I cannot begin to express how much I longed to leave my tiny state. How long I waited to get far, far away from snow and the overabundance of pine trees.
Except now, I cannot begin to express how much I miss it - well, minus the snow that is.
People always hear I’m from New England and automatically assume I love the Patriots, only eat lobster, and have some sort of funny accent.
However, if you know anything about me, you’ll know I hate lobster, speak with multiple accents, and could care less about who’s on TV as long as there’s food involved.
But despite all the stereotypes, here are ten reasons I will always be a New Englander at heart.
1. Our wildlife/nature
No matter if it’s camping, hiking, sailing, or just swimming in one of our many lakes, I’ll always be down. Call me crazy, but there’s definitely something different in the water down here -- and I’m not just talking about the alligators.
2. Our summers
Sure, most of New England is known for the amount of snow we get, but have you ever seen our summers? They’re perfect. Not too hot, not too cold -- and never exceptionally rainy. I can wear shorts in the morning, and a sweatshirt at night. Not to mention our view of the stars is perfect.
3. The local towns
One of my favorite things about New England is its vast amount of locally owned businesses. Whether it’s another antique shop, a seafood place, or clever crafting, I’m glad to be able to support someone’s dream.
4. The friendliness of the people
Now I know what you must be thinking, “But the Massholes. What about the Massholes!?” We don’t count them. Forget they exist. They in no way do justice for the kindness and sense of community I feel whenever I’m in New England. People support each other, and despite our uncontrollable road rage, we really do want the best for each other.
5. Our apples
Our apples. Sounds weird doesn’t it? But unless you’ve lived in New England, you may not understand this one. We have apple orchards on apple orchards on apple orchards. Then there’s the apple pie, the apple cider, the hot apple cider, the HARD apple cider, the apple cider donuts, the apple juice, the granny smith’s, the orchard apples, and all their other distant relatives. In short, we love our apples.
6. My family
This may sound a little cliche, but my family is a strong reason for why I’ll always claim my New Englander roots. We all grew up there. My Grandma, my mom, me. There’s a whole section of a town that I could drive around and guarantee a, totally unplanned mind you, family sighting. Car trips to and from each other’s various states/houses have become so regular, that I don’t even notice the hours pass by. I know exactly what radio stations to listen to, and exactly what time Delilah turns on -- so if you’re ever looking for a road trip partner, I gotchu.
7. Our fall
Much like our summers, our falls are even more perfect. They involve corn mazes, tractor rides, pumpkins upon pumpkins, our highly coveted apples, and most importantly, the joy of bundling up -- without the terror of still freezing to death. The air is crisp and fresh, and the leaves defy beauty with their vast array of colors. It means long weekends filled with movies, cuddling, and hot chocolate - but most importantly, it means the start of a new chapter.
8. The sense of community I have in my hometown
Maybe you’re thinking: “But how can this apply to all of New England?” Let me explain. I’ve lived in New England for most of my life. I know the area, I know the hidden perks, and I’ve seen the things some people only ever dream of seeing. I’ve grown up being a New Englander. When I left New England to escape Florida, I never would have guessed that a part of me got left behind. I would never have guessed that I would have such an incredible support system -- but more so, I never expected to be unable to find that here. Florida is great, don’t get me wrong, but there is no sense of community here. No one is dying to help each other out. No one is going out of their way to take you under their wing. It’s all individualized. You are you, and that is it.
9. The vast number of IKEAs I have available to me
Would you believe me if I said my mom used to take me to IKEA instead of a playground? A lot of my core childhood memories, happened at IKEA. The secret tunnels built into the room displays. The delicious, warm cinnabuns we’d always beg our mom to buy. The play area we spent countless hours in until we became too old, and cried. IKEA was a stable point in my life, and yet there are people here who have never ventured off to one, let alone HEARD OF IT. It’s incredible. How could you not hear of such a magical place? It’s basically the Disney World of New England.
10. And finally, the feeling of home I always get when I cross into its territory
No matter what state it is, as soon as I hit “New England”, I smile. I smile because I know that at long last I am home. That I can breathe freely again, and that soon I will be back in my own personal sunshine state.
So I tip my hat to you Florida. You made a valiant effort, but you’ll never be able to take New England out of this girl.
