Q: I see by Google Maps that your house is near an airport, is it loud?
A: Not really. There is what I would call light general aviation traffic. So a couple of times a day, during the day, you'll hear a Cessna or a small helicopter fly overhead, but nothing obnoxious. Obnoxious is defined as a C-5 Galaxy flying overhead at all hours, which is what we used to experience in Norfolk.
Q: Does Rhode Island feel small?
A: Not really. The town of Newport feels cramped, but that's due to it being a very old city. The streets are narrow and there aren't a lot of parking lots because the city was built 300+ years ago. It gets much more reasonable the further from Newport you get.
The state is small, but two things make it feel large. Ok three. Once you get off of the island there is a lot of green space in the southern part of the state. It feels open. There are several islands in the state, so when you go from island to island it is a rather slow process because it is mostly in town type driving. Finally, the speed limits are slow. Streets that would be 40 or 45 mph are 25 mph. It's probably a good thing considering the traffic and population density.
Q: Are the people in New England rude?
A: Not really. I think "folks are folks" wherever you go. I've experienced rudeness in small town America. In small towns if you're not part of the "old boy" network, you're not truly in. In the north it seems similar. You get to know people and you're good to go. There are so many people here, compared to smaller towns we've lived in, there is no time to sit around and get to know everyone. So trying to have small talk with everyone you run into is impractical. But once you get to talking with someone they're usually very nice, just like anywhere else.
Q: What's the most striking thing about Newport?
A: To me it has to be the water. The bottom and shorelines are mostly rock, so you don't get as much silt and sand mixed into the water. As a result the water is clear and beautiful almost everywhere.
-Jim
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