When you go away to college, you meet a whole bunch of different people. You meet nice people, you meet mean people, some weird people, some cool people, Long Islanders and *dramatic pause* non-Long Islanders...

I'm sure most Long Islanders who went away to a different state for college have been called the term FLID (urban dictionary it) once or twice. And I am sure when that person called you it (usually a non-Long Islander), they followed it with a couple of chuckles like it was supposed to be insulting or demeaning.

I regret to inform those people that we FLIDs take it as a compliment and here are only a few reasons why..

Beaches, beautiful beaches everywhere.

We're only a train ride away or a quick drive away from the lovable Big Apple.

We mean it when we say our pizza and bagels are better than yours.

Take a ride out East and you will never regret it...

On that ride you will pass about 100 farms good for pumpkin picking in the Fall and you will pass about 100 more vineyards which can make any day a good day.

All I have to say is, the Hamptons. Think you can figure out why?

We have the ever so famous Montauk and its lighthouse which is rated number one in top Long Island Landmarks by Trip Advisor.

Wherever you are, you are never too far from a Ralph's Italian Ices.

Long Island is filled with many historical landmarks and plenty old hauntings and myths.

Like, if you never went to Mary's Grave with your friends late at night, then you haven't discovered the true meaning of creepy.

And while you're at it, you might as well try to swim in the haunted and "bottomless" Lake Ronkonkoma.

Summer nights spent at a concert at Jones Beach will never go forgotten.

Long Island gave you Mariah Carey and Billy Joel.

And if you like anything from Walt Whitman or if you're a fan of "The Great Gatsby," then you also owe a big thanks to Long Island as well.

So, no, we do not and we never will get insulted by the term FLID.