Missing McAllen

I'm out of town for several days, and, as frequently happens when I'm gone for more that a short while, I find myself really missing McAllen. I miss the people, of course, and right now (I'm in rainy DC) the warmth. I miss the food- though I did bring some emergency Pato with me (actually as a treat for my daughter who lives up here). Mostly, though, I just miss the general vibe that McAllen has (that's viper, for some of you).

How can I explain it to people who haven't been to McAllen? It's a place but also an attitude, both filled with opportunity and laid back at the same time, with a tropical twist that's heavy on the culture and outdoors. Maybe leaving now and then makes me appreciate it even more.