Map of Pods in the United States

[malinghi]

I probably should have released a map earlier. Here is a proposed map of the Pods of the United States.

To give some idea of what the boundaries should be like, I want each pod to be theoretically able to host a gathering or convention that everyone in the pod would be able to attend without traveling a lot. Also, I want them to follow logical existing cultural borders. Here is a map, which is overlaid with a map created by a team of researchers at MIT who used cell phone data and SMS data to try to identify boundaries between cultural regions. (For more information. click here: Connected State of America (http://senseable.mit.edu/csa/))

Obviously this will still change and evolve. I saw that someone posted a thread called "Pod of Four Corners", which is different that how the southwest is partitioned on here, but its just a starting point. Let me know what you think.


http://oi54.tinypic.com/11spabr.jpg

[Spindrift]

Is every color a different pod? Does Alaska count as North Pacific? We're looking at 25+ pods just for the US then, right?

[malinghi]

Sorry, I can see how that map can be a little confusing. The map is overlaid on top of a different map that shows regions in which people send text messages a lot. I used it as a guide when making the pods, and I wanted to show where a lot of the motivation for where the lines are drawn is coming from. For example, Washington DC is near Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, so its hard to know where to draw the line so that I don't put two closely linked cities into different pods. But using the data collected by this group at MIT, you can see that Washington DC talks more with Virginia than with West Virginia.

Anyway, here is a map of the regions, without all the distracting colors. I'd really like this thread to be a place where I can get feedback on the pods, and on where the lines are drawn. Feel free to weigh in on pods outside the United States too.

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[New York Mermaid]

Ah, Okay I get it now :)

[MermaidCalliope]

According to these borders you've mapped out, you've put South Carolina in the Chesapeake pod... am I looking at it right? I'm right on the border between SC and GA, so does that make me double-podded?

[jukumerboii]

yea i was wondering that cuz im in south carolina as well :confused:

[malinghi]

In the current layout, the Pod of the South and the Chesapeake Pod are separated by the boarder between Georgia and South Carolina, So Calliope, you're in the Pod of the South, and jukumerboii, you're in the Chesapeake pod. Do you think I should move the boarder?

[MermaidCalliope]

Most definitely... South Carolinians are Southerners for sure! You should probably move the border up to either the bottom or top of NC...

[MermanJesse]

I am in Ohio which puts me in the Great Lakes.

What about the Kentucky mers? They do not have a pod?

[Psychic Tideborn]

Cali Pod Baby!

[malinghi]

ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE: See how it say's "Pod of the South" above my picture, right below where it says Administrator? I've just installed custom usergroups for the pods! To officially join a pod, go to "Settings" and click on "Permission Groups", then select your pod. While you can join multiple pods, please only join a pod if you actually live in that region.



Also, wanted to reply to this:

Most definitely... South Carolinians are Southerners for sure! You should probably move the border up to either the bottom or top of NC...

The Carolina's are in the south, but if I included them it would make the Pod of the South too big. I think I'm just going to rename the Pod of the South to something more accurate. Any objections to renaming it the Gulf Coast Pod?



What about the Kentucky mers? They do not have a pod?

They will most likely have a pod, I just haven't named it yet. Considering that the borders of the pods might change, I figured there was no need to make the Kentucky/Tennessee Pod while we don't have any members from that area right now.

[MermaidCalliope]

It doesn't make sense to call it the Gulf Coast Pod if Georgia doesn't touch the Gulf Coast .__.

[Spindrift]

Hmmm will Hawaii eventually have one? I thought there were several of us on here.

[Winged Mermaid]

Update! The Pod information permanent page (can be found here (http://mernetwork.com/index/content.php?138-Pods-article) or by navigating Home > Community > Pods) has been updated! Also the has been a usergroup made for each of the current pods. There are links to the forum subsection and usergroups to each of the pods on the Pod page. Usergroups can also be found by navigating Forum > Community > Groups. If additional usergroups spout up later on you can view pod groups only by selecting "Pods" categories at the bottom of the right hand side bar on the "Groups" page.

A pod for Hawaii has been added (including forum subsection and usergroup).

