my zip code is in the top ten highest HCOL in the USA.

People here are very cartoonish yes. They are straight out of New Yorker with how absurdly self-absorbed they are. And they see nothing wrong with it because they grew up that way. Lots of old money types. I have endless stories, like another date I went on a few months ago where a woman whined to me she only made 2 million dollars on her stock last year and how could she possible ever retire in if she isn't making like 5 million a year. she was 35. I told her I made $5000 in stock last year and ended the date instantly because she was so disgusted to be talking to a poor person.