Greetings from So. NH! I just found out about this site today (Sunday paper). I am 48, married, with 1 grown daughter. We are " Mass. transplants", going on 2 years now. I had a bit of a difficult time adjusting to my new home location, having grown up and spent my entire adult life in the same town. I'm fortunate to still see most of my old friends on a fairly regular basis but it would be nice to meet some new people as well! I recently started experiencing the wonders of menapause; my favorite is when you are carrying on a conversation with someone at work and begin sweating from the face so profusely that it literally drips right off! Scares the bejesus out of colleages time after time! I look forward to being part of this "women only" network and sharing ideas, advice and stories........

Welcome Bonnie from an East Coast & Midwest transplant who's been in Cali for 25 years now. This is a great website with a wealth of fascinating women. I'm sure you'll find many friends here.

Hi Bonnie,
Welcome. I lived on the east coast for my first 18 years in the same town--but am now a west coaster since I've lived here for more than half of my life. What got you to NH from Mass?
I'll look forward to reading more about you.

Dream of the Circle of Women
by Dahti Blanchard
published May 2004 by Spilled Candy Books
visit: www.dahtiblanchard.com

Hi Bonnie....welcome to the wonderful world of Boomer Women! I've never been to NH but love the North Eastern US of A.....hubby and I have spent several GREAT vacations in Maine, on Cape Cod....I know NH is beautiful though!

Enjoy learning all about what's going on here - there's LOTS!

Thanks so much for the warm welcome! My husband and I moved here when our daughter moved to Memphis to attend law school. We lived in a fairly large older home and wanted something new, that we could have a part of designing, but couldn't afford to do it in that part of Massachusetts(the Northshore). We are only 45 minutes away from our old town so it's not too difficult to visit friends and family. We are in the Nashua area, pretty cosmopolitan for New Hampshire. At some point, in a year or two we would like to move over to the NH coast, hopefully the Rye area. Of course, that depends on whether my husband could get a good job over there; he won't do more than a 45 minute commute each way and I don't blame him! I can go anywhere, have been in pediatric physical therapy for well over 20 years. Glad you have enjoyed vacations here in the northeast. We love to travel and our most recent trip (August) was to Napa Valley and Yosemite. This was my 5th visit to California and there are still areas I want to see! I immediately jumped on the menapause forums last night as it is something new that I'm experiencing and feel crappy/ tired/ sweaty so often. Have an appt with the gyno in November and hopefully it will be helpful. Thanks again to all of you responding. Hope to get to know you better!

bonnie, as many of the other women here alraedy know, I am on a low dose of the birth control pill to help with perimenopausal symptoms. So far, beautiful. I'm not a pill taker, but this is worth it. Just another thought. Welcome!

Welcome bonnie!

Hi Bonnie,

I'm from Southern NH too. Merrimack, to be precise. Is that anywhere near where you live?

We "transplanted" from MA 30 years ago. And some people around here still consider us "foreigners".

Seriously, it's a great place to live. Once you get to know your neighbors, you will love them.

Jackie

Hi Jackie, We live in Hudson, not too far from you! We seem to spend most of our time in Nashua, not too much to do in Hudson! We are looking forward to the new steak house that will open in Merrimack in November. Michael Buckley (of Michael Timothy's and the Surf) is the proprioter (?sp.) so I'm sure it will be incredible! We have very nice neighbors; have met almost everyone from walking our 2 dogs. It's mostly young folks though and there are lots of cute kiddies who run and greet us to say hello to Magoo and Popeye. The biggest thing that I miss is not being able to drive 5 minutes and see the ocean. I shouldn't complain though, it's only an hour away!-------

Bonnie,

We haven't been to Michael Timothy's, but from what I understand, any restaurant he runs is certain to be wonderful. As far as steakhouses go, we highly recommend Silo's right here in Merrimack. It will be interesting to see what happens when they finally get some competition.

Merrimack tends to be a young community, also. About 4 years ago, we downsized into a 55+ development. It turned out to be one of the best moves we made for a long time. But it's not the right one for everyone.

Lots of people walking dogs here, too -- mostly little ones. We're a cat family, but love all animals.

Hi Bonnie, welcome to BWS. I am a fan of the New England area and usually vacation on the cape. I have been through Nashua and you are right that part of NH is hopping compared to the rest of the state.

Yuhoooo Bonnie! I've only visited the Cape area but I can tell you I fell in love with the area. Doubt I could afford to live in the New England area, or survive the winters since we are all Weather Wimps down here in the South. How's that for a run-on sentence? geeish...

AnyHOO...welcome my friend!

