Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > May > 13 > Entry
Where we live, or where we say we live.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During my college years in Michigan, it became very trendy to say that you grew up in Detroit. (Thanks for that, Jack and Meg White.) People raised in anonymous subdivisions an hour from the city would casually say, over cans of PBR, “Well, when I lived in Detroit…”
We have euphemisms for where we live: Arlington, Va. becomes Washington, D.C.; Oakland, Calif. Becomes the Bay Area; Plano, Texas becomes Dallas. Or alternately, a ritzy suburb becomes detached from the city. In Michigan, Grosse Pointe will always be Grosse Pointe, “a community nestled along the shores of Lake St. Clair,” which also happens to border Detroit, not that anybody touts that.
I hear the same thing happening here. One coworker mentioned a fellow who said he was from Vinings in Northwest Atlanta. His address? Mableton. Close geographically, but not quite the same, to say the least.
Another recent conversation revealed that landlords and real estate folks tout Cabbagetown, an the up-and-coming, tornado-fighten’ artists’ community, when what they’re really talking about Reynoldstown, which apparently doesn’t sound as good in an ad.
Even I’m doing it, really. I usually say my apartment is “near Candler Park,” although it’s on the border. Why? Because it’s much easier to give directions from the Flying Biscuit in Candler Park than any other nearby landmark.
Is it an identity issue? Convenience? Cachet? When do you just say where you live, and when do you stretch it a little?
But more importantly: why?
Comments
By Jeff
May 13, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Most of the time it is easier to tell someone that is not EXTREMELY familiar with an area that you live near a larger town. Such as the case of me saying “Cartersville” and “Albany”, or someone from Oakland saying “Bay Area”, or someone from Plano saying “Dallas”, or someone from Arlington saying “DC”, or even someone from Mabelton saying “Atlanta”.
Now, the whole “Mabelton”/”Vinings” thing is a different issue. That is more for people decently familiar with the area and you’re trying to hide something. In that case, I say quit posing. Be yourself, and be proud of your house, even if you’re not so proud of the neighborhood.
By Bobo
May 13, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
This is a hard one for some, because some of us live in between areas. Between Candler Park and Kirkwood is where I live…I guess I could call it Candler Wood or Kirk Park.
I’ve got a friend that is kind of between Morningside and Edgewood. I guess he lives in Morning Wood.
By lovelyliz
May 13, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
One of my sisters friend has a step mother who tells everyone she’s from Mountain Brook (the tony section of Birmningham) instead of admitting to growing up in the far le3ss well to do, Irondale.
Funny thing is she’s snottier than anybody I’ve met who live in Mountain Brook and that’s not an easy thing to do.
If you are from IRONDALAY as they like to call it, own up to it.
By Bobo
May 13, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
This is a hard one for some, because some of us live in between areas. Between Candler Park and Kirkwood is where I live…I guess I could call it Candler Wood or Kirk Park.
I’ve got a friend that is kind of between Morningside and Edgewood. I guess he lives in Morning Wood.
By Me
May 13, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Being originally from Mableton I can tell you that it is NO Vinings…never was…more like South Fulton or South Dekalb now though
By George
May 13, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
Being a resident of Vinings Village—-the “real” Vinings—-I really get a kick out of seeing subdivisions on Veterans Memorial Parkway (Bankhead Hwy in Mableton) and on Oakdale Rd. (borderline Smyrna) with “Vinings” in their name.
Too bad the name isn’t registered with a geographical limit!!
By John
May 13, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
IF I HAD AN ATLANTA ADDRESS, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT I AM FROM ALPHARETTA OR MARIETTA, AS ATLANTA ITP IS NOT REALLY AN AREA THAT I WOULD BE PROUD OF.
By dawgfan
May 13, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Dunwoody represent!
By JJ
May 13, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
I live in Sugar Hill, but people always look at me like I’m crazy, so I just say Buford. If they still have a dazed look on their face, I reference Mall of Georgia.
