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I am trying to find a pagan/wiccan enclosed community in which to live. I want to get back to the basics. unfortunately, I am having no luck. suggestions?
Sorry to resurrect a dormant thread but i can think of some states that are insular. Iowa, Wyoming, and western Montana. I've found lots of people in Iowa can't go three sentences without saying the name of their state and seem to never leave. Even their biggest vacation is the state fair. Western Montana and Wyoming have many residents with beliefs from the 1800s and anyone from outside the area is bad.
There are not really any Irish Travelers or "Gypsies" in the US-they assimilate more so here than in Ireland.
Maybe, but depends what you mean by assimilate.
In parts of greater Boston in the early 80s, "gypsies" would knock on doors asking for innocuous things such as a glass of water. When the homeowner went to get it, one of them would sneak in and steal small valuables.
My impression was that they were Romanian, not Irish, but the distinction doesn't really matter. A thief is a thief, regardless of nationality or skin color.
Sorry to resurrect a dormant thread but i can think of some states that are insular.
I would add New Mexico to your list. Although there are thousands of newcomers here from other states it is rare that native-born people move to or even visit outside the state. Part of that is the exceptionally strong and somewhat extended family ties here. That is a strength but it sometimes limits opportunities. We have a local saying that New Mexico is known as the Land of Entrapment because once you are committed to the place you probably won't leave. And if you do, you will probably be back.
NON-SCARY
- The Cajun culture in the Acadiana region of South Louisiana are very distinct though there are interesting parallels to isolated Appalachian communities. They have their own unique French dialect and cuisine and music that is separate from French culture but also very different from mainstream America.
- Native Hawaiian communities in Hawaii
- Miami Cubans are very insular in their mindset and are not open to interacting with other groups though they are not "scary" or a threat. However they are clear in their dominance of Miami and their rejection of American culture and others are forced to assimilate into the Cuban culture and Spanish language if they are to be successful in Miami
- Rio Grande Valley Mexicans are also very unassimilated into American culture but their Mexican culture isn't scary (still better than Mexico itself). I hear that is also a very insular minded area where non-Mexicans are not accepted or welcomed and where white and black Americans face much hostility and discrimination
- Italian American communities in the Northeast where ethnic identity is still key and marrying outside the Italian community is frowned upon, think the Jersey Shore scene for example
SCARY
- The unassimilated Arab Muslim population in Dearborn, Michigan which still practices arranged marriages (sometimes between cousins) and follows Arab Muslim culture very closely rather than be open to American influences
The Rainbow Children are a loosely affiliated group of hippies, at least a few thousand strong, who travel across the USA. There are at least a couple of Rainbow communes in the Southwest -- my friend lived in one in New Mexico where they lived in holes dug out of the ground. A very fascinating group -- some are "weekend hippies", others are third and fourth generation hippies! They have their own specialized vocabulary ("six up" is code for cops, for example). One of the best times of my life was spent camping with the Rainbow Children in WV.
Those are called "Earth ships"; they're entire homes that are semi-subterranean, with the south side above ground open to the sun, to catch the heat in winter. The earthen walls act as insulation. There are several in the hills outside of Taos, NM, and they're not just for hippies or cultists. (The Rainbow Children are/were a cult.)
I went past the Earth Ship community west of Taos on Saturday-- very impressive. I wonder if there are tours.
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