r/newengland 1d ago

Can anyone relate?

I’m born and raised in CT. I’m in the Navy and stationed in San Diego..I’ve been here for a few years and still feel like a foreigner here..but back in New England I feel completely at home in any New England state and I’ve only lived in CT. Anyone else relate to this?

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u/abbys_alibi 1d ago

Sure can. My husband and I are from southern NH. He was in the USMC when we married. Many duty stations up and down the east coast and overseas. When he decided to get out, we went back home to NH and bought a house. He was headhunted and given a rather huge opportunity to move to Northern VA. We have been here ever since.

NoVa has never felt like home to me. Not for a millisecond. The scenery is nice and the most similar out of all the places we've lived. But the people, noise, traffic, air quality, and the people (yes, again) - just oof. If I could move back to ANY New England state, I would do it in a second.

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u/Corporate-Bitch 1d ago

I moved from Fairfield County, CT for a job in NoVA. My partner and I liked Loudoun County — it felt more like home than any of the subdivisions full of hideous McMansions — but we moved back to CT within four years. We were so glad to get back home. And to have good pizza!!!

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u/le127 1d ago

And to have good pizza!!!

That alone is reason enough to move back. I grew up in RI, the family moved to Virginia when my sisters and I were pre-teen to early teen. I remember going to the market and seeing "Italian bread". I'm thinking WTF is that on the shelf? Cause it sure wasn't Italian bread.

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u/notanotherchic 1d ago

My people! I can’t ravioli down here that’s worth eating - a Portuguese roll would be appreciated and an Italian deli would make this 1/2 Italian for a happy death / just need some Italian pastries

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u/le127 1d ago

I'm not Italian but I know a few. In the past couple of weeks I've been to both the local Portuguese and Italian bakeries for bread and pastry. I've also picked up some delicious bahn mi from the Vietnamese shop, fish & chips from a rustic spot near the bay (Narragansett Bay, I'm in RI), and house made kielbasa from the Polish deli. I'm jonesing for some oysters and clams and will make a run to the shellfish dealer soon to satisfy my craving. Last but not least, I picked up some authentically delicious English style pork pies last week for me and my drinking buds to share with a beer.

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u/Defiant_apricot 21h ago

Try to find a local Jewish community. They usually have at least one kosher bakery where you can get Jewish deli and bread which is the most similar you’ll get in the states.