Sometimes my mail is addressed to me at Buford, GA, and sometimes Sugar Hill, GA. My zip code covers both cities…..
By East Cobb
May 13, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
When talking to someone familiar with Atlanta, we tell them that we live in East Cobb, even though we have a Marietta address. When otherwise, we say Atlanta. One, Marietta covers a big area and wish we had our own separate city. Two, we have a wonderful community and personally do not feel that we are part of Marietta in general. Sometimes the Cobb/Marietta stereotype is that of a narrow minded conservative and am sometimes embarressed by this. I agree with the Vinings thing in earlier blogs, you either live in 30339 Vinings or not. Trying to move it into Mableton and far Smyrna is so stupid, especially when one has lived in Atlanta long enough to know the difference. That also goes for East Cobb. East Cobb is east of Sandy Plains and south of Shallowford Rd. The Hwy 5 and area near 575 is not East Cobb. Sometimes Realtors like to sell this to newcomers who don’t know the difference.
By lm
May 13, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
I used to live in Detroit, then moved to Marietta. When moving to Marietta we told our friends we were moving to Atlanta, not Marietta since most knew where Atlanta was. Once moved down to Marietta explaining where we moved from was Detroit, however we lived several places downtown Detroit, Grosse Points, Mt. Clemmens, Dearborn, Canton, Indian Village. Most would only know of Detroit.
I have gotten a kick out of wannabees using creative names to make themselves look like they are from better neighborhoods. I don’t see the rationational sooner or later it will catch up with you and you end up looking like a posser,
By Maria
May 13, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
I live in Buckhead. Apparently I’m supposed to flaunt my 30305 address everywhere I go? Meh. I wasn’t worrying about status when I moved there; I just wanted a place that was closer to my work and was within walking distance of some basic stores. That’s what I found (and for a decent price, too). Depending on the company I’m with, I might say that I live “off Peachtree, near Midtown.” This, to me, seems more precise than saying “Buckhead,” as it takes the possibility that I live in a mansion on Habersham or Tuxedo Rd. completely out of the equation.
By Bobo
May 13, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Buckhead holds as much prestige as it used to, but Brookwood and Sandy Springs ain’t Buckhead. And Chamblee ain’t Dunwoody. (and the accent is on the first syllable for Chamblee..don’t ever accent the second syllable). And what’s up with Poncy-Highlands..where the heck is that? And Decatur? If you don’t get herbie curby’s then you ain’t in Decatur. And Stone Mountain? Well, no one probably brags about being in Stone Mountain so never mind. Oh, and Dacula does not rhyme with the vampire…
By Jen
May 13, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
It really depends on who I am talking to.
If I am talking to someone from the Atlanta Metro Area I say I live in Candler Park or Little 5 Points. But I do live smack in the middle of Candler Park, on McLendon Ave.
If I am talking to someone from outside the Atlanta Metro Area or out of state I say that I live in downtown Atlanta.
I used to tell people outside the Metro area that I lived near Emory/CDC but they either responded by saying “Oh, you mean downtown?” or “Where’s that?” where upon I would say, “Not far from downtown.”
But people in the metro area often refer to themselves as living in Atlanta. When I moved to CP we spent 4 weekends moving our stuff out of our house in Gwinnett. One Saturday morning I went down to the Publix to get some drinks and sandwiches and got into a conversation with the person behind me. It came out that I was in the middle of moving. The guy asked where to.
I said, “I’m moving to Atlanta.”
He said, with a funny look on his face, like he just discovered he was talking to a crazy person, “This IS Atlanta.”
By LovettGrad
May 13, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
JOHN, obviously did not go to one of Atlanta’s elite private school’s or learn how turn off the “Caps Lock” button on his computer….
Buckhead has defined “borders” Chattahoochee River and Northside Parkway on the West, Roswell Rd. and W. Wieuca on the North, Piedmont Rd. and 85 on the East and Peachtree Rd. and the connector on the South. I am proud to be ITP, JOHN….
