I am an American. I have close family members in Illinois, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas and Tennessee. I also have close dear friends in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New York and Montana. I welcome them into my home and I am welcome in their's with open arms.
Interesting. One of the things I noticed growing up in the South, was that upon meeting someone for the first time, a Southerner would ask: "Where y'all from?". But a Northener would ask: "What line of work are you in?"
Don't know if it means anything, I just noticed it.