I've always liked maps. They put the world in perspective - literally. Call me a nerd (I'll bear it proudly), but one of my favorite books is from my sister, called the Atlas of World History. I dunno, but I just like the way maps clarify things. My point?
My roommate got a Snapple cap that said "Long Island is the largest island in the Continental United States." In my simplistic, out-of-town mind, I thought about Long Island - y'know, where the five towns and Far Rockaway is! After all, you take the Long Island Railroad to get there, so that must be it! Well, apparantly it's not. So said my roommate.
So I asked: Then how is Long Island so big? What's it made of?
So we turned to that ever useful resource, Google maps. And it turns out that Long Island is indeed a pretty big island! It encompasses not only the traditional Long Island, but Brooklyn and Queens as well!! So now I can say I'm living on Long Island. Sounds much, much better ;)
But wait - there's more! Looking further at the map (I added borders), I realized that Manhattan is barely attached to New York, hanging just barely onto a tip of the state. Long Island, even more, is about 75% (if not more) on the Connecticut side of the border! Why it was attached to New York State, I'm not so sure. But it kinda makes sense to me why people from New York City think they're in their own state, and people in "Upstate" are in another hemisphere....
So the final outcome for me is that I'm saying that I'm from Long Island, CT. After all, that's what the map seems to show...and maps are never wrong. :)
In other news, communication is really really important in relationships. Thank you for teaching me that, hon.
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It encompasses not only the traditional Long Island (Westchester, etc.), but Brooklyn and Queens as well!!
You might want to look at that map again... Westchester isn't part of Long Island.
I love maps too! Google maps has revolutionised looking up what a place looks like, but I once found some Microsoft site (I think) that actually gives a better aerial view of the actual place.
And think its cool what you have done with your archives listing on the right.
CWY - Oops. Fixed. I knew as I was writing it that I should really check first...and then I didn't. Boy, that's embarrassing!
Karl - Aren't they cool?
The archives listing thing is 'cause I've gone to blogger beta. That happened automatically when I switched. (I'd tell you to try it, but then again, are you still blogging...?)
You're a funny, funny girl. I'd love to see the look on some poor confused person's face when you tell them where you live... :-P
My mom loves to tell people from Brooklyn and Queens that they live on the Island. People never believe her...it's quite amazing.
Wow, CT? I guess any excuse to say you're not living in NY :)
Scraps: :)
Sara: Alas, native Brooklyners...
Aishel: That's exactly it!
Only if you bring the pumpkin pies...;)
My son is in yeshiva in CT!
How do you like it?
Google map is one of the great wonders of the internet! My son taught us how to work it, and it is surreal how, with the click of a mouse, one can get so up close and personal to his/her geography!
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