After moved to Oakland earlier this year, I made a stunning discovery.

Finally, I can embrace my inner zombie.

Zombies are more popular than ever -- and this isn't just a Halloween thing. Sure, there's the hot feature film Zombieland, and many zombie events in and around the Bay Area (and elsewhere). And a slew of popular books (like Breathers).

But it's more than that. Being a zombie is a whole different way to be free. Even better, it doesn't need to cost anything.

Maybe it's the recession. Maybe it's a pop culture virus. Maybe the mouth of hell has yawned open and vomited a social meme. Or maybe it's just easier or more fun to be undead.

Whatever the reason, I find myself shuffling inevitably toward the siren groan of zombie life. (Or unlife. Or post-life. Geez, we need a whole new PC lexicon for zombies...) And you're welcome to shamble along with me.

For most of my life, outwardly I've been a chronic overachiever and caretaker -- behaviors that vanilla society prizes.

But this year, after making several exhausting and substantial life changes (divorce, selling a house, moving to a new city, getting knee surgery, cutting back from four Netflix rental discs at a time to three), I'm ready to chill out, care less, and stop being so damned productive.

Right now, drooling, groaning, and nibbling on brains appeals to me on a deep level.

I've been pleased to find that in Oakland, far more than the sunny mountain town I once called home, my horde awaits me.

So I'm heading out to meet them -- in blatantly zombie-friendly settings (like screenings of zombie cinema, zombie mobs, zombie music, or the DMV line) and in everyday Oakland life.

Here on OaklandLocal, I'll uncover and share the zombie community's diverse views on the main themes of Oakland Local. For instance:

- Many zombies have strong views on food policy and access.
- Some zombies are vocal healthcare reform activists.
- There are many local and regional zombie cultural events, including theater (plays,  musicals, and independent film).
- Regarding development, many zombies hold jobs and contribute substantially to the local economy (just look around you)

Yet: Zombies commonly face harsh discrimination and social stigma. Many parents won't let their kids play with zombie kids. And law enforcement, the public health system, and neighborhood associations routinely vilify zombies as an environmental hazard.

I believe these issues warrant examination, and coverage.

If you want to contribute -- whether you're undead or not -- please comment below or e-mail me.

I'm not doing this to serve lofty ideals of fostering greater awareness and tolerance of the Oakland zombie community. Although I strongly support undead rights, there is no real purpose behind my journalistic foray. It's strictly mindless.

I hope you will embrace this coverage in an equally mindless spirit. But if you prefer to hate it, deeply analyze and debate it, or ignore my local zombie news and commentary entirely. That's fine.

Gurgle.