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I am wondering how much truth is behind the rumors?
I've moved around and traveled a lot, and never really found anywhere that fits its stereotype or lives up to its preconceived notions. So I am assuming when I get to Westchester, I will find the people to be much more approachable and less pretentious than rumored to be. Am I right?
Also, I am referring to adults. Teenagers anywhere are going to be into themselves and wrapped up in appearance over substance.
What I have become accustomed to over the past several years (since becoming a parent), is that people tend to become close with those who share their faith and their parenting values. I am HOPING to find a little less emphasis on faith in WeCo. But I'm not really all that big on replacing it with an emphasis on crass materialism.
Not that any of this will dissuade me from moving. I just want to be as prepared as possible.
I'd like to add that I am really hoping to hear that it is not so superficial. I have some very close family members from CT, and they are telling me I will not like it or fit in there. I don't always agree with them and think their opinions are skewed. For background, they have lived in Florida, Texas, and CT.
Any other transplants feel snubbed, or is there just the occasional snob (everywhere has them)?
If you are at all concerned about this I would stay in the northern regions where there is less money. Overall, anywhere you travel around the world, there will face a higher percentage of snobbery usually within those money infested areas. Westchester tends to portray many regional pockets with upper middle to upper class societies who happen to enjoy their rich environments, whether public or private, although towns located in the south (Rye, Harrison, Scarsdale etc..) you will often get different forms of attitudes and behaviors depending on socioeconomic class. (old money vs. new money)
Over the years I have found the middle to upper class in upper New York State to be a lot more friendly and much less pretentious, perhaps more quirky and simplistic, with less focus on money and more on life itself.
People on this forum tend to classify towns in black and white. Rye=good, Ossining=bad, etc., etc. It is not so much that way in real life, as there are wealthy people in beautiful neighborhoods in (dare I say it?) Mount Vernon, while there are dumpy houses in Larchmont and Rye. However, I find New York people to be more stand-offish, and it might be due to social awkwardness more than snobbery. Many of the population came into money in the last generation or so, and are still trying to find a 'way to be.'
The least snobby of my friends in NY are the super-rich ones; they walk around in flip-flops and jeans, are nice to everyone, and (at least the ones I know) consider themselves very lucky to have landed in the place where they are. Yoowanna is right; the more monied people are more at ease and open.
You will find your crowd. If you are friendly and extend yourself, you'll be fine. You will probably teach the people there a thing or two.
Sometimes I think people in NYC are more snobby, just because there's this overall sense of "I'm so cool because I live in NYC" even if they really are jerks! For me, I know people who are very wealthy (I belong to Junior League) but not once have I felt excluded because I don't belong to a golf or yacht club. There are all types of people who live in Westchester, so I think you'll definitely find the right crowd, just like you have to find the right crowd in other parts of the country.
I think sometimes people equate snobby with wealthy. Yes, people in Westchester are very wealthy on average and compared to the rest of the country (didn't Scarsdale just land on the top of wealthiest towns in America?). People drive fancy cars, belong to clubs, take lots of exotic vacations, etc... However, this in and of itself doesn't tell you if people are snobby. In my experience none of the people I've met in Westchester flaunt their wealth or judge others by what car they drive or what purse they carry. Maybe I just naturally avoid those types because I know they must exist, but I haven't found it to be more the case here.
Having said that, I think some people are bothered by the mere presence of BMWs and Mercedes and Luis Vuitton bags and wealth in general, and they then label the area snobby.
I think sometimes people equate snobby with wealthy. Yes, people in Westchester are very wealthy on average and compared to the rest of the country (didn't Scarsdale just land on the top of wealthiest towns in America?). People drive fancy cars, belong to clubs, take lots of exotic vacations, etc... However, this in and of itself doesn't tell you if people are snobby. In my experience none of the people I've met in Westchester flaunt their wealth or judge others by what car they drive or what purse they carry. Maybe I just naturally avoid those types because I know they must exist, but I haven't found it to be more the case here.
Having said that, I think some people are bothered by the mere presence of BMWs and Mercedes and Luis Vuitton bags and wealth in general, and they then label the area snobby.
You addressed precisely what I was talking about. Lots of people do tend to assume wealth brings with it a snob factor, when in my experience, it does not. But I wanted to check if my gut feeling was right on for Westchester, or if the affluence had afflicted the area with sense of superiority.
Having said that, I think some people are bothered by the mere presence of BMWs and Mercedes and Luis Vuitton bags and wealth in general, and they then label the area snobby.
Quite so! And as often as not those BMW and Vuitton people are NOT wealthy, they're posers trying to look the part because they're trying to shed their upbringing in the Bronx or where ever. Anyway, the point is, a huge part of the perceived snobbiness stems from insecurity part of the perceiver. And there are enough flash-money arrivistes to prey on it cause they feel like it gives them a leg up. It's all quite easy to ignore or just laugh at.
Out of curiosity, which town(s) are you looking at?
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