Is Cleveland a Friendly City (Canton, Shaker Heights: transplants, how much, house)

[gouldnm]

My husband is a native of Canton, Oh., I'm from Western Michigan. We currently live in Maryland and have been on the East Coast for about 30 years.

We got into the habit of visiting Cleveland about five years ago. Every year we go to see his family in Canton, and then we spend a few days in Cleveland.

We are getting close to retirement and are considering retiring in Cleveland. The only issue I have is that, with all our visits to the city, I really haven't gotten a feel for whether or not the people are friendly. I like the fact that Cleveland seems to have a stronger sense of community than many larger cities (e.g., New York, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco). But I'm afraid that if we move there in our 60's that most people our age will already have established friendships and family and really won't be that interested in meeting outsiders.

What do you think? Are there any transplants who could enlighten me or share their experiences?

[bjimmy24]

This forum seems to have a few people in that demographic. I'll defer to them.

But ignoring age, I do think Cleveland makes it easier to get to know people more closely than the east coast. I don't want to say "friendly" because that depends on the person, but I do think that certain things about the area make it conducive to communities.

[dr_j_planning]

Originally Posted by gouldnm

My husband is a native of Canton, Oh., I'm from Western Michigan. We currently live in Maryland and have been on the East Coast for about 30 years.

We got into the habit of visiting Cleveland about five years ago. Every year we go to see his family in Canton, and then we spend a few days in Cleveland.

We are getting close to retirement and are considering retiring in Cleveland. The only issue I have is that, with all our visits to the city, I really haven't gotten a feel for whether or not the people are friendly. I like the fact that Cleveland seems to have a stronger sense of community than many larger cities (e.g., New York, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco). But I'm afraid that if we move there in our 60's that most people our age will already have established friendships and family and really won't be that interested in meeting outsiders.

What do you think? Are there any transplants who could enlighten me or share their experiences?

OP, I am not a Cleveland native; raised in the Detroit suburbs and lived in several places (including five years in Washington, DC) before I bought my house in Shaker Heights over three years ago. I have found it very easy to make friends and have a full life here. I can definitively say this is a friendlier place than the East Coast and I don't miss living in DC at all (though I do enjoy periodic visits).

Good luck with your decision!

[KY_Transplant]

Cleveland is friendlier than the East Coast, for sure, but is not the most "friendliest" place either. If you are asking about general politeness and civility, then yes, you will find that in Cleveland, like many other places. Cleveland is certainly not as friendly as the South or even other Midwestern cities. One thing that drove me crazy living in Cleveland was just how reserved people are. If you hold the door for someone or say hello, or strike up general conversation while waiting for a table at a restaurant, you MAY get odd looks. That is one of the reasons I moved South. But I don't think one would have too much of an issue making friends if you are willing to engage in activities to make friends.

Cleveland is more similar to the East Coast cities than it is Midwestern or Southern cities. This is coming from someone who lived there.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by KY_Transplant

Cleveland is friendlier than the East Coast, for sure, but is not the most "friendliest" place either. If you are asking about general politeness and civility, then yes, you will find that in Cleveland, like many other places. Cleveland is certainly not as friendly as the South or even other Midwestern cities. One thing that drove me crazy living in Cleveland was just how reserved people are. If you hold the door for someone or say hello, or strike up general conversation while waiting for a table at a restaurant, you MAY get odd looks. That is one of the reasons I moved South. But I don't think one would have too much of an issue making friends if you are willing to engage in activities to make friends.

Cleveland is more similar to the East Coast cities than it is Midwestern or Southern cities. This is coming from someone who lived there.

I'm new to Cleveland and I have been struck by how much more friendly people are here than Seattle where I had been living for many years. And here people hold doors and men let women board first on the bus usually.

People do seem to make small talk while waiting for a bus or waiting to cross the street, or during retail transactions....but I do think it may be mostly blacks rather than whites who do this (I am white). But overall I find most people here very nice (at least until they are behind the wheel of a car....that's another story).

[andrew61]

IMO Clevelanders are fairly friendly... but after having been gone for 20 years and then moving back, it seems like there's more rudeness here than there used to be. Of course, that could merely be due to changing times.

Keep in mind that friendliness doesn't necessarily mean friendship. I surmise it's as challenging to make friends in Cleveland as it would be anywhere else.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by andrew61

IMO Clevelanders are fairly friendly... but after having been gone for 20 years and then moving back, it seems like there's more rudeness here than there used to be. Of course, that could merely be due to changing times.

Keep in mind that friendliness doesn't necessarily mean friendship. I surmise it's as challenging to make friends in Cleveland as it would be anywhere else.

There honestly is more rudeness everywhere I think.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

There honestly is more rudeness everywhere I think.

That's for sure. I was crossing in front of a car who was coming out of the Starbuck's drive through (she wasn't moving) and I guess I was going slow because it had just snowed and it was slippery and I looked at the driver to wave thank you and she gave me the finger.

[SittinInATree]

Cleveland is definitely a friendly city! Ohio/Midwest in general is way friendlier than the east coast for sure!

[teacherdad]

It's friendly! I live on the coast of CA. I am the type (like my grandpa who lived in Solon and Bedford Hts and grew up in Chagrin), who love to talk to people. I can say, "Hello," to a female here and sometimes their body language is so "What, you want to marry me?" it makes me sick.

When I visit CLE, people on the rail are friendly and chatty. I was so used to how friendly people are in CLE that last trip I did my usual..hold the door open...for two older ladies leaving Heinens, but they just walked in without a word and that surprised me. "You're welcome!" I am sure they heard me say as they walked in.

There is something about the area and maybe it's the "underdog" theme that Lebron talks about, that seems to bring people together.

This is one reason I prefer CLE to where I live.