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Alright, I admit it. I’m a self-loathing ex-Californian.

Although my family and I have lived here in Bend for 7 years now and my daughter was born here, I don’t think I’ll ever be a true Oregonian.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Oregon, Bend especially and I plan to stay. I like to tell myself I’m an Oregonian – I don’t feel at home at all when I go back down to SoCal. And I’m very protective of what I believe Bend should be: more like what it was when I moved here.

I resent the people who move here and want to make Bend more like the places they left. It’s just too easy to blame them for all our local problems. Heck, it’s Bend’s #1 pastime.

But a part of me sympathizes with the new Caligonians. And the phenomenon of Californians moving here has been almost solely responsible for the wealth created locally over the past few years. In persecuting Californians then, Bend may end up biting the hand that feeds it.

Still, I’ve already started printing the Oregon Sucks (now go home and tell all your friends) t-shirts. And I’m taking orders.
LIV