>
> > 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

My thoughts exactly. How many people, when they vacaction to "sunny California," plan on stopping by a few slums for a Kodak-moment?

Ell"Poor working college student"myruh