Reflections on the Changing Demographics

Seems to me New Hampshire's population has been enriched by people from away since the Europeans came. A vacation and camping state plants seeds in kids who go back home and never forget how they felt in this state.

Meeting some of the new boomer settlers, I hear how happy they are and how managable life is here. Seems to me new leases on life are being taken out all the time as the New Hampshire advantage tends to be peace of mind for many who came looking for it. Though I did run into one couple where the husband leaned wearily on the counter while his wife was fired up with wanting to drive around Concord's neighborhoods to find just the place and knew just what they would do. I wanted to point out that her husband looked all worn out but I didn't. Just sent my sympathy along behind them as they left.

At the recent New Hampshire Writers' Project Writer'sDay at SNHU, I met a woman who left Manchester 40 some years ago for a newspaper career, is now back in retirement, and after her came a daughter who has never lived here who finally feels she's found home and brought kids wth her.

Two of my own three kids migrated here when I moved into their grandparents' house: time for a second generation of grandchildren to run these halls. New Hampshire got two young families with stable, responsible, educated parents and four bright eyed kids in one family and one baby almost here in the other. That's one retired lady in, plus four contributing adults and five future fine citizens. The census bureau may not know about these subsequent attractor moves.

NH coloration settles in pretty fast I''ve noticed. One guy I've known looks like he's hewn out of his rough mountain and has been raisinq quite a crop of old cars, trucks, and earthmoving equipment as well as general possibly useful salvage. Not everyone knows he comes from a wealthy Ohio family back when he was younger. New Hampshire suits him best.

The out and in flow seems to work here. Who will be available to help us when we're in serious need of personal care is an issue. Maybe one of us can design the right set up for helping each other out in some kind of big sunny round room with lots of high seated toilets between each two beds (behind them, in little bathrooms) and racks of what ever it is we'll need strapped to us then. Then we can shout and joke and come to each other's aid if the younger folks disappear.

Now what would we put in the middle of that round room? Any ideas?

What brought you to New Hampshire? Why? Any regrets? Any happy surprises? (Remember if you were a grump before you got here, you probably still are one.) Are you in better health? Are you happier? Are folks glad to see you coming?

Let me know!