One of the reasons I love Provincetown is that people are so open here, so non-judgmental. I wear what I want anywhere and don’t even bring makeup. So yeah, I have noticed that room to breathe.

The southerner/New Englander dynamic is interesting to me, too, given that I was raised a southerner and lived in the south until my late 30s, when I moved to Maine. What a culture shock. But almost immediately I embraced so many things about Maine, and now that I have been here for some time, I fully embrace it. From my perspective, famously self-contained Mainers are actually far more open than what I ever experienced in the south, for the simple reason that here, what you see is what you get. There are no pretty (and, you realize once you’re away from them, stifling) rules for social interaction, no rituals for expressing disapproval (any southern woman knows what I mean by that)–in short, no artifice. Introverted me feels far less pressure to do things “right” here in Maine. I wonder if you’ve experienced any of these differences in Massachusetts, and enjoyed that same room to breathe–either consciously or subconsciously. Or maybe it’s just a response to landscape? The New England coastline is uniquely charming, that’s for sure. Anyway, think of me over your next bowl of chowdah.

Oh wow, Donna. I’m just seeing this (for some reason, wordpress is not notifying me of all comments), and although I wrote about a different type of connecting, I titled today’s post connecting! But back to the substance, you’re right. Thank you. This is a conversation. YOU ALL save me from this just being about me! Comments are so great.

Cynthia, just wanted to say for you to not feel stupid going on about you ’cause this challenge not only prompts you to focus on figuring yourself out, but for us to share with you what we have in common or don’t and talk about things for us, and then both together. It’s good conversation—that’s what it’s all about—connection, and when there’s something valuable to be gained—yay! 😀

How wonderful to know that you encouraged Gemma to look at Davidson. I thought she had chosen Middlebury too, but I couldn’t remember. When you post photos from your visits there, I can live vicariously. And who knows whether I would still like winter if I had gone to college in it for four years or had to shovel or scrape snow off cars. but I kind of think I still would have…

As I figured you would!!! LOL This whole “getting to know you” stuff is really making me smile 🙂

Ha, I thought of that too! : )

Hey Loretta, you are not a crazy fly on the wall because here you are writing to me : ) Some days I feel stupid going on about me. So I really really appreciate your letting me know you look forward to the posts. Thanks so so much for your support and friendship!