[MermaidAiera]

I posted a Tri State Pod thread for all interested ;) I feel the more specific we get, the closer we can feel as a mer-family! Feel free to post in there if you would belong to the pod or even if you don't ^~^

[Syrenia]

Any pods in Phoenix? Does anyone even live here? If so, we should all get together and swim around in some kind of lake or river around here. Feedback? Message me if you're interested. :)

[meremily]

and canada? i know raina is from canada and me too!!! im from montreal, quebec

[MerAndrew]

So, that means I am joining the Great Lakes pod, because I live in Michigan?

[Maple]

Any pods in Phoenix? Does anyone even live here? If so, we should all get together and swim around in some kind of lake or river around here. Feedback? Message me if you're interested. :)

My folks have a place in Sun City, and I go down to the area at least once a year...I'll message you when I'm in town because I'm totes down for a swim!

[green52]

Phoenix has a man-made lake, right? Do people swim in that?

[malinghi]

Here's the latest version of the map. I added names to the area's that previously didn't have a pod, so now all of the US is covered. Alaska and Hawaii are each their own pod. Feel free to give me feedback.

http://oi39.tinypic.com/aep3rd.jpg

[Mermaid Annariea]

i believe i'm in the chesapeake pod. i live in south jersey, and i visit virginia VERY often. (:

[merboy78xy]

I travel constantly. I am generally on the east coast. I have my home base in NYC, but live in FL and TN a lot... hmmmm... I think I should join a pod.

[Gem Stone]

manlinghi or other administrator- i was thinking since many pods are quite large and some are starting to break up into states anyway, why not try to make each state its own pod and only combine those with few mers or ones that are just that small. like i think florida can officially be its own pod. georgia too. it might be a good idea to split california in to a southern and northern cali pods. is there a pod for alaska? i couldnt find one, might have been just me though. also, if possible, i think it would be cool to put a small picture of the crests by each pod's name in the forum search thing. like by 'Pod of Texas' have the pod of texas crest by it. also have the option for someone to have their pod crest on their personal page.
im sorry for any impossible ideas i have suggested because of my ignorance. i understand that many dont have as much time as they wish they could have and i don't really expect anything instantly, only suggesting new ideas that might be interesting to try. thank you for your time!

[Mermaid Dottie]

This puts me in the Rocky Mountain Pod. I thought so!

[SilentMaid]

I just joined and I live in Tennessee. does this put me in the Pod of the South?

[JesseaP7488]

I am directly on the border of the New Engalnd Pod and Chesapeake pod so I guess I can be part of either one lol

[Mermaid Aurora]

Does Minnesota not have a pod? :(

[Ayla of Duluth]

Minnesota's pod is the pod of the great lakes. I always thought I was the only Minnesota mermaid. Glad to see I'm not alone after all :)

[Mermaid Aurora]

Hi Ayla :3 but I'm not near the lakes, about 3 hours from Duluth! Urg, so frusterating /:

[Ayla of Duluth]

I'm gonna guess you're from Minneapolis then?

[Mermaid Narina]

Im from Australia, and in the joining pods section in settings, i just chose "Oceana". That the Australia area .. right? (i dont know my geography that well)

[Spindrift]

Im from Australia, and in the joining pods section in settings, i just chose "Oceana". That the Australia area .. right? (i dont know my geography that well)

Yes!

[deepblue]

I have a question... while I am in Oregon at present, I'm moving at the end of August back to San Diego. Can I join the So Cal pod now? Or do I need to wait. I'm not going to join the NW pod because frankly I don't want to get to know anyone here, since I am about to leave and it's REALLY hard up here to get out anyway.

[malinghi]

I have a question... while I am in Oregon at present, I'm moving at the end of August back to San Diego. Can I join the So Cal pod now? Or do I need to wait. I'm not going to join the NW pod because frankly I don't want to get to know anyone here, since I am about to leave and it's REALLY hard up here to get out anyway.

You can totally join it now. The pods don't have strict membership rules. They're just there to help people connect with people in their community and stuff. By the way, when are you arriving? Cause we're having a meetup the weekend of the 18th.

[deepblue]

I will be back in San Diego sometime in the beginning of September. Things are going to be rough for a bit while my mom and I look for a place to live together, and after that I hope life can be something more like I want it to be. :) And thanks, I'll join... which is weird for me, I'm so not gregarious but I'm going to give it a go.

[Jinx]

i wish there was a tri-state area pod. i have been talking to a lot of people in nj/pa/ny that would like it too. and i never go as far up as new england normally and i don't go down south. i go from pa to ny to nj all the time. or cane we form some sort of mini pods within the larger pods?

