When I Get Old ...

[JaneV2.0]

One of my college classes used to "entertain" at various facilities where many of the residents were clearly not particularly interested. But I'm no singer, so maybe they were just appalled.

[iris lilies]

One of my college classes used to "entertain" at various facilities where many of the residents were clearly not particularly interested. But I'm no singer, so maybe they were just appalled.

Something I have learned about in the last 10 years is “ dance ministry.” Churches here, the historically black churches anyway, have a dance troupe made up of church ladies. Some ministries are youthful dancers.

They have flow-y costumes and perform dances to church music.

Now that I like, and in another life that might have got me into a church.

[catherine]

Something I have learned about in the last 10 years is “ dance ministry.” Churches here, the historically black churches anyway, have a dance group made up of church ladies. They have flow-y costumes and perform dances to church music.

Now that I like, and in another life that might have got me into a church.

Funny you should say that. I really love gospel music--not so much for the piety aspect, but it is just so fun and rockin'. I used to sing in the choir at church and those were the types of songs I loved singing the most. So I was looking for a gospel choir around here that I could join, but of course, due to COVID I'd have to wait. Plus it looks like there's a great one in Montpelier, but that's an hour+ away. Maybe I just have to sing along with Alexa.

[iris lilies]

Funny you should say that. I really love gospel music--not so much for the piety aspect, but it is just so fun and rockin'. I used to sing in the choir at church and those were the types of songs I loved singing the most. So I was looking for a gospel choir around here that I could join, but of course, due to COVID I'd have to wait. Plus it looks like there's a great one in Montpelier, but that's an hour+ away. Maybe I just have to sing along with Alexa.

I do not mean to be indelicate, but ya’ll up there in lily white Vermont will have gospel choirs that are, at best, weak imitations of the real thing. Sorry! Make do with what you have, but singing along with Alexa may be your best bet.

speaking of diversity, how far do you have to drive for

1. Indian food
2. Thai food
3. Vietnamese food
4. anything middle eastern in food

???

My friend who moved to rural NH doesn’t eat any of the above so she will not admit to being in a cultural food wasteland, but I won’t move too far from ethnic restaurants. Mexican and Chinese don’t count.

Hermann, sadly, lost another nice restaurant (not ethnic, but real cooking) and now is down to only two that interest me. Everything else is pizza and burgers, as is the next big town over.

I have purchased a condo in this city for a base for garden club activity but also to be able to eat out at a decent place.

[catherine]

I do not mean to be indelicate, but ya’ll up there in lily white Vermont will have gospel choirs that are, at best, weak imitations of the real thing. Sorry! Make do with what you have, but singing along with Alexa may be your best best.

speaking of diversity, how far do you have to drive for

1. Indian food
2. Thai food
3. Vietnamese food
4. anything middle eastern in food

???

My friend who moved to rural NH doesn’t eat any of the above so she will not admit to being in a cultural food wasteland, but I won’t move too far from ethnic restaurants. Mexican and Chinese don’t count.


Hermann, sadly, lost another nice restaurant (not ethnic, but real cooking) and now is down to only two that interest me. Everything else is pizza and burgers, as is the next big town over.

Well, the Montpelier gospel choir online pictures looked appealing, although pretty lily-white. You have a point.

As far as diversity:

1. Indian food: 35 minutes to Burlington
2. Thai food: Amazingly, only 10 miles to South Hero. A native Thai woman started a restaurant a couple of years ago, although she had to add American stuff to the menu to draw customers.
3. Vietnamese food: I could probably get it in Burlington--there is a large refugee population there, so the ethnic food possibilities are not bad.
4. Middle eastern: Again, Burlington, 35 minutes away.

But I admit, I do miss the diversity of New Jersey for sure. We had an ethnic restaurant on every corner. I could walk to Indian food, Asian fusion food, Vietnamese food, Japanese food, Chinese food, Italian food.

[JaneV2.0]

I do not mean to be indelicate, but ya’ll up there in lily white Vermont will have gospel choirs that are, at best, weak imitations of the real thing. Sorry! Make do with what you have, but singing along with Alexa may be your best best.

speaking of diversity, how far do you have to drive for

1. Indian food
2. Thai food
3. Vietnamese food
4. anything middle eastern in food

???