By mica
May 13, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Hmm, I live on Lake Jackson in Covington and that’s the way I refer to it.
By Easter Cobb
May 13, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
East Cobb,
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. We technically have a Marietta mailing address, but live much, much closer to Roswell. I always feel stupid trying to tell someone where I live. It should be an easy, short answer, but it’s not!?! I also have worked ITP and do not appreciate the assumptions some of my colleagues immediately made about me when they heard I lived in East Cobb. That’s when those who considered themselves to be so much more progressive and open-minded proved themselves to be quite otherwise…
I’m curious about your boundaries of “East Cobb,” however. What about the sliver north of Shallowford, but east of Sandy Plains? Would you consider that “North Cobb”? Just wondering…
By Mrs. Warren
May 13, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
We live in Milton, which I say to anyone who is from the metro Atlanta area. If it’s someone outside the metro area but still in Georgia, I say just north of Alpharetta since a lot of people have no clue what or where Milton is. If we are out of town, we just say Atlanta. If the people know Atlanta they usually ask “what part” and then we say Milton or Alpharetta.
By Tramp
May 13, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
I live on Metropolitan Parkway. And not in a house either! I mean, right ON Metropolitan Parkway - (that is, when my boss Pimp C lets me sleep.)
By TI
May 13, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Must be embarrassing when people tell others that they live in Atlanta, like midtown or downtown, but when they get here for the first time for a visit they have that long drive back out to Alpha, Gwinnett, etc to deal with. I was in Douglasville one day at a car dealership and they asked where I live and said that I live in Atlanta (30309). He was like this is Atlanta, and I was like no I don’t think so!! Until you pay those higher city and county taxes then you should be able to claim that you do.
By matt
May 13, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
LovettGrad, this is coming from another Lovett graduate, class of 2003. Before you flaunt our elite private school education and belittle someone for poor grammar and the use of annoying caps lock, you should learn how and when to use the possessive.
On topic however, I have lived all over the city. I am not a home owner yet, as I am currently in grad school, but I will take many factors into account when deciding on my future home. Prestige of the area is a factor, but one way, way down on the list for me. I grew up living on W Paces Ferry, moved to unincorporated Sandy Springs, and again to East Cobb. All areas had their pros and cons. I guess I would have to say that I liked unincorporated Sandy Springs the most though. This is the area from Mt Paran to 285, running from Harris Trail to Long Island Dr. It had city of Atlanta taxes, but less traffic than East Cobb or Buckhead. Land is cheaper, the area is accessible to all interstates, etc. In the end, it’s not about prestige for me, but rather about comfort, accessibility, cost, and total quality of life. People have different ambitions, lifestyles, etc. The key is to find a place that suits your needs. And, Atlanta has an area that can suit the needs of just about anyone.
By Stacey
May 13, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
It depends on who I’m talking to. I moved here from another state and if I’m talking to someone “back home” I just say Atlanta. I used to tell them Douglasville but 9 times out of 10 they will ask “how far is that from Atlanta”. Sometimes they will ask what area of Atlanta and only then am I more specific. When talking to someone local, I tell them I live in Douglasville.
By Stacey
May 13, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
It depends on who I’m talking to. I moved here from another state and if I’m talking to someone “back home” I just say Atlanta. I used to tell them Douglasville but 9 times out of 10 they will ask “how far is that from Atlanta”. Sometimes they will ask what area of Atlanta and only then am I more specific. When talking to someone local, I tell them I live in Douglasville.
By Jeff in Roswell
May 13, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
LovettGrad, you are what screams “ITP”. Your $h!t smells just like the rest of us. Do us all a favor and take your elite private schools and shove them up your a$$… no one is interested in idiots like you.
