Shoes do count…My first impression that PB was a bit different came through the eyes of a visitor. We were standing in line at the bank, behind a guy wearing shorts and flip-flops, with a parrot on his shoulder. “Cool,” I thought. “But he can’t DO that!” sputtered my mother, ever the proper Philadelphian. Ah, but he’s properly dressed, Mom — he has shoes on. That was 35 years ago and PB is still the place for parrots or snakes or the occasional rodent to perch on a local’s shoulder without causing passerby-whiplash. I’ve been asking friends and neighbors why they chose to live in Pacific Beach. “It’s so relaxed and casual.” “People are really friendly here.” One emphasized, “We’re so much more tolerant and accepting than folks inland.” Then there’s the obvious: We’re the only San Diego beach neighborhood with a good, broad beach, plus Mission Bay for sailing and picnics and glorious Kate Sessions Park above it all. And variety. Variety in housing, from tiny studios near the beach, to sizeable homes up near the park. Variety in residents, who hail from everywhere and whose tastes are reflected in the wide selection of shops in PB. Here’s another important plus: We’re the only San Diego neighborhood blessed with both Trader Joe’s and Henry’s in the same block. Filling the Wish List…After the Holiday Parade last month, I browsed along Garnet near Bayard. Pangaea, with its 70 separate vendors, was a perfect place for Christmas gifts, including a stuffed teddy bear shoulder bag for our little granddaughter. Nearby is Games On!, where I purchased a gift certificate for a young friend I knew was receiving an X-Box 360. I couldn’t resist a stop at Yogurtland, where self-serve yogurt with your choice of fresh fruit or munchie toppings runs a flat 30 cents an ounce. Later, we bought our Christmas tree at Green Gardens Nursery on Cass (and had it delivered and set up within the hour!). Earlier that week, stops to Great News! in Pacific Plaza and Travel Depot across on Garnet also helped to fill my gift list. Mark your New Calendars…PB’s special events are as delightfully varied as we are, but they lack one thing: a central listing. We need one calendar of events for the year, so we can save the dates ahead of time. Discover PB, the PB Special Events Committee and the PB Town Council are spearheading such an effort. Look for an on-line version this spring.