As part of our partnership with the Wilton Newcomers Club, we’ll be featuring a monthly column from the organization’s president, Tara Thompson, and other board members. Today, we are pleased to feature the first installment of this new series from the vantage point of this longstanding Wilton institution.
Before moving to Wilton, my husband Stephen and I lived in Garden City, Long Island. By the time our family of three had become a family of five, our home was too small, our yard could barely accommodate a swing set and BBQ grill, and our taxes were way too high. It was time to move, preferably somewhere that didn’t involve paying a premium for unnecessary proximity to Wall Street since Stephen wasn’t commuting anymore. We got a great offer after our very first open house… except we had no idea where we wanted to move.
So we turned down the offer and took our home off the market. For six months we played, “What If?” What if we moved to the Pacific Northwest? What if we moved further east on Long Island? What if we moved to North Carolina? Or New Jersey or Pennsylvania or Boston? We took weekend trips with all three kids and went from open house to open house, driving by schools and strolling down Main Streets. The idea of moving someplace “different” was appealing, but so was staying close to our friends and family.
After all those months, we were no closer to making up our minds.
Stephen had grown up in Greenwich. One night, in frustration, I eventually threw up my hands, and asked, “How about Connecticut? Would you move to Connecticut?”
He smiled. “Could we?”
Now we had a new problem: where in Connecticut should we move? Not Greenwich, Darien or Westport, which even I knew were commuter havens. Since Stephen wanted to be close to New York regional airports, that left Weston, New Canaan and Wilton. A quick look at school rankings told me all three would be viable options. But it took just one drive through Wilton’s windy roads with their a lush green canopy above our heads, and a brief stroll through Wilton Center to know in our hearts that this was “Our Town.”
Every day since then has confirmed our first–albeit purely superficial–impression. Before I knew about Wilton CT 411 on Facebook, and before GOOD Morning Wilton existed, there was the Wilton Newcomers Club. It was to this group of women that I asked my most pressing questions. How can I get my daughter involved in soccer? What preschool should my younger son attend? Where was the best playground? Was there a golf club for Stephen, preferably with a pool for the kids and me? I needed a painter, electrician, plumber, landscaper, babysitter… the list was endless. And my new girlfriends from WNC were there, offering advice on everything along with playdates and evening get-togethers.
Last year I was lucky enough to be asked to be membership chair on the WNC Board. If I thought belonging to the Club was great, being on the Board was even better. This year I am president. Quite frankly, I feel like a new mom again: tremendously excited and proud–and more than a little nervous about living up to my own expectations.
But above all, I just feel grateful–for this town and for our welcoming community. Whether you are new to town or just looking to make new friends, I hope you will consider joining our ranks. All of us on the Board want to make this our best year yet, but we can’t do it without your involvement. Please log onto our website and register today–we’d love to meet you!