It's a powerful connector of people, and a powerful metaphor.

Republicans and their billionaire funders have been trying to divide Americans for a long time. But people living in the same communities came together. Black, brown, gay, straight, trans - people who are neighbors and family keep trying to stay together, see our commonalities, be friends. That's why cities tend to be tolerant, vibrant places.

So now they're dividing us by states and regions. That's easier to do. It's easier to get people to believe a lot of lies about a distant place.

I didn't think it would be possible for the U.S. to divide up on red/blue lines but I've changed my mind. The digital age makes it possible for noncontiguous states to be united. I'm not saying it's a good idea, just possible.

The GDP of California alone is more than that of many nations. Way more than many red states put together. And there's always Canada. Imagine if CA, OR, and WA seceded to join Canada, joined by NY, NJ, MA, CT, RI, and VT. That's a lot of research institutions and corporations.

ago -

I think I would have agreed. But now? Taxation without representation, a violent thuggish military patrolling cities that don't 'comply' with the Fascists, etc. etc.

Balkanization is close -even if it is digital.

I'm feeling it personally. I love visiting NYC, Chicago, CA, other countries.

I'm supposed to go to an important family celebration at the in laws' in Alabama and I do not want to go. Before Trump this never would have bothered me. Now it does. A lot.

Meanwhile I'm sure my in-laws would have a panic attack at the thought of riding the NYC subway.

And I'm through trying to talk to them. I feel active dislike. Which is sad. I used to love them.

I feel the same way about my family in Florida, where I was born. Moved away from there thirty years ago and used to visit every few years.
They are mostly republican Trumpers now so I am not motivated in the least to visit them anymore. It’s really sad as we were much closer way back in the day.
Oh well, plenty of other great places to visit we have not seen.

Seattle is an amazing city, people love living there and it's a tech hub, that's why it's expensive.

You know the places where no one wants to live? Almost all the deep red states are sh*tholes with near 3rd world living conditions for large parts of their populations.

At least this Yankee thought so. Also, it was hard for a real die-hard liberal to find friends down there, except at church. And at home.

It was the 80's and early 90's so things may be different now, but my experience was that the "natives" really only had friends within their particular church or neighborhood, unless they were a neighbor from the North. They were civil and friendly on the surface but not very accepting of yankees. Being a lifelong optimist I didn't believe it when other northerners who had moved there told me this was true, but it certainly turned out to be true. When I left to move to another northern state, I looked back and realized that I had not made even one good friend, and that had never happened to me in my life.

My mother lives in a beach community there. I can tolerate it in small doses, but I would NEVER live there. All those Trumpketeers with MAGA hats & Trump flags on their vehicles...I can't get back to Atlanta fast enough. Atlanta may be in the Deep South, but it's a global city & a lot more progressive than much of the SE USA.

from Google:

Seattle receives an average of about 150 to 152 sunny days per year, although definitions can vary. While the city has a reputation for being cloudy, Seattle has a higher number of sunny days than cities like Portland, with most of its cloudy days being shorter, overcast periods rather than heavy rainfall.

Denver receives about 252 to 300 days of sunshine per year, though the exact number depends on the definition of "sunny day". While the common claim of 300 days is based on older marketing or a broader definition of a "sunny" day, current data suggests around 69% of days are sunny, which equates to approximately 252 days.

But love my sunshine more! That said, Denver is cooking this summer.

Say. Good, we don't want you.

They make their way to the PNW because they are less likely to die just from being exposed to the elements alone. They go in order to live. They go to states with more resources and more humanity.

I have no doubt they are laughing at the Veterans in the DC Encampments getting pushed around.