Since writing California Itchin' I've been particularly aware of just how weird Southern California really is. I live in southern Southern California---in San Diego. The quality of Southern Californianosity increases, I have found, as one moves south from Los Angeles.

Until finally you're in the beach-side communities of San Diego, where, in a typical neighborhood, you can find road signs like this, which I found a block away from where my wife works:

Except here's the more weird part: This is actually a picture of a surfer walking home. The sign is on the wrong side of the street. This surfer is heading east---when, alas, the beach is west.