My friend who moved to rural NH doesn’t eat any of the above so she will not admit to being in a cultural food wasteland, but I won’t move too far from ethnic restaurants. Mexican and Chinese don’t count.


Hermann, sadly, lost another nice restaurant (not ethnic, but real cooking) and now is down to only two that interest me. Everything else is pizza and burgers, as is the next big town over.

I have two Indian restaurants close--one 3 miles west, one 3 miles south, roughly. There are many more in Kirkland and Bellevue, at least one in Woodinville. For starters. There are two Thai restaurants in town--one a couple of miles, and one withing potential walking distance. Lots of Vietnamese restaurants in Lake City and Kirkland, more in Bellevue. Middle Eastern is more problematic. There was one close in in Kirkland, but it is no longer. There were also two in Bellevue that I know of. There are two Ethiopian restaurants within a reasonable driving distance--7 or 8 miles, I guess. I'm with you--I wouldn't live without ethnic restaurants if I could help it. Ethnic restaurants, thrift stores, and a good library system are non-negotiable.

[iris lilies]

Well, the Montpelier gospel choir online pictures looked appealing, although pretty lily-white. You have a point.

As far as diversity:

1. Indian food: 35 minutes to Burlington
2. Thai food: Amazingly, only 10 miles to South Hero. A native Thai woman started a restaurant a couple of years ago, although she had to add American stuff to the menu to draw customers.
3. Vietnamese food: I could probably get it in Burlington--there is a large refugee population there, so the ethnic food possibilities are not bad.
4. Middle eastern: Again, Burlington, 35 minutes away.

But I admit, I do miss the diversity of New Jersey for sure. We had an ethnic restaurant on every corner. I could walk to Indian food, Asian fusion food, Vietnamese food, Japanese food, Chinese food, Italian food.

That isn’t bad, a 35 minute drive.

Here, Hermann is 85 miles from St Louis so not doable for one meal.

And is is very discouraging for me that the “big” town near Hermann which is 30 miles away seems to be all pizza and burger and bar food. Not even a white tablecloth Italian or American place. But I could be wrong about that, further exploration necessary.

[catherine]

That isn’t bad, a 35 minute drive.

Here, Hermann is 85 miles from St Louis so not doable for one meal.

And is is very discouraging for me that the “big” town near Hermann which is 30 miles away seems to be all pizza and burger and bar food. Not even a white tablecloth Italian or American place. But I could be wrong about that, further exploration necessary.

Yeah, we have one "white tablecloth" restaurant here, but DH HATES it. We took a couple of friends there once and the service was bad, and the food was mediocre for the price. So, we virtually have no nice places to go to on the island. It's the sports bar, or the casual Thai/American place. Although they just opened a brew pub where you can get craft beers made right here on the islands and a pretzel.

As for Burlington, I may have overstated the ethnic food market .. there is actually ONE Indian restaurant in a fairly large city, and I looked up the demographics and in spite of the "large refugee population" it's still 85% white. That SNL skit was definitely not far off the mark (I know I've posted this before but I still think it's funny).

[iris lilies]

This thread reminded me of something I was thinking about this week.

our interests and tastes don’t really change as we get old.

I absolutely LOATHE all of the “nice” assisted living places I have seen. Why? Because they are all new builds, in varying degrees of expensive.

Hermann has a hideous Assist Living center that is all one floor and ugly. It is out on a highway, so no chance to view darling victorian architecture of Hermann. Just look at fields and cars driving by.

I would like to be in assisted living in one of the old church monasteries or whatever they are called around here. Great old buildings! But those are not in the city and are away from ethnic restaurants and some (not all) cultural places. They are all multi story which does not work for the old folks.

[ApatheticNoMore]

What I missed traveling some places in the U.S. was a lack of any even moderately healthy cuisine. Gah I guess that's why they call it California cuisine!!! Truthfully not just California, like noone has any doubt you can eat well in Seattle etc., but some places are truly a wasteland, and I kept eating at the most unhealthy restaurant ever when trying places and when I tried ethnic food it was the worst imitation of it ever. I was very tired of the food.

But I don't care about restaurants all that much when I live somewhere as I cook and cook well. But then I care about what groceries I can buy, better have a good selection there, I mean darn well better - but there is probably a lot of overlap between that and having a good restaurant selection. The one ethnic food I'd most want is a good Jewish deli. Well we have those. After that I like middle eastern. And yep I like California cuisine.