JJ

Welcome Bonnie, nice to have you here on the site. I miss the ocean sooo much(Newfoundland born and raised)but I'd settle for a pond in the back yard in Tennessee anytime. Weather is much better there than Nf.
Hot flashes are creeping up on me too these days. I have a chinese fan that gets some pretty strange stares and snickers from my dog and my other half...or maybe its because I have "no clothes on"...
Have fun with us Bonnie.
(You may never get to housework again)
chick

Housework? What? And that "no clothes on" thing, Chick, TMI, especially when it's raining cats and, well, we're not sure what's raining out there anymore, are we!

Anyway, welcome Bonnie. I lived on the East Coast, in Nova Scotia, Canada for 17 years, not that far from Cape Cod. We've driven through the New England states on our way to/from Nova Scotia, and thoroughly enjoyed New Hampshire. We hope to get back there one of these days.

THIS place supercedes them all, IMHO. This is such a wonderful group of women, it's hard to think about going anywhere else! Or doing anything else. Thus the dust bunnies playing in every corner of my house these days. Oh well, they'll still be there tomorrow, or better yet, the next power outage, won't they! It'll give me something to do when I can't come here.

I hope you find this a great place to take your shoes off and stay awhile.

Hello again to all of you who have responded. I'm glad that those who have visited New England have enjoyed it. We enjoy the Cape as well, though we try to go during the shoulder season so as to avoid the horrific traffic. We are heading into the North End in Boston on Saturday night to meet up with my husband's aunt and uncle for a great Italian meal. If any of you visit Boston be sure to visit this part of the city; you really can't go wrong with the restaurant choices! I was so upset to hear that another devastating hurricane may hit our shores this weekend. We have family and friends on the west coast of Florida and they are getting prepared to evacuate. What a year for natural disasters! Anyway, I'm glad to be a part of this "meeting place," and long live the dust bunnies!!!

Hello Bonnie and Welcome .
I have been to Cape Cod and love it so much and want to go back . I have been far north to Maine and Fl and to the midwest and to Arizona and love the sunset in AZ.

I have a friend who has family in Wolfebora, N.H and they go up every summer for the family reunon and water ski on the lake . They have cabins up there on the lake. Are you near Wolfebora?

Take care.

Hi Nancy, Wolfboro is called "The oldest vacation town" in New England and is one of our favorite places. We are about 1 1/4 hours away. Lake Winnipesaukee is a great place to visit almost any time of the year, but we especially like it in the summer since giving up down-hill skiing several years ago ( there are several ski areas close by). We usually go there for 2-3 days every year and alternate between Meredith and Wolfboro. I noticed that you are from Maryland. My husband used to have to travel to Baltimore on business several times a year (old job) and I met him there twice. Second time happened to fall during the Annapolis Boat Show. It has to be one of the very best ones in the country! LOVED the area, I could live there, no problem! We would love to see more of the MD. shoreline, heard it is great. There are so many wonderful places to visit in this country; have to keep chipping away at our"list."

Hi Bonnie,
Welcome to the site. I'm not sure where Hudson is, but I do know Nashua. My husband and I stay in the North Conway area of NH all the time. We love it. My son owns property in Harrison, Me, which isn't far from N. Conway. We are familiar with Wolfboro and with Ossippee. I have an aunt who lives in Rye. My father was from Haverhill. I live on the North Shore. Always have.
Louisa

Hi Louisa, Where on the Northshore do you reside? I am from Danvers; only town I ever lived in until 1 1/2 years ago. My husband grew up in Haverhill. Most of his family is from the Bradford section of the city. I'm also pretty familiar with Harrison ME. as I spent all of my summers as a kid on Long Lake. BTW, how does your aunt like living in Rye? The property is high but it appears that the taxes are pretty low for NH. It is such a gorgeous coastal town, if you don't mind, ask her how well it is run......... Of all the NH coastal towns it appeals to me the most.

Welcome Bonnie,

Would you believe that there's a boomer whose never seen the ocean? EITHER one? That would be me. It's on my "Before I leave this earth" list. 'Course I grew up near Chicago and Lake Michigan is really just a freshwater ocean.....

Searcher

Bonnie, this it's a small boomer world. Your husband grew up in Haverhill? My goodness. My father was from the top of Washington St. I was always there as a child. We moved to Haverhill about 1960 and lived there for a couple of years. Way up on Main St. almost into Plaistow. The house was taken to build the highway and we moved to Bradford for a short time then back here. (Lynn) My aunt has lived in Rye for years. My other aunt lives in Bradford. My uncle runs a well-known real estate company there, Consoli Real Estate. I'm not real familiar with Harrison. My ex had a piece of land there but never got around to building on it. When he died, it went to my kids. My son is now building on it. Sounds like we have a lot in common. What year did your husband graduate? Did he go to Haverhill High?
Louisa

