New to the area

[Suz]

Hello everyone! I'm not sure where I was supposed to post this so I hope this doesn't offend anyone being here. My family and I just finished settling over the long weekend and I'm hoping to find some new friends here. A little about me would I guess be the most noticeable thing that I have achondroplasia. In other words I'm a little person or a midget which doesn't bother me. My husband and two kids are all average height. This seems like a nice place so the thing that brought me to this forum was that my neighbor said anything you need go on this site. Buy,sell,forums,advice it's all here. So now that we're unpacked what do the locals do in the summer? I had a fantasy when we moved that I would be eating those famous crabs every day and was delighted to see people selling them on the side of the road! I guess that is safe?! But wow expensive. I thought they'd be like hot dog prices lol.

Here is what I tell people new to the area as a realtor:

Go get a street atlas book by "ADC The Map People". Not only will it help you get around, but in the very back there is a detailed list of so many different subjects. Churches, golf courses, hospitals, lakes, libraries, parks and recreation, schools etc etc etc. The only unfortunate part is you have to get a book for EACH county. The run about $15 each. Amazon has them and sometimes you can get lucky at Wally world, Target or a 7-11.

And of course watch and listen for whats posted in our county paper and on the local radio.

Welcome!!!

 

[luvmylabs]

Wow what a day! I went to Giant- loved the selection,all the produce looked great,Target,also great. Walmart was typical Walmart but I'll tell you what the stand out place was - Checkers! Omg,what yummy food! That place is going to get me in trouble for sure. One negative! The driving. I got home alive but I don't think I've ever been cut off or had people act like they don't see me so much in my life. Kind of scared me a little.

 

[Radiant1]

Wow what a day! I went to Giant- loved the selection,all the produce looked great,Target,also great. Walmart was typical Walmart but I'll tell you what the stand out place was - Checkers! Omg,what yummy food! That place is going to get me in trouble for sure. One negative! The driving. I got home alive but I don't think I've ever been cut off or had people act like they don't see me so much in my life. Kind of scared me a little.

Welcome!

You definitely need to be a defensive driver around here. There's always traffic in the California/Lexington Park area so be alert and stay safe!

 

[RPMDAD]

Welcome to Southern MD.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

Wow what a day! I went to Giant- loved the selection,all the produce looked great,Target,also great. Walmart was typical Walmart but I'll tell you what the stand out place was - Checkers! Omg,what yummy food! That place is going to get me in trouble for sure. One negative! The driving. I got home alive but I don't think I've ever been cut off or had people act like they don't see me so much in my life. Kind of scared me a little.

You have absolutely no idea the crapstorm you'll stir up with what I bolded. For many people on here Giant is one step up from a food pantry with generic soups.

 

[GWguy]

You're right about the driving, very impatient. Passive drivers tend to get stepped on, you might have to learn a bit more aggressive driving habits.

As far as saying Hi, you'll find people will do that around here whether they are on the forums or not.

Welcome!

 

[ontheriver]

 

[luvmylabs]

This morning I went to the Food Lion that is by an Ollie's store. I don't know the exact address. I was trying to get around a large group of two black women ( describing not being racist) and a bunch of little kids everywhere. I said excuse me a couple of times but no one even looked. I was pushing a cart but at my height I'm not the most visible. So I walked around and tapped one kid and said excuse me. They started yelling at me and being really loud and obnoxious. Threatening,looking around and making a huge scene. I'm not really used to this so I just walked away leaving my cart. I guess I should have handled that better but I got intimidated. Even leaving I noticed people just hanging around. With my stature people could do just about anything to me. I just left and went to Walmart. I only went to that place because I trying someplace new.

 

[gretchen]

This morning I went to the Food Lion that is by an Ollie's store. I don't know the exact address. I was trying to get around a large group of two black women ( describing not being racist) and a bunch of little kids everywhere. I said excuse me a couple of times but no one even looked. I was pushing a cart but at my height I'm not the most visible. So I walked around and tapped one kid and said excuse me. They started yelling at me and being really loud and obnoxious. Threatening,looking around and making a huge scene. I'm not really used to this so I just walked away leaving my cart. I guess I should have handled that better but I got intimidated. Even leaving I noticed people just hanging around. With my stature people could do just about anything to me. I just left and went to Walmart. I only went to that place because I trying someplace new.

Get some bear spray from Amazon. It's not considered a weapon and you carry it. I keep it and some tactical gear in my car. It has a calming effect on hood rats. You'll see if you ever need it.

 

[vraiblonde]

You have absolutely no idea the crapstorm you'll stir up with what I bolded. For many people on here Giant is one step up from a food pantry with generic soups.

?

Giant is a great grocery store, and I'm a Whole Foods snob.

 

[glhs837]

Sorry you had a bad experience in the St Marys Square (that's the name of that shopping center) Food Lion. And while it's closest to me, I avoid it myself unless I'm in desperate need of an item. I do frequent other shops in there, Vin is a great tailor, I shop at Ollies and Autozone in there and get my Pizza Hut. But that Food Lion isn't the best example of what's not an awesome brand of grocery store to begin with. the one a few miles way in Callaway is a better Food Lion experience, not so many Independence Card (local govt assistance EBT card) queens in the Calloway store.

