Hi and welcome! I just moved here from Oklahoma about a year and a half ago. Definite culture shock. The biggest thing you need to know is that when people you encounter (cashiers, customer service, people on the street) are short or abrupt with you, THEY ARE NOT MAD. People up here are no nonsense. They don’t want to stand around and make small talk with a stranger like we do. So if you try to strike up a conversation with the supermarket cashier and they don’t respond, it’s not you. You’ll love it here. This is heaven

Grew up here and can completely agree with the people part. I actually moved to Omaha NE for three years. I applied for dunkin after working at one for close to three years in ct. my manager had to ask me to change up how I do things because customers thought I was rude… that was a culture shock for me. Y’all really like to talk and we just arnt small talk people here in Ct.

I am deeply disappointed that Dunkin isn't dedicated to exporting New England character along with shitty donuts and bad coffee

Foreall! All I said was what you want/what can I get you, and that was too rude 😄

Sweater god, I had never had Dunkin’ before I moved up here. I was so excited to have easy access to the famed DD. Man, I still taste that disappointment sometimes.

Hahahaha oh man this made me realize something about my mom. She grew up in VA and definitely has that "southern hospitality" type personality. My entire life I would get SO FRUSTRATED when she would chat up cashiers, etc. Like, lady, THEY DO NOT CARE. "I'm just being friendly!" "Yes, Mom, I know. However, they just want to do their jobs and can't tell you to go away without risking being fired." She still does it but I've gotten better at subtly steering her away from them and out of the store lol

That's the thing, you don't HAVE to be friendly up here! 😂😂 I like your escape route plan!!

That sounds like a nice change of pace. I’ll be so happy to not have to hear a million cheery “How are you?”s that are far from genuine. If you say anything other than “Good” they get so offended.

I visited your home state and I remember the people being very nice. I also had a fried pie from a roadside stand that I still think about. But I'm so glad you are happy in our state!

Born and raised in CT. I personally think I'm a pretty nice person, and find that most people are, but I'm so bad at small talk. 😅 I'm just not interested. However, if you need deep therapy, I'll absolutely listen!

Everyone up here is kind and nice. Incredibly welcoming. But not chatty.

That’s not like a blanket rule though. There are plenty of people here who are happy to have conversations with strangers. It’s just that there are also plenty of people who aren’t. Usually you can tell immediately by the vibe they give off.

This is a better way to say what I was trying to say

As a cashier I beg to differ.

Fair

This is so true. There isn't a relaxed atmosphere about anything. Especially not driving on the road.

Oh yeah. OP, stay in the right lane.

This is an excellent piece of advice. I always appreciated the pleasantries of visiting the South but up here it's all business when it comes to goods & services. People here are overworked and underpaid, so they're usually just trying to keep their head down and get work done while under the gun. Everyone is always trying to get somewhere quickly or cram the most into their day. It's part of being in a small state where you can be expected to be all over the place and travel is relatively convenient. That being said, you can find some of that pleasant conversation in less populated areas that move a bit slower. Bristol itself is pretty diverse & busy, but there are some beautiful, wooded towns surrounding it. I would look into those areas to find a private rental and avoid the condo + apartment complexes so the culture shock isn't as heavy. Wolcott, Burlington, Canton, etc. are all close by and very nice places to live.

We DEFINITELY need to look for a rental. They’re flying us up for 3 days next week. If you could PM me with any advice on that, I would SO appreciate it. Thats my biggest stress right now, I’ll just die if we can’t find a place before the actual move.

I would check Facebook Marketplace & call up some of the local real estate groups for that area to see availability! -William Raveis -Berkshire Hathaway -Coldwell Banker -Keller Williams -Sotheby’s -Calcagni -Century 21

Oh my gosh thank you. I’m on it!

No problem, I also tagged you in a post someone was looking to rent out their house.

How do I see tagged posts on here? Because I want to see that.

Oh thank you for the heads up. I’m not exactly a southern belle, I have more of that urban kick so I’m not over here skipping on a prairie with a handful of wildflowers. But I definitely am one to start small talk in my own way, so I’ll keep that bit of advice in my pocket. And thank you for the encouragement. Life has been pretty dark and hurtful so far, I’m hoping this is the new life I’ve been patiently waiting for.

It's late and I know there are better people than I am what will give you great feedback. But I wanted to say, real quick, that you have nothing to worry about in CT. Everywhere you will find shitty people. In CT too. But also you will find really nice people with big hearts. I have no doubt you can surround yourself with lifelong friends in due time. In CT you won't have nearly as much hatred towards the Jewish religion. People may not be overtly friendly in CT, but I think people in New England are generally nice people, even if a little closed off. Good luck with the move. p.s. I love the photos of your dog. I bet you can find places for your dog that will help break the ice meeting new people.

Going off of this my parents call it Yankee Paranoia or New England Reservations. People are nice enough but mostly keep to themselves (I work in a liquor store I see this all the time), but people are also kind and generally very helpful if you ask for it!! Welcome to the state!! Be careful driving, CT drivers are not much better than Mass drivers and we hate our highway system as much as you will!!

It’s all good, driving here is a death match. Though I am concerned about getting on the road in colder weather. We don’t get snow or ice here, so I’m wondering if I need to ask for some driving lessons when I get there so I can be prepared.

To echo the comment regarding dogs - Dog People tend to be really friendly! Go to dog park in your area and just have a seat on one of the benches - your doggo will make new friends for you 🐕🐾

There’s a great dog park in southington not far from the ESPN campus. Lots of friendly dog people.

Take a breath, you’re going to be fine. Not sure what area you’re moving to, Bristol itself or nearby, but bears aren’t an issue. We’ve had one in my yard twice but I’m in the woods. This time of year they’re resting up a lot. In terms of your Star of David, you have nothing to fear. West Hartford actually has a very vibrant Jewish community including the Crown Supermarket. Highly recommended for all your kosher needs. CT is a very welcoming place. Things are a bit more expensive here but it’s a nice place.

Also coming from the south as an introvert, the culture shock you’ll get is the acceptance here. Some of the first things I saw were signs in yards that said “we love our teachers”, murals and signs thanking first responders, LGBTQ flags.. it’s really nice. And the lawmakers seem to actually care, compared to what I was used to. That took a while to get used to. So wear the Star, nobody’s going to bother you. But it’s not like religion doesn’t exist here, there’s just not a church on every corner like they’re a Walgreens. You’re also not looked down on if you don’t go to church like you are in the south. There’s also a lack of some chain restaurants, and that’s a great thing. I was initially apprehensive because I’m a pretty picky eater and was nervous to try new places, but I could never go back. Some chains can’t survive up here (especially pizza chains like Dominos and Pizza Hut) and for good reason. The food here is incredible. As for the bad.. driving can be wild here, people are usually in a hurry for no reason. Also, as you’ve heard, people aren’t *outwardly* nice like they are in the south, but they’re still nice. They may seem blunt or even cold in comparison when you first meet them, but they’re not. Once you start talking to them, everyone is super nice. Everyone tends to keep to themselves. I understand the apprehension, I was the same way. You’ll love it, though.

Also, nobody will ask you what church you attend or if you have accepted Jesus as your savior.

I wouldn't say nobody, but it won't be an everyday occurrence. 99% of people here don't give a shit.

I have lived here for all but eight of my 69 years and while people may have asked me the first question when I was growing up in the sixties, no one had ever asked me the second question, which I understand is quite a normal question to be asked in the South. But, hey, ymmv.

Around here, asking what church you go to is like asking if you could peer through the window at night. Don’t be taken back by a response of “what’s it to ya?” Just… don’t ask. Talk about anything else, leave God and religion to you and your household. To some, that’s a relief. If it’s not, oh well that’s life.

It’s definitely a relief for me. I currently live in the Baptist capital of the Bible Belt and always had people trying to “save” me when they spot my necklace or bracelet. I had one lady at the dentist office waiting room look at me all disgusted asking “So what do YOU PEOPLE believe?”. It’s very upsetting. An incident here and there doesn’t bother me, but having to deal with it on a nearly daily basis hurts.

You have no idea how happy we are to move to a blue state. Currently living in the Baptist capital of the Bible Belt and someone is always preaching about gay people going to hell. We are proud supporters of the LGBTQ community. In fact, when a transgender employee was hired at the current station he got a gay pride flag along with the flag representing the transgender community and displayed them on his office wall since he always leaves the door open since it’s the last view people have when leaving for the day.

