# The Bumsteads live in Clearwater! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688 "2005-12-08T15:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/1 "2005-12-08T15:58:58Z")
In [yesterday’s strip](http://www.blondie.com/dailies/index.asp), we see that Dagwood is applying for a development permit from the city of Clearwater, Florida. He says he does it every year; that must mean they live there. Two questions: has the “Blondie” strip ever identified their town of residence before; and, why the Hell does Dagwood need a development permit? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/2 "2005-12-08T16:03:34Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > In [yesterday’s strip](http://www.blondie.com/dailies/index.asp), we see that Dagwood is applying for a development permit from the city of Clearwater, Florida. He says he does it every year; that must mean they live there. > > Two questions: has the “Blondie” strip ever identified their town of residence before; and, why the Hell does Dagwood need a development permit? Then how come in the previous day’s strip he’s going out to have a snowball fight with Herb? In other words, I doubt that was meant to be the definitive answer as to the location. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/3 "2005-12-08T16:16:20Z")
Good question; how could I forget that the Bumsteads always have heavy snow by December? So logically, Florida would be out. Does that mean that Dagwood goes down to Florida every year for a development permit, even though he doesn’t live there? Is he involved in real estate? Does he have a mistress down there? Blondie will kill him! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/4 "2005-12-08T16:21:37Z")
The Young’s have lived in the Clearwater area, up near Dunedin IIRC, for a long time. I’ve always assumed that Chic moved down here at some point and Dean just grew up around here. I’ve not met him but I’ve heard of him through the local diving community. Supposed to be a decent guy. On the development permit, I’d think more “building permit”. Maybe for the awful furniture and birdhouses he does. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/5 "2005-12-08T16:57:28Z")
Maybe the Bumsteads are snowbirds? ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/6 "2005-12-08T20:35:36Z")
He’s always working on “contracts” at his job. Maybe he’s down in Clearwater getting some sort of permits for a project that Dithers Co. is working on? ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/7 "2005-12-08T21:27:43Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Does he have a mistress down there? Blondie will kill him! He’s supposed to be not-too-bright, but if I had a wife as sexy as Blondie, I certainly would not be thinking about a mistress! OTOH, they just celebrated their 75th anniversayr, didn’t they, so I suppose he might be a little tired of her. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/8 "2005-12-08T21:31:40Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > He’s supposed to be not-too-bright, but if I had a wife as sexy as Blondie, I certainly would not be thinking about a mistress! OTOH, they just celebrated their 75th anniversayr, didn’t they, so I suppose he might be a little tired of her. 😃 75th anniversary of the strip, not of their marriage. When Blondie debuted, she was a flapper and Dagwood a callow college boy. ::: Hopes a history-of-comics fan will show up and say when they actually married ::: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/9 "2005-12-08T21:32:19Z")
It’s not Clearwater, **Florida,** it’s Clearwater . . . oh, what’s the name of that state . . . you know, the one with Springfield in it . . . ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/10 "2005-12-08T21:33:48Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > 75th anniversary of the strip, not of their marriage. When Blondie debuted, she was a flapper and Dagwood a callow college boy. > > ::: Hopes a history-of-comics fan will show up and say when they actually married ::: 1933 (the strip debuted in 1930). [Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Blondie](http://www.toonopedia.com/blondie.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bumsteads-live-in-clearwater/334688/11 "2005-12-09T01:31:41Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > It’s not Clearwater, **Florida,** it’s Clearwater . . . oh, what’s the name of that state . . . you know, the one with Springfield in it . . . Yeah, that OTHER state that starts with “FL” – Flichigan.