[SeaDoo342]

Sorry but drivers in CT are morons. So much road rage, I've seen people engage in road rage behavior on a regular basis. Yelling at each other, honking, flipping the bird, tailgating, high beaming. People are nasty.

And one of the people in this thread making excuses for the poor manners here is one that posted how they engaged in road rage behavior a few months back!!!

[convextech]

Originally Posted by GetMe0ut0fHere

We made the 'mistake' once of knocking on our neighbors door to attempt to borrow some flour, as we were making a cake and were all out...the look of horror on their faces was priceless--its like I was a complete stranger asking for their firstborn.

If I'd never met you, I'd look at you the same way.

[Tompho]

Op, I (basically) agree. We're from lake county, IL, and we lived in downtown Chicago (streeterville) before that. My husband is a Harvard grad and I northwestern, so we spent time in those communities and used the alumni networks whenever we felt we needed an injection of new faces. Never had any trouble making friends in Chicago. In fact, we used to have a few invites every weekend and sometimes turned down parties to get some rest. Lol!

That all changed when we moved to the Farmington valley almost a decade ago. I have to say we've made very few friends with 'natives'. Almost all of our friends have been other couples from the Midwest or California, and not many, frankly. And now most have moved away (one by one they're finding better career opportunities elsewhere). We have almost no friends left. I was just thinking about this, this morning. It's incredibly sad! I'm actually lonely and we're thinking of moving back to the Midwest when our youngest finishes high school.

I don't know what it is but there does seem to be something in the New England culture that 'rejects' midwesterners. We're too friendly to be friends with?! I've mostly given up - I'm tired of being judged and lectured to...when all I want is a cup of coffee and to listen to someone nice talk about their life.

If it gives you a sense of where my head is: I'm going to spend a couple of hours today binge watching past seasons of 'girls' because it's sort of like having that conversation with a friend. Sad, huh?

Good luck, fellow midwesterner. I wish I had advice. :-(

[convextech]

Originally Posted by GetMe0ut0fHere

The 'more reserved and keep to themselves' crap sounds like some canned BS. Rude is rude.

Is that how you come across to these other people? If so, I can understand why you are having issues.

[SeaDoo342]

Originally Posted by Tompho

Op, I (basically) agree. We're from lake county, IL, and we lived in downtown Chicago (streeterville) before that. My husband is a Harvard grad and I northwestern, so we spent time in those communities and used the alumni networks whenever we felt we needed an injection of new faces. Never had any trouble making friends in Chicago. In fact, we used to have a few invites every weekend and sometimes turned down parties to get some rest. Lol!

That all changed when we moved to the Farmington valley almost a decade ago. I have to say we've made very few friends with 'natives'. Almost all of our friends have been other couples from the Midwest or California, and not many, frankly. And now most have moved away (one by one they're finding better career opportunities elsewhere). We have almost no friends left. I was just thinking about this, this morning. It's incredibly sad! I'm actually lonely and we're thinking of moving back to the Midwest when our youngest finishes high school.

I don't know what it is but there does seem to be something in the New England culture that 'rejects' midwesterners. We're too friendly to be friends with?! I've mostly given up - I'm tired of being judged and lectured to...when all I want is a cup of coffee and to listen to someone nice talk about their life.

If it gives you a sense of where my head is: I'm going to spend a couple of hours today binge watching past seasons of 'girls' because it's sort of like having that conversation with a friend. Sad, huh?

Good luck, fellow midwesterner. I wish I had advice. :-(

That's weird... Just in August you posted how much you loved it here and couldn't live anywhere else...

Originally Posted by Tompho

I love CT. it's beautiful and the people are 'authentic'. Not necessarily 'nice' like the Midwest but more direct / straightforward.

As a Midwestern transplant I did have to adjust to this and I went through a phase where I thought people here were rude and I was 'too nice' for New England and I would have to toughen up, etc. but really what I needed was to drop the pretense around my communications. And that changed everything. Stop pretending and focus on good, clear, meaningful and affirming conversation. And not a lot of it. ;-)

Now I can't live anywhere else.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by GetMe0ut0fHere

Examples:
We made the 'mistake' once of knocking on our neighbors door to attempt to borrow some flour, as we were making a cake and were all out...the look of horror on their faces was priceless--its like I was a complete stranger asking for their firstborn.]

I don't blame them.
Who the hell does that anymore?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Raider111

I don't blame them.
Who the hell does that anymore?

I share groceries with my neighbors, but we're all pretty close friends. If someone random (who I've never met before) person, neighbor or not, came knocking on my door asking for flour, they'd be met with some hesitation for sure.

[convextech]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I share groceries with my neighbors, but we're all pretty close friends. If someone random (who I've never met before) person, neighbor or not, came knocking on my door asking for flour, they'd be met with some hesitation for sure.

I have never asked anyone, even my very close neighbors, for something I could run up to the store and get. I always check my pantry before I start any cooking project.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by convextech

I have never asked anyone, even my very close neighbors, for something I could run up to the store and get. I always check my pantry before I start any cooking project.

Easier said than done! Things come up, especially in today's hectic world. Just last week, my neighbor called to ask if I had an onion. She has 3 kids, husband out of town, it would've been a hassle to load them all in car for one onion.

We also ask each other if they need anything if one of us is headed to the store. It's the friendly thing to do.

[Raider111]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I share groceries with my neighbors, but we're all pretty close friends. If someone random (who I've never met before) person, neighbor or not, came knocking on my door asking for flour, they'd be met with some hesitation for sure.

No, I meant who the hell still bakes cakes from scratch anymore