Let's just say I've been here a long time.

Dear Uptight Seattleite,

My question is, if everyone here seems to be a transplant, are all these transplants just complaining about each other? Everyone always says it is so rare to meet a real live native, so is it really "true Seattleites" that are so bad? Were you born here?

Curious

Dear Curious,

What is that horrible droning from beyond the mountains, getting closer and closer? A plague of angry seagulls? An army of torch-wielding bigots? Oh, wait, never mind, I'm sure you already recognize it. That's right, it's the whining of newcomers. "Seattle is sooo unfriendly! Wah!" I'm just ribbing you, Curious. Really, there's nothing wrong with transplants. Except they all brought their cars with them, and, well, over to you, Harmon Shay, on what that led to. In any case, there certainly isn't some sort of class system based on how long anyone's been here. Even if there were, I wouldn't want to be part of it. I consider myself to be very compassionate toward newcomers. I fully believe in everyone's ability to "get it" eventually. Let's just say I've been here a long time. A really long time. I'd slap my length of time in Seattle up on the table next to anyone else's. Pretty much. Why? Are you from here?