“06880” gets plenty of requests for advice. Usually we just blow them off respond politely.
But a recent email demands serious reflection, and in-depth responses.
Not from “06880,” though. From you — our loyal, passionate, and uber-opinionated readers.
A former Westporter who now lives elsewhere wrote:
I need some real info — as real as you can get. My husband and I want to move east within the next year. I’m seriously considering Fairfield, Norwalk Stamford… but my heart is Westport.
However, that may be through a very filmy and possibly faulty lens of my childhood there.
I’m working with a nice realtor there. I’ve asked her, and she assures me there are still wonderful, real and down-to-earth people in Westport. That’s important to me.
For a year, I’ve read blogs and articles about living in Westport. A lot of it isn’t favorable. The terrible things I’ve read really bother me. Westport’s reputation can be horrible online when it comes to rich, overindulged, shallow people. Is there a balance there like everywhere else, I’m hoping?
An iconic view of Westport.
My mind wanders there, my heart wants to take me back there to live, and I know so many streets with my eyes closed, the curve of the shoreline as you drive to Compo. That never leaves you, and I’ve wanted to go back for some time. I listen to my intuition.
But I don’t want to be fooled by being too sentimental either. Is Westport as bad as some say it is? That’s so hard to believe.
I would love to know your true thoughts. Be real with me. The good, bad and the ugly. What’s still magical? What’s really changed since the 1960s and early ’70s when we were kids there? Are there still wonderful people there?
I’ve read that young people don’t stay and businesses are moving out. Is this so?
Another symbol of Westport.
I know this is a long question. But I’ve had a whole year to read some not so great stuff about Westport not being vibrant anymore, and a rich people’s playground, blah, blah blog! and Wesporters of today.
We will be there this fall, and maybe stay at the Longshore Inn. I’ve made a reservation for a couple of nights so we can just see.
There’s your challenge, “06880”-ers. An ex-Westporter wants to know about Westport today — the good, the bad and the ugly. Just click on the “Comments” tab, and write the “real info.”
And at the end of your response, please answer 1 question: Should she move back, or not?