<p>As someone who has lived my life mostly in NJ, I think it is hysterical! Sure, it perpetuates stereotypes, but it also makes fun of those who think they are totally real, too. It reminds me of the famous New Yorker cover done by Steinberg, with the NY’ers view of the world, where you see 10th and 11th avenues, the river, then a tiny line for NJ, California is about 3" behind that, and just behind that Japan as a tiny thing just off the coast of California and China a speck behind it…:)</p>
<p>Musicprnt, have you seen the Princeton version of that New Yorker view of the world?!</p>
<p>I’m reminded of the time I was sitting in the waiting area during my daughter’s piano lesson in Princeton, talking with another mother. My daughter was going to be in a children’s play at Mercer County College and I invited this woman and her child to attend. “Hmm . . . Mercer County College–never heard of it–where would that be?” she wondered. “You LIVE IN Mercer County,” I replied. “O, yes,” she said, “but I try never to go south of Rt. 1.”</p>
<p>As one from the “Vast wilderness of rednecks and retired hippies” I can say there is certainly some truth to it, but also there are many residents who do not fit the stereotype. It makes for an interesting mix. The same can be said for the other areas of NJ where we have lived. Through our kids’ activities, we have been fortunate to visit most of the state and can chuckle at the generalizations.</p>
<p>S and I thought it was funny. Hubby, not so much. But then he has gotten grumpier as the years go by ;).</p>
<p>We moved to NJ a year ago and saw this in the paper and had a lot of fun trying to parse it. Some regions of NJ are still very mysterious to us. </p>
<p>Overall, we really like NJ. Cost of living is killer but a fun place to live.</p>
<p>I thought it was funny but of course wish it was true that I lived in the land of executives in mansions driving mercedes-benz! My honda is obviously upset by the insinuation.</p>
<p>D1 is a Freshman at Rutgers (map maker is current grad student) and found the red blob over New Brunswick & surrounds labeled ‘Drunk Rutgers Students’ hilarious. I also enjoy labeling coastal Monmouth County as ‘Springteen Country’ quite appropriate. We’re in ‘Melting Pot’ region, which is perfect label.</p>
<p>Somerset is a bit of the cross roads: ‘Execs in M-B’ (north of 78), ‘Working class on Raritan Valley Line’, ‘Farmers & Subdevelopers’ (past Somerville), ‘Lawyers driving Hybrids’ (closer to Princeton) and possible picking up some of the ‘Drunk Rutgers Students’ in towns west of campus.</p>
<p>^^ Oh, about halfway between “Executives Living in Mansions Driving Mercedes-Benz’” and “Lawyers Driving Hybrids.” (I guess that means Accords and Camrys would be popular in your area.)</p>
<p>I grew up on the border of “Where they filmed Clerks”, live most of the time in “Melting Pot” , and second home where i hope to move fulltime soon is in “Canadians and Philly Trash.” (In the last, we will be the only non-members of either group.)</p>