Question for folks from New Hamp

[Hisgirl]

So this southern gal goes to south New Hampshire to help settle in my family member who just moved there due to a job.

I have comments and questions for you, in case you are from there! I drove around, spent a week exploring and noticed a few things.. So much beautiful natural land!

1. On my first day, I had three different people scream 'F***' at me while I was driving. Nothing huge, just basic stuff but wow...like screamed at me. That was a surprise.
Is that...normal? I'm an excellent driver, but obviously upset some folks.

2. I noticed few if no houses are made out of brick. Most have basements and so many don't have AC. I thought yall had some really hot heat waves. Are new builds getting AC?

3. Being that I'm a southerner and we tend to talk to strangers, I did this twice and both times people looked at me like I had two heads and didn't respond. Was that a big no no?

4. I drove from Bedford, through Manchester, 90 miles Northwest to VT and saw one church. I did see a sign to a church, so I guess two.

5. Very little fast food, but a dunkin donuts on every corner! Where do yall eat when you want to grab a quick lunch? Do yall really eat that many donuts?

6. Two loose dogs attacked my DD's dog and animal control was extremely helpful. That was great!

7. Very few chain restaurants, and actually very few places to eat in general while driving through towns. I was east of bedford driving through a very populated business district and had to drive miles to find somewhere to eat. And no mexican places?

8. I noticed the motto 'Live free or Die' and no motorcycle helmets. Is that a normal thing, to not wear a helmet, or are those just the rebels?

9. Regarding the winters, do most folks stay once they finish school and leave home, or is the weather a factor in leaving?

It was a unique place compared to other parts of the country. It was refreshing to see the history embraced in order to study and learn, and all the natural land.

 

[lanejudy]

I’m from neighboring VT but know that area fairly well.

1. You’ll find jerks anywhere. I’m sure there are plenty in your own area as well. No reason to think it’s a NH thing.

2. Most houses are probably “stick-built” though there are brick houses as well. Yes most have basements. Central A/C is not common especially in older homes, new builds may have it. Many folks use window units. For the few days a years that it might be “necessary.”

3. I’ve never had problems speaking to strangers.

4. Most small towns have 1 church, maybe 2. I guess it depends on your route whether you’d see them.

5. Rural areas are less likely to have chain restaurants. Maybe a McDonalds. She’ll find the local eateries — deli, diner, etc.

6. Good. I hope your DD’s dog is ok.

7. See #5

8. Helmets are not required in NH for those over 18.

9. Do some people find the seasons not to their liking? Sure. But many people are fine with it even the winters. I’m sure your daughter and her husband will figure out where they want to settle.

 

[QueenIsabella]

A few other tidbits, as a former New Hampshirite who moved to North Carolina...

1. A lot of people move to NH from MA. We have an unpleasant nickname for them (not DIS-friendly), for a reason. They tend to bring their MA driving habits with them. Personally, I try to give grace, especially to out-of-state plates (they might be lost, looking for something, etc.). Not everyone does this.

2. Brick houses are more common in parts of the south, due to availability of red clay. Our current home is brick, not so much in NH. I HAVE seen a few stone houses, but more in NY/closer to the Canadian border.

3. People are generally nice, we never had an issue with this. However, DH and I both grew up in New England, then moved to upstate NY, so maybe "Northeast normal" is not as friendly as you're used to. It doesn't mean people don't like you--they'd help you out, for sure, even if they don't chat.

4. Here in NC, you can't throw a rock without hitting a church! They're much less per capita in the northeast. Interestingly, the denominations are different, too--I still don't know where a Catholic church is, after 10 years here, but there's many, many churches, even some more unusual (to me) choices.

5. We lived in Keene, NH, so when we drove to Manchester, there was nothing, nothing, nothing, Dunks, nothing, nothing, nothing... New Englanders take their Dunks very seriously. They sell sandwiches and coffee, in addition to donuts. Keene (very small, isolated city) has Mc Donald's, Burger King, Panera, and so forth, but I recommend finding small, local places. You're likely to get much better pizza in NH (certainly, better than what we get down here--I miss good pizza!). And the bagels are better in NH.

6. There ARE dog control laws. I'm sorry if you encountered people who don't follow them. I hope it's an isolated incident, and that your DD's pupper is okay.

7. Another note on restaurants --even Keene had a couple Mexican places. BUT--restaurant meals are heavily taxed, to hit tourists. NH has no income or sales tax on regular purchases, but they have high meal and property taxes. In Keene, it was SOP to eat "over the border" in VT (we were ~15 miles away).

8. Car seats are required, but helmets and seatbelts are not (unless you're in my car--then, seatbelts are not negotiable). Also, car insurance isn't required--BUT, if you plan to cross the border into another state, be forewarned! VT state troopers just LOVE to pull over cars with NH plates, and ding them for driving in VT without insurance (where it IS required). Unfortunately, this means that car insurance is pricey, because the odds are high that you'll get in an accident with an uninsured driver.

