[fintstone]

I laugh about this a lot. When I visit relatives in my home town where I graduated from high school...and ancestors lived at least since the Revolution...it seem like the nicer areas of town have all been bought up by folks from New England (largely NY). Block after block of people from elsewhere. They seem foreign to me as they work very hard to push crazy liberal legislation and for more services (that increase taxes). Sadly, since most retired there (and did not bring and real jobs other than service-related ones)...the only real contributions they have made is to create/sustain more a eclectic restaurant scene (that has killed off the older family restaurants) and a housing shortage by driving the home prices (and property taxes) beyond what the locals can afford on their service-related jobs.

When I grew up, many of us hunted for much of our food or grew it. So, every critter was either dinner on the hoof or a threat to our harvest or livestock. There were literally no bear or deer (And few rabbits an squirrels) unless you hunted deep in the woods adjacent to a watershed or other protected area where they ventured out occasionally. Now there are big black bears everywhere. In the subdivisions, on children's playgrounds, walking city streets, etc. They climb onto people's porches, go into open garages, rob garbage cans, etc. No hunting is allowed within city limits and there are huge sanctuaries nearby...so other than remote areas in the county...they multiply like crazy (there are no predators).

I note this and point out that it might not be a good idea to have several 300-500lb bears in one's yard or on one's porch that do not fear humans at all. I have suggested that some should be relocated (as I know that the new "carpetbaggers" do not believe in hunting). They scream at me and are very upset...and complain about newcomers that want to change things (as the "bears were there before we were"). Many have been there between 5-10 years (and consider themselves "natives" but look down on the actual natives as rednecks, hicks, or trailer trash. Good enough to do their yard work or fix their roof, but little else. I point out that I was there long before they were...and there were no bears in anyone's yard until recently...and if there were...we would have harvested them for Sunday dinner and sold the pelt (which outrages them). Most of the carpetbaggers are older and have no children at home...so they are not concerned that feeding the bears in their neighborhoods might create a situation where someone is killed (and local new, etc. is careful to underreport any attcaks..an always blame the human in the "beneath the fold" articles they run. For example, coming out of one's home in the dark and not noticing that big black bear in the dark...is the homeowner's fault.

I had intended to move back home when I retired, but am not sure I can stand the "little NYC attitude" of the new residents on an extended basis. Like them, I am bringing money that was earned in places where it came relatively easy and prices are high...to spend in a place where it is not so easily earned. I recognized the fact (and felt a bit guilty) when I bought my vacation house (which is small, but nice)...in what was one of the best neighborhoods when I was a teen...and much better than most local's full time home. It is where the "rich kids" that looked down on kids like me when I was young (who were actually just middle class, but fabulously wealthy to the very poor like me). The realtor was shocked that I was able to come up with significant funds quickly and didn't need inspections or contingences. I couldn't help but think, one less nice home available to the folks that actually live there.