framejunkie

framejunkie t1_ja3cwdq wrote

We have many places to go within the US that are so different, it's like you leaving your country for a holiday, except we don't have to change currency or worry about international bank fraud. I live in California, have family in Hawaii. It's like traveling to another country both in weather and how they treat import/export of agricultural items and the culture and way of life, except everything I need to work domestically like money withdrawals or credit card charges work without fees, and I'm still protected by the rules and laws of the US Constitution and all the security and legal apparatus we have. It's a pretty nice secure feeling knowing the same general rules and freedoms apply to me anywhere I go in this country.

Going from west to east coast is a major cultural difference, and even up and down the east coast or across the Midwest or the deep south, or even panhandle versus southern tip of Florida is different everywhere. New things to see and experience like accents, new immigrant communities and histories, new foods, new national or state parks, festivals, drive for 1000 miles in a day if you want to just for the sake of seeing the countryside, you name it. All of that stuff without having to pay for a passport and international plane tickets. We are spoiled in this way.

I do love going abroad, but have no money to do that anymore so I stay in country.

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