Which are the Friendliest Towns in Vermont? (Burlington, Middlebury: relocating, home)

[arel]

I am seriously thinking of moving up to Vermont, from NYC, and I would love to know where it is friendly and where it is not. Dealing with unfriendly people day in and day out is quite demoralizing. I want to feel accepted and to enjoy my community.

What are people's opinions about which towns in Vermont are friendly? Yes, I know one can't generalize, but I would like to read people's opinions anyway.

Thanks.

[NYtoVT]

Having come from NY (not NYC) and living here in VT, it's really hard to generalize. Obviously you're going to find unfriendly people anywhere you go.
A quick story here. We moved up here from NY/San Diego in 2005. First guy we met when we looked at the property we eventually bought was a "caretaker" because the property had been vacant for 4 years. He took care of the grounds and the flower beds for the owner (Middlebury College). The bottom line here is that we would not have been able to survive for the first year without him. He has become a member of the family. He cuts the grass and shovels snow and I have to harass him to give me a bill for his work. Finally I just pay him in advance. He took down a number of dead trees for us and charged us what we considered to be an absurdly small amount. We get 2 in of snow and he's out there in the driveway brushing off the cars. My truck wouldn't start during this last cold spell. A few days ago I went out to the driveway and noticed the truck was missing. I called him and asked him if he had borrowed the truck. He laughed and said "Nope, it's in the garage. Just put a little Drygas in the carb and she fired right up and I put it in the garage". When we finally leave VT, we're going to take him with us . He stores his ATV plow in one of our garages. The man is true VT having lived here all his life. I guess the bottom line here is that a person like this can be found anywhere in the state. You just have to look for him.

[giselle]

My husband and I would like to know PRECISELY where this person is located!!

[arel]

I've read that Vermonters can be that way, even if they seem, on the surface to be reserved and even unfriendly.

[NYtoVT]

One thing that I've found out after moving here is that if you treat the local long timers with respect for what they have accomplished, they will welcome you. If not, then you will be isolated. All that being said and getting back to the original topic of this thread, my observation is that the larger the town the more friendly people are especially if your a "flatlander".

[arel]

It's always important to treat people with respect. I distance myself from people who disrespect me. But I think your point is very well taken. City people, including, and maybe especially, New Yorkers, can be difficult and condescending towards more rural folks, as if their urban way is the sophisticated, advanced, definitive way.

When I was in college, I had a friend from Minnesota. She grew up on a farm. I remember once referring to a "farm mentality". Her response made reference to my "New York provincialism".

Brilliant! I love the irony of that phrase. Even at the time, when I stood corrected, I liked the phrase.

I also liked what you said about larger towns being more friendly. That makes sense, since you have a bit more anonymity and are not infringing on an already-established smaller group.

[arel]

By the way, the term "flatlander" applied to people from New York is a misnomer. As a poster somewhere noted, the Appalachians are bigger than the Green Mountains.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Arel,
I posted my real, life experiences coming to Vermont under a different
name than this one (PKM) and you can see they werent recieved too well.
We came to VT. and after 18 months cant take it anymore. My Wife is an educator and I am/was a computer operator/artist. We are fairly liberal people who enjoy cultural activities and traveling. I spend a lot of time in Brooklyn and Manhatten but am very ready to leave when the time comes. All I can say is there will be things you take for granted in the city that there is a good chance you will eventually miss if you locate here. There is nothing cultural on the scale you are used to. There are no job opportunities unless you can farm or do service work for a ski resort.
A Masters degree gets you about 16.00 an hour if you are lucky to find
a job where it is of any use. Burlington, which is the only place that approaches a real city would be my choice to move first if I had to do this nitemare over again.
Another bit of wisdom would be DO YOUR HOMEWORK !! We did ours and expected the negatives but not on the scale we got them. It is almost expensive to live here as it is in the city but the wages you find in NY arent here. The locals range from very, very nice to the angry "Flatlanders wrecked Vt" type. Most are nice enough, though. The slower pace is very nice, regardless.
In short, you have to have a certain personality to live here or be very rich so this stuff doesnt effect you. Obviously, I dont have either and if you are used to certain things you might not be, also.
There is one group of people who are not very nice at all. It is the local Sheriffs and PD's. If you come here with NY plates obey all traffic laws !!
Its open season on anyone out-of-state, NY'ers especially.
Not trying to start a flame war just relaying my real life experience of needing a break from city people just as you are and the mistake I made in doing so.

Originally Posted by arel

I am seriously thinking of moving up to Vermont, from NYC, and I would love to know where it is friendly and where it is not. Dealing with unfriendly people day in and day out is quite demoralizing. I want to feel accepted and to enjoy my community.

What are people's opinions about which towns in Vermont are friendly? Yes, I know one can't generalize, but I would like to read people's opinions anyway.

Thanks.

[FreewillEllie]

Originally Posted by arel

I am seriously thinking of moving up to Vermont, from NYC, and I would love to know where it is friendly and where it is not. Dealing with unfriendly people day in and day out is quite demoralizing. I want to feel accepted and to enjoy my community.

riendly? YWhat are people's opinions about which towns in Vermont are fes, I know one can't generalize, but I would like to read people's opinions anyway.

Thanks.

I have never personally lived in Vermont, but have vacationed there many many times. Vermonters do not appreciate outsiders moving in their state. We had thought about it a few years back and we were told pretty much by Vermonter people that are born there, that they dont like anyone moving into their state. I found most of them are not friendly, unless you are just visiting. As long as they know you are just visiting , they are ok . If you really like to live in the north , New Hampshire is one of the best states to choose. Preferably the Lakes Region ( Laconia, Gilford , Merrideth , Belmont) If you like snow and cold weather in winter both states can give you that. I personally have had enough of the snow and cold and in the near future , plan on relocating to Florida. We are retired and just want to leave the snow and the cold behind.

[arel]

Well, I am a mental health professional and there are several agencies that are hiring clinicians.

Whatever, so many people on this Vermont forum complain about the economic conditions that it is becoming intimidating.