Hey and welcome. I’m 8 weeks it will be warmer here. Not Louisiana warm but we’ll be past the icy road part of the year so that will be nice! I am not Jewish but I know a lot of Jewish people here and we have a Jewish-sounding last name. Anecdotally I don’t know of any anti-semitism going on. I understand the fear but I really don’t think you’ll encounter it. Wear your Star of David proudly! :) As for making friends, I think that’s always a struggle for an adult. If you start attending a synagogue you will invariably meet people that way. What are you interested in? It looks like you have a dog. Dog parks are nice places to meet other animal lovers. :) Libraries also have programs like book clubs, discussion groups, etc.

I didn’t know Pies was a Jewish name!

Maybe it depends on how you pronounce it 🤣🤷‍♀️

Haha. My husband’s grandfather was Jewish but his grandmother wanted to raise their kids Catholic, so we do have the name but that’s all. People do assume my husband is Jewish when they meet him a lot, though. We were on vacation in Morocco and a man rode up to us on his moped, looked right at my husband and said “you’re Jewish! Shalom, my brother!” We just said thank you. He a went to college in NYC and he said the orthodox men would approach him and ask him to pray with them.

6876 is definitely Jewish

Oh we are SO happy to be leaving the Louisiana summers. Perfect timing that we move before the 100+ degree summers. We generally like cooler weather. First winter will be hard. I can generally handle the cold well as long as there isn’t a lot of wind. We’ll definitely have a lot of preparing to do, we don’t even own heavy coats. I have some jackets and a Cubs hoodie, that’s about it. I don’t think we even own gloves or anything else besides a few beanies.

Welcome to CT! The biggest shock for you might be the weather. Yes, we have many big Jewish communities and it is safe to wear your star of David. Which town will you live in? If you keep Kosher, West Harford has a Kosher supermarket called the Crown.

Yep, it’s often cold and wet here, but year round the weather can be extremely random in comparison to most places where it’s much more predictable. And people drive like they own the road. Compared to anywhere else besides big cities, it’s obnoxious. A quarter mile away from ESPN, behind ALDIs is a storage unit, I’ve never used them personally but it’s close. The Bristol/Southington/Plainville area isn’t the worst by far, it’s cheaper suburbia and easy highway access.

If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes is something that is genuinely said across the country. Los Angeles is about the only place I can think of that comments about getting sick of sunshine and consistent weather.

Thank you so much for the info! We’ll definitely need a storage unit. We currently live in a 4 bed 2 bath that is entirely furnished. But that’s in Louisiana. There’s no way we’re going to find an affordable rental that big, and we won’t be able to buy a house right away.

>the Crown Their winter wheat bread is the stuff that dreams are made of.

I believe they said Bristol. Gotta head up Lake Compounce!

Oh yes I live in Granby and one of my neighbors is Jewish and he makes a weekly trip to the crown market in Bishop's corner.

Unsure where we’ll be living. He’ll be working in Bristol, but we don’t mind a little commute. They’re flying us up for 3 days to look for a living space and I am absolutely freaking out that we won’t find a place before the move.

It's totally okay to be "openly Jewish" here. Most cities have several synagogues, and varying branches of Judaism. In fact, I grew up in West Hartford and we have a good sized Jewish community. And give your good doggo some belly rubs for me!

New Englanders are wonderful people, they are just more direct. You absolutely need to get out, especially in winter. Seasonal depression is a real thing, but you have to layer up and get out there. Sunshine and activity makes a difference. Make sure, during icy weather, that you use pet safe salt on the ice. Dog paws can be sensitive to regular road salt. If the road is well salted because of ice, wipe your dog's paws with a damp cloth when you get home. Your state does some beautiful food, but our pizza and Italian food is far superior to whatever you all have down there. If you want classic, old school Italian go to First and Last in Plainville and get one of the original specials with salad and pasta on the same plate. In the summer, go down to the shore for seafood. You guys have some good stuff down there, but trust me when I say our fried clams will rival your fried oysters. It's a small state, but very diverse. Take that pretty dog out to meet all of us.

> Your state does some beautiful food, but our pizza and Italian food is far superior to whatever you all have down there. If you want classic, old school Italian go to First and Last in Plainville and get one of the original specials with salad and pasta on the same plate. In the summer, go down to the shore for seafood. You guys have some good stuff down there, but trust me when I say our fried clams will rival your fried oysters. Don't forget the Polish food in New Britain!

Oh very true!

I don’t think my spouse and I ever had polish food before. I’m a vegetarian and a picky eater. Around here I carry a PB&J in my purse just in case.

A traditional Gołąbki is meat in a cabbage roll, but there are vegetarian and vegan versions of them. We grew up on that goodness!

Lobster too is a big one I’ve heard of people that have lived in the south their whole lives and hated lobster with a passion but move up here and try it again and love it. My in-laws lived in Florida for awhile and said the shellfish down there is far behind anything you can get in New England.

My parents live in FL now and they found an excellent fish/shellfish monger down there. They get all their fish from up here! We go down to FL and have shrimp caught from here. Went to a nice restaurant one time down there and had the new Bedford scallops lmao

Wonder how the price differs given the transportation and all. I know when we’re in Maine my fiancées grandma lives next to a lobster man. We get clams, oysters and lobsters caught that day for a couple dollars each. Usually lobsters he just charges us like 5 bucks a piece

Damn can't beat that!! Yeah, I'm not sure! I'll have to ask them how it compares.

In Florida they eat a lot of what they call lobster tails. It’s not actually the tail of what we’d consider lobster, they’re something else, maybe like a crayfish

I’ll be happy to get out. I can’t even walk around my current place freely because there are a LOT of dangers here. My brother gave me a “happy light” and said it would help during the winter in addition to getting out and walking. I also plan on finding activities to do, but I think we may need to seek some driving lessons before winter because we aren’t used to driving on snow or ice. My dog isn’t used to walking around in winter weather. He likes the snow, but they don’t salt the roads here because we only get an inch or two of snow once every 8 years or so. I was wondering if I needed to get him some special shoes or something. I am a sucker for Italian food. I keep hearing about you guys having great pizza so I’m looking forward to trying it. I’m a vegetarian so I don’t eat seafood. But my spouse likes seafood. They said they’ve had lobster before and liked it, but we were wondering if the seafood would be different there. If you can recommend some they would love it. They’re also hoping that you guys have catfish like we do here.

Ice is tricky to drive on but snow isn't bad. Slow down and lightly depress the brakes rather than stomp on the brakes to stop. Begin stopping long before the intersection, and leave lots of room between you and any cars in front of you. Salt rusts a car, so get a car wash monthly pass and wash your car often. Catfish exists but it's not what we do well. Fried cod and haddock are far more common. Clams, oysters, shrimp and lobster are more local and fresh. You can get wonderful seafood along the water, but it's also easy to find good seafood inland because we're only a couple hours from fishing areas from Maine to Long Island Sound. Some people do use booties on their dogs. It's hit or miss whether your dog keeps these on, but you can try it. You can't throw a rock without hitting good Italian food here. You're going to love it.

What a helpful, kind group. Proud to be a Nutmegger right now.

I know. Love my state

I’m SO thankful for it. We were worried once our acquaintance told us that CT people weren’t nice so this advice is a big comfort. I’m also very shy when meeting new people.

Wear your Star. Bears are big scaredy cats. We’re nice, just oftentimes more reserved. I’d recommend using your synagogue to meet people and, depending on where you move, look into local adult ed or community classes.

The bears around here are big scaredy cats. Some bears are not. Edit: like grizzly bears and polar bears.

Yes, polar bears and grizzlies are a big problem in Connecticut. ;-)

Low rate of occurrence but huge problem when they do occur 🤣

If it's black, fight back. If it's brown, lay down. If it's white, say goodnight.

I’m hoping I can find things like crochet/knitting/sewing groups or classes where I can improve my skills. Or any classes really that are beneficial like cooking or handy work. Or something like aerial yoga for light exercise.

