drmoose: Folks are just folks, rue the day we fit into some mold.
Indeed, Doc. One of the benefits of having experienced lifestyles on both coasts is seeing the real difference in what makes this country great-families and communities.
The west is all about material things-how much you have and what it takes to get more than your neighbor-that neighbor you can see if you're tall enough to peer over the 6 foot cinder block walls surrounding your piece of dried out, overpriced earth one calls a yard. Good luck growing anything that needs water and fresh air, particularly the breathable kind that doesn't trigger smog alerts, restricting outside activities and sending old folks to the ER. Heh, that would probably include me if I was still there.
This country was founded in the east and migrated west. I didn't appreciate that until I moved here and I can't help but wonder how much of a better person I would be today had I only lived here.
Family and community are the important things here, they're what makes this a tremendous place to live. And I can see my neighbor through the chain link fence that defines my piece of fertile earth that yields the best tomatoes every summer and tulips to just stare at. Take a deep breath and smell the good living. :-)