Quote from: Sarah B on September 08, 2025, 07:10:07 PMHi Liz
My name is Sarah and I would also like to formally, Welcome you Back to Susan's Place!
I see that other members of Susan's have also welcomed you as well.
Norfolk sounds lovely. Quiet lanes, gentle skies and friendly faces. Norwich close by with culture, shops and coffee. It is easy to see why you feel safe. However I have never been to Norfolk, so how would I know? You will have to describe it a bit more. Yes, I live in Australia but originally hail from England.
Yes, Norfolk. My new home. I love it here. It's the greenest place I've ever lived and the most rural.
Geographically, Norfolk is located in the East of England. It has hundreds of miles of unspoiled coastline on the North Sea. There are dunes and deserted beaches all along the coast. Much of the land along the coast is lowlands prone to flooding from North Sea storms. Windmills dot the lowlands much like in the Netherlands. The Low Countries of mainland Europe are about 150 miles across the North Sea.
Further inland, the land is flat and slightly higher elevation. Agriculture rules here. The countryside is dotted with hundreds of small towns and villages. They are connected with an intricate web of roads and narrow lanes. It's common to see large farm vehicles hauling their harvest into town, and they do disrupt traffic.
Every town and village in the UK has at least one pub. Norfolk is no exception. They serve as meeting places for the locals in addition to serving food and drinks. I've been to dozens of them - some in the most remote and conservative parts of Norfolk. Places where a trans person might expect some adversity. That hasn't happened. To the contrary, the locals have been warm and welcoming.
Weather-wise, Norfolk is one of the warmer and drier parts of the UK. Sunshine is fairly abundant from mid-May through mid-October. Temperature in the 20s Celsius are common during the warmer months. Occasionally, a heat wave will push temps into the 30s. During the colder months, the weather is unsettled. It rains often and most days are cloudy or overcast. Temps usually hover in the single digits and occasionally go below freezing. Snow is rare because of climate change.
I live about 15 miles from Norwich, which is the cultural, gastronomical and logistical hub of Norfolk. Around 250k residents live in the area. It has everything I might need or want. There are two prominent universities here, which brings a lot of diversity and liberalism to the city. There is a large LGBTQ community. I see other trans folks every time I go to Norwich - which is several times a week.
The older parts of Norwich have a distinct European feel. Much of the architecture is from the late Medieval and Renaissance periods. Interspersed are contemporary buildings that harmoniously blend with the old. In the city center, many of the streets are designated pedestrian and bicycle only, with hundreds of small shops and retail arcades.
Further out from the city center, newer residential areas abound. Some areas even look a bit like a typical North American suburb.
To say Norfolk is a radical departure from San Diego would be about right.
