Have you gotten your “I <3 06076” sticker yet? I’ve got one on the back of the clipboard that I sometimes bring to meetings. What I didn’t immediately realize is that there is a Facebook page dedicated to celebrating the Stafford community that goes along with the sticker. This got me thinking about what’s special about Stafford.
I’ve been here for a little over two years. Even though I grew up in Connecticut, it wasn’t on my radar for anything other than the race track. My husband and I ended up here through a perfect storm of job location, an insane real estate market, and the fact that Stafford home prices are typically more affordable than other towns in the state. Still, the number of times we’ve said, “This is Connecticut’s best-kept secret” is probably more than you might imagine.
We have met some of the best and most impressive humans we’ve ever encountered here. Some of them are lifers from families who have been here for generations, while others are relatively new to town. None of them want to be singled out in a column available on the internet, but if you happen to have facilitated our wedding or have been told (by me) that you are a “one-woman community,” you know who you are.
I’ve always wanted to live in a small town. I’ve long dreamed of living in a little village somewhere in a remote English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh town, knowing everyone, and being able to head down to the local pub anytime to say hi to my neighbors. I found the Nutmeg version of that here in Stafford.
Recently, I took that vision a step further and joined what I affectionately call “the Cider Cult,” but out of deference to Jodi Harmon and Dan Tomlin, I’ll refer to it by its real name, The Flockers. It’s the mug club – now in its seventh year – at Stafford Cidery, where you pay a nominal fee, get your own mug (which also means you get more bang for your beverage buck) and t-shirt, and get to attend the annual meeting of the Flockers. I had to leave that party to head down to the Board of Selectmen meeting (along with another Flocker who had business before the board that night). Thankfully it was a quick meeting, and I could get back to the pizza party quickly.
But as I started to think about the feeling of community that Stafford has provided, I couldn’t help but think about The Cidery. I’d say about half the people I know in town, are from the Cidery. The other half are from meetings. I know that’s just my experience, and many of you find community in other niches in town. Maybe it’s a church. Maybe it’s the record store. Maybe it's through a volunteer organization. Maybe it’s through the schools or youth sports. Maybe it’s the brewery. But I’ve lived in a lot of places, and the only other place I’ve lived where I felt anywhere near as integrated into the community was a Vermont town that, in all honesty, isn’t that different from Stafford.
Anyway, I hope you’ll take the time to stop by the 06076 Facebook page. I see so many people griping about what they don't like, I hope you'll counteract the negativity by spreading the love.