Here in southeast Alaska, Canada is a close neighbor. We readily accept Canadian money and checks and have phone plans that offer special Canada rates. We get many Canadian visitors and conversely many Southeasterners have cabins in Canada and visit Whitehorse for the music and the hot springs to get warm.

I don't think we have many differences dividing us as far as lifestyle and expectations go. But maybe that's because in Southeast we too seem out of step with 'outside'- for instance, we still go for midnight walks on our trails and many people still live an unlocked existence. I remember how shocked William Coffin Sloane (Sloane Coffin?) was when he discovered his briefcase had been in his host's unlocked car all afternoon.

We do have one source of frustration and anger: From here we have to cross the Canadian border to get to the interior of Alaska, and there are some reports of some border officials not being polite or helpful, of going too much by the book. Locally we wish the US/Canada line would be redrawn.

On the other hand, one local songwriter wrote 'Canadians are just like us- without the guns'. And some say that of course Canadians say 'eh' a lot- after all: Cehnehdeh. :)