Friendlier in the South

Some people cannot speak with any authority to the stereotypes of people.  But I've lived a few places - so I think I get to!  Here is my list of where I've lived... don't try to do the math, but I turned 50 this year.  I'll start north and head south; Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Utah, California (northern and southern), Tennessee, Georgia, and now New Mexico.  This is my lived list, not my traveled list.  So I've got the 4 corners of the continental US pretty well covered.

People are friendlier in New Mexico - not the south in general.  People in New Mexico love to help a stranger with advice.  We were looking at some hardware at Costco and a couple was walking by and they stopped and told us their experience with the item and were super friendly.  The waiters will tell you the best place to eat in other cities or where to hike or the best scenic route.  The neighbors stopped and chatted while we were moving in.  If I sit on my porch, the neighbors come up and chat.  This doesn't happen elsewhere.

Okay when we moved into Georgia I did have some interesting encounters with grocery store cashier and a neighbor, but when I declined their invitation to join their church family, that was the end of the friendliness.  In fact I had a play group come to a crashing halt when my kids friends mom found out my religion and pulled a "sorry we have to go" after a two minute visit.  Never heard from them again.... and that was Tennessee.

I love walking around the neighborhood here.  People do the head nod or actually say "Hello."  People smile at each other in the grocery store.  Walmart is still annoying, but that's what minimum wage does to people.

Part of it is surely the sunshine and lack of humidity.  I do think there is just less depression here as people are getting their needed D. When there is a cloudy day, just one, I can see that it affects people.

Balloon Festiva 2011

New Mexican's do like to complain about the wind, which when it is mixed with sand, is a little intimidating.  When you first get here they look into your eyes and ask how you are liking New Mexico.  Then they ask you how you are handling the wind.  Then they ask when you got here to see if you have actually experienced the wind.  Then they determine whether or not you will last by your response.  Some will wait to really friend you until after you have been in town a couple years.  But generally - New Mexicans are super friendly!