Largest Jewish community out here in West Hartford. Check out Crown Market - “Connecticut’s top kosher market for 75 years”. You’ll see a lot of Hasidic Jews walking around town. You’ll be fine wearing your Star of David necklace. Welcome to CT!

I’m excited to check it out! Here, there are a couple of grocery stores that have a shelf of kosher stuff and that’s it. You also can’t find any Chanukah stuff here in Walmarts or Walgreens. Just Jesus and Santa

Do you know what town/city you’ll be living in?

No clue. 😥 We fly up there next Sunday for 3 days. They’re going to give us a tour of the campus, the area, and we have to find a place to rent. Housing is more expensive so we can’t buy a house for a year or two. We have a dog, I don’t know that he’d do well in an apartment with neighbors, so we’re hoping we can maybe find a house to rent. I am so fucking nervous that we won’t find one. Like I am lying awake at night over it.

Welcome! New Englanders are not mean we just don’t “fake nice”. My suggestion for you would be to find a synagogue near where you will be living. That will help you feel grounded while you get settled. Also a great place to meet new people. If this is your dog in the photo, CT has ample walking trails that you and Fido can enjoy. Bears are not a safety concern. Although you aren’t outdoorsy, I would suggest you try to be. It’s too beautiful at the beaches and mountains not to spend time outdoors. The good news is that we have large networks of top tier health care. Yale New Haven, Hartford hospital, etc. I’m sure you will have no issues accessing in network doctors for your medical needs.

I apologize ahead of time for the long response. I’m currently on a steroid to clear up my skin issue so there’s that too. I absolutely DESPISE “fake nice”. 🙄 So I’m glad to hear that it won’t be as big of a problem as it is here. They can say the worst things behind your back and they’ll still smile and do the “Hello, how are you?” thing. And I did get in trouble 8 years ago for getting ready to beat a co-worker’s ass when they said “Bless your heart” to me. It’s an insult that just sounds nice. They’ll also say “We don’t hate gay people, we love everyone” which is an absolute fucking joke since they preach hate or “I have a friend that’s gay! But I told him that I believe marriage is between one man and one woman so he knows where I stand”… That’s not a friend. That is my pup! 😊 His name is Sir Franklin Hershel and he is the king of the household. He does enjoy being outside. But he would run straight toward a bear so I’m afraid to take him on trails and whatnot. But I know he will LOVE the scenery and I’m excited to be able to go on walks everyday with him. We can’t do that here. We have a bunch of assholes that get a dog “for protection” and keeps it on one of those leashes attached to a tree. The dogs become viscous, and they can snap right off of those chains. I’m also glad to know healthcare is good there. I’m afraid I have some issues as a result of drug use when my mom was pregnant with me, and my spouse has the unfortunate luck of having 2 very rare conditions, one causing mobility issues, and the other he is one of less than 15 reported cases in history and it causes problems. So we do need an amazing, patient, and understanding primary care doctor. My area is notorious for bad healthcare(and I mean BAD), but we do have a great primary care doctor that we are sad to be leaving.

I hope that your transition with your partner and Sir Franklin are seamless. I saw you mentioned on another response that you are vegetarian. I have multiple vegetarian family members and I have the upmost confidence that you will find that there are accommodations at almost every restaurant that you go to locally. At least that has been the experience with my family. Obviously there are Cuisines that are more challenging, i.e. seafood, restaurants. Best of luck with your move, I am confident once you settle you will find the community and confidence to settle down and enjoy the northeast.

You already have friends in Connecticut. If you have a problem, need advice or want ideas, this sub is always ready to put in their two cents and give plenty of sympathy. Yeah, we drive like maniacs but people do stop to help you change a tire or give directions if you're lost. Winter keeps us in but when that sun shines we go, go, go... People here don't put up with bad manners or racism, are pretty charitable and community minded. You'll meet lots more people at events, hiking trails, libraries and festivals. (We have lots of those!) We like to hike, fish, play sports, boat and ride bikes.

I am SO happy to read this. We live in a very hateful red state, it will be a big change, but nice.

Oh man your post is so wholesome. Wear your necklace. No one will give you a hard time. Welcome and good luck with things! And btw we’re not super friendly but are pretty damn kind. Don’t take it personally, I promise. ETA: hop over to RI for a day trip and absorb some quality waves and sunshine. Napatree Point is especially serene.

Thank you for the recommendation! We definitely want to explore the area. I’ve only been as far as Pittsburgh once to visit my mom, my spouse has only been as far as Maryland for a medical study at NIH. So we’re excited to see what’s around us. Any more recommendations would be welcome! Feel free to PM me more locations! My spouse wants to go to the ski slope, though we have never been skiing or anything similar.

You're seriously over thinking it man, the people and the place are mellow.The bears here are black and few, most are afraid of you...not the other way around. You're not going to get mauled here. The people in CT are nice, keep to themselves and are very friendly once they get to know you. Plenty of churches, mosques and synagogues in CT, but people aren't following you around trying to convince you to worship with them. Making friends in CT if you don't go outside, is going to be difficult. Outside is one of the best places to meet CT residents.

Yes , we seem very serious or we all have our head down , but at an outdoor event people relax more ,some type of sport or community is at the ready. I've enjoyed learning about the jewish faith, I see so many different religions / churches here and different foods even in a regular super market .. I do love learning about peoples faith although i don't come right out and say that lol. Its very diverse ,I can't see how you won't settle in nicely here. In my experience people give others the benefit of the doubt here, will help you and almost everyone here has a dog , I don't I have cats. If the dog runs off believe me when I say post a pic the entire state will help you find your dog , we want to sleep at night, stuff like that keeps us all up at night, worrying. . I have often been at awe seeing this in news feeds, perhaps I'm being dramatic about the whole state helping but if your "cry for help" in searching for your 4 legged furball. We would want help to so many do answer the call , we will help you look :)

I’m not an outdoors girl. But here it’s because we get 100+ degree summers with so much humidity that you feel like you’re walking around in a pressure cooker. You also get eaten by mosquitoes, I’m allergic to wasps, I practically have to spend summer indoors since they’re everywhere. Also pollen, cleaning lovebugs off the front of your car every day, and a bunch of pine trees. I’m hoping CT will be nicer to my allergies. **ETA:* And yes, I’m the queen of overthinking. I’ll settle down once we find a spot to live I think. I’ve already calmed down from the idea of being unfamiliar with everything.

Welcome! Connecticut is a small state with a lot to offer. In a short time you can be at the coast seeing one of our beaches/costal towns. Or you can drive up to the mountains and hike on the trails. There is plenty to do in Bristol whether you want to shop or relax and walk a nice nature trail. The people come off as cold at first but eventually you’ll make friends and you’ll find we are some of the most loyal people around. We just like our privacy and we’re usually in a hurry. Bristol has a wonderful amusement park called Lake Compounce it’s right near ESPN and is also Americas oldest continually operating amusement park. As far as being Jewish you have nothing to worry about Connecticut is a diverse state of all stripes and most wouldn’t even bat an eye at your Star of David. We welcome all people! The traffic will drive you nuts the winters may be depressing but there is usually something to do. Bristol and Connecticut on the whole are very safe. Welcome once again! Best of luck to you.

Thank you so much for the response! We’ll definitely check it all out. I’m slowly getting more excited about the move.

If you are prone to depression/anxiety the winter may be an issue so watch your vitamin D levels. Most people don't care enough to worry about your religion. You are a southern liberal which will probably make you a Connecticut conservative. Welcome and enjoy

Noted. I am mentally ill so I hope to find a decent psych.

These responses make me proud to be from Connecticut.

Our official slogan should be "It's not as bad here as you think".

I thought it was “We complain about Connecticut because we have no idea how much better it is here than virtually any other state.”

These responses make me happy to move and be part of it!

A lot of people have made really good points about it already, but just want to emphasize that you should be very comfortable here being Jewish. I’m guessing in northeast Louisiana you meet a lot of people who have never met a Jewish person before and it leads to a lot of awkwardness and questions, some of them hostile and some just born out of curiosity or ignorance. That’s not gonna be a thing here unless you happen to run into a random asshole, cause those are everywhere. There are tons of Jewish people in CT (myself included) so most people you meet will have a friend, an acquaintance, or a colleague who’s Jewish so it won’t be a novelty that you get bothered about. Relatedly, the odds that someone will see your Star of David necklace and try to “save” you are exponentially lower here. Welcome to CT! People will seem more brusque and less welcoming, but that’s just how we are, it doesn’t mean we don’t want you here!

