Perfectly understood, Brian, and no umbrage whatsoever - I understand that a long time in the Long Island could seem a long time, and I'm sorry to hear that your young, now not quite so young giants, should have been made to feel less than welcome there, especially when you had clearly integrated so well.
When in Scotland myself, I am sometimes subjected to something of the kind at a lower level but people soon back off when I tell them in their own local accent that a. that we're not all Billy Connollys and b. I am 100% Scottish and have probably been so longer than my "accuser"!
Jack (aka Jock)