 

[Beta]

We're from Williston which is in North Dakota and our kids are adults I guess - 18 and almost 20. One thing that was my first big surprise was the huge Hispanic population! We drove down to some of the beaches one I can't remember the name but had a playground and was down a long road on the way to Point Lookout. Both places were so crowded but almost all Hispanic. Not being nasty or negative and I really hope I'm not coming across that way but it was unexpected. I found a tiny little country store and it was beyond adorable!! To my great surprise I also saw another little person out which I pretty much never saw at home. So altogether I'm just really excited because this community seems so diverse and friendly. When we drove down residential roads people outside would wave and I appreciated that!

Wow, never seen many Hispanics around here at all. So I'm not sure that's typical. At least the ones I've met all speak English (unlike Miami). Depending on which part of SOMD you're in, you'll probably have a different experience.

Welcome to the area!

luvmylabs, you wouldn't happen to be another incarnation of someone else who recently said they were new to this area and to these forums....would you?

Never ask questions like that. Just be nice...and observe.

?

Giant is a great grocery store, and I'm a Whole Foods snob.

I'm not sure I'd call it great, but for St. Mary's (at least) it's probably the best one we have.

 

[Monello]

Wow, never seen many Hispanics around here at all. So I'm not sure that's typical.

Hispanics have been flocking to Point Lookout for at least a decade. The park has implemented some new rules to modify some cultural differences. People were sleeping in cars claiming that they were fishing. Now everyone in the party must be actively fishing.

A `pure El Salvador' feel makes park a place to be

Point Lookout: This peninsula in Southern Maryland has evolved into a weekend haven for Salvadorans.

Balt Sun article

 

[Whitey]

This morning I went to the Food Lion that is by an Ollie's store. I don't know the exact address. I was trying to get around a large group of two black women ( describing not being racist) and a bunch of little kids everywhere. I said excuse me a couple of times but no one even looked. I was pushing a cart but at my height I'm not the most visible. So I walked around and tapped one kid and said excuse me. They started yelling at me and being really loud and obnoxious. Threatening,looking around and making a huge scene. I'm not really used to this so I just walked away leaving my cart. I guess I should have handled that better but I got intimidated. Even leaving I noticed people just hanging around. With my stature people could do just about anything to me. I just left and went to Walmart. I only went to that place because I trying someplace new.

Yeah, you can pretty much avoid Great Mills Rd altogether and live a fulfilling life.

I've stopped into that Auto-Zone there in that same shopping center a few times...each time was approached by someone wanting something from me...a few dollars, a smoke, the time...all good ways to size someone up. Fortunately I'm not exactly a meek person and they've been on their way.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

?

Giant is a great grocery store, and I'm a Whole Foods snob.

I go to Safeway usually, just like it better than Giant but have no issue with them. I guess success as an internet baron gets you to Whole Paycheck (and you know I'm teasing).

Go back and look at what a couple regular, whining about the lack of businesses here say about Giant. You know exactly who I mean.

At least she didn't go to McKay's, we'd never hear the end of it.

 

[glhs837]

Yeah, you can pretty much avoid Great Mills Rd altogether and live a fulfilling life.

I've stopped into that Auto-Zone there in that same shopping center a few times...each time was approached by someone wanting something from me...a few dollars, a smoke, the time...all good ways to size someone up. Fortunately I'm not exactly a meek person and they've been on their way.

Odd, I'm in and out of there all the time, maybe 3-5 trips in the last four days, and I never have been approached like that.

 

[luvmygdaughters]

Welcome LuvMyLabs Plenty to do in the summer if you like water activities. As far as shopping for groceries, it may be worth the drive to go to McKays in Leonardtown. They are a little pricey on some items but its a nice store and good service. As far as produce goes, you should be seeing some produce stands starting to sell local produce. My favorite is Russells stand on St. Andrews Church Rd. The best sweet corn I've ever had. Leonardtown has 1st Fridays every month, that's nice and a good way to meet people.

 

[vraiblonde]

Yeah, we should have told you to avoid St. Mary's Square and "downtown" Lexington Park in general. It be ghetto.

But in that same shopping center is Niko's, which is one of my favorite lunch spots.

 

[idiganthro]

Welcome to Southern Maryland!

 

[glhs837]

Yeah, we should have told you to avoid St. Mary's Square and "downtown" Lexington Park in general. It be ghetto.

But in that same shopping center is Niko's, which is one of my favorite lunch spots.

I wouldn't have. I might say don't wander around there at night without an escort who appears to be bale to handle themselves, but daytime? I wouldn't avoid the Sqaure, nor over 90% of "downtown" Lexington Park. As you note, that lets a lot of good local places to wither. Nikos, Vins, I've used the Philipina lady who does dog grooming, almost all your pizza joints Habitat's Restore, which is actually moving in next to Oliies pretty soon. And of course, the library is right down there. And the community theatre.