I'm back, and I feel the same
Our trip to San Diego was fun overall. I spent two days doing tenant improvements on our rental there, and Sunday we celebrated my wife's 30th birthday with a big surprise party, so I didn't get to get out and do, well, anything. That's not so much of a gripe though. We all got to spend time with the in-laws including my daughter's cousin. Contrary to pop culture, I actually really like all of my in-laws. But then, I'm the black sheep so I'm sure it was better for me than it was for them...
Within 30 minutes of arriving in Cali I realized what a great choice we had made and how hard it would ever be to move back. We flew in on a redeye Wednesday night and came in early Thursday morning. We got the rental car and stopped in a bagel shop for breakfast. Sitting in Einstein Brother's in Point Loma, I saw almost every yuppie stereotype I could think of. It could only have been worse in a Starbucks. On the way out a woman tried to pull out of the parking spot next to me. She was in a chromed-out GMC Yukon with oversize rims and low profile tires that would surely pinch the sidewalls at the mere sight of a pothole. She was trying to pull out, talk with her trendy little phone against her ear, and apply makeup all at the same time. After 4 failed attempts in one direction, she made a 5 point turn the other way. I'm sure she was telling her friend that she didn't realize why all these people in the parking lot were staring at her while they waited for her to unblock the driveway.
An otherwise common occurrence was suddenly set in a completely new perspective. People here will completely block a lane of traffic to let people in out of "Aloha." As we flew out of LAX for home Monday morning, I saw the inversion layer of smog that blanketed Southern California at least to 5000 feet.
The smog, the traffic, the ultra-trendy culture; it's just not the same place as when I grew up. I might be able to handle Northern California, but I can't take So Cal anymore. I do miss the progressive and conservationist culture, but that's fodder for another post. This solidifies a view I've had since childhood. I love the mountains and the ocean. I can live without the ocean, but I really love mountains. I could easily live in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Northern California. I don't have to compromise here though. The culture is great, and I can hike in the mountains and snorkel in the same afternoon. And my lungs will never suffer like those in California.
Within 30 minutes of arriving in Cali I realized what a great choice we had made and how hard it would ever be to move back. We flew in on a redeye Wednesday night and came in early Thursday morning. We got the rental car and stopped in a bagel shop for breakfast. Sitting in Einstein Brother's in Point Loma, I saw almost every yuppie stereotype I could think of. It could only have been worse in a Starbucks. On the way out a woman tried to pull out of the parking spot next to me. She was in a chromed-out GMC Yukon with oversize rims and low profile tires that would surely pinch the sidewalls at the mere sight of a pothole. She was trying to pull out, talk with her trendy little phone against her ear, and apply makeup all at the same time. After 4 failed attempts in one direction, she made a 5 point turn the other way. I'm sure she was telling her friend that she didn't realize why all these people in the parking lot were staring at her while they waited for her to unblock the driveway.
An otherwise common occurrence was suddenly set in a completely new perspective. People here will completely block a lane of traffic to let people in out of "Aloha." As we flew out of LAX for home Monday morning, I saw the inversion layer of smog that blanketed Southern California at least to 5000 feet.
The smog, the traffic, the ultra-trendy culture; it's just not the same place as when I grew up. I might be able to handle Northern California, but I can't take So Cal anymore. I do miss the progressive and conservationist culture, but that's fodder for another post. This solidifies a view I've had since childhood. I love the mountains and the ocean. I can live without the ocean, but I really love mountains. I could easily live in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Northern California. I don't have to compromise here though. The culture is great, and I can hike in the mountains and snorkel in the same afternoon. And my lungs will never suffer like those in California.
posted by RebTurtle at
4:50 PM
1 Comments:
Interesting post.
I feel somewhat opposite toward my hometown, Las Vegas. I was born here. I've been overseas a few times (Asia and Europe), to various American states, down to Mexico...and although I find Vegas horrifically inappropriate as a place to raise children (having been raised here myself), I can't help but to be so accustomed to life here that I am uncertain I can ever live anywhere else for more than a few months at a time.
Maybe I just haven't given anywhere else a chance, yet.
By
Flashtrigger, At
June 15, 2008 at 4:54 AM
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