No, YOU pride and identify us as being a social haven. WE pride ourselves as being self reliant and treating each other with dignity.

You are just making my point so clearly: VT exists outside of our relationship to you. We are not a utopia, we are the real world just like everywhere else.

I think Vermonters treat people very humanely, it just might not look exactly like what you think it should. I don’t “welcome” anyone because I don’t really talk to people I don’t know, I value leaving other people alone.

I have nothing but love in my heart for you, and I really hope you stay.

It’s sometimes hard when we are just going about our daily lives, working and trying to get by, and people are upset we aren’t a greeting card that takes place inside of a farmers market.