Tom ... just what part of NH do you live it?? No need to answer that publicly ...
Although we DownEast Yankees pride ourselves on our thrift, it's hardly something that's unique to us. I think being a "good ole boy" who recognizes the remaining value is others' "throw aways" knows no regional boundaries. Nor does it recognize gender, race, socio-economic demarcations, or any artificial label be they well-defined or subjective.
I believe it is a state of enlightenment achieved by those who eschew the vagaries of pride, esoteric (and ultimately shallow) notions of social station and other such vague and ill-defined empty self definitions of worth and value to cleave to the self-determined satisfaction arising from getting one's own hands busy with the micro industry of "making" or "fixing" rather than "buying."
Hence, Peggy's and my Life Verse is 1st Thessalonians 4:11 -- "...Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands."
Among my very closest friends are folks from some *very* different nationalities, regions, social strata, races and even genders. Yet we all share this. Shoot -- look at Jerry and I. There are few people I hold in higher regard. I truly consider him as close as a brother (maybe even an uncle -- far be it for me to claim to be his peer). Yet, had we been born in a different time, we'd have tried to kill each other. But, even though I was born and bred a true New England Yankee, and still pretty much identify as such (I don't like to be hugged and I will probably let someone else do most of the the talking ... unless the only person I am with is Hambone and then is is simply not much conversation going on ...), Life's vagaries have led me on a path that has brought me through a lot of different places, cultures and experiences such that I have come to *begin* to see that the quality of personality to which you refer is not endemic to any particular region -- it is the most common thread that seems to be the foundation, and if I may be so bold as to claim the bedrock, of this site and all that unites us and makes us vibrant.
As Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote:
"For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known — cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honoured of them all —
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy,
I am a part of all that I have met."
In short -- I have transcended Yankee thrift. Good Ole Boys abound everywhere. Be proud that you are one!
I have always liked Hank Jr's song, "A Country Boy Can Survive." It doesn't matter if you are North, South, East, West, Urban or Country ... It's a state of mind (Zen, perhaps).
And you are starting to see that "there is no spoon."
Morpheus/Ulysses
