Vermont here we come …
… right back where we started from!
As we start preparing our move back to Vermont, I pull out some reflections I wrote in early 2021, about the state and living in it. Here it goes …
It has been almost 12 years since I moved to Vermont, so I thought I’d give a little insight into life in the Green Mountain State just in case you are wondering what it’s like …
Let’s start with some basic facts and numbers. Vermont is one of the six US states that make up the region of New England, the others being Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. To the north Vermont borders the Canadian province of Quebec, to the west, it borders the state of New York, to the south we have Massachusetts, and to the east New Hampshire.
Vermont and New Hampshire are separated by the Connecticut River along the whole length of the border between the two states. The river has its origins in northern New Hampshire where it starts close to the US-Canadian border and from there snakes its way south to Long Island Sound.
There’s a joke about a town on the Vermont side of the river wanting to secede and join New Hampshire. When a resident of the town was asked about this idea, they said: ‘This is a great idea, because I can’t handle another Vermont winter!’ I have found no evidence that there is any truth to the story, but it’s pretty funny!
The northern part of the border between Vermont and New York is largely defined by Lake Champlain and the Poultney River. Lake Champlain is the sixth-largest freshwater lake in the US.
Vermont has a population of around 630,000 and only the state of Wyoming has fewer people. Its capital is Montpelier, which is the smallest state capital in the US and also the only state capital without a McDonald’s. Vermont is one of a very small group of US states that have a ban on billboards.
Some other fun facts about Vermont:
- Vermont abolished adult slavery while still independent from the US and upon joining the Union in 1791 became the first state to have done so.
- Vermont was the first state to introduce civil unions for same-sex couples in 2000 and the 5th state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005.
- Vermont is the second most rural state after Maine and, apparently, it has the highest ratio of dairy cows to people of any US state. I was not able to find a source for this, but read it in several places. I do know, there are plenty of delicious cheeses made in Vermont!
- Vermont also has the most craft beer breweries per capita of any US state.
Vermont is pretty true to its name — French for ‘Green Mountain’. It’s green for a large part of the year and it is home to many mountains, but don’t think the Rocky Mountains or the Alps, the mountains in Vermont are more like rolling ‘hills’ in comparison, smoothed over by the glaciers of the last ice age and covered in woods.
Does Vermont have any claim to fame? I would say that Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is probably the most famous export from Vermont, followed by Burton, the maker of snowboard and other winter sports gear. And then there is its maple syrup, no other state in the US produces more of the golden sweet syrup than Vermont. It also is a paradise for snow sports enthusiasts. Of the 10 largest ski resorts in the northeast of the US, 8 are located in Vermont. So, if you like cheese, beer, and maple syrup, if you like to get out in the snow, and if you love gentle rather than rugged mountains, Vermont could be the place for you!
But don’t be fooled when I say ‘gentle’ mountains, when it comes to the weather in Vermont’s mountains, ‘rugged’ might be a better term to describe it. Winter days in Vermont have the potential to be cold and harsh!
One thing I have noticed about the Vermont climate that is different from other places I have lived, such as Ireland, England, or the north of Germany, is that the seasons are quite distinct. In May (or sooner if you are tougher than me) you can put away all long sleeve pants, shirts, and warm sweaters because there’s a good chance you won’t need them until about October. Equally, after Thanksgiving in late November you’ll only see the toughest Vermonters still out with shorts, but don’t be too surprised if you do!!
Tourism is a big part of the Vermont economy, for the winter sports of course, but also for an escape from the big urban centers of New England and beyond at other times of the year. Second homes make up a large percentage of homes in many tourist towns of the state, such as Ludlow, which is where I live. In Ludlow, which has a population of fewer than 1000 people, more than 80% of homes are not occupied year-round. If they were, the town would have a population of around 10,000 and in the winter it sometimes does. The only time there’s a traffic jam in town is when the ski resort closes on a holiday weekend, then it might take you one hour to get from one side of town to the other, a trip that would usually take you no more than 10 minutes.
Life in this neck of the woods is quaint and quiet and if you like it simple it is fairly easy to keep it that way. But what if you want to go out for the day and do some shopping? Be prepared to drive an hour to be able to do that. Equally, if you like attending theater shows and other live performances on a bigger stage, at least an hour there and an hour back would be your commute.
Ludlow is about 3 hours from Boston, 4.5 hours from New York City, and the biggest city and urban area in the state, which is Burlington, is 2 hours away. If you like urban life as well as quaint small-town life you better also like to spend time in the car. I will say, that driving in the state of Vermont is a real pleasure because the scenery is beautiful. There are no billboards and very few strip malls and there’s very little traffic — no people = no traffic!
One big challenge in Vermont is finding jobs and housing, that is why so many young people leave the state. After Maine, Vermont’s population has the oldest median age of any state in the US, which in turn is why schools, such as the high school in our town, are closing because there aren’t enough young families with children to fill the schools. The recent pandemic and the new work-from-home trend may spell a change in that for Vermont and we have certainly seen a small influx of people over the last year. Another theory suggests that climate change and rising sea levels will at one point spur an inland migration and Vermont could see its population grow again. Time will tell.
So on balance, how do I like life in Vermont? Well, I like it simple, so in a way, I am quite suited to life in small-town Vermont. The thing I miss the most is the ocean! I also miss having more family and friends close by. Living in Vermont has not helped my prospects of building a career of any sort, but then, that has never been a major driving force in my life in any case.
As I am sitting on my porch writing, enjoying the view, and occasionally a glass of wine, I have a definite sense of appreciation for the fact that life has led me to this beautiful spot on the planet!
But you know me. The ever-restless soul that also enjoys and thrives on change can’t really envision herself still sitting on this porch in 30–40 years with a walking stick and a receptacle for her dentures next to her. So I will 100% appreciate this view and this piece of tranquility as long as I inhabit it and then I’ll enjoy the heck out of the next place, wherever that may be!
So long from Vermont, I will go back to counting cows now 😉!
