Right, that's just a classification.

I ran the stats for my second to last Michigan address: Executive Suites , Movers & Shakers, Suburban Sprawl, Upper Crust and Young Influentials. Yeah, those were the days.

Of course $1K/month gets you more room in West LA than in Birmingham, MI. Doesn't look as swish, but much nicer to live alone in.

And that was $1K sharing -- I should check and see what $3K can get me here.

Birmingham was like being an Application Architect in content management. Most people just said "Huh?" so I mostly said I lived in Detroit for that year. Except in Aspen -- when I said I lived in Metro Detroit, they asked "Birmingham?" straight off.

Oh, the places you live when shackled to ultra-bougie family.

Hey, I lived in Birmingham. For like three weeks, but still.

I think that, for NYC, my definition of what separates "old money" (or whatever the current equivalent is) from "new money" would be: If your three-year-old didn't get into any of the nursery schools you applied to, is there someone you could call who could fix that?

There was a scandal a few years ago where a stock broker essentially engaged in some insider trading in exchange for getting his 2-year-old twins in the 92nd Street Y nursery school. I think that was a classic example of trying to break into NYC society -- he had the money to pay for it, but didn't have the right connections. I know of at least two people who, in similar situations, were able to call on old friends from Spence or wherever and get their kid into a school, without having to offer anything in exchange.

I lived in Birmingham. For like three weeks, but still

Where? We were on the "cheap" side. Which really meant the overpriced side, since stuff was small and still pricey. Further north, suddenly you could see where the money was going. But we paid three grand for the tiniest house and the privilege of clearing snow on a corner property.

Hmm. The town where I grew up is Blue Blood Estates, Executive Suites, Movers & Shakers, Upper Crust, and Winners Circle. Where I live now is Urban Achievers and Urban Elders.

Me: I'm an artist/illustrator/graphic designer.

Listener: [thinks -- must be sure to look the other way as he pockets hors d'erves before leaving the party] How interesting! It must be wonderfully creative, working in that field.

Me: I'm the production manager for a textbook development house.

Listener: Zzzzz...

Me: I'm an admin for a Giant Bank.

Listener: Oh, I have an account there! Can you get me a low-interest loan?

Me: I'm a freelance theater director and Artistic Associate with {Theater}.

Listener: hides silverware Awwww, how creative!

Me: I'm a technical editor.

Listener: Really? But you don't dress like that at work, right?

Listener: Really? But you don't dress like that at work, right?

Bwah!