“Cabin culture” and “high school cliques for life” . . . these two social generalizations – as general as they may be – are undeniably, very Minnesotan. (Find me a local who doesn’t agree). Find me a local who also doesn’t agree that if you can hash it through the winters, Minnesota’s quality of life is as good as it gets. If you want to read about Minneapolis / St. Paul’s leading theater & performing arts scene behind New York; bustling foodie & microbrew culture; our green and sustainable practices; affordable real estate; shimmering fall colors and urban lakes where you can kayak to the backdrop of skyscrapers, visit http://www.minneapolis.org/media/facts-and-research/accolades/ and www.numbeo.com to read more.

The Twin Cities area also has more Fortune 500s per capita than any other state. That’s dense corporate-y goodness for a metro area that’s only the 16^th largest in the country. However, if you’re one of the many ‘young professional’ transplants who’ve been recruited or relocated to work here, you’ve likely noticed how your Minnesotan coworkers flock North “to the cabin” nearly every weekend in the summer. You’ve likely observed their social patterns of happy hours, poker nights and endless weddings with their high school friends (who still call each other by their 10^th grade nicknames).

If you are recently relocated here or plan to at some point, and your in-person social network isn’t robust, here are some tips for you:

• Be direct and assertive. Flat-out ask your coworkers about who else is a transplant; perhaps they can introduce you. Ask peoples’ recommendations for their favorite restaurants, and especially . . . their favorite taprooms. You will likely not get them to shut up! Once you hear a few that sound intriguing, ask them to take you one day. Few will decline a happy hour with a new colleague if you actually ask them, especially if that happy hour is at Surly, Bauhaus Brew Labs, Red Cow or Bar La Grassa. (Minnesotans love their food and taprooms).

• Be able to talk sports, the outdoors, music and fitness. (And if you can relate to being a die-hard fan of a historically struggling football team, you’ll build additional rapport). Stay away from politics at first, and don’t expect your Minnesotan locals to be very open about their views and opinions in general.

• As with any city, research housing and/or activities that you may enjoy where you may find transplants. (For example, my current co-ed a cappella group is actually half 20/30-something corporate transplants. Who knew?) Many of the popular residential apartment complexes and residential systems informally cater to those who’ve been relocated to work for, let’s say Target, General Mills, etc. Or, find a volleyball league or a book club.

• Join your local college alumni chapters and/or social groups (easily found through Facebook or your school). Locate the sports bars that are designated alumni hotspots . . . you can find a lot on Google!

• If you practice religion, find a church or place of worship. (Minnesota tends to be the land of Lutherans, but there is generally a place for every denomination). And in general, the population of young families who are active in church is fairly strong.

• Pick your recruiter’s brain about what to do and how to create your social circle. It’s in their best interests – even their KPIs – that you stay and have a positive experience. Some larger companies even have employee resource groups for newbies. Get involved with young professionals groups and local industry associations.

• Don’t be thrown off if your local Minnesotan colleagues think you’re more blunt or direct. To be honest . . . they’ll likely appreciate the clarity.

• Know that if you’ve been invited to someone’s cabin, you’re in! Consider yourself almost as close to your cabin host as their beloved high school crew 🙂

Socially thriving in Minneapolis / St. Paul as a transplant – while requiring just a bit more assertiveness – can certainly be attained to the degree or surpassing that of moving to LA, San Diego, New York or Denver. You just have to learn how to speak the local ‘social language.’ And the appeal of the Twin Cities is generally a more down-home, no-drama lifestyle that is consistently a refreshing change to many transplants. You’d be surprised at how many people who move away for college and/or jobs . . . return to Minneapolis / St. Paul to raise a family. It’s a great place here.

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