4 ms·

Washingtonians (and moreso Idahoans) are particularly irate about Californians moving in, and have been for as long as I can remember. There are a lot of "salt

Washingtonians (and moreso Idahoans) are particularly irate about Californians moving in, and have been for as long as I can remember. There are a lot of "salt of the earth" types who, regardless of political persuasion, see Californians representing big houses, loose morals, and heavy traffic. The Northwest ethos has been one of eclectic flavors of stoicism, serenity, and a nordic work ethic. Californians, in their eyes, bring a more chaotic, cutthroat energy. I've lived in and love both states. Every native Californian I've met on their home turf assumes that the entire state of Washington shares the same microclimate as Seattle. Most Washintonians rarely wash their cars relative to California's sparkly standards. All of this is of course changing as more generations co-mingle, but the lore remains.

toast0 7y ago
As one of the Californians moving to the PNW, I've noticed the people who most hate those darn Californians moved from California about 10-15 years ago. I've been here about 18 months, and only run into one guy who has deep roots here and was super grumpy about Californians. I'm sure it varies though depending on exactly where you are.
- bdamm 7y ago
  It's all pretty silly really since almost nobody in the PNW has roots that go deeper than 3 generations.
  - jaggederest 7y ago
    9 generations and counting, but people who hate "newcomers" are just uptight anyway. The attitudes of the pacific northwest are something most people can adopt in about six months, and most of the people who move here are looking for a change of pace anyway.
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  >I've noticed the people who most hate those darn Californians moved from California about 10-15 years ago. If you moved states to escape a problem and the problem followed you you'd be pissed too.
  - toast0 7y ago
    Thanks for that perspective, that makes a lot of sense. Their fault for telling us where they went though. I'm gonna start telling people I moved to Texas and it's great. It's believable, and maybe people will move there and leave me be ;)
scruple 7y ago
There were anti-Californian campaigns started in the 1970s in Oregon. SNOB (Society for the Native Oregon Born) was started in 1979. It's been going on (in the PNW) for a long time. The Wiki article on Californication has some dates that suggest it's been a known phenomenon since the 1940s! [0] [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_(word) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_(word)
danans 7y ago
> see Californians representing big houses, loose morals, and heavy traffic. I seriously doubt any place can make a defensible claim to high morals anymore, but big houses as a stereotype for California? I think that applies way more to Idaho. Space is too expensive for most people to live in big houses in CA. If anything, they go to lower population density states like TX and the South to get the bigger houses available there.
- reilly3000 7y ago
  I was referring to the big houses they can easily buy when moving to the PNW. Its very common for somebody who was struggling to afford an $800K mortgage on a 3bd/2ba in CA to get a 6bd on 2 acres with a lovely view and a smaller mortgage in the PNW.
  - danans 7y ago
    Anecdotally most people I know who have made that move just want the modest home they couldn't afford in CA, not a mini-mansion. Many have realized that owning a huge house beyond your actual needs is a maintenance nightmare.
int_19h 7y ago
Maybe that's what it was historically, but these days, most of the sentiment against people moving from California is because more demand raises house prices and rental costs that are already perceived as overly high, and pricing too many locals out. Cultural issues are mentioned as an afterthought, if at all.
kelnos 7y ago
I find this to be a really interesting perspective. "Big houses"? Who can afford a big house in CA? "Chaotic, cutthroat energy"? I grew up on the east coast and have found CA to be much more easygoing to the point that I don't think I could go back. I do like my loose morals, though ;)

toast0 7y ago

As one of the Californians moving to the PNW, I've noticed the people who most hate those darn Californians moved from California about 10-15 years ago. I've been here about 18 months, and only run into one guy who has deep roots here and was super grumpy about Californians. I'm sure it varies though depending on exactly where you are.

bdamm 7y ago
It's all pretty silly really since almost nobody in the PNW has roots that go deeper than 3 generations.
- jaggederest 7y ago
  9 generations and counting, but people who hate "newcomers" are just uptight anyway. The attitudes of the pacific northwest are something most people can adopt in about six months, and most of the people who move here are looking for a change of pace anyway.
dsfyu404ed 7y ago
>I've noticed the people who most hate those darn Californians moved from California about 10-15 years ago. If you moved states to escape a problem and the problem followed you you'd be pissed too.
- toast0 7y ago
  Thanks for that perspective, that makes a lot of sense. Their fault for telling us where they went though. I'm gonna start telling people I moved to Texas and it's great. It's believable, and maybe people will move there and leave me be ;)

scruple 7y ago

There were anti-Californian campaigns started in the 1970s in Oregon. SNOB (Society for the Native Oregon Born) was started in 1979. It's been going on (in the PNW) for a long time. The Wiki article on Californication has some dates that suggest it's been a known phenomenon since the 1940s! [0] [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_(word) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_(word)

danans 7y ago

> see Californians representing big houses, loose morals, and heavy traffic. I seriously doubt any place can make a defensible claim to high morals anymore, but big houses as a stereotype for California? I think that applies way more to Idaho. Space is too expensive for most people to live in big houses in CA. If anything, they go to lower population density states like TX and the South to get the bigger houses available there.

reilly3000 7y ago
I was referring to the big houses they can easily buy when moving to the PNW. Its very common for somebody who was struggling to afford an $800K mortgage on a 3bd/2ba in CA to get a 6bd on 2 acres with a lovely view and a smaller mortgage in the PNW.
- danans 7y ago
  Anecdotally most people I know who have made that move just want the modest home they couldn't afford in CA, not a mini-mansion. Many have realized that owning a huge house beyond your actual needs is a maintenance nightmare.

int_19h 7y ago

Maybe that's what it was historically, but these days, most of the sentiment against people moving from California is because more demand raises house prices and rental costs that are already perceived as overly high, and pricing too many locals out. Cultural issues are mentioned as an afterthought, if at all.

kelnos 7y ago

I find this to be a really interesting perspective. "Big houses"? Who can afford a big house in CA? "Chaotic, cutthroat energy"? I grew up on the east coast and have found CA to be much more easygoing to the point that I don't think I could go back. I do like my loose morals, though ;)