Once you've lived in North Dakota for 90 days you can become a resident. You then have 30 days from then to become one. Our "grace period" will be over in about a week and yet we don't feel like residents. When we visited Minnesota a few weeks ago people would ask us where we were from and we'd answer "Washington, but living in North Dakota right now".
We are planning on living here for a few years, even buying a house here. Therefore we need to change our resident status (and not just on Facebook). I'm not sure what would make me feel more like a "North Dakotan". I haven't survived a real winter here, the wind still drives me crazy, and I know how to drive on the freeway (yes that's a jab at North Dakotan drivers). Maybe if we had a group of friends like we do in Washington it would feel more like home.
There is also the physical act of becoming a resident. It is not just a simple piece of paper you fill out like when you become a resident of Washington (and I presume most states). No no, we have to take a written AND driving test to get our driver's license here! This may be a way to deter people from actually becoming a resident, but the economy is way too good here and so awful everywhere else to keep people from moving here. Plus my current license (which was just renewed last month) has a great tan picture of me-I don't want to change that.
I still haven't figured out how to change our license plate....I might still keep the University of Washington Alum plate holder on just to represent. I don't mind changing our plates, it would be nice to "blend in" a little. Although it is very normal to see out of state plates here. I've seen more Washington plates here than I've seen North Dakota plates in Washington. I've even seen some Alaska plates here, no Hawaii though :)
As I start each work week (which is on Friday), I think "Next week I'll do that". So maybe next week we'll be official North Dakotans....or not.