I am thinking of moving to Salisbury or Fruitland. But some posters here have said people in that area are not welcoming to newcomers in their neighborhood. Especially towards minorities (Asians and Hispanics).
I currently live in NJ but want to move somewhere with a slower pace of life and fresh air for my kids. But not too far from home because my parents are still in NJ.
Salisbury and Fruitland (and Delmar) are quite accommodating to newcomers, regardless of race. Same with sexual orientation. The areas outside of town are decidedly less welcoming, with a notable exception of Berlin / Ocean City.
Salisbury is very similar to some of the larger towns in South Jersey. Specifically, the Camden neighborhood (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3528.../data=!3m1!1e3) and the areas between Salisbury University and Fruitland (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3330.../data=!3m1!1e3) might feel most welcoming and familiar.
Thanks seanlax, so when you say the areas "outside of town are less welcoming", would you consider this as one of those unwelcoming areas..
Now I just need to convince my wife, she is reluctant cause her folks and friends are here in NJ. Thanks again!
Yes, by 'outside of town' I am referring to the 5-6 mile radius from the intersection of US bus 50 and US bus 13 in downtown Salisbury. I wouldn't be worried in a place like the link you provided
That lot is adjacent to Morris Mill Pond, a highly unstable and contaminated mill pond that has seen a lot of issues crop up in the past few years. So I'd advise you at least investigate the issue before you look there. You might want to reach out to county officials and read some local news to get a better feel. And its basically the only environmental issue in town, so I don't want to frighten you. (although being from NJ I'm sure you are used to it)
People in rural areas are generally friendly but guarded until they get to know you and figure out where you're coming from.
Complain that you don't have the same things you had where you're coming from. Things like specialty stores, malls, mega grocery stores, fine dining, etc. There's a reason they're not there and it's tied into income and population density.
Keep in mind that at certain times of year you'll hear gunshots. That's because it's hunting season. That beautiful cornfield beside your charming country house may end up having deer stands and goose blinds on it come October. You will see shotguns being carried.
The old guys drinking coffee at the gas station in the morning aren't homeless or vagrants. They're old guys who grew up together, one or two may have moved there, and have been drinking coffee in the morning there for years or at least since they retired. Chances are a couple of them can buy and sell you 5 or 6 times over with their carrying around money.
Be careful who you criticize. Most people are related to or at least grew up with the person you're mad at.
I mentioned this in your other thread but where you're looking at is probably more rural than you've ever been to let alone lived. If you don't embrace that you will never be happy there.
Thanks everyone for your responses. My family and I are Indian Muslims, but I grew up in the US (mostly in NY and NJ), I am looking for somewhere with a slower pace of life for myself and my kids. So we will be different in the Eastern shore, but it sounds like Salisbury and Fruitland are more progressive and so we will be welcome or at least not hated despite our differences. For our part we will try to be the friendliest and nicest of neighbors.
One other thing which you will find different is school systems. In Maryland they're based on Counties not towns. So, while there might be a Fruitland elementary school it's paid for by property taxes from the entire County.
School boards in Maryland don't have any taxing authority and all local school funding comes from County government. So when your tax bill comes from Wicomico County, in Fruitland's case, it includes school taxes. There may be a note on the bill that XX% of the total goes to the school system.
Ok, but doesn't New Jersey have ONE of the best school systems in the country??! Maryland is close to the top (but you couldn't tell how by the way people think, behave and act in the state!) I actually like how New Jersey names their townships!
*Now, this is a very true statement, but I'm going to take it a bit further in saying they are similar in mindset and thinking as well. Places like Gloucester, NJ, Burlington, and Cumberland have some of the most racist/bigoted people in the state of New Jersey. Salisbury, and the Eastern Shore in general, is infamous for its racism, dim-witted and provincial population.
tl;dr : Personal anecdote. Moral of story: Why do people say introverts need to get out of their shells? If a turtle gets out of his shell, he dies. :P
For a long, long time, I was convinced that my unwillingness to go out and do things with the family, go out to eat, travel with people, etc. was a shameful thing and that I needed to try to fix myself.
