Okay, so I was looking through last week’s edition of our local paper, and I came across a review of Judson Hale’s Inside New England. In his book, the author discusses the ways in which each New England state has developed and retained a distinct regional identity. And what, in Hale’s view, are the traits characteristic of Vermonters? You won’t believe it.
I mean it. You really won’t believe it. Here they are. I’m not kidding. I’m quoting verbatim:
1. Common sense
2. A dry sense of humor
3. Impeccable honesty
4. A direct manner of speaking
5. A healthy obsession with freedom
6. A lot of hidden suffering
I believe I was discussing my excellent intuition just yesterday, wasn’t I? Almost three years ago, I had a very strong intuition that my family and I really, really, really needed to move to Vermont. Now I know why!
So listen up, everyone. I really think that you all need to move to Vermont. I do. I really do. I don’t want to hear any complaints about changing your job, selling your house, convincing your spouse, uprooting your entire life, moving away from everyone you’ve ever known, and taking a long trip in an airplane with children who don’t do well in enclosed spaces. Detail, details, details. And yeah, I know that change is difficult—in fact, I empathize with your situation—but, in addition to the fact that Vermont culture looks suspiciously like Autistic culture, look at all the other benefits you will receive upon arrival:
1. We will meet face to face, and you don’t even have to make eye contact.
2. The Green Mountains are beautiful.
3. Gay marriage is legal.
4. The trees outnumber the humans.
5. You will hear actual people say “Ayup.”
Plus, as an added bonus, if enough of you show up in the next year or so, the demographics will show an unprecedented spike in the number of autism cases in the state, leading the autism-as-disease brigade to posit all kinds of absurd explanations (“It’s the water!” “No, it’s the vaccines!” “It can’t be the vaccines. The numbers haven’t risen like this elsewhere!” “Oh, shut up. It’s the vaccines.”). Wouldn’t it be fun to be part of that?
I think so. Ayup.
© 2010 by Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg
I would love to live in Vermont! Sounds like a fabulous place. #3 and #6 seem like a contradiction to me.
Danielle, I see what you mean. But I think that the impeccable honesty has to do with what you choose to disclose, while the hidden suffering has to do with what you don’t. Folks are a bit on the reserved side up here.
I’ve actually been thinking about it, moving to Vermont or New Hampshire. Gotta be better than New York. Kinda waiting to see if I inherit anything from my 88 yr old stepmother when she passes. If I moved now, in my present circumstances, I might want to move again if I receive a substantial amount. Give us a link to the local paper, so we could check out housing/renting costs in the classifieds.
Hi Clay,
New England is a great place to be, and in the rurals, the rents aren’t terribly high.
If you’re debating between Vermont and New Hampshire, I recommend Robert Frost’s lengthy poem titled “New Hampshire.” After going on and on and on about New Hampshire for page after page, the poem ends with the line, “At present, I’m living in Vermont.” So am I, although I can walk across the bridge and I’m in New Hampshire…
Me too! I want to come! Wouldn’t that just make Vermont the coolest place ever? Wow…it’s just fun to imagine it…
I know! It would be amazing.
I’m a 10th generation New Englander. Until two winters ago I lived most of my life in New Hampshire, where I was born.
Since I moved to Michigan I don’t have a clue. I miss home so much! I want to, “Pahk the car in Hahvahd Yahd.”
Wow–a tenth generation New Englander! I’m a fourth-generation New Englander; although I was born in NY, I was raised outside of Boston. My great-grandparents came to Boston when they immigrated, and many of their descendents remained there.
I hope you can get back heah. The wintahs ah wicked cold, but the summahs ah nice and the fall is cahlahfull.
I can beat both of you–12th+ (not sure on the exact number) Acadian
From Nova Scotia, but in the mid-west now. Lord I miss the coast sometimes 
Jayn, after more than twelve generations in Nova Scotia, your family needs a fresh start. Time to get those emigration papers in order.
Already taken care of, I’m in Nebraska. (With family in various parts of Europe, as well as BC and Japan)
Excellent!
I’d book our plane tickets, but only if you can guarentee that the cafes in Vermont can make a nice cup of tea just right. Hey, I’m British and I have my priorities!!!
Would it work if I perfected the tea first (under your careful guidance, of course), and then we worked on the bringing the local cafes up to speed?
It’s a deal!!!
Yay!
I realized this morning that we have a tea lounge in town. I’m sure you’ll be able to get them up to speed straightaway.