Hi again Louisa, I sold real estate for about 5 years (took a break from physical therapy) and worked with quite a few agents that were with Ben Cosoli. I actually worked at a Danvers C-21 office but had alot of customers who were looking in Haverhill, G'town, Groveland, etc....... small world! My husband is a few years younger than me ( works for me!!!) and he moved to Georgetown while in the 9th grade so that is where he graduated high school from. Do you live in Lynn now? My dad was from Pine Hill. ------Hello Searcher: I hope that you get a chance to visit the coast (either one!) someday. I know what you mean about Lake Michigan though. I went to a wedding in Milwaukee years ago and took the long way to drive there, from Massachusetts up to Niagra Falls, down through Ontario into Michigan and took the car ferry across the lake. It was really beautiful but what surprised me the most was that there were SEAGULLS!!!! It was before I met my husband and I was traveling with a boyfriend. The trip itself was wonderful but the "boyfriend" became history shortly after we got back home. Guess all that time in the car made me realize what an idiot he was! Chicago is another city on my list to visit someday. So many places, just need the time and $$$!

Hey,

My mom lives in "lynn, lynn the city of sin"...so does my 92 year old grandmother!

Small world!

Danita

Hi Danita, "you never come out the way you went in".......... That saying has been around for many generations; my grandparents (from Lynn!) taught it to me.

When I saw your name, I thought you might be my Mom's best friend bonnie. Then I saw you live in NH.

My grandmother lives in the same beautiful victorian on Park st. that shes lived in since having her children. My mother was able to build a new house next door, in a lot where an apartment complex burned down.

Lynn isn't the same place it used to be. Pretty rough now. SO sad!

What's the cute little beach town in NH with the boardwalk. Every time we came to visit we had to go there. Love that place.

d.

Bonnie, we were in Chatham this summer. Loved it. We took tons of flower pictures. The gardens there are lush.

Danita, My aunt and uncle lived on Park St. for many years; he has since passed away and she is in a retirement community. The town in NH you must be talking about is Hampton; very cute but also very honkey-tonk. It's where the teen boys cruise each summer evening to check out the chicks! We usually go there every year at least once to see a show at the casino ballroom and spend a day or two on the beach. ---------Dotsie, My husband and I have never been to Chatham but hope to go there, maybe next spring to celebrate our anniversary. Hubby is an avid fly fisherman and I guess it is one of the best places down the Cape to catch stripers (bass) during the season. I just want to check out the Chatham Bars Inn and have an amazing meal plus do some shopping. I guess it's quite a head trip in the the height of the season there; more nannies and au pair's watching the little ones all day at the beach than the actual parents. They are busy with golf and spa treatments I guess! We love the Cape in May, just before Memorial Day weekend; everything is up and running but less money and crowds.

Bonnie, that's where we stayed. It was out of this world. We were celebrating our anniversary. The best night to get a sampling of their food is Sunday. They have an incredible Grand Buffet. You can sit and eat for hours. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Bonnie,

What was the name of your aunt and uncle (I asked once, but my post seems to be gone).

My family name is Plourde. Does that ring a bell?

danita

Danita, Are you related to the Plourde's that run the garage on Western Ave?
Louisa

Dotsie, How wonderful for you that you had such a nice experience! I'll make sure our stay includes a Sunday so we can go to the buffet. We often use our timeshare "bonus" weekends for the Cape. But who knows, maybe we will figure out a way to swing a stay at the Inn.----------- Danita, My aunt and uncle's name is Larson(as is my maiden name). My father had 9 brothers and sisters; most stayed on the Northshore when they grew up, 2 in Lynn, 2 in Marblehead, 1 in Georgetown, us in Danvers, etc........ We only got together as an extended family on Christmas Eve when we would all go to my grandparent's house. It was always chaotic but alot of fun. My grandmother would spend an entire week preparing food for our " Swedish smorgessboard" (?sp.) holiday dinner. I tended to gravitate toward the swedish meatballs as herring and other cold fish dishes didn't exactly turn me on as a child............I still exchange Christmas cards with my aunt and try to catch up on Larson news. The Ploude family name isn't familiar to me but I DO know where the garage is that Louisa is talking about!

A big warm welcome toyou Bonnie.

That particular garage belonged to a cousin - my grandfather owned the one on the "lynn way". I think I still have family in Danvers also.


The aunt and uncle that lived on park street are both deceased now, so it we can't be related. darn.

hugs
danita

He Danita, Who do you have for family in Danvers? Just curious as I didn't ever live anywhere else until moving to NH 1 1/2 years ago and therefore am a huge "townie." I have the Danvers Herald sent to me every week so I can keep on on town news! Do you have snow in Denver yet? We have had nothing but rain, rain, rain lately. I planted 5 giant mum plants out front and they looked good for about 2 days before splitting open from the driving wind and rain, really look awful now......... I just realized how little I have accomplished around the house this weekend. I may have to take a mental health day tomorrow from work to catch up.........