What does it mean to "Californinate" something (Los Angeles: buying, movies)

[Kingsnkali]

Everyone loves to slam California and Californians. It's much like cheering against the New York Yankees. It's a national sport.

Yet these same local yahoos in places like Idaho, Washington, Arizona etc. just LOVE the money when a Californian buys their real estate. Pretty two-faced if you ask me. And the reality is that Californians are by and large much like anyone else. We are not animals!

Californians can also bring some lacking culture to these neglected areas

*keeps head low to avoid flying debris*

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

It means to move somewhere (outside of CA) and then try to mold it into the same bland sterile suburb they just left behind. At least that's how I understand it used.

That's it really. "Californication" is something that only happens outside of California. Here are some examples that would qualify:

1. Buy a modest home on a large lot, demolish the home, mince the lot into microscopic building sites, and construct a pretentious McMansion on each one. Add an HOA and rake in the cash. Better yet, buy a ranch or a fruit orchard and urbanize it.

2. Go to a realtor and ask to see properties in "gated communities".

3. Be overreliant on automobiles and drive everywhere...even 2 blocks to the grocery store for a gallon of milk. Cut people off when they try to merge into your lane; get on the tail of the car in front of you and flash your lights because he's not driving fast enough -- only driving 5 mph over the speed limit. Buy a new car every two years, preferably a BMW or Mercedes. Cars are one of life's most precious joys.

4. Live as if you thought the world was ending in 5 years. Don't worry about how much energy you use or how many resources your life consumes. Consumerism is the meaning of life...when it's over, it's over.

5. Complain about everything that isn't like the way it is back home in California. Drop names of notable Californians that you've supposedly rubbed elbows with in an attempt to impress people who don't worship the entertainment industry.

6. Be overly enmeshed with yourself and the seeking of status. Have the most dysfunctional family it's possible to have. Spend 60 hours a week at work so you can have money for cosmetic surgery and status toys.

7. Drive 90 miles to the nearest big city so you can shop at the Big Box stores rather than having to patronize the local little guys.

8. When voting for local politicians, log on to Movie Internet Database so you can read up on the candidate's qualifications.

[Amavel]

IMDb is my homepage. How ironic!

[Roma]

Steve97415, LOL, Wow, You just decribed people from every state and many cities. Have you been to Dallas, New York City,(Manhattan) Miami just to name a few???

[SandyCo]

Wow, Steve, I'm going to print out your list and when I move out of state eventually, I'm going to refer to this as what NOT to do! I'm only kidding... I know the kinds of people you're referring to. I don't fit the stereotype, but I know a lot of people who do, unfortunately!

[kansaslady]

I was born/raised in CA and left in 1994. Ended up near Kansas City (don't ask).

The people living in this area (NE, IA, KS, MO) will not hesitate to make fun of, or put down, Californians. They will slam CA as the worst place in the world to live. They say all Californians are weird. And that Californians are stuck up (geez, do we see the green-eyed monster?).

Everytime I ask them where they lived in CA to be able to critique the state first-hand, I get the deer-in-the-headlights (not unusual for this "neck of the woods" anyway...lol).

The funniest thing is that as much as they slam CA....many of the businesses back here can't wait to use the word "California", or "Pacific" in the name of their company. Most of the gals want to get married on the beach in CA, or if anyone says they are going to CA for vacation, everyone exclaims their envy.

If I ask why they are envious if they detest CA so much....well, you guessed it, back to the deer stare.

They laugh at how stupid Californians are to pay such high costs for housing...yet, the cost of housing in this area, especially Johnson County, KS has gone up 30-40% in the last few years and the home owners are dancing in the street. So much for affordable housing in this area.

My thoughts are that those who bash CA are just jealous that they don't live there.

[dougnaie]

Without being crass, we all know what "fornicate" means. Add that to California, and what I take it to mean is that Californians move to other states and @#ck them up just like they did to where they started. Just a native Californian's opinion.

[Dennis P]

Originally Posted by kansaslady

The people living in this area (NE, IA, KS, MO) will not hesitate to make fun of, or put down, Californians. They will slam CA as the worst place in the world to live. They say all Californians are weird. And that Californians are stuck up (geez, do we see the green-eyed monster?).

Everytime I ask them where they lived in CA to be able to critique the state first-hand, I get the deer-in-the-headlights (not unusual for this "neck of the woods" anyway...lol).

The funniest thing is that as much as they slam CA....many of the businesses back here can't wait to use the word "California", or "Pacific" in the name of their company. Most of the gals want to get married on the beach in CA, or if anyone says they are going to CA for vacation, everyone exclaims their envy.

If I ask why they are envious if they detest CA so much....well, you guessed it, back to the deer stare.

They laugh at how stupid Californians are to pay such high costs for housing...yet, the cost of housing in this area, especially Johnson County, KS has gone up 30-40% in the last few years and the home owners are dancing in the street. So much for affordable housing in this area.

My thoughts are that those who bash CA are just jealous that they don't live there.

My friend who lives in Omaha lived out here for a year (he and I worked at the same company at the time, which is where we met). The only thing he liked about living here was the mild climate. Many of our conversations centered on life in the Midwest versus life here, and why he felt life in the Midwest is superior. He was clearly homesick and unhappy, so I suggested one day that if he misses Omaha so much, why don't you move back? Guess what---a few months later, HE DID!

I agree with your quote above that I put in bold print, especially when it's sunny and 60s here, and it's in the 20s-30s and snowing over there.

[ExNYC]

The reason so many Californians are pulling up stakes is that it is so wonderful that too many people crowded into the place, both legal and illegal. It is such a great state that it has become a magnet for more people than can
be absorbed. Yes, I'd say that green-eyed monster in flyover country is alive and well.

[Woof]

There's actually enormous amounts of space in California, ExNYC, believe it or not there is more to the state than Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco/Bay area.

In fact there are more acres in national forests, parks, and just plain raw wilderness than any other state in the lower 48. Most of the population is concentrated into a few cities, leaving an enormous amount of space occupied by farms, trees, desert, mountains, lakes, rivers, critters, etc.