If you moved out of California, where and why did you go? (San Francisco: sales, real estate)

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by LittleDolphin

California--the SF area--was the perfect place for us to spend our young and middle adult years--it was paradise for us as we loved the outdoors. SF was close enough to go to Tahoe, Lassen, Shasta, Yosemite or Bodega or Tomales Bay for a long weekend or just to Oakland to hike in Redwood Park or the other great East Bay parks. Once I met a cougar while hiking, and often came across coyotes.

But time changes us all and I, especially, grew tired the Bay area density, concrete, rising crime, noise, traffic and pollution. The population had grown so much over the years. I longed for serenity and peace.

We left for the other coast in 2003 and now live in a small North Carolina coastal community. It's very, very different than the Bay area in more ways than I can list. But you know something? I've made closer friends here than I ever made in the Bay area--friends who are locals and friends who have moved here from "off."

I wrote a book here--there was enough quietude to do so. But I set my book (Falling Through Time) in the wilds of Siskiyou County in a real little town called Happy Camp. And the heroine is an advertising executive from SF!

My life is more peaceful now..I ride my bike along quiet lanes daily. But I will always miss California. In many ways it is my spiritual home. There is no place like Yosemite or the Sierra Range of Light. Skiing in Tahoe on newly fallen snow with Lake Tahoe gleaming at your feet like a blue jewel is a vision of beauty beyond description. But I had that in my backyard for 30 years and I can conjure the memory at will.

These days I awake to birdsong and not a jet thundering overhead or the racket of a helicopter tracking some miscreant.

Life's always a trade-off, isn't it? I'm calmer now, blooming where I'm planted.

I think that's great. Truly.

But what you describe isn't an "escape from California's hysteria to N. Carolina's serenity". What you describe is escape from "urban madness to country tranquility". Someone leaving Raleigh-Durham and moving to Mendocino could have written the same experience. Or from San Francisco to Mendocino.

That said, I am all for pretty much everyone leaving California -- to me alone

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by LittleDolphin

And the heroine is an advertising executive from SF!

I just hope she isn't like Sharon Stone, or her friend Roxie, in "Basic Instinct."

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

That said, I am all for pretty much everyone leaving California -- to me alone

Uhhhh....

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Uhhhh....

Ooooookay, coupla youse can stay --

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

I think that's great. Truly.

But what you describe isn't an "escape from California's hysteria to N. Carolina's serenity". What you describe is escape from "urban madness to country tranquility". Someone leaving Raleigh-Durham and moving to Mendocino could have written the same experience. Or from San Francisco to Mendocino.

That said, I am all for pretty much everyone leaving California -- to me alone

Hahha, yeah but what is the likelihood even with all the whining which occurs regardless of good times or bad? I think we have the highest percentage of squatting whiners vs. get up and go whiners. Let's face it. Its much easier to sit around and bemoan the no good politicians as the source of all one's personal problems in 60-70 degree weather, than somewhere else its snowing.

Derek

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Hahha, yeah but what is the likelihood even with all the whining which occurs regardless of good times or bad? I think we have the highest percentage of squatting whiners vs. get up and go whiners. Let's face it. Its much easier to sit around and bemoan the no good politicians as the source of all one's personal problems in 60-70 degree weather, than somewhere else its snowing.

Derek

It ain't the politicians, Derek. It's the people who gripe about them unceasingly yet keep reelecting them or, when that's not possible, their spouses, parents, siblings, cousins, etc.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

It ain't the politicians, Derek. It's the people who gripe about them unceasingly yet keep reelecting them or, when that's not possible, their spouses, parents, siblings, cousins, etc.

Chief, I'm not so sure Derek and I are talking about things like politician's actually being the problem. He'll have to confirm for himself, but my point on the issue you [correctly] identify is that politics is merely one of a zillion perhaps necessary evils that come with civilization ... and that people tend to place blame there rather than look inside themselves for the answers to their lives' chaos. Politicians are really just an expression of society's trends -- and most strongly of society's weakest vulnerabilities. Getting sucked into that is part of the cycle of its perpetuation, of course.

Anyway, asking for rational analysis and cooperative effort from a frantic and vastly diverse electorate is a weak premise for successful governance. Which is why the Founding Fathers designed our country to be a democratic republic rather than a pure democracy. But even now we can see that ultimately the design's potentials for abuse are manifest. All the more reason for individuals to find their meaning in life outside of political obfuscations. No?

[Old Skool Florida]

i visited california few times. now way would i ever live there. happy to be in FLORIDA

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Old Skool Florida

i visited california few times. now way would i ever live there. happy to be in FLORIDA

And we're happy you are there! (and not here). Mmmmmwah!

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

Chief, I'm not so sure Derek and I are talking about things like politician's actually being the problem. He'll have to confirm for himself, but my point on the issue you [correctly] identify is that politics is merely one of a zillion perhaps necessary evils that come with civilization ... and that people tend to place blame there rather than look inside themselves for the answers to their lives' chaos. Politicians are really just an expression of society's trends -- and most strongly of society's weakest vulnerabilities. Getting sucked into that is part of the cycle of its perpetuation, of course.

Anyway, asking for rational analysis and cooperative effort from a frantic and vastly diverse electorate is a weak premise for successful governance. Which is why the Founding Fathers designed our country to be a democratic republic rather than a pure democracy. But even now we can see that ultimately the design's potentials for abuse are manifest. All the more reason for individuals to find their meaning in life outside of political obfuscations. No?

Yes indeed. These are merely easy targets to hoist all one's frustrations on, regardless of affiliations, red, blue, etc... Neither side has the miracle cure for what ails society. The system is inherently flawed to begin with, hence there will always be someone to blame. In California its Moonbeam now. In the nation its Obama's fault. Before that it was Bush's fault... Next year it will be the new guy's fault (etch-a-sketch Romney if he wins) and on and on it goes. Looking toward a political savior as a cure for all that ails society is a search for fools gold. It will simply never happen. Doesn't mean one shouldn't vote. But to expect a major life change based on the results of an election is setting one's self up for disillusionment and frustation. Hence the whining which always ensues. This hasn't changed and never will. Looking for meaning, fullfilment, beauty, satisfaction, etc... in life outside the political process is a more realistic pursuit.

Derek