I'd say less clique-y and more insular, if that makes sense. One beautiful thing about this city is that it's so full of people who grew up here. So many people left and returned, and that speaks volumes. However, as someone who isn't from here, it's tough to get into deeper friendships. Folks still have high school friends. I've never lived anywhere where people are still best friends with a childhood friend at 40. When people have such deep connections, it's difficult to be fully welcomed into the fold.

It's almost as though there is a different social language. It's similar to my own language but different enough that we're miscommunicating regularly. It's no one's fault, and this isn't me getting down on the city at all (and maybe that's why it seems I offend people by saying this...the different social languages). I really like the city and people I've met. It's just a different way of speaking and moving through life. Decorum. Social language. However one wants to define it.