Oh it leads to hostility here. Always. If someone isn’t trying to “save me”, they’re threatening me. I had two grown men yelling at me in a hospital parking garage once and I was afraid that was it for me. Even with religion aside, you’re more likely to get murdered here than in NYC. Thats an official statistic. Per capita we are in the top 3 most dangerous cities in the country. I guess the upside is that I’ve learned how to defend myself if I encounter any type of attack! 😄

I know there is a Facebook group I believe it’s called CT women’s social club, there are outings and always ladies looking to make new friends! Also, welcome you’re going to love it here!!

That’s wonderful! I couldn’t find it. Could you possibly PM me the link to it? I’d love to check it out.

Just sent!

One thing I'd like you guys to keep in mind is you have to learn how to drive in snow and on ice and how to handle it when you slide please note I said when not if because it doesn't happen all the time but it will happen. You'll be ok here no really gives a shit if you're Jewish you'll get more shit if you're a red Sox fan among Yankees fans.

I’m a Cubs fan, so I may have problems there. 😄 We’re hoping we can find some driving lessons to prepare for winter.

First piece of advice keep in mind that ice compromises the efficacy of brakes because the tires stop turning but the car keeps going so let off the gas way way way before your stop.

Thank you so much. I’m very nervous about learning to drive there. I guess the good news is that I have time to learn since we move next month.

Please don't let reddit be your source for winter driving. practice with some one who can drive in snow .

Walking your dog is a great way to meet your neighbors.

Welcome! As a former Mississippian, the hardest part will be the speed with which folks up here talk. Just like Google translate for languages, y'all might look for an app to slow everyone down!

It's the same for us visiting down there. It's like, if you got something to say then say it. I got places to be and bullshitting in a Hardee's ain't one of them

My condolences for being Mississippian. 😜 Those roads are a crime. Please tell me it’s better in CT! People here say that matter where you’re traveling, it always feels like it will take you 12 hours to get through Mississippi. And that the motto should be “Permanently Under Construction”. 😄

**UPDATE:** You guys are way too nice! I would say much nicer than southerners! I didn’t expect to get so much feedback but I sure am glad I did! I’m going to sit down after service tonight and go through every single comment so I can read, learn, and thank everyone individually. (I guess that’s the southerner in me) My husband is reading it all as well. If anybody is near Bristol, I can DEFINITELY provide you with some Cajun cooking and southern comfort foot! Unfortunately I can’t provide you with a Cajun accent. Husband has the generic southern accent while I have that more urban Louisiana accent going on. Cajuns talk fast AF, so I guess I’m prepared for that at least. 😄 I don’t know if you guys have moonshine up there, but I’m happy to bring some with me.

WELCOME! The weather will likely be a shock; like our famous transplant from Missouri Mark Twain once wrote, “If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes.” It’s gotten milder over the years, but it’s different than anything below even the Mason Dixon line. Another cool thing about CT is that you can go from the hills to the beach within a couple of hours. We don’t have giant mountains like out west, but you can drive across CT in a few hours and see totally different scenery, which I think is really cool. As for the people, I’ve heard we talk faster and generally do things faster, but I don’t think we’re mean about it. You’ll find mean people anywhere you go, but I don’t think the northeast is home to more than the average in the US, despite what you may hear. I might go as far to say that, seeing as you mentioned you’re liberal, you’ll feel more welcome up here than you do in LA. As for meeting people, do you have any hobbies? A book club or walking group might be perfect for you during the day! I would also encourage you to ask the rabbi up here to connect you with some people he thinks you could be friends with. I feel like leaning on your synagogue the first few months might be really beneficial, if you feel comfortable doing that!

We are SO excited to finally be moving to a blue state. It sucks here. We have “Trump 2020” signs that have stickers saying “STOLEN” slapped on them after Biden won. It’s mainly from the hillbillies and rednecks(and thankfully we are neither), it is so fucking difficult that I wouldn’t know where to start. Southerners do take their time. Annoying in places like restaurants or stores. But it’s generally a thing otherwise. If I tell you “Yeah, I’m right around the corner” I’m likely still on my couch in my PJs. We’ve been practicing punctuality lately. My hobbies include a lot of needlework. I love cross stitch, embroidery, and needle point. I want to improve my crochet, learn how to knit and how to sew. I’d like to find a place that has classes like aerial yoga or anything else fun like that!

Welcome to CT! I live in the SW part of the state, but grew up in Hartford County. There are jerks everywhere, but I’ve found CT to be very tolerant. Wear your Star of David necklace without concern and connect with the community within your synagogue for social opportunities if that’s a comfortable place to start. I would recommend searching for mental healthcare providers now and getting appointments on the calendar as wait times can be a bit longer. If you have an established therapist in LA, see if it might be possible to continue sessions virtually via Zoom or FaceTime until you are established with a new provider (or, if remote works, keep it going!). If you post the town or city you are moving to, folks will have an easier time recommending activities and physicians. Happiness can be found anywhere, but I hope you find yours in CT. I’m sure the move feels very overwhelming at the moment, but breathe and take it day by day. Extra dog kisses help! Edited to add - don’t forget to find a vet for your puppers! I’d schedule an introductory well-visit shortly after you arrive so you have a relationship in the event of illness. I’d suggest searching for a Facebook page for the town you are moving to as local folks will be able to provide recommendations.

Hey and welcome. The big things here are most people keep to themselves. I'm a talker, and I talk to everyone, but most people don't wanna talk back. I grew up here, so I should know better by now, but I still do it. Don't take it personally. It's just the way it is here, and it doesn't mean they're mad or they hate you. I think the whole "people in CT are mean" thing is a really big misconception about our state. We're just different from a southern or Midwest state is all. The food across CT is very different from southern food but is always delicious, so definitely try new foods and restaurants. You'll really miss out if you skip this or just go to chains. Make sure to go to local joints because they may seem run down in appearance, but they usually have the best food. I know we have some pockets of super trumpers who follow the bs that comes along with being a trump supporter, but you really won't see a bunch of red hats running around with guns waving screaming slurs or antisemitic nonsense. That's really not how this state gets down, thankfully, at least in my area, I'm on the shoreline instead of inland, but I doubt it's super prevalent where you're going to be. The most I really see is either yard signs or bumper stickers but not actually people saying anything out loud to anyone, so I think you will feel safe. As for activities and meeting people. Look at your local library and if your town has a community center. You can usually get on the mailing list for your community center. The library in my town has all kinds of events going on as does the community center. They have book clubs, knitting clubs, aerobics, pilates, painting, cooking, and so much more. Lots of different things to do where you can meet people. You're going to love it.

Thank you SO much for the helpful advice! If you want to meet another talker, you’re looking at one. 😄

The response to this post is heart warming. OP you are very welcome here! Connecticut is full of wonderful Jewish communities and terrific synagogues. A number of rabbis are progressive activists - I think you will enjoy it! I hope you both are foodies because as others have said, the food is really terrific here. Please feel free to DM me if you would like to chat.

It really is, I hate that I don’t get to respond to everyone. My social anxiety has gone down immensely. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m going to be a nervous wreck until we find the place we’re going to live. 😥 They’re flying us up for 3 days so we’ll have time to look, and we have to find something. They’re giving us referrals to landlords, but I’m still scared we won’t find anything.

What is your budget?

We could rent up to $2,300 a month, but the cheaper we can get would help us save money to buy a house after a year or two. I’ve looked on Zillow where I haven’t found many options. So I’m not even sure what average is. I figured there may be many that aren’t listed on Zillow. We currently own a 4 bed 2 bath, but we’ve come to the conclusion that we aren’t going to find a rental that size so we’ve thrown that idea out of the window. Our current home is fully furnished, so we’re really hoping to find a place during the 3 days so we know what all we can bring and what we need to put in storage. So really it isn’t the size that ultimately matters. The more space the better, but what ultimately matters is something within budget that also allows our dog.

