Yeah - a few years ago when I started carrying my passport with me at all times, some friends asked me why, and that's when I realized that I've never lived in a state that didn't have an international border. But the difference between the two borders just kills me. Nobody on the northern border ever complains about the looming menace of Lucien Bouchard or would imagine requiring people to present proof of citizenship on demand throughout the state - then again, you can always tell the dread Quebecois by the plumes of smoke that follow them and their general disregard for all traffic signs signals ;-) (And yes, that's a hideous stereotype, but those are two behaviors that I indulge in as well, so I'm not actually complaining. I like the dread Quebecois - they've got spunk.)