> I wonder how many people, when they hear that I'm from California, think I must be some surfer chick who thinks that snow only comes in a snow cone. They probably think that I drive a convertable, have a gorgeous tan, and live 2.5 miles from the beach.
>
> Unfortunately for those people, they are wrong. They simply cannot grasp the idea that I know what it's like to be in 0-degree weather and have several feet of snow on the ground. I was six before I made it as far south as San Francisco, and I only got all the way to Disneyland because we went there as part of our senior trip in high school.
>
> I don't drive a convertable and I don't live near the beach. Oh, and I don't tan. I only burn and then quickly go back to being bright white.
>
> Ell"By the way, Howard, you should just tell everyone that the the Golden Gate Bridge has been moved to Disneyland."myruh

...the other big misconception that people have about us Californians is that we are all wealthy. I don't know if it's the Beverly-Hills-90210- lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous media slant that does it, or what, but I have had heard comments from back-east or down-south relatives and friends to the effect of, "well everyone knows that all you rich Californians....". Gee, it can't be my ten year old (non-convertible)car that's giving them that impression. When I challenged one of these misled folks on this, he stated he "hadn't seen any slums when he was out visiting last time". Hmmm, so I guess all the homeless people panhandling on traffic islands don't count...you have to actually go to a designated slum?...which is *usually* the first thing I like to show out-of-town guests when they arrive, yeah right.

Koala"just another working stiff"mom