Are the coasts more similar to each other, or is the West/East coast more similar to the middle? (hotel, store)
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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Is the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) closer - in terms of socio-economic profile, culture, general feel - to the East Coast (all the states with an Atlantic coastline), than the 'central states'? By central states I'm referring to the eastern Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Great Lakes, Midlands (the inland West and Midwest) and parts of the Southern that are not too 'Southern.' And likewise is the East Coast more like the Midwest etc or the West coast?
Ways in which the coasts seem more similar:
Having more of a global influence and being more influenced by the rest of the world
More cosmopolitan population - a more recent immigrant history
Tending towards being socially liberal
More urban than the Midwest
Having economies based more on technology, service industries than the centre where agriculture and manufacturing have traditionally dominated.
Ways in which the middle is more similar to each coast:
West coast:
Having a more suburban lifestyle, more 'open space'
A more neutral accent, with the exception of parts of the South
Newer cities
East coast:
A greater sense of ethnic community and 'roots' than the West, with the exception of the Rocky Mountains
Being more geographically concreted towards the East Coast
More of a European immigrant presence as opposed to Asians/Latinos on the West coast
Location: Jefferson City 4 days a week, St. Louis 3 days a week
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I'd say the East Coast bears more similarities to the middle culturally and demographically. The West Coast is nothing like the middle of the country at all, and much different from the East Coast.
The West Coast and East Coast are nothing alike. The only places on the West Coast that are even remotely similar to the East Coast are older cities like San Francisco or Portland or Seattle.
IMO there are four distinct countries within this country. The East Coast, the West Coast, the South, and everything in the middle. All totally different.
IMO There is a little variety everywhere. You really can't lump the entire east coast into a common vibe. In the north east there is the constant fight for space. On the freeway, looking for parking, in a store or looking for a hotel every one seems to be trying get that spot you are in. Population density and georgraphy makes people learn how to negotiate crowds as a survival skill. Most of the east coast is in the south and that is a far different vibe than say Boston.
The West coast has has pockets were the density is low but the georgraphy is a little more difficult to negotiate. The distance from LA to SF is almost the length of the entire "northern" part of the east coast.
I have spent the last seven months traveling. Two months in the Fall out west, two months this winter out east and the rest in the south and mid-west. There plenty of ways in which we are alike no matter how diffrent we think we are, but I think our day to day routines, georgraphy, population density and demographics makes demands on us that keeps us diffrent in significant ways.
The West Coast and East Coast are nothing alike. The only places on the West Coast that are even remotely similar to the East Coast are older cities like San Francisco or Portland or Seattle.
But even then, there's almost no similiarity when you factor in the culture, feel, thinking process, personality factors.
Nothing alike at all. Everything from the people to the climate is different. The only thing in common is that they are both adjacent to the ocean, and even those are different oceans with different characteristics!
IMO there are four distinct countries within this country. The East Coast, the West Coast, the South, and everything in the middle. All totally different.
Along with Hawaii, Texas, Vermont, and California. Those 4 all declared themselves to be independent countries at some point pre-statehood, and all of them (except Cali) were recognized as independent nations by some other independent country.
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