By East Cobb
May 13, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Easter Cobb, you make a good point about the sliver of area north of Shallowford and west of Sandy Plains. I would call that area Roswell or East Cobb, as you have a Roswell address. Over toward SPlains and Shallowford, I would call it East Cobb if you are in the Lassiter or Pope school zones. Beyond that west, you are North Cobb or whatever. I think blogger Matt says it well. In Atlanta, there is something for everyone here and it all about where you want to live and the lifestyle you wish to keep. And my point, we have worked hard to have what we have in East Cobb and if I want to be a nice snob, I have that right - we worked for it! I would never live in Marietta city or near there. I think all of us in the Atlanta area are getting geographical centric like L.A. For example, one could live in Long Beach and say you are from L.A. Here, one could live in Marietta and say they are from Atlanta. We all live in this wonderful and to busy to hate city!
By GeoffDawg
May 13, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
East Cobb - I’m embarrassed that you’re in Marietta also.
By Stone Moutain
May 13, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
I live in Stone Mountain.
When I tell people who know where it is, I get two reactions:
Visitor: “Oh? Near the park? I love Stone Moutain Park!”
Local: (with a perplexed look) “You do? Really?”
Yea, just so you know, one or two white folks still do live in Stone Moutain…
By LovettGrad
May 13, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
“Jeff in Roswell”…..Sounds like “Saul in Brooklyn” or “Fernando in Palm Spings”
By Dan
May 13, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
Its all about MIDTOWN
By GeoffDawg
May 13, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Lamest come back ever award goes to LovettGrad.
By Magenta
May 13, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
Another problem is, in many parts of metro Atlanta, you’re in a county area outside the city limits. bout 10 years before the Olympics, I lived in west Cobb, before it was “West Cobb.” My post office was in Powder Springs, but try finding it. I was a stone’s throw from the Paulding line and nearly everything I did took place in Marietta. Back then, nobody had even heard of Powder Springs — they often said “Don’t you mean Powers Ferry?” So to simplify I said Marietta. This was before the internet. It seems we’ve become closer and more familiar with each other as the result of better and faster communication. And the development has been so fast and furious, you might well live in Vinings now, even if it was known as Mableton 5 years ago.
By East Cobb
May 13, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
GeoffDawg, I am embarressed you live in Cobb County. You must fit the stereotype I spoke about earlier. I also see you are a Dawg, which is another blog for another day. Stop picking on other bloggers who appear to have more than you do based on your attitude and are proud of where they live. They worked hard also to claim the address they have. We are all different and that is what makes us all as individuals, special. You are getting away from the original intent of this blog. Have a great day!
By GeoffDawg
May 13, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
East Cobb, I’m embarrassed that you have yet to learn how to spell “embarrassed”. May I also point out that you’re the one that is apparently intolerant of differing political/philosophical points of view to the point where you abhor the notion of being incorrectly associated with the “wrong” sort of people. Is your sense of self-worth so tied into what others think of you? This may be out of scope of the original blog topic but you started it with a cheap shot at my home town. I also work extremely hard in my day to day life and am intelligent and sophisticated. If there is a stereotype regarding Marietta, you’re certainly doing your part to perpetuate it.
By East Cobb
May 13, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this
GeoffDawg, I am college educated and can spell actually well - I was in a hurry :) Bottom line, we all pay for our neighbors and would think most agree, no matter how much money we make, color or political viewpoint. Now find something better to do. You seem angry at the world today, not only me but others in this blog as well. If you have watched the news in the past few years, Cobb has a stereotype. I like living here, but when I tell someone I live in East Cobb, they think I am a Republican. Actually I am the opposite. East Cobb is a wonderful place to live and will argue with anyone, anytime. Bye to you!
By GeoffDawg
May 13, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
East Cobb - once is a typo, twice is a trend. I am also college educated but am having trouble following your meandering thought process. Beyond that, you don’t seem to deny that it bothers you if someone wrongly charaterizes you outside of your bubble. If I happened to live in south Fulton and someone believed that to be a poor, uneducated area, then so what? I would certainly not feel a need to insult south Fulton residents to any who would listen just so I’m not mistakenly lumped in with them. I also don’t know why you would think I sound angry when someone condescendingly rips a group of people unprovoked. I’m actually not angry at all. I just enjoy pointing out your flaws. Bye to you!
