We’ve lived in our house for three weeks. Here are a few of our first impressions about our new town:
1. The people are genuinely friendly. I was telling this to our flooring contractor the other day (we’re getting hardwood installed on the first floor – can’t wait to show you!), and he said, “Have you told them you’re not a Steeler fan yet?” When I raised my eyebrows he said, “I’ll call you in 6 months once they find out and you can tell me how friendly they are then.” He then launched into several stories of what happened when he let people know he’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
2. I spend more money on food here. I can’t figure out if it’s because I don’t have any freezer or pantry reserve or if the food is more expensive. I’ll be able to figure this out in a few months once my cupboards are restocked.
3. There are a ton of hills. I know I mentioned this when we were house hunting, but it really is very hilly. All the drives are curvy and up and down, up and down. There are sections surrounding the city called the North Hills, the South Hill, the East Hills, and the West Hills. That’s how many hills there are. Seriously. I asked the girls what they like best about living here. I asked them at different times so they couldn’t influence each other’s answer. They both said, “We have a hill.”
4. They really use their natural resources. Many of the houses we viewed has gas stoves/ranges and I found out we have a gas dryer. I like that they support the local economy.
5. There is a ton of activities to do in the area. There were a lot of activities where we moved from, but we’d done a lot of them. We are excited to get out and explore some of the surrounding areas like Lake Erie, PA.
6. One of the more confounding things is there aren’t street signs on the cross streets. What I mean by this is that at a major intersections both roads are usually marked, but once you’re driving on the road the little neighborhood roads don’t have the cross streets listed. So say you hypothetically come to an intersection that isn’t labeled both ways, but you think it’s the right turn so you make it. Well, you can’t simply drive to the first cross road and see if you’re right. You may have to drive for sometime before figuring out what road you’re on. I’m sure you can see how frustrating this might be for someone without GPS.
7. But I think by far the thing that most describes Pittsburgh is “Steeler Nation”. The key word here is Nation. Pittsburgh residents (aka Yinzers) are much like Texans. They think their locale is it’s own country. Local pride and loyalty is very strong. Having grown up in the DC metro area, this is different for me. DC is soooo transient that people don’t establish loyalty or pride. There’s lot of pride there, don’t get me wrong. Lots. But it’s not typically about the sports teams or city.
Overall we really like Pittsburgh. We’re figuring our way around and meeting our neighbors. We’re taking family walks after dinner and feeling our way around. So far so good.
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (9)
That’s so great that you have found lots of positive things about your new town!
I think you are a “make the best of it” kind of person though. You seem positive and strong! Even when you face new challenges.
That’s cool that you are getting new wood floors. Aren’t they great? I love the wood floor areas in our house…and kinda wish it was everywhere.
I think food is really going up here lately. Maybe you are feeling the effects of it there too. But yes…once your pantry is stocked you will feel better.
I’m glad you are meeting your neighbors. At our ages my hubby and I don’t see neighbors outside very much, like when we had little kids at home. We wave at them…but never seem to really chat. Everyone drives in and out of their garages…and that’s about it.
Life is full of changes and adjustments huh? But each stage has its benefits. You are in that “busy mommy” mode…and I am in the “Autumn” of my life. But blogging has brought many new people into my heart…and I enjoy the bloggy friends so much. I have quite a few who are special…like you Leighann. John and I always pray for you and yours…especially little Ryan.
Love, Linda
Your flooring guy is right…don’t say that you aren’t a Steelers fan or don’t like football. Steelers fans are hardcore (some in the not so nice way). Buy some Steelers jerseys and parade your kids up and down your streets. That should do the trick. (oh and definitely don’t wear anything with a bird on it…anything that might remotely resemble a Raven…although here is to hoping that the Ravens win against the Steelers on 9/11).
Can’t wait too see your new hard floors. I have rustic hard wood through out most of my house and I love it. Glad you are enjoying your new home and city.
Those hills make for great sledding in the winter! Groceries are expensive, I suggest Giant Eagle and coupons 🙂 I would tell no one you are not Steeler fans…the flooring guys is right we breath black and gold! It is so nice to see an outsiders perspective of where I call home!!
we live about an hour and half north of Pittsburgh and all of our girls, my husand an I have serval steelers shirts we even went to a pre-game a few years ago. I are not really Steelers fans but I guess its just what you do. LOL
We are going to Erie on Saturday. It is Beautiful we go to erie at least every 3 months.(my daughter sees an eye specicalist there) but everytime we go up we have to at least drive by the lake!! This Saturday we are tking our girls to Waldameer and then to the beach if it is nice out.
I’d like to share some of my favorite Burgh blogs with you:
Burgh Baby
http://www.theburghbaby.com/
That’s Church
http://www.thatschurch.com/
[not a religious blog]
Pittsburgh is a great place to live! Explore and enjoy!
I LOVE the wooden floors deal. We have tile and some carpet. When we first moved here last year I was afraid Sailor was going to have brain damage she hit her head so much learning to walk..but it keeps the house cooler.
Love that your getting aquainted with the area.
my mom/family are lifelong ‘burgers or yinzers. My mom thinks pgh is the center of the universe. After my 20’s I have lived in many places across america, and there is no place like pittsburgh. You are so right about the deep deep pride they have. Die-hard steeelers fans etc.
another thing about pittsburgh which i think is odd is that ppl from north hills stay in north hills, ppl from south hills stay there–they have so much pride of their area they don’t ever even move to another section of the city so you will have like 4 or 5 generations in one area.
I used to live in dc too for 7 years and I actually liked it much better there than pittsburgh. dh and I fit in better there…but we r back here now. Its nice–but ya know…lol.
wait until it snows though-you might rethink those hills. NOT FUN. When I lived in DC I didn’t even own a snow shovel. Here-you can’t live without one.
I second Giant Eagle or Walmart for food. I do think some things are more expensive here foodwise.
You pretty much said what i could not effectively communicate. +1
My blog:
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It sounds like you are making a very smooth transition! Reading your posts about Pittsburgh makes me wish to visit…and that is saying something!
About the loyalty, just wait till game day! I have NEVER seen such overall support of a sports team in my life!! We would see a whole family coming to the hospital decked out in their Steeler garb…to be checked in by a nurse in his/her Steeler-wear…to wait to see the doctor with his Steeler tie! I felt like folks definitely knew we were “out-of-towners” due to our lack of “black and yellow”! 🙂