[JustMyself81]

Good evening everyone. So, unfortunately I was born and raised in the Southeastern U.S. With that said, I didn't grow up in the same town for my entire upbringing. Based on my observations, it seems as if a lot of Southern people in the U.S. tend to marry someone that they grew up with and knew from their childhood. I grew up in Eastern TN and Northern AL and observed this phenomenon play out time and time again. Well, since I didn't grow up in the same town I was and am basically an outcast. Since getting out of the military in the mid 2000s, I lived in Colorado Springs and observed the same phenomenon there also. Everyone marries their hometown/high school sweetheart. So, here I am 37, never married, no kids of my own, and am a complete loner in society. With all of this in mind, am I delusional in my observations or is there in fact some truth to my interpretations?

[WishfulThinker66]

I really don't see how this even enters the equation. Some one chooses to be with you entirely on who you are - not where you are from. That sounds awfully shallow to me. How sad that someone would feel they had to. I would think it far better and something to be proud of to have extended one's horizons rather than remain narrow minded and stick to a hometown mentality. I feel sorry for such people. I think you need to explore why you feel this way; why you consider yourself not to fit in. Are you discussing this with a therapist yet?

[divine1966]

No not everyone marries their high school sweetheart. Moving from one state to another doesn’t effect one’s marriage prospects.

It’s not like immigration but even that doesn’t effect romantic life (unless one refuses to learn the language I guess or moves to entirely different culture)

So I’d saying moving from TN to AL or what not should not effect your romantic or social life. Saying that something does prevent you from dating and marrying. Are you seeing a therapist?

yea, no. you marry who you are attracted to, not who you grew up with. it may work out that some folks marry within the social area they are familiar with but plenty marry or socialize with others from varied parts of the country. I am from ny, my friends are from all parts of the country. west coast, great lakes, florida, east coast, Hawaii, everywhere.

don't limit yourself and think life is over because you never met and married some kid from grade school. life is too short for that. move on, be happy, explore life..when you are happy, comfortable and doing things you would be surprised at the options that open up to you.

[~Christina]

I don’t see moving as a problem.

I met my first husband after he moved to Florida from Long Island. He just happened to work at a Barnes and Nobel bookstore... I just happened to need help finding a book.

My second husband I met in a chat room almost 20 years ago.

Both people I met in a random way.