Arrivals and Departures

when i find myself in the middle of the holidays (like i am now), i always wonder if the greater kansas city area is more of an arrival destination or a departure point. are there more people leaving here or coming here? could cheaper gas prices cause a mass exodus? sometimes a long absent customer will walk into homer's like a silent movie actor walking onstage. if i don't remember his or her name i'll say "hey stranger!" and the prodigal patron gives me a knowing look. this buys me time to gather my thoughts and retrieve a name from the same mental vault that holds movie and music trivia (i.e. the number of eggs paul newman eats in 'cool hand luke' or the last concert venue buddy holly played).