Well, you're right, local-ing is a process, an ongoing one, and I may never get to a level equal to those born and raised. Sleeping here in my own bed, cooking at home instead of dining out all the time, and actually working here, these are all milestones, but perhaps the biggest step is realizing that you can't go out every night, and even if there's a great band playing nearby, sometimes a quiet night at home is a necessary alternative.
BTW, I put my name on the Saints list around 2007. I was about #30,000 at the time. By spring 2014, I was up to #16,722, but the latest update from November I was #16,310. Moving up only about 400 spots in 2.5 years is discouraging, I think it'll take several more sub-500 seasons and Drew's retirement before I have a chance.