u/Acidflightgoat

This is not even a complaint about capitalism. I know people in my generation that still live with their parents because the economy sucks ass rn and aren't able to afford an apartment. I am not one of those people, the economy could be great and I would still be in my situation because of my disability. I went to college with the misguided expectation I'd be able to live on my own one day but that obviously didn't happen. It's not even like I feel miserable, I have a mostly good life, but it is so disheartening to see my brother, friends, and all (and I mean all) of my cousins advancing further in their careers/lives. Meanwhile I still don't know what it's like to have a childhood room. A lot of the time I feel like a (wo)manchild/lolcow despite being active in my community and having two part-time jobs because I still live with my family and probably always will :(

30 for the 29 states (and DC) I went through. I will elaborate on any if someone is interested, constructive criticism is appreciated :)

1. Being a fan of trains feels like an publicly known yet secret club. And when someone joins the tribe its like "wow how have I never realized this before"

2. When you live in the northeast, the terrains of the west feel like a different planet

3. Having geography as a special interest is OP because it allows you to romanticize basically anywhere outside

4. The true geographic divide in America is not east/west coast, nor is it east/west of the Mississippi. The divide is right down the middle of the country (both elevation and population)

5. You feel like a scammer when telling people what the USA Rail Pass is

6. Where you live has so, so much more to do with who you are than you might think

7. The deep south seems to be very prideful that coca cola came from there (I would be too)

8. If you're lucky you can wind up in a (very temporary) friend group of strangers on the train, to the point that you could make inside jokes

9. You can cross the country, hike up a mountain, and meet someone at the top who grew up 20 minutes from you

10. The difference between crossing into Mexico and crossing into Canada is incredibly apparent

11. Mennonites will approach you if you have a Rubik's Cube

12. You can use semantics to fuck with people. "I like your poncho!" "thanks! I got it in Tijuana en route to Boston!" "what"

13. Nobody goes to or through Long Island

14. Montana is my spirit home

15. People are blown away by how eastern Oregon and western Florida are only an hour apart

16. Any elevation gain is to a train what a flight of stairs is to a wiener dog. Any is a lot

17. However much time the conductor says you can be away from the train, you shouldn't exceed 2/3 of that time (for example if he says you can leave for 60 minutes, be back trainside in 40). Those two women in Minot could have used that advice

18. Most people who wave at the train are either over 80 or under 10

19. Having a dead phone on the train can be a good thing

20. Wrigley Field and Rate Field could not be more different

21. "how wealthy you are" and "how much you have traveled" have a connection, but not as much of a connection as you may think

22. Ivy growing on abandoned buildings/cars is an awesome aesthetic

23. Texas suburbs are really uncanny and monotonous, more than other suburbs around the country

24. The best part about train travelling is the people you meet on it (except the Coast Starlight, the people were great but the views were elite)

25. Going to the interior west kind of ruins your idea of what a rural area is. Like what do you mean central Pennsylvania is the middle of nowhere, you're always near an urban area

26. Bridges high above water>bridges closer to the water

27. The cafe car attendants (usually) have great taste in music

28. Always be strategic in where you are standing in the station if you want a window seat

29. Bring a camera other than just your cell phone if you go on a long train ride

30. The two best things about this country are the diversity in it's land and in it's people :)

1. What? oh my god that is crazy I never would have guessed

2. Well duh

I find it interesting how society has a broad range of autistic stereotypes which make me obviously autistic to some and pass as nt to others

Anyone else experience this?