When I first moved to Warren County, NJ, I was shocked to
see people who evidently knew each other, parking their carts to say hello and
chat in the supermarket. That was at the A&P in Belvidere. It seemed that everyone was so
friendly, and that people around town were genuinely interested to know my
story, who I knew from the area, and so forth.
This was my first taste of small town life. At the time, I
had yet to learn that small town life also involves a bit of gossiping every
now and then, and that in a close-knit community, everybody seems to know
everything about everyone. There are good and bad things about that. I did not
end up settling in Belvidere, but found my own
little niche in another part of Warren
County.
My first impression, of uncommon friendliness, remains. People
really ARE nicer here than in other parts of NJ. Maybe it's a country thing;
maybe it's that there aren't very many people from New York around here. New Yorkers, at least
the city types, do tend to be a bit more impatient, pushy, and sometimes are
downright assholes. I can't say that I've met too many a-holes around here. You
can always find a friendly store clerk, a generous neighbor, a good-natured
farmstand operator, someone to hold a door at the mall. You'll get a hello at
the Dunkin Donuts and a "Have a good day" from the gas station
attendant. Well... usually, anyway.
When I return to my old stomping ground in Bergen
and Essex County,
or when I go shopping in the Somerville
area, I do notice the difference. People outside of this area aren't always so
friendly. When you live here long enough, you might begin to take it for
granted. But I won't. :)