Don't get me wrong, I've met some very friendly Vermonters, about half transplants here 25 plus years and half native. The natives have given me the lay of the land, and mostly, they're the families that understand a last name will go a long way with getting permits approved, and they don't have that last name. So they're the, damn I don't wanna say lower class in Vermont natives, but it's somewhere close to that. And you know what, thems my peeps. I don't like the exceptionlists.

With regards to participating, what I meant is I buy local. Farmstands. Mom and pops. Aubuchon instead of Home Depot. I don't want to come here and change things - I didn't vote in the primary but did in the general. I figure let the locals who know more than me (as a 2-year resident) decide the party representatives.

All in all, I'm trying to be as sensitive to a small state as I can, but I also realize that I busted my ass to get here and won't be marginalized. It's a fine line to walk. I'll tread it out of awareness for the state of this state, but it's also my home as well.

Happy to be here. :)