How do you deal with locals and townies?
I’ve lived in the PA/NJ area for some time now, and have been going back and forth. Started in PA, then NJ, back to PA. In both places I met up with the “you’re not from here, go home” attitude, but something a little more nasty has crept up.
Moving back to PA, I now realize that it’s very common for people from NJ and even NY to live here, but there’s this conflict going on between the locals and the townies/”leafers”. I live here, but I’m not from here. I still go to NJ every now and then, but mostly reside here in PA.
When asked, should I identify with the locals? The townies? Or Should I go with the leafer role and suffer the wrath from the other two? Of course, in all honesty, I could give a flying f*** because I know deep down I’m not from either of these places.
What to do?
Os Shepler
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2 Comments to “How do you deal with locals and townies?”
November 8th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I say stick to whatever feels right to YOU. I have often gotten burned because I stick to my guns on everything I believe in, usually ruffling plenty of feathers. Does make for some pain, isolation, being viewed as a curiosity. But I’m proud to be this way. If you like to be more of a chameleon, then do what you think is best. There’s no right or wrong, just what makes your life more in line with who you are.
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November 8th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I think it depends on what you want.
It seems to me you are looking for their acceptance, so it’s a good idea to protray yourself as “one of them”.
I have always done that, just to keep myself out of trouble.
But there’s the risk of loosing your identity and the whole “having to hide who you really are” thing, that you have to take into account. Is it worth it? How much of yourself will you loose if you play their game?
Another thing I sometimes do is just stay quiet when they start with these “us and them” talks. And so you can pass off as one of them without really having said anything or really given your opinion.
You might also want to consider looking for a group who accepts you for who you really are, without you having to give up on a part of you or pretend to be someone else.
Right now this is what I’m doing and I’m finding it’s the best option so far.
But that’s just me and my “townies” and my story in this town. Each person is different.
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