[This is a continuation of the author's series on New Orleans lessons, to commemorate both her 10th anniversary of living in New Orleans as well as the 2nd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.]

I know I'm not the only one to think about seceding from the Union; we could rebuild with our port royalties and give Uncle Sam the finger. Don't tell me you haven't considered it...

Besides, if you only read the Times-Picayune, you could easily believe that we're the only place on earth, at least the only place worth reading about. Face it - most of the news we get about the rest of the country either involves the volunteers they send our way, or the inconceivable notion that they might have a touch of Katrina fatigue. Now I love New Orleans as much as anyone, but I've seen the rest of the country, and believe it or not, they've got interesting people and unique customs of their own. Of course, nowhere else is as special as we are, but sometimes I get curious: what's happening in the other 49 states today? And I've even heard rumors that outside the island, there are even entire countries that manage to exist independently of New Orleans. Shocking, but true!