By Steve
May 13, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Those of us in the CITY of Decatur deal with this every day. In its wisdom, the USPS has assigned Decatur addresses to folks 20 miles from the CITY of Decatur. We are distinctly our own City with a low crime rate and high level of services. The media never has figured this out.
By frankie
May 13, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
What about people who claim they are from New York,but have been living in Ga. since they were 5 yrs old,and they are like 30 now?
By Proud of where I live
May 13, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
Chill out, GeoffDawg…only you would be familiar with how words with “a$$” in them are spelled.
Back to the topic, I also live in East Cobb, and wholeheartedly agree with “East Cobb” comments. I live closer to the city of Roswell, than I do to the city of Marietta, and only say that I’m from Marietta if a) the person I’m talking to is not familiar with Atlanta or b)I don’t want to be associated with the stereotype associated with East Cobb. (Although I will say that my boss is from the sticks on the southside (close to 20 miles from any highway), and he is fits the East Cobb stereotype much closer than I do.
I am proud to say that I live in East Cobb because I too have worked hard to have a nice house here (and yes, a BMW) and I deserve it. I have lived ITP (Brookhaven), and feel that living in East Cobb has much more of a friendly, small town feel than ITP ever did. Everything I ever need is right here, without the hostility and crime.
p.s. I agree that there should be boundaries on the definition of East Cobb. It’s one of my Atlanta pet peeves!
By naturalcurl
May 13, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
I live in a Dekalb tweener zone inside the perimeter between Decatur to the south, Atlanta to the west, Chamblee to the north and Tucker the the east. I love that it has no distinct description. It makes it hard for realtors to market it. Few folks know our great little community. We’re keeping it a secret. ;-)
By SWATS
May 13, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
Well, I live in SW Atlanta, inside the city limits. In a fairly new subdivision that I like. I’m in between the Cascade area (nice) and Greenbriar Mall (not so nice). I tell people I live in SW Atlanta, but depending on the day I might say “Cascade” or “Greenbriar” if someone presses for more info.
I know the “perception” of SW Atlanta and don’t really care. I like my house and my neighbors and feel safe here. And I love being close to everything in the city and the airport! So shove it. :-)
By admatl
May 13, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Proud to be in City of Atlanta AND DeKalb County as it makes it easy to tell people where I live—ATLANTA!
By admatl
May 13, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Sounds like you’re near me in Oak Grove. It’s hard to explain to people, but it is a great neighborhood. To Metro Atlantans I describe where I live as Clairmont/Briarcliff/LaVista vicinity, to those from out of town, I say I live a couple miles east of the City of Atlanta.
By DYJ
May 13, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Stone Mountain (3 more white people!). If I’m visiting family out west, it’s “Atlanta.” I lived in Vinings proper when I first moved here and now laugh at what people toss around as “Vinings.” I lived in Alexandria, VA but it’s easier to say “DC.”
By smp
May 13, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
Come on now Stone Mountain is not all bad. Goodness!! There are lots of people of all ethnicities here and we are commutable to the entire area. It is probably a best kept secret because most people are scary and scared of anything and anyone that is different from them. We have good established neighborhoods and decent infrastructure and amenities. Anyway, when talking to out of towners, I say Atlanta and in-towners I say Stone Mountain and I say it with pride. Good night!!
By bronco
May 13, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
I live in the little town of LULA. Its not the suburbs of anywhere. The northside is just as poor as the southside and everybody lives by the railroad. The nearest supermarket is 12 miles. The nearest gas station to my house is 4 miles. The local boys listen to rap until someone beats the crap out of him then he switches to country. Old men still wear overalls with no underwear. The men still act like men and the women are glad of it.
By Mike In Woodstock
May 13, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
Well you probably guessed it, I live in Woodstock. An absolutely horrible place. We’re all a bunch of country bumpkins out here. Don’t move out here, you’ll hate it. The only thing cultured is the buttermilk.
