Q: Is Homer really named after Homer Simpson?

A: We get asked that a lot. Homer is named after Homer Pennock. In 1896, 51 people with the Alaska Gold Mining Co. settled on the Homer Spit and had to come up with a name. As Della Banks, the only woman in the group, later wrote, "J.E. Guillbault exclaimed, ÔWhy not call it "Homer" after you, Pennock?' Everyone agreed. Thus Homer was named after a not-too-successful promoter."

Q: What's the Spit?

A: Drive up East Hill Road and hang a left to the top of Skyline Drive. See that little wiggly piece of land sticking out into the bay? That's the Spit.

Q: Where the heck is Homer, anyway?

A: The actual city limits run from the top of Baycrest Hill (that's the killer view as you come into town) to East End Road and Kachemak Drive, population 5,400 people. Add in Diamond Ridge, Fritz Creek, the Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet villages of Seldovia, Halibut Cove, Nanwalek and Port Graham, throw in Anchor Point, Ninilchik and points in between, and you're talking about 13,000 people on what local residents call the lower Kenai Peninsula.

Q: How many hours of daylight does Homer get?

A: From June 18-22, Homer gets 18 hours and 44 minutes daily of beautiful sunshine. From Dec. 19-22, we get 18 hours and 1 minute of glorious starry skies, and the sun sort of hovers on the southern horizon for 5 hours and 59 minutes.

Q: Outside magazine said of Homer's climate: "Cold. Get over it." How bad is it?

A: Homer's extremes run from 81 degrees Fahrenheit in July to minus 24 in January. The average July and August temperatures are a high of 60 and a low of 45 perfect for shorts. OK, shorts with long johns, like you'll see kayakers wearing. Tired of scorching summers? Come to Homer.

Q: Is Homer really "too rough and too weird to be a tourist trap"?

A: So the New York Times said. Some of us might be a bit scruffy, but we like to think we clean up nice.