There is a joke, what's the difference between a Yankee and a Damned Yankee. A Yankee comes to the south and visits, a damned Yankee come to the south and stays.

I almost became a damn Yankee back in the 90s, but after 5 years, my wife and I split and I moved back north. Then in 2012, I came back to spend the rest of my years where my kids were, so I ended up being a damned Yankee. I moved to Spartanburg, SC which is a city but just a small city. It's got all the southern charms, and for the most part is a friendly place. There are always pockets of otherwise, but I mostly just hear about them not see them in my life. It's not Mayberry but it's not Charlotte or Atlanta, but you get that touch of each. Enough of the small town feel with the city edge. It's biscuits and gravy, grits, collards and okra, pork bbq sandwiches, but with a touch of more 'sophisticated' tastes.

Kids are taught manners, and you hear yes Ma'am, no Sir. Doors are held, and people respect their elders. God bless and amens abound, this is the bible belt for sure. Deep in the heart of Dixie, where heritage reigns supreme. People are proud of their ancestors.

Football, and Basketball, especially college level, and high school level, here in the Carolinas is a source of pride. Go Tigers! But a lot don't know that Carolina baseball has ranked high every year in the college world series. Sports is a great connector, bringing together people of different socio-economic station. A mutual love of the home team brings everyone together on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Being from the Philadelphia suburbs, I know how the love of the home team can do that.

I came down in a time of opportunity, when BMW opened its plant in the upstate, bringing jobs and prosperity to the region. The people who made the parts that BMW needed to put the car together, moved here to cut costs of moving materials to the manufacturers. Car companies in particular, but also other businesses saw how the state government knew how to package a deal that would be mutually beneficial to the businesses and the local people. The economy took advantage of it. I worked in restaurants, and people need to eat. With more people coming to the area, that made retail and restaurants a good fit.

Back to the reason I became a damned Yankee, my kids were born here, and when i went back north, they stayed with their mother. I got a long holiday every year and 6 weeks during the summer, but I was missing out on their growing up. Situations for me back in Pennsylvania didn't look great, and it was time for a change. So I loaded up my van and came down to be here, to be here to see my kids graduate high school. I have since seen them both graduate college, my daughter get married, and a grandchild be born. I am sort of forced retired because of disability and age, but I couldn't have planned it any better.

I'm a Damned Yankee and I'm proud.

Check about me at https://brotuck.tez.page/