What it means to be a New Yorker

Kitty over at NY Portraits has a great site, writing about life in New York. Her recent post "On Being a New Yorkers" is a great account of how to judge a true New Yorker. Her claim: no one can live here a year and be considered a New Yorker. I'll always consider my dad a New Yorker, despite the fact that he hasn't lived here for 40 years or so.

Here are a few reasons of why I claim the title:

• Since 1995 (when I moved from Long Island) I've had 9 different apartments
• 7 of those were in the first 5 years
• I've lived on floors 6, 5, 2, 1, and two basements.
  
• I've lived in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. My wife holds the Bronx card. I'm pretty sure that covers all bases.
• With a misty eye, I recall my very first roach (and the girlish squeal that followed)
• I've done Times Square on New Year's Eve enough to know it's not worth it more than once.
• First night out drinking was in this great city, followed by my first hangover
• I've had a bedroom that fit a bed and not an inch more
• I never use shopping carts
• I never buy garbage bags
• I've eaten my weight in recession specials.
  
• I can't get enough of the brunch
  
• I've got my bar, with $7 pitchers of Stella
• I have seen shops replace shops that replaced shops in my neighborhood. (ie. 73rd and B'way: Food Emporium -> Gristedes -> Loehmans).
  
• I know that my stand-by restaurant (West Side Brewery) will close one day and I will go into a serious depression.
  
• I can't look at NY photos and films without trying to find out from where they were shot

Why I might not be a New Yorker:

• I do have a driver's license (yet I'm a lousy parallel-parker)
  
• I rarely pay for coffee
• I don't go to clubs
• I haven't seen many plays or musicals
• I avoid art galleries
• I'm not political
• I don't go to the gym
• I don't have a small dog in my bag
• I've never been mugged or hustled

So I guess I've still got some work to do. What qualifies you as a New Yorker? Tell all in the comments.