Northfield Townie

This evening, I had a discussion about when you are considered a Townie. Clearly if you are born in Northfield, you are automatically a Townie. But if you move there later, when is the line? Dan had told me that he drew the line at 15 years (at least I think that's what he said...something like that). Though he came up with the number randomly, he's stuck with it ever since. I also had thought about that you're a Townie when you begin to almost take offense at when Northfield is called a “small town,” since compared to the surrounding population, Northfield is a very large town.

Sue believed that being a Townie is made up of mindset and connectedness, much more than time. She moved to Northfield in 1993, but 18 years later, still doesn't consider herself a Townie. Her social life is not in Northfield, and never really has been. She kind of agreed about the idea of taking offense at “small town.” She did NOT take offense when I said it; she rather considers Northfield a small-town herself. Slowly, I began to realize that even though she knows more names and people than I do, and has been in Northfield almost the whole time I've been alive, she's still less of a Townie than I am. But she doesn't really desire to be one either. She is tightly connected to the cities, and likes it so. She also pointed out that she didn't go to either St. Olaf or Carleton, and thereby lacks a major connection to Northfield. By no means are all Townies Carls or Oles, or are all Carls or Oles Townies, being one or the other still does represent a tie to the town, via one of the schools.

I told her that I had often considered the epitome of a Townie to be someone deeply involved with DJJD. She definitely agreed with that point. I told her that I had always considered DJJD to be an exclusive group that had almost a life-long wait-list. To me, it is the only social group in Northfield worth waiting to enter. I told her that the reenactors were the center of the DJJD group in my mind, and it absolutely amazed me when Chip opened the possibility of being a townie in the reenactment for me last week. Sue finally said, “I think that's it. The fact that you were invited shows that you're a townie.” I'm a townie?! Already??

In my interview, when asked “What are you most proud of?” I answered with: “Major accomplishments. Not so much the checking off of things on a list, but the knowledge that I accomplished something.” Though this is very different, it still gives me a similar feeling. I am proud of belonging. I was proud to audition into the St. Olaf Band, but I was also proud to call myself a member and feel the camaraderie of the group. Likewise, I was excited to begin volunteering at NHS in 2008, but now I am proud to have even just one person consider me a part of the group; a Northfield Townie.

Other Northfield Townies – What are your thoughts? What does it take to become a Townie? What does it mean to be a Townie?