[Spindrift]

i wish there was a tri-state area pod. i have been talking to a lot of people in nj/pa/ny that would like it too. and i never go as far up as new england normally and i don't go down south. i go from pa to ny to nj all the time. or cane we form some sort of mini pods within the larger pods?

I think the way the pods are mapped out "New England" is extended to the other states in the area, and not just the states commonly referred to as "New England".

[coral_sybil]

Does that make Minnesota part of the Midwest pod yes?

[WillowAnne]

I am in KY (on the border of IN and KY), so does this make me a member of the Great Lakes Pod? It seems like everyone would be soooo far away. Are there any other KY members here?

[PearlieMae]

Where in Kentucky? I'm in NJ, but I grew up in Louisville!

[WillowAnne]

Where in Kentucky? I'm in NJ, but I grew up in Louisville!

Really??? I live in Louisville!

[PearlieMae]

I lived in Shively right in back of Butler High!

[WillowAnne]

Oh wow! I live on the Jefferson/Bullitt line.

[PearlieMae]

Since where I live doesn't have a specific pod, NJ is too far south for New England and too far north for Chesapeake, I just joined the Undisclosed pod.

[KatHawkins]

I'm confused is there a Pod for Kentucky?

[WillowAnne]

Kat, I don't think there is one specifically, but I *think* they would be able to add one... i think the closest one to me is "great lakes", but I live in Louisville, so I'm pretty far from a lot of the people in the great lakes pod.



I'm confused is there a Pod for Kentucky?

[Mercelien]

O.O I'm srry but I'm having a lot of trouble deciphering the map :$ I live on the Delmarva peninsula so what pod would I be in?

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

O.O I'm srry but I'm having a lot of trouble deciphering the map :$ I live on the Delmarva peninsula so what pod would I be in?

I would consider you (and Pearlie Mae, for that matter) in the region of the Chesapeake Pod.

[Mercelien]

I would consider you (and Pearlie Mae, for that matter) in the region of the Chesapeake Pod.
Thanks :)

[PearlieMae]

I would consider you (and Pearlie Mae, for that matter) in the region of the Chesapeake Pod.

Really? I'm in the NYC metro area. Its a hard call...kind of why I listed myself as undisclosed.

[AniaR]

I don't like how pods are broken up lol I just go with Canadian pod because there are so few of us and hard to go to USA for meetups

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[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

From the look of it, the Chesapeake Pod is basically a few of the more northern southern states, and most of the mid-atlantic region. It really doesn't have much to do with the Chesapeake Bay, but referring to it as the Chesapeake Pod is more specific-sounding than the "Atlantic Pod" or the "Mid-Atlantic Pod" or the "Not New England but Not The South Pod." Pods are designed to be reasonable get-together zones, meaning that you belong in whichever pod you think would be most convenient to attend a meet-up. For most people in the Mid-Atlantic States, thanks to the huge metropolitan region that connects New York to Philadelphia to Wilmington to Atlantic City to Baltimore to even D.C., it is pretty easy to get to those cities using highways, trains, etc.

[Tiger Lily]

Sorry this is pretty confusing but what pod would I belong to if I'm in NC?

[Merman Dan]

Hinata, you're with us in the Chesapeake Pod!

[Shaheen]

Probably not, cuz I'm the only mermaid in Kentucky

[Pina Y'mar]

Hello Mers this is my first post so, I'm Merman Marinus and I live in Puerto Rico (Caribbean) so what Pod will I be in if there is any.?:confused:

[PearlieMae]

Hi Marinus! Welcome to the network! I think everyone will want to join your pod!

[Pina Y'mar]

So Pod of the Caribbean Sea? Is there a Pod for the Caribbean or am i the only one in it? And hello Pearlie I've been around seance the site moved but I just never commented on anything and I love your tails you are a great inspiration.

[MorbidMermaidBeauty]

I'm in Illinois and have never met a mermaid from il. I'm in a smaller town.

[Kieran Blevins]

Is anybody in a Tennessee and how do I join?


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[Kieran Blevins]

Sorry... I meant is there anybody in a Tennessee Pod*


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[Serena Sydney]

If i live in Iowa what pod would I be in? If you look at the member map there are a few mers in that open spot/area like Iowa and Minnesota. Same problem when I lived in Montana, like can you just expand pods or something? what population makes a pod?