On another note, I grew up in Stone Mountain but it was anything but trendy back then. It was just a little hick town outside of Atlanta. Nonetheless, Go Pirates!
By Beth
May 14, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
I live in Mableton — DOWNTOWN Mableton, y’all ;) — and I’ll tell anyone that with a quickness. I work hard and I’m young and twenty-something and this house is my first stop on the way up. I’m not ashamed of it.
I’m FROM Atlanta — the city proper — but I’m not just dying to shout that from the rooftops. Most of my family lives there, and most of them have been too busy hitting the liquor store or the dope dealer to help themselves, much less anybody else.
So I’m putting myself through school, working, renting a house, and saving money so that when I’m ready [in another year or two, at this rate], I’ll be able to purchase my home in whatever community in whatever area I choose.
Right now I’ve got a higher net worth than Mom, Dad, and Cousin It put together. That ain’t saying much, but seeing as how I’m making this stuff happen on my own, I’m not ashamed that I haven’t been able to move on up to Vinings yet.
[Vinings is, by the way, nice and cozy, but I’d sound like an idiot trying to claim it. I don’t understand why the denizens of the east half of Mableton try to disassociate themselves from us and claim Vinings, but, hey, if it makes them feel special, whatever.]
My neighborhood is clean and cute and quiet. Go, Mableton — I love you, 30126!
By HS Teacher
May 14, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
I live in Clayton Co, and have a wildlife tag so no one knows. I have GOP stickers all over my car too.
I guess Clayton Co sells more designer tags than any county in GA.
By Going Postal
May 14, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
Just say 30307 and let ‘em wonder!
By Drew
May 14, 2008 3:18 AM | Link to this
“Nice house (and yes, a BMW)”… who cares? Does having expensive (in my opinion, overpriced) “stuff” make you a better human being? I doubt it. BMW drivers love to flaunt their little Beemers but to me it just screams “I’m a sucker for marketing” and “I need to show off to feel OK about myself.”
Anyway, regarding the topic, it’s a lot easier when you actually live in Atlanta. I just say, “I live in Atlanta.” Or, “I live in Midtown,” when talking to locals.
And JOHN (2:51pm), if you actually had the sense to live in the city, you most certainly would not claim to be from Alpharetta or Marietta.
By decman
May 14, 2008 3:44 AM | Link to this
I am in 30032 and it had a Decatur address but not in the city of Decatur. I am just as close to Avondale,Decatur,and Atlanta. 3 miles in any direction. I claim Atlanta to people from elsewhere but Decatur to locals. BTW Decatur where it’s greater.
By John
May 14, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
I live near Cornelia, up in the mountains. No subdivisions, no neighbors, wouldn’t have it any other way.
By Relocater
May 15, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
I’ve had a day or so to think about what everyone is saying. To those of us who relocated from somewhere else, we “relocated to Atlanta”. We did not relocate to Vinings, Marietta, Stone Mtn or other metro areas. So…we say we live in Atlanta when talking in general terms. When talking to a local, we usually say where we live, i.e, East Cobb, Buckhead, Stone Mtn, etc. I would think the folks that are originally from here may state their town when speaking, but could be wrong. This may get us back to the original purpose of this blog, rather than everyone throwing punches based on where we live, what we like about ti, and why other locations are not for us. To each his own!
By Jodi
May 15, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
I live in the booming Camp Creek area and I even though my address is Atlanta, GA 30331 - I’d rather say Camp Creek than SW Atlanta.
Even if people question, “Where is Camp Creek?” - I simply say near the Airport.
By Sadie
May 15, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
I know someone who has a Doraville address but they say they live in Dunwoody.
