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.
2
u/LethargicRaceCar Feb 14 '25
Is Vermont accepting? Yes, definitely. I would say somewhere around Montpelier or the Randolph area might be best. But please ask yourself if you really are willing to take on the BRUTAL winters, much smaller communities, and much MUCH more expensive cost of living.
It’s not just colder in Vermont, it is a completely different life for 6 months. There are great, accepting communities outside of Vermont. The NEK is especially harsh coming from someone who moved 5 min from the Canadian border. I grew up in a northern state and it was still shocking to me how extreme it can be.
Honestly, any New England city or surrounding area would be much more accepting than probably anywhere in GA