I've read a handful of other stories that hint at what you're saying about the Berkeley dichotomy, so your hunch is shared and well-founded. Interestingly enough, as Cal grows more and more into a prominent athletic program--by design, more interestingly--"old Berkeley" feels as though they're getting betrayed and is starting to panic. Talk about a paradigm crash...

Interesting to see the cultural wave come in and out - maybe something like when the tide wears away a beach, the waves change. You can only be really radical so long until the comfort sets in. You're gonna love the new conservatives among the rebellious, I bet. And deep down, everyone wants the same thing, connection to Meaning, to make a difference by being here, and to be noticed.

i think uptown minneapolis is similar in that respect. the older residents are very much the liberal, artistic, anti-establishment types that uptown is known for, but as more young professionals and other younger adults move in because it's the hip place to be it definitely has a diluting effect on that mindset and culture.

i really believe the thing that draws people to communities like this one is the open-mindedness that is willing to embrace an old hippie or a corporate professional equally (as long as they wear trendy enough glasses.) at least that's my experience in uptown.