Alabama Instantly Dismissed

[robbie]

I really enjoy TOPRETIREMENTS.COM. Great work. However, The most recent article on Fairhope, Alabama left me a little cold. Here is why. I am not from Fairhope but it is a lovely place which I visit often. I am from Alpine, Alabama and we have an equally awesome place for retirement. Here is my problem with the article on Fairhope. Mr. John Brady of Topretirement starts the article off by stating that he was reluctant to add Fairhope because : "people might instantly dismiss it because it is in Alabama". Why with our great weather, low property taxes, non-taxable military retirement pay by the state, great colleges, many new job opportunities with growth of automobile manufacturing and a Christian flavor found in fewer and fewer states outside the bible belt would anyone instantly dismiss Alabama? Could someone enlighten me? Please.

[topretirementseditor]

Robbie, thanks for the comment. I am with you - Alabama should NOT be dismissed for all of the reasons you mention. What I meant here was a reflection of my own experience here in New England. I have one friend who "hates the south". Not sure she has ever been in the south, but she hates it. Another, when I mentioned Fairhope as one of the best retirement spots I know of, "instantly dismissed" it because it's in Alabama. So i guess the bottom line is that we all have our biases and much work needs to be done to overcome them.

[junebug]

It's a shame that people rely on their stereotypes to form their opinions. Happens both ways I am sure. Not that it wouldn't be an adjustment for a southerner or midwesterner to live in the northeast. People can be colder there and that is hard. As a former midwesterner I was shocked to move to CT and my new neighbors ignored me. Back home in a small town I would have had to work hard to avoid invitations. Bottom line is each region is different and it can be hard to get comfortable with that.