The liberal part is thanks to countless 1960s protests, a politically golden era which ended ruinously in a bombed university building with a dead researcher, but the reputation is harder to shake than the stories about “you know who at prom.”

People ask me what it’s like here and although there is a lot to love about liberal communities, all I know is discrimination happens in every clique. Let me give you an example: At the food co-op, you’d be surprised how a little eyeliner warrants dirty looks, the ones that ask, do you belong here? Every neighborhood has its uniform, and that of my newest home is Birkenstocks, hippie blouses and hairy legs.

So here I am, all waxed up, in a town of political liberalism and I’d like to know where it’s written that you can’t be cute, friendly and well groomed while also being socially active. The city council meetings are televised on cable tv and it’s like watching an entire room full of “What Not To Wear.” I wonder if the producers would take on a whole city.