9. Weather is a personal taste thing. When we moved from upstate NY (Saratoga County) to Keene, I commented that the winters were so much milder there! I got laughed at a lot, but it was true--in NY, we got, on average, 7 feet of snow a year, while in Keene, it was more like 5 feet. Also, I noticed that we had ~ a month less on each side of winter. In NY, the furnace was turned on by the end of September, and spring didn't really arrive until mid-April. And we'd have a week of -20 degree nights in January. NH--only -10 degrees--practically balmy! On the good side, people know how to dress, towns know how to plow/sand, and there are a wide range of winter activities to try.

Overall, we liked NH a lot. We like NC, too. They're very different, but there's much to love in both places.

 

[Willows909]

So this southern gal goes to south New Hampshire to help settle in my family member who just moved there due to a job.

I have comments and questions for you, in case you are from there! I drove around, spent a week exploring and noticed a few things.. So much beautiful natural land!

1. On my first day, I had three different people scream 'F***' at me while I was driving. Nothing huge, just basic stuff but wow...like screamed at me. That was a surprise.
Is that...normal? I'm an excellent driver, but obviously upset some folks.

2. I noticed few if no houses are made out of brick. Most have basements and so many don't have AC. I thought yall had some really hot heat waves. Are new builds getting AC?

3. Being that I'm a southerner and we tend to talk to strangers, I did this twice and both times people looked at me like I had two heads and didn't respond. Was that a big no no?

4. I drove from Bedford, through Manchester, 90 miles Northwest to VT and saw one church. I did see a sign to a church, so I guess two.

5. Very little fast food, but a dunkin donuts on every corner! Where do yall eat when you want to grab a quick lunch? Do yall really eat that many donuts?

6. Two loose dogs attacked my DD's dog and animal control was extremely helpful. That was great!

7. Very few chain restaurants, and actually very few places to eat in general while driving through towns. I was east of bedford driving through a very populated business district and had to drive miles to find somewhere to eat. And no mexican places?

8. I noticed the motto 'Live free or Die' and no motorcycle helmets. Is that a normal thing, to not wear a helmet, or are those just the rebels?

9. Regarding the winters, do most folks stay once they finish school and leave home, or is the weather a factor in leaving?

It was a unique place compared to other parts of the country. It was refreshing to see the history embraced in order to study and learn, and all the natural land.

#1: There are idiots all over the country, NH is no exception, #2: Window air conditioners work. New England weather is crazy (example: snow about 3 weeks ago, 80's real feel a week ago, lol) #3: I'm a talker, and the majority of humans here are quite friendly. #4: Pretty much all towns have a few churches (denominations). My Southern NH town for example has a population of about 25,000 people and 7 churches that I can think of off hand. #5: The usual of McDonalds, Wendys, and also Pressed Cafe & Panera Bread (not sure if those are down South) #6: Can't speak to this, but there are leash laws. #7: Chain restaurants in Southern NH include TBones, AppleBees, OutBack, Longhorn to name a few. There are Mexican eateries, but the best are found locally as well as finding local owned favorites of all types of cuisine once you find your home! #8: No law for helmets in NH. #9: Crazy weather is everywhere. New England is just winter...blizzards, storms etc. A lot of people love sledding, skiing, ice skating on ponds, snowmobiling etc.. in New England. It's a personal choice. Summers are lovely and Autumn is amazing. (I am a lifelong New Englander)
I realize this is long, hope it helped!

 

[kanne323]

Disclosure- I do not currently live in NH; I live in southern Maine (about 40 minutes from the NH border.) But I have lived in NH within the last five years and I'm a born and bred New Englander.

1. I wouldn't say it's normal. I do think it's more common for drivers to be impatient, but screaming loud enough to hear them? Not normal.

2. As others have said, not as many brick houses in this region, though there are some. We do get heat waves and many of us use window AC units. New builds are more likely to have central AC than older homes, but it's not a given. I have two window units; I use them on and off throughout the summer, but not daily.

3. It's not a big no-no, but keep in mind there's a difference between nice and kind. New Englanders tend to be kind, but not necessarily nice and into chitchat with strangers. That said, not everyone here avoids small talk with strangers (though I definitely fall into that stereotype.)

4. I can't speak for NH, but I know Maine is one of the least "churched" states with a lower than average number of people who consider themselves religious. I'd think NH tends to be similar. However, in my unofficial observance, we do have a lot of spiritual-not-religious people.

5. Local places! Your family member will learn the local places. Dunks started in MA; it's pretty much an unwritten law in 5 of the 6 New England states that there has to be a set amount of Dunks per square mile. I don't think we eat that many donuts? Most people I know who go often go for the coffee. I have one about a mile and a half away; I go there when I need to pick up a box of joe for work, but rarely otherwise.

6. Glad to hear animal control was helpful, but that never should have happened in the first place. I hope the dog is okay!

7. I don't know that area well- when I lived in NH, I lived east of there, in the Epping area. You'll find more selection of chains in some areas, but northern New England does not seem to have as many restaurant chains as further south, even compared to southern New England. Manchester would have more than the smaller towns, though. Manchester has a bunch of Mexican restaurants, including at least one that's part of a chain (Margarita's, if it's still there... it has been about 3 years since I've been to Manchester.)

