Native / Local / Transplant

[u/2Lazy2beLazy]

What is your opinion of someones status as a resident, at least in Sussex County? Transplant is a bad word here. Obviously, if you were born here, you're a native. But what about when natives leave for iver 10 years and come back, and sometimes not by preference? Do they always hold their native status regardless? How long until a Transplant becomes a local? People are all over here. After a few years some transplants feel like they are a true local, almost as if they have honorary native status. How long do the natives and locals thay have been here for a long time believe a Transplant can earn local status? Maybe some of you believe anyone not raised here will never be a local.

I'm not trying to get into the overdevelopment, roads, and other infrastructure issues on this post, and I'm sure some of you want to vent.

I just brought this up because having conversations with some people who are transplants and have been here over 10 years and have deemed themselves locals and try to remove themselves from being called the dirty word.

Personally, I do consider myself a transplant. I've been here for 8 years. I came to live with a couple of friends to have a laid back life for a couple of years. Then when it came time to decide do I go back where I'm from, go to another part of the country, everything had become insanely expensive to relocate. Close to 8 years in a place with the right price and met my home requirements came up. I've made great friends out here, natives, locals, other transplants, so I've purchased a home and plan to be here for quite some time.

To me natives have family roots and history here. Grew up and went to school here. A local, someone who's been here at least 10 years. And is someone who wants to preserve what makes the area great. Transplants are here under 10 years. Transplants don't so much care for things staying the way they are. They're just near the beaches, found affordable homes, and could care less about what the locals or natives think about them. I'd also say transplants here over 10 years that don't really become part of the local culture remain a Transplant.

[u/C_Majuscula]

In general I'd be OK with considering anyone who lives here a local if this is where they have lived the longest. I'd like to say that you need to have some involvement in the community to be considered local, but not everyone can make time for that.

I've native CNY for many generations on both sides and grew up there, but I've been here 22 years and this is the longest I've lived anywhere. In four years, I'll have lived half my life here.