Ok, I'll play!
I grew up in New York City. Yes, Staten Island IS part of the city, it's one of the 5 boroughs that make up the city; it is physically the largest and population wise the smallest of the boroughs. But I was for the first 37 years of my life a resident of NYC.
We had a horse named Thor living next door when I was growing up, and we went to the beach often, (never leaving the island!)
No, not ALL of us were Mafia (although many....)
No, I am not "glad" that I finally got away from such a horrid place, thanks very much. I would never have moved to Virginia if it weren't for my husband. People are a lot less friendly and neighborly than in NYC.
As to Virginia...Yes, there are a heck of a lot of people who still fly the Rebel flag and think the war can still be won.