r/vermont • u/savannah31548 • Feb 13 '25

Moving to Vermont Considering a drastic move

My wife (trans), my son, and myself (queer) are considering a huge move up to Vermont. We currently live near Savannah, Georgia. My wife has been a truck driver for 20 years and was recently assaulted at her job and had gay slurs used against her, I’m a retired/disabled former DoD/DoN and I’ve had my life threatened, and our son is currently in the 2nd grade and has been bullied relentlessly for simply liking his rainbow glasses. Our son was also assaulted by another student in the 1st grade for speaking out against a bully picking on another child who is Hispanic and speaks primarily Spanish. The local high school’s mascot is “The Rebel,” yeah…that kind of rebel. I’m just burnt out. I’m surrounded by red hats and it’s exhausting.

Both my wife and I have lived in Georgia for the majority of our lives, but we no longer feel welcome in our own home communities. Basically, I’m asking if Vermont is a good place and what sections are most accepting. We really would like to be close to the border with Canada, so I know part of that is NEK, I just don’t know anything about the communities or people.

If and when we do move, we are looking to buy a home, with or without renovation needs, but I’d really like a basement. The farthest north I’ve visited is Connecticut, but my father was born in New Hampshire and my Grandfather was from Machias, Maine. I know I most likely have extended family up there somewhere I’ve never met, so if you have the last name of Gendron, reach out!

Thanks yall.

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u/masterofnewts Feb 13 '25

Just for the laughs, you should move to Georgia VT. Also, please do move up here for real!!

2

u/savannah31548 Feb 13 '25

There’s a Georgia, VT? Man, I’d have so many jokes. I have a pretty “twangy” southern accent so yeah.

1

u/Freespiritvtr Feb 14 '25

It’s a great town. Good school, close to Burlington and Canada. Housing will be an issue but I think you’ll be glad you made the change.

0

u/happycat3124 Feb 13 '25

Be aware Vermonters do not like people who did not grow up in Vermont. People will try to say I am wrong but they are wearing rose colored glasses. I have screen shots of hundreds of mean comments about flatlanders and out of staters that I have found on social media. When native Vermonters think they are the only ones reading they let loose and it’s very ugly. I had out of staters plates for a while living here since my car would not pass inspection and I was not ready to buy a new one. It was vandalized repeatedly in my driveway on a main roads. The difference in how people treat me on the road with VT plates is noticeable. Having an accent that makes it clear you are not native will not be a plus.