Renee Mitson expresses nostalgia for Rhode Island, the small state where she was raised. She highlights three reasons why she misses Rhode Island: 1) Everyone knows each other from sports and school, so it feels like the TV show "Cheers" where everyone is familiar. 2) Providence has a vibrant arts scene and culture that is rebellious compared to nearby Boston. 3) Rhode Islanders have a funny and sometimes angry personality, but those who get to know them find a close-knit community oriented around family and local sports.

1. Renee Mitson
An Ode to Rhode Island
thenextgreatgeneration.com/2011/11/an-ode-to-rhode-island/
There is nothing that helps you miss a place more than living
somewhere else. Sure, moving to Canada for graduate school
has been great, but these roots were planted deeper than
expected. I am beginning to miss that weird little beachy state
that hatched me.
Here’s why:
It’s Like Cheers: Everyone Knows Your Name
Between town sports, competitive teams, and high school
sports, a Rhode Islander knows everyone. Non-Rhode
Islanders do not know the feeling of going to a grocery store and
someone guessing their last name by the way they look. In Rhode Island it is completely fair game to hate or love
someone based solely on the family members of theirs that you know. More often than not, every dentist,
pharmacist, tutor, or hairdresser is someone you go way back with. Talk about “old country” accountability.
Providence Is Boston’s Hot Rebellious Younger Sister
Sure, Boston is beautiful. And established. And educated. But
only in Providence can you drink $1 Narragansett pints and
watch Rhode Island native band Deer Tick play for free during
the hot summer nights. We have the AS220, a venue dedicated
solely to keeping the underdog artist dream alive and kicking.
Do not forget about Water Fire – an eerie summer tradition that
blends street art and food with sinister music and floating
bonfires along the black rivers of Providence. If you’re hungry
we have tons of Johnston & Wales chefs-in-training serving up
gourmet meals at a fraction of the big city price. Maybe that is
why Providence was named one of Yahoo’s Top 10 Underrated
Cities.
Rhode Islanders Are Funny And Angry
To the untrained eye, New Englanders seem…brusque. Rhode Islanders, on the other hand, may come off as
psychotic. Whether we are pulling a “Rhode Island left” (an incredibly useful driving skill where one blocks oncoming
traffic with one’s own vehicle in order to make an ill-timed left turn), or drinking iced coffee year-round there is no
doubt about it, Rhode Islanders are “different.” And that’s okay with us. We might always be complaining but people
that push through the tough exterior will find that we are generally harmless and really just want to be around our
families. Oh, and watch high school hockey.
Rhode Island Is A Haven For The Weird
Most people know that Family Guy setting “Quahog” is a fictional Rhode Island town. However, some might not be
aware that Seth McFarlane hails from the tiny ocean state. There is no arguing that this guy is weird.
Other lovable oddballs from RI include: Mena Suvari, Rocco Baldelli (great name), Pauly D (of Jersey Shore fame),
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2. Debra Messing, Shanna Moakler (total crazy), Meredith Vieira, and who can forget the Farrelly brothers?
The final word is that Rhode Island might be worth checking out.
Only an hour outside of Boston, less beach traffic than the Cape
(and warmer water), cheap rent, and a huge artist community. I
figure if I can’t be there to enjoy it right now, might as well live
vicariously through others.
What do you think about Rhode Island?
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