Snobs moving to the country

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe something like Welcome to Foodland might be appropriate. No more silly than asking how I am. Often I just say tired or some such honest thing and quite often the girl shares similar information. It seems, I am the only one ever talking to strangers in the grocery store and checkout line.

 

[ultrarunner]

My step-grandfather was from Germany... and he was always striking up conversations where ever we went... sometimes well received and other times not...

He was the one that never accepted a penny of Social Security... said America gave him opportunity and that provided him a good life... he also never retired. First in the shop in the morning and last out at night... only thing sacred was NO work or talking about work ever on Sunday... but on Saturday he was at the shop laying out the work for the next week...

 

[Industrial Toys]

How was his married life? I know a (German) guy like that. Owned felt factories all over the world and never spoke about anything else. Him and his wife are buried within walking distance of me in a quiet country cemetary. Now, I guess they can finally spend some (quality) time together.

 

[brokenknee]

Without saying what I do for a living specifically (as department policy does not allow it) I recently took a transfer to the NE region of the state. Policy dictates we must live in our region.

When we were searching for a place to live one of my clients asked if I was going to be moving into his area since it would be a central location of my district. I started to laugh a little and said He** no, one of my co-workers that was from the area told me you guy do not take to outsiders moving into the area.

I could see this statement bothered him so the subject was dropped, a few hours later when I finished my review he said out of the blue that "I guess we don't like people moving in telling us how to run things" I told him I can understood that and wished him a good day and left.

I told my co-worker of the exchange he laughed and said I grew up there, they do not except outsiders. I had also heard the same from other co-workers that moved to the area and then moved out due to the fact they were not excepted into the area.

I do want to add when we moved over by Bemidji we were welcomed with open arms. I loved living over there and only changed districts to make my wife happy. Closer to kids and grandkids.

 

[Industrial Toys]

We owned land here since 66. We are still outsiders. Eventually, I simply didn't give a crap about locals and community anymore. Suits me just fine!

And, in a way, I wish there was more of that in our country which is becoming some kind of a third world nation. Other countries and cultures are very protectionist in their behavior. I wish Canada was the same. The Quebec people which so many of us English speaking people hated, certainly have to be admired for their tough stand on protecting their culture.

In fact, I would seriously consider embracing a French Speaking culture if it would help to stop the tide of immigration. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would think that. Times do change!

 

[Steppenwolfe]

When I was a young swabbie in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club (a.k.a United States Navy) I had an opportunity to assist with the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" named affectionately by our friends across the pond because their cannonballs would just bounce off of her moored in the Boston Harbor.

Wanting to expand my horizons, and having a very southern accent, I would frequent the local pub after a day of repeating myself over and over about Old Ironsides, and wet my whistle (another nautical term for when the boatswain would lick his lips and boatswain's whistle to get the crew's attention before voicing a command). See, in Boston, the neighborhood pub is where all the locals go after work. The drink and have supper and many of the wives also come in. Its a great gathering place, and has been for generations. I also found out that everyone has "their seat" (I guess the question "is your name on that seat" evolved from that).

I learned, in Boston, the ladies would like to hear southerners talk. I was asked to say "y'all" so they could all get a good laugh. I suppose, they all thought that we lived on huge plantations and the southern women wore ringlets in their hair and hoop skirts.

One day as I slipped up onto a bar stool, the bartender greeted me with a "how's it hanging?" I had to ask him several times to say it again until I figured out what he was asking. With his heavy Boston Massachusetts accent all I could do was laugh!!! There was a guy on my right (former Army Ranger) that offered to translate "he's asking what kind of day you had".

To this day, every time I hear that accent, I remember that friendly greeting and realize that "how are your mom and them" is just like asking "how is your family"; "I'm fixing to go" means "I'm late"; "over yonder" means "a couple of blocks up, just out of sight", but I have yet to be able to explain to someone what "bless his heart" means in anything other than "southern" because we in the south already know what it means!!!!

So, I recon I'll be waitin' one of y'all to be helpin me out with all of that!

No problem, man... ...fuhgeddaboudit...

 

[blackrams]

I wave at some folks I don't know, wave at everyone I do know, I wave back when someone waves at me.
Just being friendly but, I'm not put off if someone doesn't wave or return a wave. Doesn't do me any good to get upset about it.