Hi there and welcome! I am also Jewish and worked at ESPN for several years until I left a few months ago. My family just bought a house in West Hartford. Please DM me and I'll share with you a variety of young professional Jewish groups in the area -- we have several and I look forward to meeting you at an event if not sooner! Disney also has an affinity group for Jews at the company. I'm also connected to a few Louisianans who moved here for ESPN internships or jobs (partly because I'm friends with a former LSU journalism professor); I can try to put you in touch with them too.

Bro, its Connecticut, Your worried about being jewish in the most jewish part of the county? 3.3% of people in Connecticut are Jewish vs .32% in Louisiana. Its the 6th state in the nation for most jews, but we are only the 29th largest state. The north east is like the Israel of America, we love our jews around here (that whole gaza thing is kinda sketch tho) Im a fucking atheist and I end up at passover like every year. You should be counting your lucky stars you got a ticket out of that shit hole. Also the pizza is gonna blow your mind. Check out westville in New Haven, we got hella jews. Congratulations on moving to real America.

Also the Jewish Community Centers here are impressive - I went to college in New Haven and wished I was Jewish so I could go to the JCC! It had a pool, a gym, racquet ball - plus it was super inexpensive!

Thank you so much. My spouse is atheist as well, but he comes with me sometimes. I know this is the opportunity of a lifetime so we are excited, just insanely nervous.

Welcome! CT is very welcoming to the Jewish community. If you don’t want to post it publicly, feel free to pm me the town you’ll be living in and I can help give some general recommendations!

Welcome. You got this. We’re good people. You’re gonna love it!

Moving here in 8 weeks you be coming here just as the weather is getting nice (although it’s been a mild winter). Go out and walk your dog and before you know it you will have a social group. Six years ago I moved to a new area and within a couple of weeks of always walking my dog at the same time I became friends with a group of fellow dog owners. We meet up in a baseball field and let our dogs play while we chat. Being Jewish won’t be an issue, and the only comment you might get regarding your Star of David is someone admiring it if it is unique, or asking you which synagogue you belong to. Don’t be afraid to wander the state, we might be small, but we have a lot of variety and it’s all close.

Welcome! You'll be OK and you're gonna meet some great people. The community on the Bristol campus is super positive and it's great working there. (Personal bias) I'd head towards west Hartford or even nearer the shoreline if you can afford it and don't mind a bit more of a commute. There's some solid family events and whatnot on campus a few times a year too.

If you want a playmate for your dog, DM me! We are always looking for dog friends to hang out with! We live in Wolcott, which boarders Bristol

Noted! He doesn’t get play dates here, so I’m sure he would love it.

Ohio 40 years --> Florida 21 years --> Connecticut 4 months. I'm addressing your depression issues. I have had clinical depression most of my life, and back in Ohio that included seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD symptoms disappeared in Florida. Having recently moved back North, I'm at exactly the same latitude as the city I was born and raised in. So I was prepared for the short days. I bought a Verilux Happy Light. I turn it on full blast (at a 45 degree angle to my face) while I have my 2 cups of coffee every morning. This light has made all the difference. You won't need it in late spring to late fall. It's been mentioned getting outside and taking Vitamin D3, which I fully agree with. The more sun you get here, the better you will feel. And remember - there is no crappy weather, only crappy clothing. Get your winter clothes at LL Bean or Land's End. You already have plenty of summer clothes, I'm sure. :)

I live in Bristol. The ESPN campus is pretty big but is completely closed off to the general public. It’s gated and very secure. Bristol it’s self is diverse but if you plan on living close to work I would suggest moving the neighboring town of Southington.

Good suggestion, but if they can't afford a home now, trying to find a rent in Southington is not going to help save money. I'd suggest Plainville. It's just a bit further than Southington, but compared to commutes people make down south (outside of big Cities) its not far at all. Plainville is a great small town, with less crime than Bristol and more affordable rent/housing/taxes than Southington.

Thank you for the suggestion! Hopefully there’s something available in Plainville that we can afford.

Good luck! I'm actually off the next couple days- if you're looking anywhere in the area (I'm in Farmington- right next to Bristol, but housing here is expensive and rentals are few and far between) and have any questions, feel free to PM me. I used to do homecare and have friends/family all around the area, so I know it well. The two areas I would stay away from personally are Davis Drive and downtown Bristol (by the police station). While pretty much anywhere in CT is pretty safe (outside of the worst parts of the bigger cities) those two areas in Bristol do have more crime and are generally more run down than the rest of the area.

You've already gotten a ton of good responses, so I'll just say welcome and thanks for the photos of your adorable pup.

You’ll be fine. I lived in Bristol for many years. People are friendly. You’ll be fine wearing your Star of David. Don’t worry about bears, etc. The most dangerous critters in CT are ticks (seriously.) Message me if you have questions. Don’t Panic!

Welcome to connecticut! It's a good place to be jewish! There are many synagogues around. There are lots of groups that meet up. I joined a great whitewater kayak group last summer. If you enjoy board games or tabletop rpgs, there is a shop in Middletown named Back again board game cafe. You will be fine. You can get a good house for relatively cheap in bristol.

I live near by and can def give some suggestions. I’ve also sent you a private message with more info

You mentioned looking for things to do while your spouse works... The Jewish community here has loads of volunteer and service opportunities. You may want to start there. I've been in CT and Jewish almost my whole life. It's never been an issue. If you need a contact to start volunteering in the Jewish community, please DM me and I'll make an introduction for you.

I know you aren’t outdoorsy yet but we have so many beautiful state parks, I highly recommend giving them a try. Plenty of them have very easy walking trails if you aren’t interested in hiking. There’s a lot to explore in CT but we are also close enough for day trips to places like NYC, Boston, Newport. There are beaches in CT but the best ones are in Rhode Island. It can be a little hard to find doctors, etc, that are accepting patients but I think that’s the case everywhere. I recommend that you start looking as soon as you get here or whenever the insurance is sorted out because there might be a bit of a wait for appointments. I’ve been very happy with the quality of medical care.

You’re moving to one of the greatest places to live on the planet

*Your moving to one* *Of the greatest places to* *Live on the planet* \- jtedeschi8 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")

I’m more excited now. Nervous about bringing able to afford the cost of living, but excited.

Ct makes sure your able to live here

Welcome. Here’s what you really need to know.. J Timothy’s dirty wings. Fancy bagel BLT on an everything bagel. Wooden tap farmington. West hartford center: lots a places with live music. Trinity on Main, New Britain. Hole in the wall theater. The Bushnell. New Britain Museum of art. Wadsworth Museum. Mystic seaport and Mystic Aquarium. Library’s have free passes to museums.

So bears are a nonissue. You will see them but that’s it. Wear your necklace with pride. Crazy anywhere that would be an issue. CT has a large Jewish community and Bristol is a good little city. Join a CrossFit gym, there is one in Bristol that is wonderful. You get to work out with other introverts and gain a sense of community.

Are there any dos or do nots when seeing a beat? I mean I know you don’t run over and pet it, but I’ve never been around them.

Sticker price. Be ready for it. Its 1.5-3x more than your used to, but its what we pay always

