ruaraidh's blog

This was a question I received today, the day of writing, and it sparked a question in my head. What is it to be a local? How does one define it?

Let's start with some dictionary wanking.

Britannica defines it as

a person who lives in a particular area, city, or town : a local person — usually plural

or

located or living nearby

These two I think give interesting perspectives on what it is. How big is the area? Is it a council region? If so, Highland is pretty massive; 26,000 square kilometres for ~240,000 people If it's the baile, then it's pretty tiny (~200 people), if it includes the bailtean immediately nearby we're probably still around 1,000 people. Not many at all.

What if it's a situation of geographic context?

This is the path that I thought of when I was asked. My answer was “ish”. Why ish? Because although the people asking were from the South of England, I don't feel local to here, I'm from the Black Isle, on the other coast. But to them, I'm close enough to be a local. The distance between the two areas is around 70 miles (110 km).

If they were from mainland Europe, USA or, especially, Australia I'd answer with yes. I think the distance involved and that we're still in The Gàidhealtachd would allow me that.

Are there other factors?

What if you move in from elsewhere and are resident for a long time? Are you then a local? How long would it be? I know there's this 5 year window before people who're resident begin to open up, especially if they're generationally resident. Why 5 years? Because it's likely you'll leave within that window.

What if you were from there, move away in your teens and move back as an adult?

Do you need a continuity of stay? Continuity of lineage? Could you be born and raised elsewhere, move somewhere where family are from (and still are) and be a local?

Could you be regionally local and move to a nearby place? Are you local then? How far before you're not?

I read an article by Rhoda Meek and the piece quoted gave a perspective..

Hold your wheesht for at least three years.

“You will be called blow-ins. It’s not an insult, it simply reflects the fact that many people blow right back out again and we have feelings that get hurt, and ­friendships that disappear, and so we ­protect ourselves until we trust you.

and

“There are people who no longer live here who will always be more local than you or I will ever be. That’s OK. It’s life. You could live here 60 years and still be a blow-in.

as well as a different article of hers

I inhabit two worlds. On one hand, I croft and Gaelic is my first language. I live in the house my great great grandfather built, I know my land — I’ve explored and adventured over it thousands of times. Tiree, and the crofts I share with my father in Caolas are home in every sense of the word.

On the other hand, I grew up in a different world. I moved to Tiree as an adult, seeking a different life. I work for an American based tech company and travel regularly, slipping in and out of identities with a strange ease. From wellies in the morning, to a transatlantic flight in the afternoon.

These I think demonstrate that it's not a simple question. I think it means different things to different people.

Ultimately, it may not even matter.

Do I feel like a local? No.

Will I? Maybe, my children certainly will.

Do those with naïve questions need the ins-and-outs? Probably not and yes-ish will do.

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