My husband was glued to his computer last Saturday. In itself this is not unusual, but he remained there even after I offered to buy him a beer – I remain speechless.
What’s more important than beer? License plates – Zürich license plates, to be exact.
The city of Zürich has been doling out license plates since cars were driven. The first plate looked something like “ZH 1”. Pure and simple, just the way the Swiss like it. If you went to the Zürich DMV today, your license plate number would be 750,000 give or take a few thousand – roughly the number of registered cars on the road. (uh yeah, this place isn’t large).
Here’s the equation: A low numbered license plate equals urban credibility – you were born here, maybe your grandparents were born here, your family moved off the farm generations ago. A high-numbered license plate says “recent immigrant! Pull me over!” My Zürcher man can’t bear the thought of anyone questioning his city credentials – the mere idea brings on an identity crisis. So he’s obsessed with online license plate auctions, because status can be bought. How much? A license plate with four digits goes for CHF20,000 or more. Don’t expect us to spend that – my man is searching for an overlooked bargain…
Humans can’t avoid hierarchy, can they? Even in Switzerland, where the locals sniff at outward signs of wealth or status, rank matters to those in the know.