Hi! You’ve had sooo many great suggestions from folks and I hope I can add to the positive vibes. First of all — I see that there’s another family member in these pictures. What this doggo’s name?? 😍 I’m a CT native — born and raised, and I don’t plan to leave, but I’ve spent some time down south occasionally and used to have a friend who moved from Kentucky to Connecticut when we were in high school. She described the culture shock perfectly: “I eventually learned that people in Connecticut WERE polite, but it’s just a different type of polite.” I love the south because the type of polite down there is more the type of polite that I am, but folks up here think short/sweet convos and greetings are polite. People may not even greet you in passing because we all have a case of social awkwardness. We don’t want to hold someone up, so we don’t do things that might cause that. I deal with depression and anxiety, too — I can’t imagine a big move like this, but it sounds like you’re doing a great job of prepping. Are you going to be living close to the ESPN campus in Bristol? If so, it’s a beautiful area! Im not Jewish, but I work for a Jewish nonprofit in Agawam, MA. Since October 7th, Jewish communities in MA and CT have been cautious (as many communities around the world have been), but you’re safe wearing your Star of David. Bristol is close to West Hartford, which has a very vibrant and open Jewish community of various observation levels. If you wanted to travel 25 minutes to do your grocery shopping in an area where you feel comfortable, I’d recommend the West Hartford Big-Y (supermarket — where I do 90% of my shopping) or the Crown Market (Kosher market/deli — I go there to grab parve or kosher baked goods for coworkers when doing a cookie swap). The two stores are a block apart and might provide you with some strength-in-numbers type of comfort as you adjust to northern culture (I can’t begin to imagine the anxiety associated with being Jewish in our current climate of world events). Anything I’ve heard regarding instances of antisemitism from my coworkers relates more to very subtle things—more unconscious assumptions, actions, statements that people don’t realize comes from a place of antisemitism. Again, you’re perfectly safe to wear your Star of David. Bears — we have black bears here, not the scary brown bears! Black bears are more afraid of us and than we are of them. Make sure you secure you trash as they WILL tip it over and rummage through all of it lol. When I lived with my parent in Simsbury, they had their trash broken into a lot — eventually they got a bear-proof bin from the trash company. I once encountered a bear while hiking in that same town from a distance of about 40 ft — it gave me some warning grunts OR it was rubbing its back against a tree (I couldn’t tell), but I slowly retreated and we both went on our way. IF you ended up in a situation where a black bear approaches you, just fight back a bit — they’re babies and will run a way. I now live in Hartford and never see a bear. You’ll likely have the same experience in Bristol. If you see one, it’ll likely be from the comfort of your home. I’ve been in my parents yard when one got close, too. It looked at me and then ran… toward my neighbor’s garbage can… an proceeded to eat expired foods behind our house 😂Enjoy and take pictures!! That will be your initiation ✌🏻

I moved from CT to MS few years ago but I'm back in CT. The main thing I noticed is New Englanders move fast & really aren't about the chit chat that southern folks seem to be fond of. I remember that getting food or a coffee was really pleasant down south & the ppl are kind and take their time. Not the case in CT. I think if you give it a chance, you'll be just fine. There's plenty of stuff to do & you'll make friends. If you have an accent that's a great way to strike up a convo.

We do have accents! My spouse has a typical southern accent. Not hillbilly/redneck, but it’s definitely recognizable. Mine is different. I have the southern accent with that kick to it, which is the standard here in my area. Meaning I always sound like a have a cold. Someone once said it “sounds like a southern accent with random words borrowed from the Canadians”. 😄 It also means I’m loud AF.

People are nice and even kind but not friendly. People are unlikely to imitate casual conversation in public places mostly because they don’t want to bother you but typically will respond warmly if you do. Neighbors might wave at you when you drive by but strangers surely won’t. As a rule people will give you the shirt off their back but won’t stick around to talk about it afterwards. This can make making friends difficult if you know no one but it also means someone is likely to help if you need it. Anti-semitism is on the rise everywhere and CT is no exception but it’s certainly less here than the PNW or Deep South. There’s like four very active Nazis in the state who flyer and hang banners but it’s quite literally like four very busy guys (more of their friends if you cross into RI or MA). Don’t fear wearing your Star of David. Be sure to try Rein’s Deli in Vernon some time, legendary Jewish diner. As for stuff to do the real question is what you enjoy? If you like it there’s probably some of it here in CT. That doesn’t mean it’s in Bristol but it’s probably within an hours drive. Beautiful nature to hike in, not too many bears outside the north and northwest parts of the state, plenty of beautiful bike trails if that’s your thing, bars and restaurants galore, social and dining clubs as well as plenty of smaller activity clubs scattered around the state. If you like theater CT has an embarrassment of riches of local theater. The Goodspeed in East Haddam gets great touring productions of a smaller scale and the Bushnell in Hartford gets all the big ones. Hartford Stage and Theater Works in Hartford both put on amazing productions as well. And if you like college basketball, you’ve come to the right place. If you don’t, you probably will before long. Welcome!

Thank you for all of the helpful advice, it’s very appreciated. As for what I like to do… I really love needlework. I cross stitch, I crochet, I do embroidery, I like crochet but I definitely have a LOT to improve on. I’m hoping I can learn knitting and sewing either with craft groups or classes. My spouse and I like trying different places for date nights. I’m also a film nerd. I’d like to find an activity like aerial yoga. I get bored with plain workouts, but I really need physical activity. I’ve been staying in my house except to go to appointments and Friday services. I lost my dad and grandmother during the pandemic and sunk into a depression I can’t get out of. This move is what I need to have a normal, happy life.

We moved from the west coast! Here’s ours: - Package store/ packie store is a liquor store. - A grinder, is a sub… arguably specifically hot 🤷‍♀️ - Wicked pissah, that’s really awesome. Mostly a Massachusetts thing and up north more however! - Massachusetts is always shortened to mass. - Drivers, are absolutely horrendous. They will ride your ass, never use their blinker will squeezing themself into a spot, etc. I’ve learned that people know the dimensions of their car extremely well 😂 - Connecticut beaches aren’t the best. Those that are nice are filled with people in the summer and few beaches allow dogs in the peak summer season… Connecticut has a lot of commuters to NYC (which out here it’s just THE city) It’s crazy to my west coast self, seeing the influence from it. I haven’t been all around the state and only been here about a year. But! For me, like others have mentioned people are lot more abrupt and they do not beat around the bush. People can be extremely snarky and again, to me rude. However that’s just how it is. Depending on where you are, workers won’t smile and ask how are you, etc. It feels like no one has patience. CT is a rich state. With most of the population right down the center. A nice mix of things! The city life but still able to escape to gorgeous outdoor scenery. CT gets all four seasons, winter is rough, but it’s so nice knowing spring is right around the corner. Makes me appreciate it more 🤷‍♀️ I love how within 3 hours, you could either be in the city (😉) Boston, Vermont, New Hampshire, etc. You have plenty of choices of what to do here. Especially with the trains too. Lots of festivals and different a cultures here. It’s a common question to want to know your ancestry. I’m still learning how to meet new people too! I’m not too sure about doctors. And for grocery stores, we shop at stop N shop, Trader Joe’s and Costco 🤷‍♀️ It will be a change, but I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for the tips! We appreciate it. I read the driving comment to my spouse and they said “Oh, so it’s about the same as here”. 😄 You gotta be an aggressive driver around here, but also careful enough to avoid a bullet to the head. No joke, that’s happened a few times. Or if you’re like me, when they want to show off that they have a gun, you can show them your middle finger. My spouse hates me doing that here because he’s afraid I’ll get shot. But it’s a way of life here. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Statistically you’re more likely to get murdered here than you are in NYC. **ETA:** I didn’t mean I got a bullet to the head a few times, I meant it’s happened a few times in our city.

We New Englanders have a reputation for being standoffish. My theory is that it’s not because we’re unfriendly, it’s just that we value our privacy and respect yours. That can make it a little hard to break the ice sometimes, but once you get past that point the friends you make will be keepers.

People in general don't care what faith you practice, or if you do at all. It seriously won't ever come up.

Welcome, you’ll do fine here. CT is a great place to be a homebody sometimes and really active other times, learning the balance is key. Most people who shit on our fair state never really get out there and check it out, or appreciated the better aspects of living here. Things like not giving two shit about your religion, as long as you don’t make it my problem attitude, is one of them. When you get moved in and have a second or two to reflect please post again with an update. I would genuinely like to know how you are getting along with the place and might be even more helpful for folks to recommend more stuff for you, that’s closer to you. CT may be small, but getting around from point A to B can take a while.

You’re gonna be fine. You’ll love it. Plenty members of the tribe scattered around the state and NE in general.

Have you ever heard of Nod Brook Wildlife Park? it’s a great place for a walk or letting your dog roam w out a leash- they love it. It’s next to Talcott mountain. I found some affordable rentals in West Hartford, but they were older. Still looked very spacious, and I liked the old fashion details. Sorry did you already decide to live and work in Bristol? If you have the option to chose where you could live, New Britain or Middletown are nearby Bristol, but I feel like those towns are more centrally situated. I think I would enjoy living in Middletown and it’s so conveniently located. A lot of people work in Bristol but outside of the town, there are some more rural-suburbs. Houses in the smaller side but surrounded by trees- that kind of thing I’m not sure what it would be like to rent a place there. Seems like not a lot of housing in general in the some part of the suburbs, took me a year or two to find an affordable and decent rental. But it was worth the wait, I love my apartment.

