You know you’re not in Dallas anymore when the anti-Bush bumper sticker reads: “Chop His Head Off,” and the locals don’t drag the driver out of the front seat for a pummeling, but honk and cheer instead. That’s the way it was in extreme northern California a few years ago, and attitudes haven’t changed much since. So if you’re a hard-core redneck, my guess is Humboldt County won’t be your cup of tea.
Like beached whales, hippies of old, and the new, have washed ashore in droves in this northwest corner of the state. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing since genuine hippies are basically harmless and friendly, but as you look around you get the feeling the county took one big hit off the community bong - and forgot to exhale.