September 6, 2010
Californians
Years ago, having just arrived in the Northwest from California, we were doing 56 in a 55 one day when an Idaho cop pulled us over for a little chat. We didn't get a ticket but did get some friendly advice: "I'd get those California plates off your car as soon as possible," the trooper said. "And if anyone asks where you're from, just say from down the road apiece."
Well, it's more than two decades later. Californians aren't hated these days in the Northwest, which likes their real estate money. But they are ridiculed.
It has to be Californians who live in all those McMansions sprouting up all over the state. (No actual Oregonian would buy such a monstrosity.) It's Californians living here on their equity funds and pensions who keep voting down a sales tax and school funding. Certainly couldn't be the fault of Oregonians.
In 1973, at the height of anti-California fervor, then-Oregon-Governor Tom McCall said it best. Or at least most famously.
"Welcome to Oregon," the governor used to say. "Visit. But don't stay here"
Don't tell anyone, but we're staying here now.
Photo: Delta Ponds in Eugene
all text and images © 2005-06 by Bob Keefer
no reproduction allowed in any form without written permission