Well, about six months have passed since I moved to Lebanon, New Hampshire, and I've come to a few conclusions about the place.
- It's expensive -- more expensive than Manchester. Gas prices alone are about twenty cents a gallon higher than in the bigger cities.
- Food prices, also, are higher.
- Having ducks in my back yard is beyond cool. Ducklings are incredibly cute, and hearing their voices develop from peeps to squawks to full-fledged quacks is delightful. And yesterday, I inadvertently interrupted a duck gang bang, as three males fought and took turns giving... um... "attention" to a female. Danged lousy time to not have a camera handy...
- Lebanon might not be the most ethnically and racially diverse, but it's thoroughly diverse when it comes to politics. I saw two cars in one driveway -- one had a big "PEACE" bumper sticker, while the one next to it asked "WHAT WOULD JACK BAUER DO?"
- And over in West Lebanon, there's a little electrical transformer next to a highway offramp. It bears two bumper stickers: "VERMONT -- WORKER'S PARADISE" in gold lettering on a red field, with the "E" in Vermont portrayed by a hammer and sickle; and right below it, 'GEORGE BUSH JR. COULDN'T MANAGE A LAUNDROMAT."
- The web site for the City Pool is remarkably thorough and complete. It has all the information anyone could want -- except for one or two minor, trifling details. Like the address. Or directions. Or a map. Or a phone number.
- The local restaurant called "SUNRISE BUFFET" doesn't open until 11:00 a.m. Apparently, the "sunrise" is a reference to its Asian orgins, and not its hours of operation.
- The people are remarkably nicer than in Manchester. I was once offered a ride by a complete stranger, and so did a colleague who was visiting and his transportation broke down. And neither of our benefactors would accept any money -- just being neighborly.
- Just as I noted in Salem, New Hampshire, you see a LOT of out-of-state license plates. In Salem, they were Massachusetts plates. Here, it's Vermont plates. In both cases, it's largely people looking to evade the sales tax in their home state by hopping across the border.
- Vermont has more -- and better -- "gentleman's clubs" than New Hampshire. And, I think, Massachusetts. For one, they're non-smoking. For another... well, never mind.
Overall, I think I like it. I miss some of the big-city amenities, and my raise hasn't improved my economic situation as I'd hoped it would (in fact, I might actually have taken a hit), but it's been worth it so far.



Comments (14)
"I inadvertently interrupte... (Below threshold)1. Posted by steak111111 | June 19, 2007 11:09 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"I inadvertently interrupted a duck gang bang, as three males fought and took turns giving... um..."
Kennedy's no doubt.
"I was once offered a ride..."
Be very careful, so was Mary Jo Kopechne.
1. Posted by steak111111 | June 19, 2007 11:09 AM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 11:09
2. Posted by John Irving | June 19, 2007 11:13 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The only "gentleman's club" I ever found in NH was Mark's.
Never tried going to Vermont for that. . . might have to check it out if I move back up that way.
2. Posted by John Irving | June 19, 2007 11:13 AM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 11:13
3. Posted by George | June 19, 2007 11:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"I was once offered a ride by a complete stranger..."
Were you carrying a six-pack of Bud Light?
3. Posted by George | June 19, 2007 11:26 AM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 11:26
4. Posted by wolfwalker | June 19, 2007 11:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
one had a big "PEACE" bumper sticker, while the one next to it asked "WHAT WOULD JACK BAUER DO?"
Makes perfect sense. Peace through superior firepower.
4. Posted by wolfwalker | June 19, 2007 11:54 AM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 11:54
5. Posted by Synova | June 19, 2007 1:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Urban ducks... *sigh*.
Don't inadvertently interrupt duck gang bangs. Do it on purpose so the poor hen can get away. The male ducks can injure or kill the female ducks, and do.
5. Posted by Synova | June 19, 2007 1:52 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 13:52
6. Posted by motopolitico | June 19, 2007 1:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They don't put the pool info online for the same reason they don't use street signs; if you were supposed to be here, you wouldn't need them. Flatlander go home!
Plus, West Leb is like a giant black hole. An awful lot of Vermont shopping dollars get spent there. Also the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center has forced a number of smaller hospitals in a 1 hour radius to close.