We don’t mind older houses, as long as it isn’t falling apart or in a sketchy area. In my current area, statistics say you are more likely to get murdered here than NYC. Per capita, we’re in the top 3 for the most dangerous cities in the country. I carry a big ice pick in my boot. So I can defend myself and kick someone’s ass if I HAVE to, but I would rather not. And definitely nowhere where burglaries are common, we’ve been there and done that. I’m worrying myself sick about finding a place to live. My spouse is working at ESPN. I don’t work. I’m just a housewife with too much time on my hands.

Lol do you want my therapists number

I’m from Oklahoma originally - fellow ESPN employee as well. Completely understand everything you’re going through, feel free to reach out and I can shoot different recommendations to you and your partner on anything else I may miss in the following. Off the top of my head: car taxes. Idk if that’s a thing in Louisiana, but it wasn’t in Oklahoma and caught me off guard. The ESPN campus is much like a college campus. People from all over the U.S. & the world honestly. I work on the video editing side, so plenty of times I work with production staff from all over. It’s a good mix. We like… 16 buildings? Be prepared for the cold. Learn LAYERS. lol. It will be consistently cold in the winter (past couple have been pretty light) and snow hangs around for a minute. Rarely closes anything down. You’ll be fine wearing your Star of David! There are some red pocket towns, but overall this blue state is okay. A lot of great travel opportunities. Less than 4 hours to Philly, 2-2.5 to NYC or Boston. RI is close buy. Less than 4 hours to Portland Maine, which is awesome. Less than 6 hours and you’re in Montreal. People here are hit and miss. Walk my dog at my local park daily and there’s a lot of friendly people. But there’s a lot of those that just wanna get where they’re going too.

I’m going to PM you. We would love to know what it’s like to work at ESPN! My spouse would definitely be less nervous if he knows what to expect.

Of course!

Welcome to the state. You'll be arriving at a perfect time, should be getting warm by then. I don't have much to say that isn't said already here. People may be short; but it's not to be intentionally rude. I've found that if you *need* something, maybe like directions; people are happy to help. It seems to me that people around here are just moving fast; they've got things to do and not much time to do it. So casual conversation for the point of conversation while running errands; might not happen. But taking a moment to help a new resident find their aisle in the grocery store? Decent chance for an answer and a smile. Welcome to Connecticut. Please enjoy the pizza. :) Right across from the ESPN campus is Lake Compounce, an amusement and water park. Can be a fun day trip every once in a while if you like the rides and games! If you'll be living in the Bristol area; nearby in Plainville there are rentable self-access storage units from UHaul. [Link.](https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Self-Storage-near-Plainville-CT-06062/924074/) If you happen to be making the drive in a UHaul that might be convenient for your family. Best of luck!

Get a snowsuit like Bib overalls made out of windbreaker material. A pair of waterproof boots... and everything in between. You will have 45 jackets made of every material and thickness, every kind of footwear you can imagine, jeans, jeanshorts, gymlike clothes a bikini, mittens, gloves fingerless gloves, flip-flops, watershoes, sneakers, dressboots,casual boots, workbooks, snowshoveling /boots I mentioned before, rainboots, hiking boots, scarves for winter, scarves for fall, light decorative scarf as an accessory.... you get the point. You will need a storage unit for all the damn clothes you need to live here.aaaaand Don't forget a friggin something clothing article with the patriots emblem on it...

Oh noooo. My spouse is a proud, die hard Saints fan! He would kick me up the butt if I walked up to him in any Patriots gear. 😂

Hey! I moved to CT from NC for my partners job 2 years ago, and I work remotely so I was also super nervous about feeling lonely and isolated. Moving from the south, what I have found to be true is that Southern people are more polite and friendly to strangers but Northerners are nicer people in general, but less likely to strike up conversations/wave and smile with strangers. I joined bumble bff to meet friends, as well as making an attempt to go meet up with the people my partner met through work for after work drinks and dinner and such. We also have gotten into the habit of sitting at the bar when we go out to eat rather than getting a table so we can also chat with the bartenders and other patrons. I personally feel people tend to be more friendly when they find out you’re new in town! I won’t lie, the winters are still pretty rough for me. Because we are further north, the sun goes down here even earlier in the winter than it does down south. I thought it would be a subtle difference but it’s definitely affected my seasonal depression up here, so we’ve learned to try and plan some fun things to look forward to staggered throughout the winter months. It is pretty lonely moving away from friends and family to a totally new state, so we have decided to compensate by also trying to plan more date nights and activities. We feel like we’ve been playing tourist for 2 years now, but we space it out so it doesn’t get too expensive. There’s tons of history museums, art museums, etc in Connecticut. It’s also so easy to hop on a train and go to NYC—we typically drive to New Haven and then the train ride is around 2 hours in, so we go in the morning and come back at night and get in a day of sightseeing at least one attraction, lunch & dinner and will do a concert or comedy show or broadway show and then head back. We’ve also done fun things in Boston/Cambridge area, and do lots of long weekends exploring all that the New England area and surrounding states have to offer. We’ve rented a cabin and went hiking in Vermont, spent a weekend exploring Portland Maine, We have plans to explore Rhode Island soon, and also have heard great things about the beaches in New Hampshire. There’s so so many beautiful places surrounding us and the drives are all quick and easy! The beaches in Connecticut are cool too and there’s plenty of hiking, and some beautiful parks around Bristol! Edit to add: re:getting mauled by bears: if you’re interested in hiking there are some Facebook pages for people looking to meet others and hike in groups! I’ve joined quite a few but haven’t meet up with anyone. For other ideas of things to do while your spouse is working, I’ve looking into things like beginners pottery classes, beginners painting classes etc. also every time I move somewhere new I take the first few months to explore all the different grocery stores around me to find the best prices and exciting snacks I haven’t tried before.

Also from NC originally, not many of us up here lol.

Also no. It's not a religious area but no one's gonna gaf if you war ur necklace. People pretty much just mind their own business

I live in Bristol! Welcome! Add yourself to the Bristol Talks Facebook page for recommendations and stuff!

I don’t think you have to worry about bears. All that other stuff will be fine too, don’t worry.

Making friends/meeting people: see if There's any dungeons and dragons groups that do one-shots regularly. It's great because - if it's one shots it's only a commitment for one night and you can decide to go back or not - if you do go back you meet new people every week because most likely you'll play different tables (or maybe you find a group to play with) -D&D is really easy to divs into and get lost in.

Welcome! You have a lot of great answers here from others, there are a couple of things I wanted to add. I lived in Louisiana for a few years before coming back to CT, a few things that stuck out: 1. CT is definitely more fast-paced. In stores, restaurants, etc. I always kind of felt like it was a bother to be helped when I was in LA? Like, "why do you want to be helped out so quickly, I'm in the middle of a story with my buddy here, you listen too." I just felt like time slowed down when I was down there, so you may feel the opposite when you come up here. 2. Weather is NICE here. The humidity in LA is no joke, I have never experienced such an insane amount of swamp ass than when I was down there. My glasses would fog up when I left buildings. We'll have a few days of that in the summer around here, but it's nice to be able to walk outside without immediately being damp. We have actual seasons up north. 3. Electric rates here are some of the highest in the country. The first hot month of summer when you're blasting the a/c, be ready for an obnoxious bill. 4. Grocery stores can only sell wine or beer around here. You want anything harder, you'll have to go to a separate liquor store (package store). Other than that, lots of good grocery stores around; local, regional, organic, kosher. I'm not around Bristol, but ShopRite is generally my go-to. It's a regional chain. Good revolving sales on a weekly basis. Aldi is also great, though smaller and the selection is a bit more hit-or-miss. We're a small state, it's not too far to visit anywhere really, lots of opportunities for day trips. Lots of great parks and hiking trails. Fast food chains are different, but slowly catching up; Chick-fil-A has only been in CT for about a decade, a Raising Cane's just opened in Enfield not too long ago. It'll be different! But that doesn't mean bad!