Actually going on a trip, for example, but doing it on 'my terms': keeping to myself, bringing my own foods along, etc., felt outright 'sinful' and heinously selfish to me for some reason. Time and time again, I tried doing things normally with family and friends but never 'snapped out' of my reserved nature; it didn't get easier.
Then, (sorry to be sappy here, by the way), I decided to stop trying. I packed up a huge supply of my favorite foods and books, rode to Pensacola beach with my extended family, settled an air mattress in a quiet corner, and gave myself permission to retreat from the group whenever I wanted.
So I played a game or two, went out and played in the water with my younger cousins, watched TV and laughed with people...but also slipped away for long walks on the beach or some time with a book. For the first time since I was a child, I had the time of my life.
Okay...finally: One moment particularly stuck with me: One evening in the beach house, one of my uncles said that he was glad I could join the trip and that he was enjoying my company. I disagreed and remarked that I was an annoyance to travel with, with all my weird routines and aloofness. He replied, "That's just surface stuff; it doesn't matter."
Introversion is about whether you are drained or energized by spending time with people or spending time alone, and it's different than social awkwardness or shyness.
Another thing I noticed is the introvert and extrovert issue has caused a sort of line in the sand, "us vs them" mentality that deters understanding from both sides.
Who cares what anyone else thinks about your introversion or introversion, in general? So what if there is a "bias?"
Not only is this so wrong on so many levels it shows the bias that many introverts deal with and voices the lingering societal sentiment that they can sometimes feel.
There is a lot of negativity associated with introverts and many times introverts need to be assisted or helped and extroverts rarely have to deal with this. I mean how many threads are there of people having problems due to their extroversion? Its the attitude that introverts need to be fixed and people misconstruing the definition of the word. I think the need to help the "less sociable" has mutated to something that does nothing but ridicule and micro analyzing traits and turning them into crippling mental disorders. I feel there are many social expectations and stigma's that make introverts feel "less" and they are put in boxes with those who do suffer from serious mental disorders.
I have said my piece but I open the door to discussion because I feel many times this topic only scratches the surface and don't get deep enough.
yes, I'm reviewing it and wonder what I meant. Sorry about that. Maybe I was overly anxious to show that funny t-shirt link. Sorry Jaybird - my bad. lol
Almost three months after the Solvency II regulations came into force, fewer than half of EU insurers have coordinated their approach towards capital management | City A.M.
Almost three months after the Solvency II regulations came into force, fewer than half of EU insurers have coordinated their approach towards capital management
Many EU insurers are too disorganised in their approach to managing their capital, a professional services firm has warned today.
A survey published by Deloitte, which examined 50 insurance companies across 10 different EU countries, discovered that fewer than half of EU insurers have a dedicated capital management department, despite the Solvency II regulations coming into force at the start of the year.
"Our research shows capital management is not organised or governed in a coordinated way in insurers across Europe," said Andrew Holland, EMEA Solvency II co-leader at Deloitte. "Even where insurers have such a department, many depend on separate functions such as the risk, actuarial and investment departments.
"Solvency II requires a technical skillset, and there is heavy reliance on these areas. Without a joined-up view across all of these areas, there is a significant risk insurers could miss the whole picture. Strong and appropriate governance is needed to support a holistic view of capital management activities."
However, insurers are aware of the risks and are taking action. The Deloitte survey also discovered that nine out of ten believed that capital management would be a priority for them over the next five years, and about half of those questioned were in the early stages of pulling together a strategy.
"With such low interest rates, there is a significant opportunity and imperative for insurers to develop solutions that maximise their capital," remarked Claude Chassain, also EMEA Solvency II co-leader at Deloitte. "We expect to see a shift where companies develop less capital intensive products and a greater emphasis on reducing risk margins. This could lead to a diverse range of capital strategies coming out in the months ahead."