It was my mantra in Florida:
That's interesting. Have found my own experience to be the opposite and it to be the most multi-cultural and integrated place ever lived. That's due to previous experience only being in places where people of color largely, if not solely, represented a negative element, if there were any others at all. Here it's different because they represent every class of people, they are also the average man, business men, and respected contributors and leaders in the community. For the first time in my life I have peers who are not white, and it's been a very positive force in my attitude and perspective concerning people in general.
Florida? Seriously? Couldn't have been where I lived.
For some reason thought we lived in the same city.
We lived just outside of Orlando.
Far enough out that when I sat in our backyard the neighbor came running to ask if I belonged there.
Far enough out that when I put my wallet down while I was paying for my purchase at CVS a woman reached around me and grabbed my wallet. I took it back. She said she was just making sure it was mine.
Or right after walking out of the store, receipt in hand, with the suitcase I had just purchased and a temp stood in my way to ask if I had purchased the suitcase.
I've gone into stores and had four or five different people ask me if I needed help. I usually don't let it get to that number. Around about the third one I say "Yes, could you tell all the other people in the store who are going to ask if I need help that I would like to be left alone to shop?"
One of my favorites from the Orlando area was when I was at the airport and picked up my bag at baggage claim and a woman stood in my way and said, "Are you sure that's yours?" My bag was a heck of a lot nicer than hers. I have a penchant for high quality.
My ex didn't believe these kinds of things happened until one day she was standing in another part of the store and saw the cashier fairly leap over the counter to intercept me. That was in Massachusetts, where I had another favorite:
My ex was in Filenes Basement and had dragged me along so I was looking at random things. A store clerk was following me but making noise, so finally I turned to her and said, "Look, if you're going to follow me, could you at least be quiet about it?" She got really embarrassed and said loudly "I'm not following you!" and then began to move clothes back and forth on the rack - the same clothes, over and over again. But she stopped following me.
I have favorites from everywhere except New York City, where people know enough to ignore me and target the little old lady with the bulging shopping bag.
