Liberals, Artists, Non-Believers Welcome? (Savannah: fit in, house, school)

[YorkMorris]

My husband and I plan to move to Savannah after our house sells. We are:

• Moving from the northern Midwest, though we're from the West. Nonetheless, I guess we'd be considered Yankees.
• A musician and a writer (professionally)/artist.
• Very liberal--mostly polite about it.
• Agnostic (one of us), atheist (the other), but polite about it.

Will we find it impossible to fit in, find friends and not inspire hostility?

[ellie]

Sure, you'll be part of a large, comfortable minority. There are real artists, writers, and musicians who live here.

Be prepared, though. Many people I know who have moved here from more progressive parts of the US, including the Midwest, usually start complaining about how backwards it seems here.

That's just how it is. No one will enjoy hearing how things were done back home. Appreciate the local culture and all of its quirks and you'll be fine.

[Padgett2]

....."No one will enjoy hearing how things were done back home. Appreciate the local culture and all of its quirks and you'll be fine"

That's one of the biggies! A real conversation killer is, " Now, back home, we...blah, blah blah.:" Not the way to win friends. I think that's the way it is everywhere. Maybe we just seem to be more sensitive.

Too often, there seems to be the tendency to broadcast beliefs when a polite smile and a nod would work just as well. You will be invited to church. Say something like, "thanks for asking. We'll be thinking about it." Once you get settled, make friends, etc. You'll see that there are a lot of people here that accept you for what you really are.....yourself, not your beliefs or political viewpoint.

[bellhead]

The only thing I missed when I moved here from the midwest was Costco's, Trader Joe's, and Skyline Chili.

[dknigh21]

I don't think that being an artist or a liberal is going to be a problem. I am in my last year of graduate school at SCAD and think that you just described the whole student population. I think the town is used to being inundated with people who fit that description.

I agree that you will be invited to church. I'm not into the whole religion thing but have been invited to church plenty of times by people I work with. If you are just polite when declining, it doesn't seem to be a big deal. But people do like to talk about "God having a reason for blah, blah, blah." This is the South. The people from Savannah like religion and tend to be more traditional. But I don't think it will stop you from making friends here.

[YorkMorris]

Thank you all for the input. I feel better.

I won't say "My great-g-g-g-granddaddy marched with Sherman to the sea." "In the Midwest, we only eat okra if it's stuffed down our throats. Or, "In Wisconsin, we make crab cakes that would make Paula Dean quit cooking."

[Padgett2]

don't worry, I think you understand the situation and will have yourself a fine stay. Just get a good idea of ALL of the Savannah area before you decide where to hang your hat.

[WanderingImport]

Please! Come on down to Savannah! We need more liberals to even things out more. If no one else does, I'll welcome you with open arms.

[YorkMorris]

Thank you! We're trying...just waiting for the house to sell (since last July).

[ellie]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

Please! Come on down to Savannah! We need more liberals to even things out more. If no one else does, I'll welcome you with open arms.

So true!

Savannah (and most urban centers in Georgia) is an island of blue in a sea of red. If you can find a graphic on the voting results for our area you'll see a red doughnut around each and every blue island. Conservative people tend to live around the periphery of cities...don't get me started on why I think that's the case.

Maybe that's how it is where you're from, too?