How many transplants now like Wisconsin?

[ekg56]

I don't know the last time we went out for fish fry. Not our thing at all. We have been here 20 years and have many wonderful friends. Not casual friends but people that care about us and we care about them. When my Mom was dying in Chicago and I was down there, the neighbors went out of the way to make sure my husband and daughter had everything they needed.
Never had a perm either. Belong to a book club, volunteer at Hospice House. I guess everyone is different but we love it here. My husband has a job that we could live anywhere in the US and we are very happy here.

[KateDaum]

I was giggling in church tonight trying to find women with perms. Only ones I saw were in their 60s. We have only been part time residents of WI for the past 6 years or more. We also are in love with the area. We have wonderful neighbors that have taken care of our home while we were still in New England.
Speaking of New England, what you wrote fits more out there. Peopel have lived there for 6 or 7 generations. My husband is a recruiter and he said that is the hardest part. They don't like outsiders. Anyone who has not been there for at least 4 generations is an outsider. And my girls said their teachers there do have perms! Many of the kids graduating from HS don't go on to college. I don't know if they are afraid to leave. Many of the people that do leave run back. They have a hard time reaching out to people. We have lived in the Plains, Carolinas, Upstate NY and now NH. We also were in temporary housing in Maine when we 1st moved here for 6 months. And I can honestly say that the only place we would never go back to is New England.
I have also been asked to join the book club. We have been attended our church whenever we visit. My daughter sings in the choir. We had someone drop off home made applesauce for Thanksgiving. Our other neighbor is going to share some venison with us. The other day I was walking into the post office and a young man held open the door, big smile and asked if I needed help. I drive into town at night to walk, and everyone greets me. I have talked with a lot of people about more then football, fish fries and the weather. And Packer fans are low key compared to Patriot fans.
My husband also has a job that has taken us all over the US. And even thought neither one of us are from here we plan to make it our permanent home. My brother lives in TN and he is talking about buying some land and moving here. He also found the people to be great.

[KateDaum]

My daughters tell me I would be remiss if I didn't mention that in NH they even have a male teacher sporting a perm. And the boys still think it is fashionable to sport mullets. My kids weren't even born when mullets were the rage.

[TaraMoon]

Sunderlund,

You have my sympathy. I had a conversation today with a Wisconsinite who didn't know what the EU is. A few years ago I was actually invited to spend Christmas dinner with some people (that's a first). Despite the fact that they were fundies I went. They spent the entire meal (after grace, of course) talking about which people in town were going to burn in hell. I went back to having holiday meals alone.

A friend from Germany visited me here and I took him to the local pub. Someone totally misunderstood what he was saying and challenged him to a fight. We were invited to an after-hours party and he bought some beer to take along. We later discovered that he'd been charged at least five times more than he should have paid. At the party, a drunk told him he was a fool for not wanting to be an American citizen and shouted at him when he asked someone to repeat a sentence. He speaks 11 languages and the jerk could barely manage one.

I have more books than our local library. I asked for a New York Times best seller once and the librarian said she didn't buy it because it was controversial. I guess every hunting magazine known to humanity isn't controversial. Can't check out "National Geographic" or "Discovery" magazine because those are only for the high school students. Of course, I'm in luck if I want to read about Oprah's gold-plated toilet or learn how to field-dress a deer.

[kt433]

I was paroozing this thread and have to say, as a life long Wisconsin resident, this is very interesting. I don't see half of the stuff being discussed but that very well might be that I am born and bred Wisconsin (who doesn't give a rip about the Packers...shocking!) What I've been reading are things about the stereotypes associated with the state. I think that when a person moves here, they are more inclined to notice these stereotypes and then they seem to blow up out of proportion. I see how we may be a little clique like but it isn't a fear of outsiders. There is a strong sense of family in the state for the most part so it might take us a little time to warm up to someone new but it isn't snobbery or any of that nonesense. In my opinion you aren't going to find a true Wisconsin experience at a Fish Fry or out hunting. A lot of people do it, sure, but not everyone. I just find it all very interesting to get a different perspective on the state.

As for the winter, 8 months? Seriously? If you consider anything under 50 degrees cold/winter then yeah, you're screwed. But look at it now. Only in the past week or so has it been getting winter like. It feels colder in the fall then it does in the spring. Wait until April when it is 45 out and it feels warm. But no way is it 8 months.

I just find this whole thread so interesting!

[REDFRED]

Been in sw Wisconsin my whole life and travel north up by border frequently. I would have to say that the area I live in is quite cliquey. I never noticed it til we took several vacations to other states over the years. Wisconsinites can be very blunt and judgy but I've noticed it elsewhere. Northwoods towns seem to be a little friendlier, who knows. I think that if you are a good listener and friendly yourself you should be able to make friends anywhere. Just be genuine and be yourself. I do notice that many local people especially in smaller towns will stare at you if they don't know you....like u came from mars or something. I just smile and wave.