South Bay Glossary of Terms, Part 1

Undergrounding: Process through which affluent landowners rid themselves of both power lines and less affluent neighbors.

Election: Costly nuisance that can – if handled improperly – result in the "wrong" people being elected.

Bungalow: development opportunity.

Tear down: see Bungalow.

Ocean: Something that dramatically raises property values if it can be seen from any window of one's house.

Beach: See Ocean, only more so.

Art: Something we insist is taught to our kids but kept in short supply for adults.

Small-town atmosphere: Only one Starbucks.

Historic: Slightly harder to tear down and replace with condos.

Old-timer: Anyone who has lived in the area for more than five years.

History: Anything that happened before 1960.

Surfing: Indigenous tradition that is talked about more than practiced.

Traffic: Other people in their cars.

Cell phone: A part of one's head.

Mall: Downtown.

(Feb. 23, 2006)