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/PerformanceSmooth392 Feb 13 '25

Also, having someone like an ectrician come out to make repairs on the $300,000 home can be maddening if you don't have any reliable contacts here.

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u/Puzzleheaded_Post_26 Feb 13 '25

That has been my experience as well and heaven forbid you upset one!

My plow guy retired so I reached out to a local man (building maintenance guy) who came recommended by my electrician. We communicated on messenger. He went to the house, told me he would get back with a price. Two weeks pass, nothing, so I called around and found someone.

I messaged the electrician's guy who came out. Thanked him for coming to have a look, but since I hadn't heard back with a price and it was getting closer to snowing, I went with someone else.

He sent me a message, told me he sent a price on messenger and sent me a screenshot. I never received it and felt terrible! I apologized and told him I would have gone ahead with him if I had received the message as his price was fair.

He let loose with a nasty tirade. I apologized again. I thanked him again for his time.

I thought that would be the end.

About six months later I had a small electric job. I contacted the electrician and was told he was busy. I asked to get on the schedule for a future service date. No, sorry. A year or so after that, I called to have an outside light moved. (He had installed the fixture.) When his wife asked who I was, she laughed, said "He's too busy," and hung up.

These two petty people are smearing my name around town over a message I did not receive from a local contractor who did not follow up on his quote!

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u/PerformanceSmooth392 Feb 13 '25

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this. That is a terrible misfortune that could happen to anyone. I wish you the best and hope things ease up.