, which is similar, but different. There, they pretend to be your friend, but judge you and talk about you behind your back.

[68vette]

I was raised and grew up in Fairfield County. There is some of the keeping up with the joneses, but Fairfield County and much of Vermont are two different animals. Fairfield County is one of the wealthiest counties in the US while most in our state are killing themselves to make ends meet. Chittenden County is the exception in Vermont. People have more wealth and you see more of the expensive cars and dealerships here. I think the days of Sam Walton are long gone (people with wealth driving old beat up cars). I see very little difference in the county I grew up in and the county I now live in. I see the same mix of cars at the malls, the same stores in the malls, and everyone has smart phones with the data packages that are the equivelent to a car payment.
In areas where there is little wealth, they get buy on with what they have. They have no choice, a finance company isn't going to give a loan for a home or car to a person that can't afford that home or car. Those days are long gone now.