6. Posted by motopolitico | June 19, 2007 1:55 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 13:55
7. Posted by stan25 | June 19, 2007 2:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Sounds like here in Wyoming. A person can do just about anything that is legal here and some do a lot of illegal stuff too--ie poaching etc.
We do have the same problem, as with the batty staters and the people coming in Vermont. We only have to put up with the idiots from the Peoples Republic of Boulder Co. At least they don t mess with the part of the state where I live.(Not yet anyway)
They like it in Cheyenne and Casper, the two major metropolitan areas in the state. I live out in the boonies and you won t find them out here. Too many people packing firearms and we know how to use them. Somehow that scares the chit out of them.
7. Posted by stan25 | June 19, 2007 2:38 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 14:38
8. Posted by Paul A'Barge | June 19, 2007 2:49 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If you're in VT, hit the county fair in Rutland. Look for the big tent in the back, where the coochie coochie girls dance.
And, don't stand in the front, next to the stage if you wear glasses, unless you're carrying hani-wipes.
8. Posted by Paul A'Barge | June 19, 2007 2:49 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 14:49
9. Posted by Anon Y. Mous | June 19, 2007 4:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Everyone knows where the pool is - it's that big hole with all the water in it. As for the phone number: you want to call a pool? You must be from Massachusetts or something.
9. Posted by Anon Y. Mous | June 19, 2007 4:14 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 16:14
10. Posted by nogo postal | June 19, 2007 6:51 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
"my raise hasn't improved my economic situation as I'd hoped it would "
C'mon...after 6 years of Republican control of the 3 branches...how could this be?....
your situation is probably due to the Dems destroying everything since January,,,,
10. Posted by nogo postal | June 19, 2007 6:51 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 19, 2007 18:51
11. Posted by Knightbrigade | June 19, 2007 7:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Having ducks in my back yard is beyond cool."
So any subtle meaning with the ducks like with Tony Soprano?
Speaking of Tony Soprano, I think the (Squire) gentleman's club in Revere, MA. could take the Pepsi challenge test with any Vermont club.
lol
11. Posted by Knightbrigade | June 19, 2007 7:01 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 19:01
12. Posted by Captain Ned | June 19, 2007 10:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
@Paul A'Barge
Sorry to say, but the girlie tents haven't been at the Vermont State Fair (a/k/a the Rutland Fair) for at least 10, maybe 20 years now. I've been an officer of the Society for about 10 years and I know that we haven't had the girlie tent in that time frame.
If you want the girlie tent, the Tunbridge World's Fair is a much more likely venue.
12. Posted by Captain Ned | June 19, 2007 10:17 PM |
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Posted on June 19, 2007 22:17
13. Posted by Candy | June 20, 2007 7:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I have absolutely nothing to say about girlie tents - in fact, I didn't know such a thing existed until about five minutes ago.
However, I do want to try to one-up Jay on his hometown story. My hometown in Maine is filling up with people who don't like to work, but love to procreate. Don't like to buy things like diapers and milk, but LOVE to buy alcohol and butts. I saw the latter in action the other day - my husband and I witnessed a very seedy looking fellow with about 3-4 kids in tow - very young kids - and he was carrying a suitcase pack (is that what they call it?) of some gross beer like Pabst Blue Ribbon. We both sort of stared, shell-shocked, then burst out laughing. It was not the vision of rural family life that I came seeking when I moved north from Boston.
Don't get me wrong - there are a lot of good, honest and hard-working people in this town too. But the others are wearing me down. Did I mention that the most over-used word in this town is "babydaddy"????
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. The duck lovemaking sessions at MY house are romantic and sweet - and there is only Hercules and Rikki. If he steps on her and mushes her into the grass before making passionate love to her, it's only his way, folks - he can't help himself, so overcome is he with love.
13. Posted by Candy | June 20, 2007 7:26 AM |
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Posted on June 20, 2007 07:26
14. Posted by Knightbrigade | June 21, 2007 12:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"babydaddy"!!????? excuse me........
I seem to have lost my (Maine carpetbagger to English dictionary), could someone translate?
lol
14. Posted by Knightbrigade | June 21, 2007 12:22 AM |
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Posted on June 21, 2007 00:22