8. Yeah... no helmet law, no seatbelt law, no car insurance law. Can't say I support not having policy around those things. but I no longer live there.

9. I don't know what the stats are for people staying vs. leaving, but I think it's more due to opportunities (or lack thereof) than weather. Small towns don't have as many opportunities for jobs and career growth. Southern NH weather is not going to be horrible. Winter is a part of life. I did hear something worthwhile several years ago when I received a job offer in northern NH- I was told that I should consider whether or not I would embrace outdoor winter activities or not, and that winters can be really hard for those who don't. This was specifically for the northern part of the state, not the southern, but I guess it could be a fair piece of advice for those coming from the warm south. I ultimately declined the job offer for a multitude of other reasons, and ended up a year later moving to southern NH, anyway. And it's definitely not the same down here (southern NH/ME) compared to up north, but I do think it's important to be willing to try to embrace winter.

10. It really is a beautiful place. I encourage your family member (and you when you visit) to explore their new home, within NH and also the surrounding states. VT, NH, and ME share many similarities but each has their own unique beauty, as well.

 

[Hisgirl]

Thank you all for your thoughtful answers! I've always loved New England and visited many times. Looking forward to seeing everything NH has to offer!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just had to comment on your shock over the lack of brick houses. I used to live near NH, on the Mass side, and when we first moved down here to Texas, I hated that all the houses were brick. What happened to all the pretty houses in different colors? It made it difficult for me to buy a house-none of them were attractive.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Just had to comment on your shock over the lack of brick houses. I used to live near NH, on the Mass side, and when we first moved down here to Texas, I hated that all the houses were brick. What happened to all the pretty houses in different colors? It made it difficult for me to buy a house-none of them were attractive.

It's all in the available materials. We happen to have a brick house (in North Carolina). On the good side, I feel very safe during hurricane season. Also, since we're coastal, nobody has basements. When we moved in, we had a weird "cupboard under the stairs". We opened it up and made a triangular reading nook--bookshelves with storage and seating. My kids (all adults now) fight over the space. It suits us much better then the weird closet.

When we lived in NH, we had a faux colonial. Nothing exciting, but it would have fit in, in just about any neighborhood in New England.

 

[Pooh2]

A lot of people move to NH from MA. We have an unpleasant nickname for them (not DIS-friendly), for a reason. They tend to bring their MA driving habits with them. Personally,

Ayup! I second the above comment.

We've been here nearly 40 years and find it hard to go out without getting involved in long conversations at the grocery/hardware/park, etc.

Not sure how you went hungry in the Bedford area but route 3 and 101a both have lots of wonderful restaurants including both chains and local, one of my favorite, Tuckers.
Follow rt 3 N into Manchester and you will find your DQ, Wendys, Panera, etc all right in a row along with lots of restaurants.

Check out little towns and villages up North on your next visit though the Dunkins get a little further apart!

 

[BrianL]

A few other tidbits, as a former New Hampshirite who moved to North Carolina...

1. A lot of people move to NH from MA. We have an unpleasant nickname for them (not DIS-friendly), for a reason. They tend to bring their MA driving habits with them. Personally, I try to give grace, especially to out-of-state plates (they might be lost, looking for something, etc.). Not everyone does this.

5. We lived in Keene, NH, so when we drove to Manchester, there was nothing, nothing, nothing, Dunks, nothing, nothing, nothing... New Englanders take their Dunks very seriously. They sell sandwiches and coffee, in addition to donuts. Keene (very small, isolated city) has Mc Donald's, Burger King, Panera, and so forth, but I recommend finding small, local places. You're likely to get much better pizza in NH (certainly, better than what we get down here--I miss good pizza!). And the bagels are better in NH.

1. Ha ha - I know what word you mean. It's the persona that comedian Bill Burr projects - though he's actually a nice guy. I have family in RI (I was born there), so it's pretty much the same. And, yeah, as some have said, "New England Normal" is a bit different from Southern niceness, but it doesn't mean the people aren't nice - nor does it mean they are nice in the South - it just seems that way.

5. I've been in Keene. My sister went to school in Ringe, so Keene was the closest "city" - if you can call it that. We went up there when she graduated and I stayed a week or so.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm in Mass, but a lot of the answers ring true here as well.

Dunkins is definitely about the coffee, not the doughnuts! When we first moved here back in the 90s, I still had a lot of family we would visit in upstate NY, and we used to joke about the progression of the coffee machines on the drive - right next to the register here, and farther away there, with a gradual movement along the route.

I've noticed the same thing about different types of houses in different parts of the country as well, and I agree it's an available materials thing. I really like architecture and have fun trying to place all the different styles here into their various periods/design trends.

As for friendliness, it's just a different sort of vibe here, more like: "We won't chat ya up, but we will help ya out." The people are actually pretty great (even without a church on every corner ) and I'm sure your family members will make friends!

And I am soooo sorry about the dog incident!! I would definitely not call that a normal experience here - I'm glad it was addressed and I hope they are OK.