ffwhite | East versus West, in many parts

As a westerner - that is one from the west of this country - I imagined the east to be many things. Naturally, it was far stranger than that, and in some ways exactly the same. Now that I am back in the west, I can see the differences very clearly. So, without much introduction at all, here is my analysis of east coast versus west coast.

The attitude

When I was on the east coast, I learned that they are very driven and independent. It is so common that when people ask you what you do, they don't really mean what you do for money, but what you are passionate about. When someone on the east coast gets off work, they start training, practicing, doing whatever it is they really care about, in a serious way. Whether this is bar-tending for extra money, running a triathlon, writing a novel, learning a new language, taking care of their kids, training their dogs, following their favorite sport's team, building a sculpture, or whatever, work does not end when work ends, they just switch to work they choose to do. There are very few people back east whose ambitions include chilling, relaxing, or having a good time. They still have parties, for sure, but on most days, there is business to attend to.

In the west, people are far more comfortable. It might be the weather, which is always pleasant, the abundance of cheap fresh food, the inexpensive (compared to the east coast) schooling, or all of these, but people on the west coast are very relaxed, even ponderous, by comparison. They do have passions and interests, but it might just be a weekend thing. When a west coast person gets home from work, it's time to do something for fun and leisure. It might be a bicycle, a television program, their favorite movie, their dogs, the people they like to hang out with, or their memoir, but it is almost never laborious. There are very few people out west whose ambitions include becoming a world famous actor, going eight under par on the golf course, making more artwork to sell, or discovering new species of fish. There are many people who are happily slackers, bums, stoners, or barflies in the west.

People on both coasts do, in a broader sense, what they love, but the attitude is very different. A hike in the west is a leisure activity. In the east, it is a timed event or an obstacle to be rid of. Oddly, in the west it is very comfortable to walk around, but most people prefer the luxury of driving, while in the east it can be difficult to walk - the weather can be anything from sweltering to snow - yet most people walk instead of driving. To me, it is a big difference in attitude. I've always had more of an east coast attitude, but I honestly missed the attitudes of the west when I was east. It is more comfortable for me, as I grew up on the west coast, to be the driven and independent one among many easy-going types.

- Forest F. White