In fact, we have at least TWO tea lounges right here in Brattleboro. (Don’t know if either can brew up a “proppa cuppa” — but why not come and find out?
i know you don’t want to hear how i can’t, but it would be illegal for me. is tempting, though….
Ben, there’s only one thing for you to do: start getting your paperwork in order. I’m happy to put in a good word.
if only it were that easy.
aside from VT, you have so many more warm places than us (Canajuns). hmm, we don’t really have any WARM places, actually, but less cold places, like Victoria, BC.
the warmth and variety in the US is so tempting, but the health insurance sitch not so much.
but we still think YOU’RE keen!
I feel compelled to put in a plug for Maine! I’m from “away”, as they say up here, but I feel much more comfortable here than elsewhere. Vermont, too.
Maine rocks! Many years ago, when my daughter was a baby and we were living in California, our family took a trip to Maine in the fall to see friends. Everything was so beautiful and the trip made us realize how much we missed the seasons. A year later, we were back in New England. Yay!
We used to take the kids to Maine each year for a week at the beach. As soon as we hit VT we knew we were on *vacation*. Really miss those Green Mountains and the ferry from Burlington across Lake Champlain. Ooo, I miss it! Haven’t been since 2002 but now I’d need a passport. Before 9/11 you’d hardly notice the border.
How cool that you have such great memories of Vermont! Time to come visit and see what’s changed!
Sorry I’m late! I live in CT for 8 years, and we went to Stratton Mountain every year to see the leaves!
I can’t say I want to go back though. I’m a complete PANSY when it comes to winter and I love ATL too much.
That said, I think it would be cool to have a Spectrum state. I could be happy in a place like that.
And meeting you face to face is awfully tempting. Maybe I’ll jaunt over for a visit the next time I’m in NH.
Yes, you must visit! Yes, yes, yes! NH is right next door.
Ok… Well I don’t have any immediate plans to go to NH, but I’ll keep you posted when the opportunity presents itself.
Sounds great!
I haven’t been to Vermont since I’m a kid, but I remember it was absolutely beautiful.
Time to do some travelling and refresh your memories.
Wow, really makes me want to move! I love the idea of The Spectrum State: wouldn’t that be a great state slogan to put on the license plates?
And the license plates could be rainbow colored!
I believe the gays have alreay taken rainbow colored, lol
….Although what if we took one color, and showed various shades of it, ie the full spectrum of it?
How did I miss this post? To the person from Maine: you are in the right place. Actually, we’re
(my email is KGoldfie@gmail.com) …..then maybe we can plan a stealth attack
both in the same place. If you are an Aspie too, as a fellow Maine Aspie, I would really like to
meet you.
on Vermont, lol
But sorry Vermont, you don’t hold a candle to Maine. And I’ve even lived in both places! What? No lobsters? We have better beaches and lighthouses and you know what I’m going to have a
tough time thinking of things that Maine does better, because both are really awesome states.
lol. Vermont is one cool state. I wouldn’t recommend living in Burlington, but visiting it is fun.
I’ve only seen that part of Vermont but I hear the rest of it is pretty cool.
As for #1 on your list -I’ve never thought of that as an Aspie trait – in fact – Ive heard people with AS usually lack common sense – I know I certainly do! I have a lot of sense about me but believe its not about anything common lol
But now I’m *really* curious to find out what thry said about Maine – where can I find it?
Kate
Kate, I like the idea of choosing one color and showing the full spectrum of it. That way, we could keep the license plate green and not cause an uproar among Vermonters aversive to change.
what are the snow levels like?? I had to move to Canada to find out I don;t like snow! And I just got back from 3 weeks in the Middle East and am still cold… dreading winter o_O
I would like to live somewhere temperate, as I am no fan of extremes of either heat or cold. But southern Ontario will do for now
Misfit, if you don’t like snow, Vermont is definitely not the place for you. Our snow levels vary from year to year, but we get a fair amount and it’s quite cold in the winter. That’s why my daughter is applying to schools in California and North Carolina. She’s had it with our winters. I guess the woodstove just isn’t enough.
Bummer… I’ll have to continue to hug the northern shores of Lake Ontario then. I hear the fall is spectacular in your neck of the woods. It was pretty glorious here this year too. I can usually live with cold, just pile on the sweaters until I can barely move, lol…
i’m a BC boy, and finding even Toronto’s relatively mild winters too harsh for me.
and now my feet and knees are seizing up and protesting. *sigh*
will have to keep moving though, can’t let the cold/arthritis/pining for the desert get me down!
I used to live in Vermont.
I’m not so thrilled about the idea of returning.