Am I a Chicagoan? (Lincoln, Berlin: how much, neighborhoods, college)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by J-CityRelo

Hahaha, my fiance LOVES this stuff and we currently have a bunch of it in the fridge. And we're moving to Chicago soon. He'll be so excited to know it's required food I had no idea this was a Chicago thing!

No Italian Beef should be had without it!

[J-CityRelo]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

No Italian Beef should be had without it!

In that case we'll feel right at home in Chicago!!! In fact we might want to stay instead of moving back east after a year like we planned!

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by J-CityRelo

In that case we'll feel right at home in Chicago!!! In fact we might want to stay instead of moving back east after a year like we planned!

And it's much cheaper living here, just won't have your family around.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by J-CityRelo

In that case we'll feel right at home in Chicago!!! In fact we might want to stay instead of moving back east after a year like we planned!

You wouldn't be the first or the last to fall desperately in love with this town!

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by JacqueDarcy

...would you accept someone who claims they are a Chicagoan if they left before creating any memories?

No.

[chikid]

No. I only consider someone to start to become a Chicagoan with the following:

A) Have lived at least 10 years in the city

B) Adopt or at least support in a way Chicago sports team (unless you come from a city where Chicago teams are rivals)

C) Most importantly, you really live, breathe and take in Chicago culture. So all those suburbanites/transplants that live their entire lives in Lakeview, Lincoln Park and the Loop and never venture outside of those areas, I do not consider you a Chicagoan even if you have been here 20+ years.

Again this is only the start for me in my opinion. It's funny because being raised here in Chicago and lived here my whole life I can usually tell who was raised in Chicago and who was not, usually based on behavior, where they hang out and where they live.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by chikid

No. I only consider someone to start to become a Chicagoan with the following:

A) Have lived at least 10 years in the city

B) Adopt or at least support in a way Chicago sports team (unless you come from a city where Chicago teams are rivals)

C) Most importantly, you really live, breathe and take in Chicago culture. So all those suburbanites/transplants that live their entire lives in Lakeview, Lincoln Park and the Loop and never venture outside of those areas, I do not consider you a Chicagoan even if you have been here 20+ years.

Again this is only the start for me in my opinion. It's funny because being raised here in Chicago and lived here my whole life I can usually tell who was raised in Chicago and who was not, usually based on behavior, where they hang out and where they live.

Love the open mindedness

[nJohn]

Originally Posted by tomcho

The OP was born at Michael Reese and lived here until they were four.

I stand corrected. Born in Chicago and raised in Berlin.

Originally Posted by chikid

C) Most importantly, you really live, breathe and take in Chicago culture. So all those suburbanites/transplants that live their entire lives in Lakeview, Lincoln Park and the Loop and never venture outside of those areas, I do not consider you a Chicagoan even if you have been here 20+ years.

Again this is only the start for me in my opinion. It's funny because being raised here in Chicago and lived here my whole life I can usually tell who was raised in Chicago and who was not, usually based on behavior, where they hang out and where they live.

And I thought I was mean and close minded when I shared my opinion.

[JacqueDarcy]

Originally Posted by Jandur

While you haven't lived here for a long period of time you still associate yourself with Chicago as opposed to Berlin.

I still consider myself a Berliner! Just because I was born in an American city doesn't mean I'm denouncing my beloved Berlin! Such nonsense! As I would like to say, a German Chicagoan.

[Chicago76]

Originally Posted by chikid

No. I only consider someone to start to become a Chicagoan with the following:

A) Have lived at least 10 years in the city

B) Adopt or at least support in a way Chicago sports team (unless you come from a city where Chicago teams are rivals)

C) Most importantly, you really live, breathe and take in Chicago culture. So all those suburbanites/transplants that live their entire lives in Lakeview, Lincoln Park and the Loop and never venture outside of those areas, I do not consider you a Chicagoan even if you have been here 20+ years.

Again this is only the start for me in my opinion. It's funny because being raised here in Chicago and lived here my whole life I can usually tell who was raised in Chicago and who was not, usually based on behavior, where they hang out and where they live.

I agree with most of this, although I'd drop the sports team thing, because some people just aren't into that.

One other thing I'd add is that if you at any time qualified as a Chicagoan and you leave, you can still consider yourself one provided you have a valid family/employment reason for leaving. Examples:

-had to take care of an ill parent elsewhere
-left to be closer to your grandkids as they grow up
-lost job and was forced to relocate
-got an offer you couldn't refuse within your area of expertise elsewhere

My wife and I will soon be members of the latter two examples. We're both in the process of being phased out of our respective jobs, and have landed new ones elsewhere that will boost our income 30% (with fewer hours) in a less expensive city. Leaving should have been a no-brainer for us, but it was a decision we struggled with. With the money we'll save, we plan to buy a small place back here within a few years to use for a visit 10-15 times a year.

If you leave because you'd simply like to give city X a go, then you lose your Chicago card.