being from aways

The community I moved to recently has a year population of about 1,200 people.  The vacation community during the summer raises that number by about seven times, so it is safe to say one of the favorite past times of the locals here is making fun of those of us that are from "aways".

Spoken mostly in a thick Boston accent with a twist, they will openly poke fun.  Most of the locals already know who I am and who my kids are, so they never hold back.  

Today after work I strolled to the parking lot with a co-worker and my daughter asked for my keys so she could get in the car.  She pushed the little unlock button on the key fob and the car beeped and the doors unlocked.  Now this is something most of us do several times a day and sometimes without even knowing we did it.  How many times have you stood in the parking lot wondering if you locked your car?  

Through her roaring laughter my co-workers asked me for clarification, "Did you just unlock your car"?

I responded a little sheepishly, " Ahhh...yeah".  

She laughed harder.  

Cause here locking your car accomplishes as much as going to the bank on Sunday.  

She joked with me in her heavy accent , " Oh you people from aways and your keys.  Who do you think is gonna take your ca?  and even if they did where do you suppose they'd take it"?  she laughed harder, the thought was so absurd.

She had a point.  I live on an island, the only way on or off the island is your own personal boat or the ferry.  And one can't just get on the ferry, it's a pretty involved procedure that has to take place 24 hours ahead of time.  

I felt dumb.  But I am a city girl... that makes me giggle a little bit Colorado Springs is never what I thought of as a CITY.  But I am a city girl if we don't lock our cars they may not be there when we get back.  Old habits die hard and although I am getting used to letting my kids take the 2 block walk to the candy store alone, I think it will take a long time before the locals see me leave my keys in the ignition.