I'm seeing a lot of misinformation regarding life in NI in regards to Brexit & the backstop etc & my experiences of being in England reinforce this fact. So strap in, or on, I'm not here to judge, & I'll take you on a tour of growing up in NI from a Catholic pov (aged 39 & 3/4s) 1. There was, most definitely, a hard border in NI. Crossing that border meant being stopped, almost always being questioned & sometimes being searched (if they didn't like the look of you, were bored or suspected you of being a criminal). The military were very obviously armed!