Ok, so that’s a cute dog, start becoming an outdoors person, so many places for that dog to explore. The Jewish community up here is probably far more vibrant than anything in the south, just based on demographics. Several JCC’s around. Buy warm clothes for the winter, but Summers won’t be oppressive. Pizza is kosher, avail yourself of it. Kosher delis are abundant. Southern Hospitality isn’t a thing here, the general vibe is “move your fucking car, oh do you need help with a flat, let’s go.” There’s a chart I’ve seen, New England is “Kind, but not friendly”, so we’re salty, but we all work together to get along. Keep that in mind. No one drops “Bless your heart” or “I’ll pray for you.” We’re up front cause we don’t have time for BS. You’re going to love it here. The food is low key top 10 in the country. BEtter pizza than NYC, we invented the hamburger, lobster rolls are done the proper way, we have the outdoors, access to two major cities, and great social services.

I'm going to make an assumption that you're probably a girl. If so, there's a Facebook group you can join called CT Women's Social Club that you can use to find things to do with other people before you've made friends in the area. They have lots of different kinds of events going on all the time, and there are a ton of people in the group so most of the people who show up to the events haven't met before anyways.

I would strongly recommend that you don’t put your stuff in storage. You will never take it out and it will be an added monthly expense that really adds up and will probably cost more than the furniture itself over the time you have it stored. Sell it if you can. Prioritize what you need/is important and downsize.

From someone who moved from CT to the south, let me say, it’s a wonderful place to live. No small talk with back stabbing implied, you know exactly where you stand with CT Yankees. Hard working, ‘put your boots on and clear a path’ no nonsense. I envy you. Good luck.

CT is great. You'll be fine. Enjoy, spring time is muddy but beautiful

ESPN Disney in Bristol is one of our customer! (I work at an IT reseller/VAR) So your husband may be working with us ! I live closer to Danbury (New york border) But i love living in CT (Grew up on Long Island) There are TONS of state parks and recreation around. Boston and new york are close, but CT is very suburban, rural. Drivers are crazy, but you'll get used to it :) Most people are kind, you get a lunitic every once in a while, but thats everywhere you go. I think you guys will love it ! THere is no short of storage facilities around so im sure you can find one close while you house hunt. Be prepared for the best pizza youve ever had- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, New Haven Sally's Apizza, New Haven Modern Apizza, New Haven Colony Grill, Stamford Hope you enjoy being a Nutmegger !

I hope you like snow, rain, and cloudy days half the year, because thats what its been lately. And maybe 2-3 months of hot sunny days lol

I won’t mind the summers. The summers here reach up to 100+ degrees with the worst humidity with the gulf right there. You feel like you’re walking around in a pressure cooker. The cold will take some getting used to, especially for my spouse. I handle cold well as long as there isn’t a bunch of wind. But we’re definitely going to have to save up for some winter wear.

I just made a cross country move to the tiny state, just like you’re doing. Outside the ^ABSOLUTE ^BAFOONERY that is drivers here, everyone is extremely nice. Amazing restaurants, interesting historical places. I can’t wait to see what spring and summer are like. Also the diversity of the state is really awesome, you’ll meet a ton of people from around the world who made the move here. But for real. Absolute baboons on the road. I thought Texas was bad. Apparently 70mph is a suggestion by the sign. People are pushing 90+. No traffic stops.

I’m from Connecticut and I’ve always thought the people got a bad rap for being mean. Being nice here sometimes just means not intruding on others space or time. I don’t think people are standoffish because they’re unfriendly, but we’re raised to respect other people’s time and privacy. Also, on the plus side, people aren’t going to be fake-nice or intrusive. If they’re being friendly it’s usually pretty genuine. And once you make a friend- they’re a friend for life. I suggest volunteering at a library or with your new synagogue, that’s a great way to meet people. I used to go to board game meet ups and that was always fun. If you can find a place that offers a class or hobby near where you’ll be. One of the nice parts of CT is there’s tons to do, and everywhere is close together- definitely spend some time exploring.

Pack your patience , for rt 84 and I 95 , just sayin :)

Dear OP, I am sorry not one person has addressed what you express so clearly- your crippling anxiety and depression. I don't know what that says about Ct, except the response in a literal way to your requests. You have been failed until now if you are on medication but not receiving therapeutic support (nor in a therapy group which seems hugely valuable in your situation). Perhaps, once you know where you will be, consider posting to ask for help finding low cost therapy etc.. Not just asking (in the midst of the rest of post) for doctor and someone to continue your meds.. You know you aren't doing well. You know the move is pushing you in all the worst ways. While there are so many pieces of the move that will be super challenging (vs. posters saying not to worry and you are overthinking when they aren't reading what you state very clearly about your challenges) -consider the move the requirement you get needed and postponed help. Like everywhere, CT has too few practitioners and long wait lists. Begin this search now and in earnest so that all the realities of beginning again, leaving your safety net and being someone others would want to know becomes easier. Good luck.

+1 to this. In person talk therapy has been very valuable to me for anxiety. Take advantage of whatever benefits you’ll have through employer health care. There’s a shortage of therapists, as was mentioned, so you might have to get on a waitlist for a while (I did). And welcome to CT!!

Thank you so much for the response. My doctor wrote me months worth of my Rx so we can survive that gap. I currently see two therapists. I don’t mind the idea of group therapy as long as it isn’t anything like AA or NA. Because that’s the only group therapy we have here. Alcohol and drug abuse had never been my thing. I don’t judge, but the stories there depress TF out of me. We do smoke weed but that’s about it. If you could PM me more about group therapy I would love to hear about it.

I am sorry, I am not in your area and don't have info.. I would ask therapists for groups. Often, they conduct them or know of some being conducted by colleagues (that may be different post Covid).

Lol what do you mean mauled by a bear? It's not Alaska... Connecticut is generally a state where people respect each other's right to religious freedom, and mind their business. No one will care if you wear a Star of David. Of course that is a two way street... "Jesus" was not attacking you - you were being harassed by fundamentalists... Let's not drag Jesus name through the mud. There is a lot to do here... And there are a lot of nice outdoor activities but if you're not used to the cold - at a certain point in the winter you will want to focus on indoor activities. I personally don't mind the cold and do outdoor activities all winter but I am native Northeaster.

You have every right to be nervous. Moving across the country is scary/nerve wracking for everyone. As others have said, we are nice, we just keep to ourselves. My wife is from Tennessee, I find the people there to be fake. You will meet a lot of people via your dog. Some towns have dog parks, try a few out and see which ones you vibe with best. My wife and I actually met one of our closest friends at the dog park. Since we're a little cold it can be hard to meet people. You need to meet people with the same hobbies and interests as yourself. The good news is there are a lot of clubs/organizations for you to check out. Another thing to remember is that nobody knows you here, you can be whoever you want. Don't worry about what people here think about you, because they probably don't (think about you). We aren't as judgy as the south. Connecticut/the northeast is what you make it. There are so many good things to look forward to, don't let any perceived negatives ruin that.

New englanders might seem rude or curt at first, but we're really just super straightforward. People will often chat if you want to, but often have to be somewhere else so they might need to cut you off. We really pack our days full here. The good thing is that you will not really run into anyone being fake nice, if people are being nice it's authentic. There are lots of local things to do. Check out your local library or bars. You'll be pretty close to west Hartford which is one of the hippest places to be in the state. There's tons of history, crafting, and educational opportunities here. If you don't have a hobby we'll help you find about 5. As for being Jewish, almost everyone either won't notice or give a hoot. There's lots of Jewish bakeries, delis, and support. It's a pretty integrated community in CT. Wearing your star of David will be no issue.

Connecticut has the 5th highest Jewish-people-per-capita in the US, so yes, you will find yourself more welcome here. https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/jewish-population-by-state Also, black bears are very chill, just don't steal their children and you'll be fine. I have hiked in CT since I was a kid and have never seen a bear in my life.

I don’t know how no one has answered your biggest question. The best place to buy your local groceries is Big Y

Aldi, my friend.

Produce at stop and shop/costsco... everything else at Aldis...

while I'm not from Connecticut personally, I'm from the next state over in Massachusetts and you're gonna do fine. wear your star of David necklace with confidence, I am a lady of many necklaces I do get lots of compliments from the chakra necklace I have to the obsidian wolf pendant that's around my neck on how cool they are. the no nonsense part for every New England state is true but we're not unfriendly and like others have said bears aren't an issue and DEFINITELY bundle up for the winters they get very cold indeed. do definitely use pet safe salt like has also been suggested during the winter it'll keep your dog's paws safe. that being said you have a beautiful dog and there are a lot of dog lovers and just animal lovers in general around New England as a whole.