Local People seem to be more friendly when im on vacation.

I’m honest enough to admit that I don’t know everything so help me out here.
It seems that whenever I go to another town for a visit or vacation, the locals seem to be friendly.
I am Not the world traveler that many of you are, I’ve never been out of the country.
I’ve been to Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and of a few other states.
It always seems that waiters, clerks, others just walking around seem to be really nice.
In 2004 I was in Ohio for the Columbus Mopar show and I was amazed at how friendly everyone was. That set me on a sort of casual social experiment and so far, every place I’ve visited has had nice people.
Is it because I am happy to be on vacation and somehow projecting my mood onto others or am is my state just populated with more grouches than other states?
I’m not saying that everyone here is rude or introverted but they aren’t as willing to smile and talk here as compared to Michigan, Connecticut or even Utah.