Caring enough to be generous to strangers with a wave, smile or “how’s it going?” has little to do with location. Unconditional friendliness exists everywhere. But, it seems more prevalent in small, rural locations...places which move at a different pace and have somehow avoided the vortex of the world around them. Here the culture is different. Here people are neighborly because it’s the right thing to do. They act as if they might know you or might become a friend. A helping hand is always available here.
Of course, this culture exists in big places too. It’s simply harder to see it. Often the friendly signals are lost in the noise and stress of a faster paced and more crowded space.
Southern hospitality isn’t reserved for Southerners. It's available everywhere. We simply need to choose to see it, and more importantly, to do it...to act as if we see you. And yes, it does seem to work a little better with a Southern accent.