[Atomic_Mermaid]

Are mers in philly?


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[MermaidLiz]

Any mers in North Dakota?

[Sepharina]

I feel like I'm the only Mer in Georgia lol! I live about 30 minutes from the Florida border (Thomasville ) , so should I be classified in a Georgia pod or Florida pod? Or just 'South pod'?(sorry the map pictures won't show up on my phone >-<)

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Wait, I joined the Southern Pod because I am in Southwestern Virgina; I see the Chesapeake Bay Pod cuts off right before my county. I am grouped with Tennessee and Kentucky. Am I in the correct pod?


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[MeliPixie]

I'm from NY but currently living in Vegas for work. I'll be moving back to NY in a year or two and while here in Vegas I probably won't have time for meetups. Should I just join the New England Pod right away?

[Mermaid Rosaline]

Hey! Im a new mer and i live right on the border between MN and ND

[mermaidkitpesem]

I'm new here and I'm from NJ. What pod should I join?

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[TybeeMermaid]

I feel like I'm the only Mer in Georgia lol! I live about 30 minutes from the Florida border (Thomasville ) , so should I be classified in a Georgia pod or Florida pod? Or just 'South pod'?(sorry the map pictures won't show up on my phone >-<)

I live in Georgia too! But I live up in Savannah on the other border of Georgia lol.

[Slim]

The map in the other thread shows you are part of the New England pod which shocks me.


I'm new here and I'm from NJ. What pod should I join?

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[mermaidkitpesem]

The map in the other thread shows you are part of the New England pod which shocks me.I was trying to figure it all out. Yeah. I left that pod like a second after I joined it.

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[Slim]

I'd play it safe and join both the New England Pod and the Chesapeake Pod because you are near the border of the two pods on the pod map. Plus I'm sure you'll be checking both pods anyway for mergatherings.


I was trying to figure it all out. Yeah. I left that pod like a second after I joined it.

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[mermaidkitpesem]

I'd play it safe and join both the New England Pod and the Chesapeake Pod because you are near the border of the two pods on the pod map. Plus I'm sure you'll be checking both pods anyway for mergatherings.Can I join more than one?

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[Slim]

Yes to my understanding. I think there was one mer here who joined like 6 pods because she was always traveling.


Can I join more than one?

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[mermaidkitpesem]

Yes to my understanding. I think there was one mer here who joined like 6 pods because she was always traveling.Oh cool! Thanks for the info!

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[Slim]

You're welcome :)


Oh cool! Thanks for the info!

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[IllynReaver]

hey! I'm from TN and a few others on here. We have a facebook group but not an official pod yet. I'm trying to see if I can get a pod started for TN

[Asearia]

I dont see a pod for Kentucky...what should I do? :confused:

[TybeeMermaid]

I dont see a pod for Kentucky...what should I do? [emoji782]

I believe most Kentucky mers join the Chesapeake Pod, the Great Lakes Pod, or the Pod of the South (which ever you feel closer to).


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[Asearia]

Ah thank you so much ^////^

[Calypsi]

I believe most Kentucky mers join the Chesapeake Pod, the Great Lakes Pod, or the Pod of the South (which ever you feel closer to).


Sent from my iPhone using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)I'm a new mer, I'm far into Kentucky. I'm not close to any of those pods. I think I've seen about 4 or 5 other mers post about being in Kentucky. Can we become a pod?

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[scrapdragon]

I've moved from DFW (I miss y'all, DFW pod, even if I never made it to a meetup!) to Grant County, NM :D ANyone local? :)

[Sizseal_The_Mermaid]

Any Mermaids in Central Florida? Would love to meet some pod mates.

[XTOFF]

Long time since posted...but there are desert mers here in Arizona! I'm in Phoenix!

[merbeginneranne]

Well, I'm in Indiana.. state neighbors?
I'm in Illinois and have never met a mermaid from il. I'm in a smaller town.

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[merbeginneranne]

I live in Indiana, that means I'm in the Great Lakes Pod, right?

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[Mermaid_Izzy]

I live in Indiana, that means I'm in the Great Lakes Pod, right?

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I’m not an expert in pods and they are really kind of tentative. At this point most people join up with pods that they are close to. Not all pods are the same as the map and many of those areas have smaller pods within them.


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