Is the Triangle slower-paced? (Raleigh, Durham: insurance, neighborhood, live in)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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The only difference I've noticed is that in the NY/NJ area, if people don't move immediately when the light turns green, those behind them immediately honk their horns...here that doesn't happen that fast (it's the only time I honk my horn anymore unless someone's about to smash into me, but I've retrained myself to wait a bit).
People here are more likely to stop what they are doing and have a chat. This is great when you are strolling through the neighborhood...not so hot when you are waiting in the grocery checkout line!
Where did you move here from? Rural upstate NY or fast paced LA?
Where do you live in the Triangle? In the middle of the suburbs of North Raleigh or out in the Country of Rurla Orange and Durham County?
I know people who live in Manhattan who choose a lifestyle that is slow paced and laid back. I know people in the Triangle that cram their day full of so many activities they are ready to have a nervous breakdown.
From LI to WNY we noticed a slight difference, but from WNY to the triangle it was more significant.
The differences I've noticed in our own everyday lives are that people generally are not in a hurry to get anywhere.
When we're at the kids practices, families linger much longer to hang around a chit chat. It also seems like people down here make time to do leisure activities and make time for family.
Not to say that the other areas we lived in didn't do that...but not to this extent.
I think because the weather is nicer also, it just seems more inviting down here and people stop and smell the roses and make more outdoor time.
It's hard to put my finger on it, but when we moved here for the first 2 yrs or so it felt like we were on a perpetual vacation. It's not quite as noticable anymore, untill we take an exteded visit to NY and then return. It's just more relaxing down here.
I've never thought the term "slower paced" referred to relative speed (or behavior at traffic lights). Rather, I think it describes the way in which people relate to one another and the time they take to acknowledge other people.
For us it was a lot of different things combined that made things slower. Of course no traffic. People would actually give you the time of day and speak to you even if you didn't know them. People were also working much longer hours. I remember when we were in the process of moving from Boston my husband was setting up the insurance and the agent called back. I told him my husband was traveling and he would call him tomorrow. He said sorry. It's my anniversary I'm not working tomorrow. I was blown away.
Parents were overly protective. Playdates had to be setup at any age. Parents were too involved to the point that it was sick. Kids couldn't work out their problems. The parents had to for them. Neighbors were always in your business.
Everyone was just uptight in every way. They just couldn't let loose.
Definitely a relative thing. "Slower-paced" than where? If you come from Chicago, NY metro, or even Atlanta, I'm sure it is. If you move up from Harnett county, I'm sure you feel like you've stepped into a beehive. I remember someone from Goldsboro talking about how she never comes to Raleigh because it's so fast-paced and busy--and that was 20 years ago!
It's more a rural/urban thing than North/South, but as the Triangle becomes more "urban", and as more "urbanites" move here, the discrepancy between different "lifestyle paces" can cause friction.
The main thing is that if one moves here specifically for a "slower-paced" lifestyle, then one must learn to be patient when things don't go as quickly as one is accustomed to. In some cases, this area isn't right for everyone--either because it's too "slow" or because it's too "fast".
I've never thought the term "slower paced" referred to relative speed (or behavior at traffic lights). Rather, I think it describes the way in which people relate to one another and the time they take to acknowledge other people.
I agree with this. I don't live in the Triangle, but I've visited my sister. When you step up to a counter to place an order at a restaurant you get "hello, ma'am, how can I help you?" Here in NY you get the gang-banger stare. Half the time you don't even know if the person speaks the language well enough to help you.
At the grocery stores you get your groceries bagged - here in NY you are lucky if the cashier will do it after you've completed your transaction - and if you DO wait for the cashier to do it, your stuff will be crushed and you'll endure nasty looks from people behind you because you are holding up the line.
And so on.
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