Things I Like Best about California (San Francisco, Oakland: to live, moving, title)

[chacho_keva]

After 31 years, I've finally come to grips with the fact that California is my home. I finally feel "at home" here. Part of it is resignation on my behalf. A bigger part of it is realizing that I am part of this landscape.

That being said, what I love (and have come to appreciate) about California is the state's vast demographic and topographic diversity. While I'm no proponent of illegal immigration, it's intriguing to make the acquaintence of peoples from all ends of the Earth, and to at times participate in their cultural traditions. Cultural diversity is most definitely a curious perk of California living.

Topographically, there are probably not too many places on Earth where one can visit the mountains, the desert, the ocean, or another country within a relatively short drive.

California is not what it once was when I arrived here in 1979. The quality of life has definitely degrated a bit. But, it's a place about which many will always say. . ."I wish I were there."

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by chacho_keva

After 31 years, I've finally come to grips with the fact that California is my home. I finally feel "at home" here. Part of it is resignation on my behalf. A bigger part of it is realizing that I am part of this landscape.

If it really took 31 years to come to that realization, sumpin' jes ain't right!

[chacho_keva]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

If it really took 31 years to come to that realization, sumpin' jes ain't right!

Admittedly it did. I wanted and tried to leave this state several times up until 2000. Could not bring myself to accept the local culture in Southern California. Too many illegals. Too much traffic.

I've since then learned to more-or-less work my way around those two issues. Neither bothers me as much anymore. It is what it is. I now accept this as part of the way things are here. . .in my home.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by chacho_keva

Admittedly it did. I wanted and tried to leave this state several times up until 2000. Could not bring myself to accept the local culture in Southern California. Too many illegals. Too much traffic.

I've since then learned to more-or-less work my way around those two issues. Neither bothers me as much anymore. It is what it is. I now accept this as part of the way things are here. . .in my home.

Glad for you that you settled in. Sorry it took so long. Had to be a bit rough!

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by Hegotsoul831

9. You don't need a license plate if your car looks new. And Steve Jobs doesn't need one at all!
-Agree. I understand that you have a certain amount of grace before the cops and DMV satrt sweatin' you about it.

I drive a pretty nice car (click on my profile and you'll see...) and for the first year or so, didn't have plates on it. Why? Because I just forgot about it...

Lady hit and damaged my car. Cop comes to the scene, looks at my car, says "oh man, that sucks... you just got it... looks clean."

Put the plates on shortly thereafter. Move back up to Seattle. Someone steals my plates - car theft is bad in Seattle, and someone on the S2000 forums had an S2000 stolen a few days prior; we figured that's where the plates went. I didn't feel like buying new plates since I was moving back to CA and just left the old dealer plates on. Got pulled over for speeding, CHP asked why I didn't have plates, said "just haven't gotten around to it," and he just said, "okay, make sure you get those soon, bud. Nice car." No ticket.

Note, though, that not all areas of CA are like this. Back in LA, I would have probably had two guns pulled on me, been cuffed, roughed up, given a DUI check, found to be sober but made to sit in the back of the car while they demanded to know why I didn't give them permission to search my car and picked through my record to see if there was anything they could use to give me a hard time or bring me in. The LAPD are awful

[nmnita]

Actually so many say the weather, that isn't one of my favorite things (depending where in Ca you live) because I like change of seasons.

What do I like? The beauty of the state has to be number one and the diversity would be next, followed by The Dodgers.

NIta

[bentstrider]

Seems many are too attracted to the coastline and the beaches when it comes to why they like it here so much.
Never really got into it that much and I also see "the beach" as a place where whales commit suicide and cargo ships "park" when the captain forgot to tie the moorings.

While the first list has nothing that interests me, I will say I like the fact that CA still has quite a few historical gems that haven't been knocked down for single-family cookie cutters, yet.
Sutters Mill, that railroad museum up in Roseville, Bodie and Calico ghost-towns, SFs Presidio, Hearst Castle, and plenty of other early 19th and 20th century locations that told people of what life was like before everything went soft.

[Bulldawg82]

I wish I lived in California to be able to participate in this

[bentstrider]

Originally Posted by Bulldawg82

I wish I lived in California to be able to participate in this

Cheer up, at least the Mississippi River is still somewhat swimmable.
Salt water at a CA beach isn't anything to write home about.

[wrcousert]

The number one thing I like about California - diversity. We have it all.

There is no other place on Earth that comes close.