People keep asking me, "What's different about the West coast?" in relation to the East coast, that is. I say things like, "People are so much friendlier here! And it's beautiful; more various terrains. And NO HUMIDITY! But also no lightening bugs." I go on about the physical differences forever. There are more breathtaking sights here. The air is fresher. Country untouched by smoke and oil or grease is not out of reach. Land raped by steam and metal and brick is within. Whichever's more your thing.

But I only say that one line about the people. Because I can't figure out what the difference is. But I think I just did.

People from the Northeast coast of the United States (from Washington DC up to Boston, I think) are like a puzzle that wants to be solved. They want you to slowly fit the pieces together, going over each one carefully before finding where it belongs in the picture. They think it's important that you do this to see how everything is connected, and that it all has its place. They live by the fact that the human being, at very least the brain and therefor life, is a very complex thing, and that is a positive to them. They want to be complex, so that if one thing fails, there is something else to occupy them and hold them together until time heals the wound; something else to keep them sane and happy. And if anyone can actually put the whole puzzle together, which is both a challenge and an honor, and see it for what it is, what it wants to be and what it stands for the way they want you to see it; and you find that you love it through this clear and extremely vulnerable view - you will then find happy and permanent admittance to their lives.