By Sarah
May 16, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
I live intown in the Toco Hills area in an older mid-century comtemporary neighborhood and I work in Alpharetta. It’s humorous to me when my co-workers ask why I don’t live ‘up there’….with an almost pitiful look. Some have been so bold as to ask if I can’t afford to live in Alpharetta. I find this very amusing. I finally told a co-worker that when and if I ever decided to live in a banal, sterile, cookie cutter area whose people seem like they were produced off a factory assembly line, then I would give some thought to living ‘up there’. Fisrt I would have to agree to stay on my cell phone and agree to give up reading novels when I have a few precious spare moments, bleach my hair an unsightly blonde and dress in a way that’s too young for not only myself, but someone ten years my junior. Tacky new money has no limits, or class.
By GB
May 16, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Sarah..I couldn’t have worded it better myself! I dated a guy (briefly) who had one of those cookie-cutter houses in Woodstock….after visiting me a few times in my Candler Park home he said, “We gotta get you outta here!” I said, “No, you’re the one who needs to leave!” End of story!
By GTPete
May 21, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Naturalcurl - I think people are starting to call the area either “North Briarcliff” between Lakeside High and Northlake Mall. I think the rest of the area has just been known as “Northlake/Tucker” for a while…I’ve live in the same area (4 yrs). Great secret - 15 min to everywhere but the airport or Vinings, no city taxes but I have an Atlanta address.
By FirstLadyCat007
May 28, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Well, this has been a real interesting discussion… When I left New Orleans after the hurrricane I told everyone I was moving to Atlanta… end of story. But Atlanta is a big place, full of amazing and unique neighborhoods. It seems like we identify ourselves more closely with the little towns, neighborhoods, counties (east and west), etc. than we do with being from Atlanta. So I have to say I bought a great house in Mableton, but people who are from Atlanta (or moved here recently) don’t seem to recognize Mableton— so I say I’m from Smyninngton— you know, the smyrna/vininngs/mableton area— the exit #15 off I-285— and then they get it. Go Smyninngton!!!!
By Chris
May 30, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this
Just like most of those who commented already, I tell people I live in Atlanta if they’re from outside the metro area. If they’re local, I tell them I live in Alpharetta, sometimes hesitantly. It’s wierd how so many people here (in the Atlanta area) judge you by where you live. I moved here from out-of-state for a job and I just wanted to live close to where I work. I don’t want to be viewed as a stereotype and labeled as something that I’m not. But, so many people pass judgement and change their opinion of you once you tell them where you live. It’s silly. I’ve lived in a lot of different areas of the country and never seen the extreme stereotypes formed and animosity towards people just because of what neighborhood they happen to live in. Is this because of the way Atlanta has sprawled out into other areas? Is that the root of all this resentment?
By Bob
June 20, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Different Reasons for different situations.
I think everyone agrees on the localization issue. If your talking with Aliens at a Star Base near Orion, You’re from Earth/SOL-3 in the Milky-way, not Winder, GA.
Sometimes I’ll tell out of Towners where I really live (Norcross) and they may say, “Where’s that?” Suburb, Northeast Atltanta. Done.
“Oh, is that near Ft. Apache/Gwinnett Village?” Easy Buddy!
Just as Jamie said, its sometimes easier to tell folks a local place that they will know, instead of a location that will confuse them. My father has a knack for for finding “fake places” to live. When we moved to the Columbus OH area in the late 70’s, the house had a Gahanna mailing address, a Reynoldsburg phone number and was actually in the Blendon Township police jurisdiction. The nearest “real” place was Westerville, so we generally went with that.
When I moved to Atlanta - excuse me - Unincorporated Gwinnett County in the 80’s- it became quickly apparent that there was definitely address snobbery about. Some people want to hide where they live. Others think there’s something about where they live that makes them special.
If you were in GWINCO, you just had to have that Lawrenceville address. Not as important anymore.
Dunwoody, Buckhead, Roswell, Vinings, Virginia Highlands, East Cobb…
If you have kids, the schools are important. Different municipalities have different pluses and minuses to offer. Live where you want to. It really doesn’t matter. There are nice sections and not so nice sections in just about every area.
Get a permit to carry and have a nice day.