Is It Weird for Mainers to Wear Maine Gear?

Or does that scream tourist?

Don't get me wrong. I love wearing clothing or hats from places I've visited and loved. Sure, maybe it's bragging rights. Maybe it starts a conversation, 'Oh, you went to so-and-so?'  Sometimes it's just nice to wear a memory of a vacation when you weren't stressed out working and trying to get bills paid (while creating new bills!).

But, what about your home state? Do you get a pass for wearing Maine stuff?

I love my Maine stuff. It goes well with my Red Sox and Patriots stuff (sports team stuff is different!). But does it make me a tool? I love it. I'm proud to call Maine my home. Very different from when I moved here from Idaho back in the 80s.  Back then when I told people I was moving, I told them I was moving to Boston because I thought it sounded cooler. Plus, I figured it was close enough. Uh, no.

I drove to Maine from Idaho, all those decades ago. It was a culture shock, to say the least, and I had no family and just one friend. But I am so proud and so happy to call Maine my home. I am the envy of all the people I know who don't live here. And because of that, I like wearing home state or hometown stuff. I have sweatshirts and hats that say Portland. I dare someone to ask if it's Oregon. Because I would quickly tell them it sure as hell isn't. It's the first Portland in one of the original 13 colonies!

Maine. Who's with me and wears Maine stuff with pride?