Paris

The capital city of France is the setting for the events contemplated by the author in the collection's first essay, "Dentists Without Borders". It is portrayed as being, in the author's experience, friendly, welcoming, and "socialized" in the non-political, well-mannered sense of the word.

Normandy

This region of France is referred to in passing in several essays. It is where the author and his long-term partner Hugh had one of their first homes outside of America.

West Sussex, England

This is the part of Britain where the author and Hugh eventually settle into what appears to be their permanent home. Portrayed in the essay "Rubbish" as particularly beautiful, there is the sense that in contrast to having lived at what the lives of his parents determined was "home", the life he (the author) shares with Hugh in West Sussex really IS home.

Raleigh, North Carolina

This is...