I snow blow my own two driveways and the two neighbors on both sides of me and the guy's across the street. I do that because, I have so many goose neck trailers and it's much easier to back them into their parking spots if I crowd over onto the neighbors driveways when I'm backing in. The way I see it, if they'll allow me to do that the least I can do is blow a little snow off of their driveways. Also blow a couple of other driveways down the street a ways that belong to a couple of elderly folks. Just got a front blade put on my Ford tractor, looking for an opportunity to use it. BTW, those two elderly folks are some of those that don't wave back. Hmmmm.

I also ride a motorcycle, a power cruiser. I'll wave at any motorcyclist I see but, rarely get a return wave from the HD V twin folks. Not real sure why, I assume they might not see me waving cause of all the chrome reflection. Or, it could be jealousy.

Edited: Oh yeah, one of my next door neighbors is a German family here on work visas. Nice folks as far as I can tell. We get along (probably because we don't interact much), he's an engineer, is a very good neighbor, I don't even know if she speaks English, she's never done more than smile and wave. It is, what it is.

Rams :drink:

 

[ultrarunner]

How was his married life? I know a (German) guy like that. Owned felt factories all over the world and never spoke about anything else. Him and his wife are buried within walking distance of me in a quiet country cemetary. Now, I guess they can finally spend some (quality) time together.

Interesting to say the least... there were some fireworks to be sure as both had very strong personalities... getting married late in life after both lost spouses was an adjustment for sure... Grandma was very old school and spoke perfect German... as a child she had a German speaking step-father after her father died... he was very strict and insisted on perfect German from a young California born girl...

As a Boss of a Union Shop it was more complicated... he fired people on the spot but in other cases was very helpful... one of the employees died suddenly and he paid the mortgage for the young family for a year... also would open the shop each Saturday and employees and their kids were welcome to work on personal projects with the full run of the place... welders, CNC machines, etc... the only thing he asked is they keep track of any material used...

I've worked around a lot of old school Germans and found their traits made for excellent craftsman and very dependable... and you ALWAYS knew where you stood!

The Austrians were a little more laid back...

 

[ultrarunner]

I wave at some folks I don't know, wave at everyone I do know, I wave back when someone waves at me.
Just being friendly but, I'm not put off if someone doesn't wave or return a wave. Doesn't do me any good to get upset about it.

I snow blow my own two driveways and the two neighbors on both sides of me and the guy's across the street. I do that because, I have so many goose neck trailers and it's much easier to back them into their parking spots if I crowd over onto the neighbors driveways when I'm backing in. The way I see it, if they'll allow me to do that the least I can do is blow a little snow off of their driveways. Also blow a couple of other driveways down the street a ways that belong to a couple of elderly folks. Just got a front blade put on my Ford tractor, looking for an opportunity to use it. BTW, those two elderly folks are some of those that don't wave back. Hmmmm.

I also ride a motorcycle, a power cruiser. I'll wave at any motorcyclist I see but, rarely get a return wave from the HD V twin folks. Not real sure why, I assume they might not see me waving cause of all the chrome reflection. Or, it could be jealousy.

Rams :drink:

I think Harley riders are different...

One of my friends transitioned to a Harley when he retired... kind of shocked us that he was driving 2000 mile trips with the wife on board at 65... always was a coat and tie business man...

I have always had my Motorcycle License and said I would like to ride with them if they had anything local... unfortunately it was made clear no Harley no riding...

Than said, at his funeral... the Harley Guys were amazing... I mean over the top friendship and support... and such a cross section... many were well off but some were simply doing the best they could...

Going past the East Oakland Hells Angels Club House everyday and having Sonny Barger as a customer at the parts shop I worked at in High School provided a more diversity than one could imagine... Hells Angels, Black Panthers, Weather Underground, Earth First, Symbionese Liberation, etc... Hippies, Yippees... UC Riots... Peoples Park... Patty Hearst, King Assassination, kind of overwhelming when I think back... as kids we were like a fly on the wall... pretty invisible as long as you minded your own business...

The only time something bad happened to me was the Rodney King riots... I didn't know what was going on and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time... my van still has the scars...

If I ever get to the country I would be most respectful and live and let live is pretty much how I live...

 

[Jim Shooz]

We have a saying "By....See you later" when someone is leaving. A South African friend had just arrived in the country and as she passed through a small town stopped at a small store to buy something. As she left having bought what she wanted the attendant gave a little wave and said "see ya later" As she walked away she was scratching her head "wtf was that about I'm not coming back"