Facebook page calls for American-only hours at U.S. Costco (at Bellingham, Wash.)

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57. I used to live in B'ham and see it differently

It is a small college town. The locals if they are lucky work at the pulp mill or fish in Alaska. Mostly a blue collar town. Plus lots of marginally employed hippies and artists who are living off the land to some extent or another. The Canadians who flock to the town are a source of income for the big box stores. They are the main reason such stores even got built in the town since the locals probably couldn't have attracted the businesses on their own. The Canadians contribute to the town's economy, but they are also a source of irritation as they cannot help but impact the small town lives they invade.

The main tensions between the locals and Canadians is the volume of traffic generated, the fact that Canadians don't take free right turns when they drive, and the lines they create everywhere. Also, the clear economic differences between the Canadian visitors and the locals. An undercurrent of incivility based on local feelings of being invaded and abused.

I always used to laugh at the sight of the Winnebagos from Canada circling their wagons outside the K-Mart on a Friday night as they waited for the stores to open. The new West--one big strip mall to heaven.

I think the Bellinghamsters are better compared to the Mexicans living in border towns. The Canadians are like American gringos. They bring their dollars and their rules. It is a love/hate relationship between the ruling class and the ruled.