So, I was sitting in doc's office waiting for my daughter, and did some noodling in my pocket journal to kill some time, results of which actually blew my mind.  

I've been doing notes up each string (b, c, d, e,... etc) recently for a few min each string during practice, a low stress attempt to memorize the fretboard .... and to be truthful ANYTHING low stress I need right now on this timeline... but just as notes placement on the fretboard, not related to a reference other than that particular string.

So, why not consider a horizontal scale pattern up a single string, scale in the key of the considered string.

Now I am familiar with a diatonic pattern vertically, key of A at fret 5, low 6 string as well as the 5 boxes maj/min pentatonic scales.

Maybe just another way to see things.

I scribbled out each string's linear scale pattern and the intervals are EXACTALLY the same on each string.  (See attached scribble scanned to pdf to explain. Sorry the quality is low, just scribbles from memory ) 

I scribbled out a circle of 5ths to check, and the Sharps even come out right count for the considered scale.

Intervals are the same up the neck, all strings.

Flat 3 notes (intervals of b3, b6, b7) on the string, and there is the strings key in relative minor.

Blew my mind.

Allan