This one goes out to everyone still clinging to a hardcore "locals only" exclusivity dogma. I moved to Portland just over six months ago, and I didn't come because my job moved me or because I was following a partner. I love everything about this city, and I wanted nothing more than to be a part of the beer-soaked, forest-flushed explosion of culture that makes this town so great. I thought I was doing everything right — spending tons of money at local bars and restaurants, biking all over the place (clad with Nikes and a black Columbia rain slicker), and even not being from California. However, despite these efforts and more, some person still called me "a transplant piece of shit" at a bar last night. Granted, said individual seemed to be pretty intoxicated, but I felt that was a bit of an overreaction to me saying I wasn't from here. To all the Portland locals who are unhappy about the housing market, the traffic, and all the times you've heard someone say, "this is just like Portlandia!", please just remember that part of what makes this place so cool is that people brought cool trends and culture here from other places, and I'm sure many of your parents or grandparents came here from somewhere else too (hey neat, just like America!). Please understand that I can't control the fact that I wasn't born here, but I can try my best to promote a positive influence. We've already got enough assholes trying to put walls up all over the place.