Bicoastalism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The phenomenon of maintaining a presence in two separate coastal areas A way of life involving interactions with both coastal environments A framework that incorporates cultural elements from two distinct seaside locations
2. The practice of dividing time or activities between two different coastal areas
3. A lifestyle characterized by engagement with two separate shore locations

Etymology: "Bicoastal" is a compound of "bi-" (two) and "coastal," and the suffix "-ism" turns it into a noun naming a way of living. The word is a plain coinage, built from familiar parts rather than inherited from an older language, so its interest lies in what the parts combine to mean. The core idea is a life split between two coastlines, most often the Atlantic and Pacific edges of the United States. Someone who lives this way might keep a home in New York and another in Los Angeles, commuting between cities for work, family or simply the pleasure of both places. The concept is closely tied to the American habit of thinking of the country as having two distinct coasts, each with its own culture and economy.