The locals are friendly

Riding the London underground has given me a new appreciation for Ocracoke. Rather than staring into the middle distance in an isolated bubble, people on Ocracoke greet one another when they pass in the street. Biking or walking through town and sharing smiles and hellos with perfect strangers puts me in a silky coccoon of bliss. You can always retreat to your rental home if, as one transplant from New York once admitted, the happy vibe on Ocracoke gets to be too much.

To give London its due: everyone has been terrifically friendly; even the bus drivers are helpful! Today Spitalfields market and the Tate Modern. In two more weeks I'll be serving up food at the Cafe Atlantic and swimming in the ocean.